





Velocity A23 — 650B (Rim Brake)
$120.00 – $170.00
We’ve looked far and wide for a good rim for 650B bikes with rim brakes, and the Velocity A23 is our favorite. Rim designs tend to be hit-or-miss: Different rim models from the same maker can either be great, or have insufficient sidewall heights, or even suffer from cracking after just a few years of riding.
The A23’s triangular shape is a logical way to design a rim, because it offers the best load paths for the spoke tension. The A23 is remarkably lightweight—425 g for the 650B version—yet it doesn’t suffer from cracking like so many modern aluminum rims. The diameter is spot-on: The tire beads seat securely, but the fit is not too tight. The inside sidewall height (G height) is 5.5 mm: about perfect for running tires with tubes, and at the lower end of the tolerances for tubeless.
Velocity says the A23 is tubeless-compatible. In our experience, the tire tends to drop into the well when the air is released. That makes removing the tire much easier, but it’s not ideal for tubeless. Let’s say: You probably can run the A23 tubeless, but it’s really optimized for running with tubes.
The 23 mm width is about perfect for tires up to 45 mm wide. You can run tires as wide as 54 mm, but if you run canti brakes, the brake pads can hit your tire when the brake opens. The tire is so much wider than the rim, and the brake pads swing upward as the brake opens.
Our A23s have been through multiple Oregon Outbacks, Unbound XLs, Arkansas High Country Races and more—without any trouble at all, not even truing the wheels. Our A23s have machined sidewalls: Our wheels offer optimum braking from the get-go, not only after the rims have ‘worn in.’ We’re not offering an offset version for the rear—we prefer spokes to connect in the centerline of the rim for maximum durability of the wheel.
Note: Use tubeless rim tape even if you install inner tubes. Cloth tape is too thick, and the tire may not seat properly— the bead may not slide over the ridge that separates the well from the shelf. Clean the rim bed with alcohol to remove residues and ensure that the rim tape adheres perfectly.
Pro Tip: The large stickers on the rim come off easily. Periodically wax polished rims with a high-quality car wax to prevent tarnishing and spots from water or sweat.
- Technical Specs
- 23 mm outer and 18 mm inner width
- Machined brake track
- Tubeless-compatible (according to Velocity, see text)
- for tires between 23 and 54 mm wide (best for tires up to 45 mm)
- 28 or 32 holes
- ERD (actual, without nipple head): 561 mm (650B)
- SON Spoke Length Calculator
- 425 g (650B)
- Made in USA
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