Bike Wheel Black Friday: discounts on road, mountain, city

The four measurements to take before ordering a wheel

• The diameter, read on the tyre in ETRTO specifications: 622 for 700C and 29 inches, 584 for 650B, 559 for 26 inches.
• The brake: brake track for pads, or hub for disc, mounted with six bolts or with Center Lock.
• The axle, which must correspond to the frame and fork dropouts: quick release, solid axle with nuts or thru axle, in 12 x 100 and 12 x 142, or Boost, 15 x 110 and 12 x 148, on many mountain bikes.
• The freehub body, which receives the cassette: Shimano HG, Micro Spline, Sram XD or XDR; a city wheel can also have a hub with internal gears or a threaded freewheel.

The details of compatibilities can be found on the permanent page of front, rear or pair bike wheels.

Wheel on sale: compare the same version

A discounted wheel is only a good deal if it matches your bike. Before comparing its listed price to another wheel, check the product sheet and align these points:

• Front, rear or pair: a single unit deal cannot be compared to a pair, as front and rear hubs differ.
• The freehub body: HG, Micro Spline, XD or XDR change the reference, not just an option.
• The disc mount and the axle: Center Lock or six-bolt, Boost or standard.
• The rim: internal width, tubeless compatibility, hookless profile, which limits the tyres and pressure that can be used.
• What’s included: rim tape, tubeless valves, axle adapters; tyres, discs, and cassette are almost always sold separately.

Road, MTB, city and electric bike wheels

On road and gravel, rim height, material, and internal width guide the choice; road wheels in Black Friday stand out. In MTB, diameter and axle standard take precedence, with rim width suited to the practice’s tyres: see MTB wheels in Black Friday, and BMX wheels from the event for 20 inch. For an electric or cargo bike, choose a wheel indicated for that use; in town, a front wheel with a dynamo hub powers the lighting. To be paired with the wheel, bike tyres in Black Friday; end-of-line wheels go to clearance, with newly listed models in new arrivals.

Wheel brands during Black Friday

Velox assembles wheels on Mach1 rims, from city wheels to Kargo reinforced for cargo and electric bikes, and Trucky wheels for MTB and electric cargo.

Mavic offers its wheels individually or as pairs: Aksium and Ksyrium for road, Allroad for gravel, Crossride, Crossmax and Deemax for MTB, from cross-country to downhill.

Shimano names its wheels by code: WH-RS100 and WH-RS300 for road, WH-MT500 and WH-MT601 for MTB, GRX WH-RX570 for gravel, up to the Dura-Ace WH-R9270 in carbon.

Zipp is represented by its carbon wheels: 303, 404, 454 NSW and 808 for road, 101 and 303 XPLR for gravel, in Firecrest, S or NSW finishes.

Gurpil offers its GTR MTB wheels in SL23, SL27 or SL35 versions, Boost or standard, with Sram or Micro Spline bodies, and offers Infinite and Alpha pairs for gravel.

Frequently asked questions

When to buy a bike wheel on Black Friday?

The peak time remains the Friday after Thanksgiving, before the holidays, but Vélo-Store keeps its Black Friday discounts on wheels throughout November. So you can take measurements of the axle and freehub body before ordering.

Does an 11-speed road wheel accept a 12-speed cassette?

It depends on the freehub body and the group. A Shimano 12-speed road cassette fits on an 11-speed HG body, while a Sram 12-speed cassette with a 10-tooth cog requires an XD or XDR body. Check the compatibility indicated by the cassette manufacturer.

Can you change just the rear wheel?

Yes, as long as you get the same diameter and brake type as the front. The rear wheel, which carries more weight and the freehub mechanism, is often the first to replace.

What is a hookless rim?

It’s a rim without a retaining hook on the edge, designed for a tubeless setup. It only accepts tyres that are validated for this profile and limits the inflation pressure: check the manufacturer’s list of compatible tyres before ordering.

Are the discs and cassette provided with the wheel?

Almost never: a wheel is delivered bare, sometimes with its rim tape and valves. Recover the discs and cassette from your old wheel if they are in good condition and compatible, or plan to order them together.