Now I'm excited.

I've been riding the slightly damaged wheel for a while now because it was pretty good.

A few days ago I got ahold of a brand new, in the plastic, WTB Kom i30, for less than the price of lunch at a food truck. Which is a lot like the current hoop except stronger due to some extra cross sections inside.

Instead of tearing down the old wheel, which as I mentioned is still pretty ok, I got a little bling. Ordered an I9 hydra in gold. It'll match my titanium bolts on the bike and pedals. Absurd.

Half and half spokes are on the way.

Only compromise was they only had brass 12mm in black and I didn't want 14 or 16mm. I may check out the local shops for 16 brass nips. I need some tubes for my commuter anyway.

This wheel is gonna be cool.

FWIW, I'm usually slow, I ride gravity on a hardtail, I'm gray and bald, and I'm coming off an injury. I didn't want a carbon rim.