H Plus Son Archetype Rim
The H Plus Son Archetype is the alloy road rim that fixed-gear riders, road riders and neo-retro builders all agree on. It is a 700c rim with a 25mm-deep semi-aero profile, 17.6mm inside, about 470 grams, extruded from H Plus Son's G609 alloy and welded, with a CNC-machined brake track that brakes as well as any alloy rim made. It comes in 20, 24, 28 and 32 hole and takes up to 125 kgf of spoke tension, and it is one of the best-looking alloy rims we build.
This page covers the H Plus Son Archetype Rim in 700c. The Archetype is not sold bare. You choose the hub and the rest of the build in the configurator, and it ships from our shop in Georgia laced, tensioned and trued by hand.
Design and construction
G609 is H Plus Son's proprietary alloy, about 30% stronger than the 6061 most alloy rims use, which is how the Archetype manages to be light, stiff and strong at the same time. The 25mm semi-aero section is deep enough to give the wheel lateral stiffness and a hint of aero without the harshness of a 30mm V rim, and the 23mm width supports a 25 to 28mm tire with a modern profile. The joint is welded and the brake track is machined on both sides, so braking is smooth from the first ride.
The Archetype is a rim-brake rim for tubes; it is not tubeless. Standard nipples, J-bend spokes, ERD 595, in polished, black and a range of anodized finishes.
How it rides
An Archetype wheel is quick, stiff and comfortable, which is a rare combination in an alloy rim. It climbs like a light rim, holds a line in fast corners, and on a 25 or 28mm tire it takes rough tarmac better than a deeper V rim. The brake track is one of the best in aluminum, which matters on a rim-brake bike. It is the rim we suggest for a classic road build, a fixed-gear bike that gets ridden hard, and any rim-brake bike that wants a light, good-looking alloy wheel.
For a deeper look the H Plus Son Hydra is 26mm and wider; for a classic box section the TB14.
Specifications
| Wheel size | 700c |
|---|---|
| ERD | 595 (29in) |
| Inner width | 17.6 mm |
| Depth | 25 mm |
| Drillings | 20h, 24h, 28h, 32h, 36h |
| Weight | 475g (700c/29in) |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Nipples | External |
| Finishes | polished, black, grey |
This listing
This is the 700c listing of the Archetype, 20h, 24h, 28h, 32h, 36h, about 475g, 17.6mm inside, 25mm deep, disc. Pick the size that matches your frame; the profile and construction are the same across the range.
This is the disc-brake Archetype: plain sidewalls, no brake track to wear, a touch lighter. It fits any disc-brake bike and it is the version most of our customers now build; the rim-brake version is a separate listing.
Sizes, fit and compatibility
The H Plus Son Archetype Rim comes in 700c and 20h, 24h, 28h, 32h, 36h drilling. It is a rim-brake rim. We build the Archetype on White Industries T11 and track hubs, Phil Wood, Paul, DT Swiss 350, Shimano, Velocity Race Road and Bitex hubs, usually with Sapim Race, Laser or CX-Ray spokes or DT Competition, and brass or alloy nipples.
Tire range on the Archetype is 23 to 32mm. Pick road, fixed-gear or track as your bike type in the configurator and it recommends a spoke count and lacing pattern.
Build a wheel around it
Offered for road rim brake, track and road single-speed and touring builds in our Custom Wheel Program. Start with the H Plus SON Archetype Rim and the configurator pins it for you, then checks each choice you make against it.
Spoke head is decided by the hub, not the rim: this rim builds equally well with J-bend or straight-pull spokes, and the configurator only offers the spokes that match the hub you pick.
What H Plus Son says about testing
H Plus Son publishes very little technical or testing information. Its official site (hplusson.com) lists five rims, the Hydra (455 grams), SL42 (615 grams), Archetype (470 grams), TB14 (490 grams) and Formation Face (615 grams), and for each states the material as G609 Alloy and the joint as Welded, with a Machined Braking Surface on the SL42, Archetype and TB14.
H Plus Son publishes no impact, fatigue, ISO 4210 / EN or UCI test results, no laboratory or factory media, no certifications, and no rider weight, maximum tire pressure or tubeless guidance on its site. No warranty terms are published by H Plus Son, so warranty handling for these rims rests with the selling dealer.
Sources on H Plus Son's site:
- Products - H PLUS SON
- News - H PLUS SON
- Contact - H PLUS SON
- H PLUS SON Archetype Rim - Condor Cycles
- H Plus Son Archetype Rim - Jenson USA
The figures, certificates and media above are H Plus Son's own. ProWheelBuilder does not run these tests; our part is the wheel we build on the rim.
Building it at ProWheelBuilder
H Plus Son makes the Archetype; ProWheelBuilder is an independent wheel builder in Georgia, not the manufacturer. Every Archetype wheel we build gets spokes cut from the rim's measured ERD, is tensioned in stages with a gauge within the rim's 125 kgf limit, stress-relieved and trued before it ships.
In the configurator you will only see parts that fit this drilling; combinations that are not made are struck through, and the price updates as you pick.
Warranty
Manufacturer's warranty. H Plus Son warrants this product against defects in materials and workmanship. The duration, conditions and claim process are set by H Plus Son and can change without notice, so ask us and we will confirm the current terms before you buy.
ProWheelBuilder. Lace this into a wheel here and the finished wheel gets our own one-year warranty as well as the maker's. For twelve months we replace broken spokes however they broke, and the work on the wheel is on us - truing, re-tensioning, a rebuild where it is needed. If the rim or hub is covered by its manufacturer we put the claim in and chase it; if it is not, we supply an eligible replacement rim or hub at 25% off the current retail price. Carriage both ways is the customer's, and this does not cover wheels built from parts you send in.
Full terms are on our Policies & Warranty page.
Archetype Rim questions
What tire width suits this rim?
At 17.6mm inside this is a road width. It suits roughly 25 to 32mm tires, which is where most road bikes now sit, and it will run a 23 if you still want one. Go much wider than 32 on this rim and the tire starts to balloon above the sidewalls and squirm when you lean on it.
Is the Archetype tubeless?
No. It is a rim-brake clincher for tubes. For a tubeless alloy road rim look at the HED Belgium R or Velocity Quill.
What tires fit the Archetype?
23 to 32mm. A 25 or 28mm tire is the pairing most of our customers run on its 17.6mm inner width.
Archetype or Hydra?
Archetype for the classic 25mm semi-aero profile and lightest weight; Hydra for a slightly deeper, wider rim with double eyelets.
Is the Archetype good for fixed gear?
Yes. It is one of the most popular fixed-gear rims made: stiff, light, with a brake track that takes skidding and a finish range that suits any build.
Is it tubeless-ready?
H Plus Son lists the Archetype Rim as a clincher rim. Ask us about tubeless conversion if you need it.
Which spoke count should I choose?
It depends on your weight, terrain and the hub, not the rim alone. The configurator recommends a count from your bike type and rider weight, within the drillings this rim is made in.
Not sure? Text or leave a voicemail on 470-253-0929 or email info@prowheelbuilder.com — you will be talking to the people who build the wheels.
