Tandem Cycling - Velocity Deep-V: Actual Weight

As an update to some previous postings on tandem wheels, rims, and recommendations I thought I'd share a discovery from this past weekend...

Early on when I began using the 700c 36h Deep-V rims back in '02 they were advertised as 520 grams and the ones that I ended up with in my hot little hands were a little bit heavier than that, around 540 grams or so.

I recently picked up my spare 700c 36h Fusion rim and decided to check it's weight against the specs and was pleasantly surprised to find it was actually a little less (459 grams) than the claimed weight of 475 grams.

Actually, I should probably mention I initially weighed the rim on my Ultimate digital scale and was shocked to see it come in at only 440 grams, which seemed a bit unbelievable. I then put it on my far more sensitive digital postal scale (max 5 lbs) which reported the 465 gram weight. I mention this because, in general, I've found the Ultimate digital scale to be less than accurate on anything under 5 lbs. It seems to be better suited to bikes and such.

Anyway, since I had the scales out I decided to pull down some spare Deep-V rims... an '04 version that was slightly damaged and came off my '02 Erickson before I sold it (it was the second rear rim that got dinged on that tandem, the first was FUBAR'd in '04), and two brand new ones.

Imagine my surprise when all three weighed in at 575 grams, 10% over the spec weight. Now, to be fair, I'm not sure that I'd be put off from using the Deep-Vs by the higher than claimed weight, but it was really a bit of a surprise as they are still listed as a 520 gram rim.

Again, because it has been a perenial favorite of mine and one that is often times recommended as a very good tandem rim, I thought I'd share my findings.

Yeah, I've heard of a lot of weight variability in the Deep Vs. I built mine up before I weighing them, so no more data for you.

I wonder if more recent samples would be any more consistent since Velocity seems to be selling so many more of them.

Are you refering to the scale that hangs on a hook or can be clamped in a stand? They make a postal style too that I thought of getting so my postal scale I'm using in the garage can go back inside.

http://www.bikemannetwork.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/Alt-Ultimate/ULT-16019.jpg

At just under 600 grams- I seem to remeber 580 or 590. The 128 hole version weighs 520:)

I think the weight is offset somewhat by their strengh and aeroness: I can go down at least 4 spokes and possible 8 over a light box section rim.

I have some prebuilt Sparticus that are 20F 24 R on my single and they are bulletproof.

anybody try them at 28 on the front of a tandem?

http://www.bikemannetwork.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/Alt-Ultimate/ULT-16019.jpg

Yep that's the same one I have. I once weighed my Ksyrium Elites with it and my postal scale and they were practically identical in readings. I'll have to get a calibration weight and see if they are both off or right on.
I used to use a digital fish scale I got at Sporting Goods Store but when the battery died it was not replaceable.
Very glad they made this scale.:)

Very glad they made this scale.

No doubt... It's one heck of a LOT more accurate than my 'old' linear scale:

http://www.grainger.com/images/products/enlarged/XL-5A354.JPG

At just under 600 grams- I seem to remeber 580 or 590. The 128 hole version weighs 520:)

I think the weight is offset somewhat by their strengh and aeroness: I can go down at least 4 spokes and possible 8 over a light box section rim.

I have some prebuilt Sparticus that are 20F 24 R on my single and they are bulletproof.

anybody try them at 28 on the front of a tandem?

Where did you find the 128 hole hub, to use this rim?

Is it because Halloween's just around the corner that all these dead threads keep being exhumed?

http://tandemgeek.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/threadnecromancyjk7.jpg

So what's a newbie suppose to do? They start a new thread and someone says to use the search function. So they use the search function and they be blasted because the have waken the dead.
So, Where do you find a 128 hole rim?

Think of the weight savings over a 32 hole rim.

So what's a newbie suppose to do? They start a new thread and someone says to use the search function. So they use the search function and they be blasted because the have waken the dead.
So, Where do you find a 128 hole rim?

+1 Just because I need to feel included. :)

So what's a newbie suppose to do? They start a new thread and someone says to use the search function. So they use the search function and they be blasted because the have waken the dead.
So, Where do you find a 128 hole rim?

I suppose it was a typo and they meant "28 hole rim".

So what's a newbie suppose to do? They start a new thread and someone says to use the search function. So they use the search function and they be blasted because the have waken the dead.

Exactly. Always check the freshness date.

I suppose it was a typo and they meant "28 hole rim".

Actually, I'm pretty sure it was just, you know, a joke.

Where did you find the 128 hole hub, to use this rim?

I think he meant the 144 spoke version. (http://www.choppersus.com/store/product/867/Wheel-26%22-Hollow-Hub-144-Spoke/) :P

Imagine my surprise when all three weighed in at 575 grams, 10% over the spec weight. Now, to be fair, I'm not sure that I'd be put off from using the Deep-Vs by the higher than claimed weight, but it was really a bit of a surprise as they are still listed as a 520 gram rim. .


I'm surprised that you're surprised as it' been listed all over the internet for years that the actual weight is 580 compared to the 520 claims. :D

I'm surprised that you're surprised as it' been listed all over the internet for years that the actual weight is 580 compared to the 520 claims. :D

Again, this thread died a long time ago. I went ahead a stuck with the Deep-V's after talking with the folks at Velocity who assured me, the current (circa 2008) rims were coming in at 520 grams. When I received my new rims they were, in fact, 520 grams on the dot as advertised. I included an update in my Calfee Journal Update #10 on May 26th (http://www.thetandemlink.com/calfee_tandem_10.html).

I never updated this thread because, (a) the subject really never gained traction or generated specific feedback, and (b) this thread was OLD even by May 2008.

Again, this thread died a long time ago.

Ah, missed the date. But still, I've seen the 580 reviews all over the net since 2005 when I stated building my own wheels!:D