Velocity A23 OC Disc Brake Rim
The Velocity A23 OC is the A23 road rim with its spoke bed moved off center, and it is the version we build on almost every rear wheel and every disc wheel. A geared rear wheel has far more tension on the drive side than the non-drive side; offsetting the spoke holes toward the non-drive side narrows that gap, so both sides sit closer to their ideal tension and the wheel stays true far longer. Velocity extrudes and finishes the A23 OC in the USA.
This page covers the Velocity A23 OC Disc Brake Rim in 29in, 27.5in. The A23 OC 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
The A23 OC shares the A23's 23mm width and low double-wall profile, which gives a 25 to 35mm tire a wide, consistent footprint, and its tubeless-ready bed. The difference is the spoke bed, offset about 3mm toward one side. On a rear wheel we lace it with the offset toward the non-drive side; on a disc front, toward the non-rotor side. Either way the bracing angles on the two sides come closer together and tension balances.
The factory recommends 110 to 130 kgf spoke tension. Rim-brake and disc versions are available; the rim-brake A23 OC has a machined sidewall.
Every Velocity rim is extruded, drilled and finished at the company's own factory in Jacksonville, Florida, and that shows in the details a builder notices: the spoke holes are drilled to suit the wheel, the joint is clean, and the ERD we measure matches the one on the box. The color range is the other reason people ask for the brand by name; anodized and powder-coated options come and go, and the ones in stock are listed in the configurator so you can match rim, hub and nipples.
How it rides
An A23 OC wheel feels identical to a standard A23 from the saddle, which is the point: the offset is invisible in the ride and shows up only in how long the wheel stays true. Riders who kept having to true a rear wheel notice the difference over a season. The tire support, comfort and cornering feel of the wider rim are all the same.
We build the A23 OC as a rear wheel with a standard A23 front for rim-brake bikes, and as a pair for disc bikes.
Specifications
| Wheel size | 29in, 27.5in |
|---|---|
| ERD | 601 (29in), 560 (27.5in) |
| Inner width | 18 mm |
| Depth | 19.5 mm |
| Drillings | 28h, 32h, 36h |
| Weight | 450g (700c/29in), 425g (650b/27.5in) |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Tire type | Clincher Tubeless Compatible |
| Brake | Disc |
| Profile | Triangle |
| Spoke bed | Offset 3 mm |
| Nipples | External |
| Finishes | black, silver, polished, custom |
This listing
This is the 29in, 27.5in listing of the A23 OC, 28h, 32h, 36h, about 450g, 18mm inside, 19.5mm deep, disc. Pick the size that matches your frame; the profile and construction are the same across the range.
This is the disc-brake A23 OC: 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 Velocity A23 OC Disc Brake Rim comes in 29in, 27.5in and 28h, 32h, 36h drilling, in rim-brake and disc versions; check the name on this page. We build the A23 OC on Velocity Race and Standard hubs, DT Swiss 350 and 240, Shimano, White Industries T11 and CLD, Bitex and Chris King R45 hubs, usually with Sapim Laser, Race or CX-Ray spokes or DT Competition and Aerolite.
Tire range on the A23 OC is 23 to 35mm. Give the configurator your bike type and weight; it picks a sensible spoke count and lacing pattern, which you can override.
Put it in a custom wheel
Build a custom wheel around the Velocity A23 OC Disc Brake Rim — the link drops you into our Custom Wheel Program with this rim pinned, ready for you to choose the rest. It is set up for gravel and road disc and touring builds.
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 Velocity says about testing
Velocity USA rolls, drills, anodizes and builds its aluminum rims at its own factory in Grand Rapids, Michigan; Velocity states the extrusion comes from Profile Precision Extrusions in Arizona. Production moved there from Jacksonville, Florida beginning December 2016. Rims are sleeve-joined: a piece of extrusion shaped to the rim's inner cavity is bonded in and the join heat-treated to set the bonding agent, then the rim is drilled, cleaned of swarf and anodized in Velocity's own tanks. Spoke holes are drilled at an exit angle of around 4 degrees, alternating flange bias at every other hole.
Velocity states that "Rims and wheels are checked for quality at every step of our process" and that it tests rims on an in-house load machine it calls the "Killdozer" "so that we can simulate a larger rider and calculate how many spokes result in a sturdy, quality wheel." Its spoke-count guidance by total rider-plus-gear weight is 200-229 lb: 32 spokes; 230-259 lb: 36; 260-300 lb: 36 front / 40 rear. Velocity recommends building to between 110 kgf and 130 kgf spoke tension and builds its Clydesdale wheels to 120 kgf.
Velocity's videos
From Velocity
Certifications
- Made in USA claim — Velocity states it rolls, drills, anodizes and builds rims and wheels by hand in Grand Rapids, MI using locally sourced materials (all production consolidated there December 2016) (source)
Sources on Velocity's site:
- Tech - Velocity USA
- About - Velocity USA
- About Us - Velocity USA
- Go Big And Get Home: Clydesdale Wheels And YOU! - Velocity USA
- Manufacturing with Passion: Velocity USA's Grand Rapids Wheel Factory - The Radavist
Everything in this section is published by Velocity. ProWheelBuilder is the wheel builder, not the tester, and the rim reaches us as the maker ships it.
Building it at ProWheelBuilder
Velocity USA makes the A23 OC; ProWheelBuilder is an independent wheel builder in Georgia, not the manufacturer. Offset rims need the spoke lengths calculated per side, which we do from the rim's measured ERD and offset; the wheel is tensioned in stages with a gauge, stress-relieved and trued before it ships. Tubeless tape and a valve are fitted on request.
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
Velocity's warranty. Velocity warrants its rims against defects in material and workmanship for the life of the product, repairing or replacing at its option. Normal wear, accidents, misuse, improper assembly and poor maintenance are excluded.
ProWheelBuilder. Any wheel we build on this part carries ProWheelBuilder's one-year warranty in addition to the manufacturer's. Broken spokes are replaced for a year whatever the cause, and all wheel-side labor is included - truing, re-tensioning, rebuilding. Where the maker covers a failed rim or hub we handle that claim for you; where they decline, an eligible replacement comes at 25% off current retail. The customer covers shipping in both directions. Components supplied by the customer are not covered.
Full terms are on our Policies & Warranty page.
A23 OC Disc Brake Rim questions
What tire width suits this rim?
At 18mm 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.
Should I use the A23 OC on the front too?
On a disc front, yes; the rotor side has the same tension imbalance as a geared rear. On a rim-brake front the standard A23 is symmetric and correct.
Which way does the offset go?
Toward the non-drive side on a rear wheel and the non-rotor side on a disc front. We lace it correctly; if you are having it built elsewhere, tell your builder.
Is the A23 OC tubeless?
Yes. Same tubeless-ready bed as the A23; Velocity tape and a valve are fitted on request.
What tires fit the A23 OC?
23 to 35mm. A 25 to 28mm road tire or a 33mm cross tire is the usual pairing.
Is it tubeless-ready?
Yes. Velocity lists the A23 OC Disc Brake Rim as clincher tubeless compatible; we tape and fit a valve when you choose the tubeless option.
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.
