Kinlin Wheels with Phil Wood Hubs

What Kinlin rims and Phil Wood hubs each bring

• KLM41 alloy. Kinlin developed this aluminum alloy with manganese and niobium, and lists the XR-31, TL-23 and TL-29 in it. Kinlin says it offers twice the elongation of conventional alloys, so the metal stretches further before it fails.
• T-10 process. Kinlin cold works each rim once it is round, rolling it twice on a patented machine, and only then heat treats it for 8 hours. It rates that higher in total strength and steadier in durability than the T-6 process it compares against.
• Steps kept in house. Kinlin says it runs the T-10 courses in house, including cold working, heat treatment, surface treating, drilling and finishing, and that T-6 makers outsource most of theirs. One factory stays responsible for the rim from start to finish.
• Built around low maintenance since 1971. Phil Wood was founded to make maintenance-free hubs and still designs, makes and assembles them in San Jose, California. A front hub shell passes through seven production stations before assembly.
• Two bearing choices. Standard bearings have full contact seals and a full fill of Phil Waterproof Grease for wet, dirty riding. Carbonyte bearings have partial contact seals and a 30 percent fill of synthetic grease for lower drag.
• Bearings made to Phil's spec. Phil Wood specifies the characteristics of every bearing it uses, and it says many are made exclusively for it. If a bearing wears out, Phil's answer is to replace the cartridge rather than repack it.