Little Silver Rings: Velocity Aerohead & Aerohead OC

I've been going back and forth for months on rim selection between the Velocity Aerohead, DT Swiss RR 1.1, and Mavic Open Pro. All are quality rims for training and club racing applications. Mavic has years of proven performance with the Open Pro. Paris-Roubaix is raced with Open Pro's for example. DT Swiss has the reputation for precision manufacturing. The details of their rims (joints, eyelets, machining) are top class. Velocity is the little company that could, taking on the giants of the wheel industry. They have a reputation so far in quality and service. They also offer a unique feature on their rear rim the Aerohead OC.


I've read stories of all of three having issues with joints failing or cracks developing around the eyelets. With the number of these rims on the roads around the world, these cases are exceptions to the norm. In the end what became the pivitol decision making influence was price point. Coupled with it's OC option, the hard-to-beat price on the Velocity Aerohead pipped 'em all at the line by a wheel length. OC means "off center". The profile of the rim is asymmetrical in order to reduce the difference in spoke tension on the drive side making for a more stable wheel. The OC design has been on the market long enough to have proven itself and earned the recommendation of experienced and respected wheel builders. That's good enough for me. I have a 28-hole front and 32-hole rear on order, in shiny silver of course, and plan to lace 'em up to a pair of White Industries H2 hubs.