H Plus Son Formation face rim

The H Plus Son Formation Face rim is a popular choice amongst the fixie crowd. The 42mm deep V section rim comes in a variety of colours and finishes to help you match the palette of your bike build, including a mirrored chrome. Ours was the standard black matte which has remained untarnished after a couple of months testing.

The graphics are minimal probably because hipsters would only remove them anyway. These aren't just trendy hoops, they are brutally strong and can take the punishment of everyday riding. I find that that my fixed gear bikes hammer wheels far more that any freewheel road bike. You pedal through everything and sideways skidding isn't something you do often on a road bike either. This deep V rim comes either with or without a braking surface, we chose the Formation Face which has no braking surface to build up as a back wheel. H Plus Son claim that "without the any stress points in the side wall, the uniform triangle shape improves the rim's lateral stiffness in comparison to the SL42 (with braking surface). The simple profile shape also saves weight by reducing the distance between the bead hook and the spoke bed."

G609 aluminium alloy is used which is 30 percent stronger than 6061 aluminium alloy more often used. The weight of our rim was 630g which shows what kind of weight compromise you carry for that extra bit of material that makes up the rim's profile. To get down to this weight the side walls are very thin so don't try running a brake without risking catastrophic consequences! We had the wheel built up by Brick Lane Bikes (London) who made an incredibly tight wheel. You notice how stiff the wheel is making every pedal stroke feel very direct and solid. Unfortunately you also notice the extra weight over a non deep V rim when getting the wheel rolling. The deep section does get affected by some gusty side wind but not enough to throw you off course. In two months of riding with it the wheel has stayed tight and true and still looks nice and new.

Verdict

A wheel where fashion meets function; a fashionable, strong deep V section rim that can take everyday punishment of city roads. Available in a variety of colours and finishes.