H Plus Son TB14 Rim
The H Plus Son TB14 is the rim for bikes that are supposed to look like they were built in 1975 and ride like they were built this year. It is a 700c box-section clincher inspired by the tubular rims of the lugged-steel era: 17.7mm wide inside, a shallow 14.1mm profile, about 490 grams, in H Plus Son's G609 alloy with a welded joint, double eyelets and a machined double-sided brake track, in polished and anodized finishes with 32 and 36 hole drilling. It is the rim under most of the classic road, randonneur and fixed-gear builds we do.
This page covers the H Plus Son TB14 Rim in 700c. The TB14 comes from us only as a finished wheel: pick the hub, spokes and nipples, and we lace, tension and true it by hand in Georgia before it ships.
Design and construction
The TB14 is a shallow double-wall box-section rim, the shape that was standard before deep alloy rims existed, extruded from G609 alloy, which is about 30% stronger than 6061 and lets a 14mm-deep rim be strong enough for modern use. The welded joint is invisible, the double stainless eyelets spread nipple load through both walls, and the brake track is machined on both sides. It takes tires from 23 to 35mm with tubes; it is not tubeless.
The polished finish is the one people buy it for: a mirror-bright rim that looks like a vintage tubular and brakes like a modern clincher. Standard nipples, J-bend spokes, ERD 610.
How it rides
A TB14 wheel rides the way a shallow box rim always has: supple, quiet and comfortable, with none of the harshness of a deep section. With a 28 to 32mm tire and 32 or 36 spokes on a classic hub it is the definitive randonneur and vintage-road wheel, and it is strong enough for daily use. It is not aero and not trying to be; for that the Archetype or Hydra is the choice.
For a classic road, touring, randonneur or fixed-gear build with period looks and modern braking, the TB14 is the H Plus Son rim we recommend.
Specifications
| Wheel size | 700c |
|---|---|
| ERD | 610 (29in) |
| Inner width | 17.7 mm |
| Depth | 14.1 mm |
| Drillings | 28h, 32h, 36h |
| Weight | 490g (700c/29in) |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Nipples | External |
| Finishes | black, polished |
About this listing
Version notes. 700c, 28h, 32h, 36h, about 490g, 17.7mm inside, 14.1mm deep, disc. The other sizes and brake versions of the TB14 have their own listings; this page is for this one.
The disc version of the TB14 has no brake track, so the sidewall is a plain extrusion that saves a little weight and never wears; it is the one to choose for any disc-brake frame. The rim-brake version, listed separately, has a machined sidewall.
Sizes, fit and compatibility
The H Plus Son TB14 Rim comes in 700c and 28h, 32h, 36h drilling. It is a rim-brake rim. We build the TB14 on Phil Wood, White Industries, Paul, Velo Orange, Shimano, Son dynamo and Velocity Standard hubs, usually with DT Champion or Competition and Sapim Race or Leader spokes and brass nipples.
Tire range on the TB14 is 23 to 35mm. Pick road, touring or fixed-gear as your bike type in the configurator and it recommends a spoke count and lacing pattern.
Build it with us
We build this rim to order. Open the Custom Wheel Program with the H Plus SON Tb14 Rim already selected and pick the parts around it; it is offered for road rim brake and track and road single-speed builds, and the configurator will not let you assemble a combination we would not build.
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.
Testing, standards and warranty at H Plus Son
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
H Plus Son publishes those results; ProWheelBuilder builds the rim into a wheel and does not test it in a lab.
Building it at ProWheelBuilder
H Plus Son makes the TB14; ProWheelBuilder is an independent wheel builder in Georgia, not the manufacturer. We measure the rim before we cut a spoke, bring the wheel up in three or four rounds with a gauge, stress-relieve it between rounds and true it last, then tape it and fit a valve if you want it tubeless.
Only compatible hubs and spokes appear in the configurator, impossible combinations are struck through rather than hidden, and the price is live.
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. Wheels we build around this part are covered by our own one-year warranty alongside the maker's. Within the year: broken spokes replaced regardless of cause, and the labor on the wheel - truing, re-tensioning or a complete rebuild - included. A manufacturer-covered rim or hub failure is a claim we make and manage for you; one they will not cover is answered with an eligible replacement at 25% off retail. Shipping each way is yours. Parts you supply yourself fall outside it.
Full terms are on our Policies & Warranty page.
TB14 Rim questions
What tire width suits this rim?
At 17.7mm 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 TB14 tubeless?
No. It is a rim-brake clincher for tubes, as a classic box rim should be.
What tires fit the TB14?
23 to 35mm. A 28 to 32mm tire is the pairing most of our customers run on a classic build.
Which finish should I choose?
Polished for the vintage tubular look; anodized black or colors for a modern take. The polished finish is the one the TB14 is known for.
Is the TB14 strong enough for daily riding?
Yes. G609 alloy, a welded joint and double eyelets make it far stronger than the vintage rims it resembles.
Is it tubeless-ready?
H Plus Son lists the TB14 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.
