At Leadout Cycles in Whitegate, Cheshire, every wheelset is hand-built using carefully selected components from trusted manufacturers. Here's what goes into your wheels and why quality matters - and why I only spec components I trust and can fully support.

 

Rims:

The rim is the foundation of your wheel - it affects weight, strength, aerodynamics and ride quality. We use premium rims chosen for their specific applications:

 

DT Swiss Alloy Rims - Industry-leading welded aluminium rims from Switzerland. The R470 provides year-round reliability for road riding, while the RR481 and GR531 offer wider profiles for all-road and gravel use. For mountain bikes, the XR391 delivers lightweight XC performance, the EX511 is the benchmark enduro rim proven on the EWS circuit, and the FR571 handles the toughest gravity riding.

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Venn Carbon Rims - Premium filament-wound carbon rims using advanced manufacturing processes. Their AI-optimized profiles deliver exceptional aerodynamics with stable handling. The 51mm depth is perfect for road racing and time trials, while the 77mm depth provides maximum aero performance for flat TT courses. The 360 TCD is an ultralight climbing rim at just 345g.

 

Keen Carbon Rims - Performance carbon gravel rims offering excellent strength-to-weight ratio for competitive gravel racing. Race-proven at UCI Gravel World Championship level.

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DCR Alloy Rims - Hand-selected lightweight alloy rims for weight-conscious road riders seeking premium performance without the carbon price tag.

 

Hubs:

Hubs are the heart of your wheels - affecting engagement, durability and serviceability. We spec hubs to match each wheelset's purpose. All hubs I use are fully serviceable with readily available parts - no proprietary nonsense that becomes obsolete in two years:

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Hope Pro 5 - British-engineered hubs manufactured in Barnoldswick, Lancashire. The Pro 5 delivers 108 points of engagement through a six-pawl freehub design, with improved sealing and reduced drag. Available in multiple anodised colours, Hope hubs are fully serviceable with simple tools and backed by legendary UK build quality. We use Hope Pro 5 hubs on all our premium mountain bike and gravel wheelsets.

 

DT Swiss Hubs - Swiss precision engineering with the renowned Star Ratchet system. The 350 offers exceptional value with reliable performance and easy servicing. The 240 is lighter and provides premium engagement for racing applications. Both feature sealed bearings and tool-free maintenance.

 

Bitex Hubs - Taiwanese-manufactured hubs offering excellent performance at competitive prices. The 106 CL uses a 48-tooth ratchet system (7.5° engagement) with quality sealed bearings. The BX360R features a star-ratchet design developed to compete directly with DT Swiss 240 hubs. Bitex hubs are fully serviceable and we stock replacement parts.

 

Spokes:

Spoke choice affects wheel stiffness, weight and durability. We select spokes based on rider weight, riding style and intended use:

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Sapim Race - Double-butted stainless steel spokes (2.0/1.8/2.0mm) offering the ideal balance of strength, weight and durability. Our default choice for most wheelsets, particularly gravel and mountain bike builds where reliability matters.

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Sapim D-Light - Premium butted spokes (2.0/1.65/2.0mm) for weight-conscious builds. Lighter than Race spokes while maintaining excellent fatigue resistance. Used on our lightweight road wheelsets.

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Sapim CX Ray - Aerodynamic bladed spokes for racing applications. Provide stiffness and aerodynamic benefits while remaining serviceable. Specified on our carbon road and premium gravel racing wheels.

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Sapim Force - Heavy-duty spokes (2.3/2.0/2.3mm) for enduro and aggressive mountain biking. Thicker gauge handles higher loads and harder riding.

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DT Aero Comp - Aerodynamic spokes from DT Swiss combining aero efficiency with proven durability. Used across our road racing wheelsets.

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Why Component Quality Matters:

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Hand-built wheels using quality components deliver tangible benefits:

• Durability - Premium components withstand years of hard use

• Serviceability - All our hub and spoke choices can be serviced or replaced

• Performance - Better materials mean lower weight, higher stiffness and improved ride quality

• Value - Quality wheels last longer, reducing long-term cost

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Every wheelset I build in my Whitegate workshop is matched to your rider weight and riding style, with spoke tensions precision-balanced using professional tension meters. This prevents the metal fatigue that causes spoke failures - something inexperienced wheel builders don't consider. I only use components I trust and can fully support with replacement parts. Questions about components or specifications?

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WhatsApp us on 07879 785543 or email dave@leadoutcycles.co.uk

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