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Derby Rims Custom Hand Built Wheels

Custom hand built wheels with Derby rims

Derby makes wide carbon rims for trail and enduro use, with profiles intended to be forgiving of the impacts that crack lighter layups.

We lace Derby rims to the hub of your choice and build the wheel by hand in our Georgia shop - tensioned evenly, trued flat and round, and stress-relieved before it ships. You pick the hub, spoke gauge and color, nipple material and lacing pattern; we make sure the combination is one that can actually be built.

The Derby rims we build with

  • Derby rims we build with12
  • Wheel sizes700c / 29", 650b / 27.5"
  • Internal width25.0-39.5mm
  • Rim depth31-32mm
  • Materialcarbon
  • Brake typedisc brake
  • Tire fitmenttubeless-compatible clincher

Every Derby rim we build with is carbon. That gets you a stiffer, lighter wheel, and it means the rim is a lifetime part rather than a consumable - provided the wheel is built to an even tension so no single spoke ever loads the rim bed on its own.

Internal width is the number that decides your tire. The Derby rims we carry sit mostly in the 25.0-39.5mm band, and that band is what determines the tire sizes that will take a sensible shape on the rim - too narrow and a big tire rolls on the sidewall, too wide and a small tire is left square and harsh. Tell the configurator what tires you run and it will steer you inside the right band.

Recent Derby wheel builds

Wheels we have built around Derby rims. Every one was laced, tensioned and trued by hand to the spec the customer chose.

Front wheel, Derby rim
Rear wheel, Derby rim
Lacing detail, Derby build

What to pair with a Derby rim

A wheel is a system: the rim decides the tire and the braking, the hub decides the drivetrain and the axle fit, and the spokes have to suit both. Start from whichever end matters most to you and the configurator will keep the other end compatible.

Popular hubs brands for these builds:

Want to check spoke lengths for a Derby rim before you order? Our free spoke length calculator has the measured dimensions for it.

Derby custom wheel questions

Can you build a wheel with a Derby rim I already own?

Yes. Choose the supply-your-own rim option in the configurator, ship it to us, and we will lace it into a new wheel with new spokes cut to the right length for that exact rim. You pay for the parts you need and the build labor.

What tire width suits a Derby rim?

The Derby rims we carry are mostly 25.0-39.5mm internal, which covers most modern tire choices for their intended use. Tell the configurator what you ride and it will keep you in a sensible tire-to-rim ratio rather than leaving you to work it out.

Is a carbon Derby rim worth it over aluminum?

It buys stiffness and lower rotating weight, and the rim itself should outlast several aluminum rims. The trade is repairability: an aluminum rim can often be trued back from an impact that would end a carbon rim. If the wheel is for winter training or loaded touring, that matters.

How many spokes should a Derby wheel have?

It depends on your weight, the terrain and the rim, not on the brand. The configurator recommends a count from your bike type and rider weight, and will not offer a count that cannot be laced to the parts you picked.

How long will my Derby wheel take?

Build time comes down to parts availability rather than bench time. Your estimated ship date is shown in the configurator before you check out, so you know the date before you pay.

Not sure what to pick? 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.

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