Environmental Sustainability

While cycling is one of the most environmental things you can do, like with anything else, it does have an environmental impact. At Particle, we are conscious of this and have decided to find ways to make carbon fiber a bit greener.

Production

Biodegradable Release Agent

Carbon fiber release agents are crucial in composite manufacturing to prevent adhesion between the mold and the carbon fiber rim. Our rims use biodegradable release agents to minimize environmental impact.

Laser Etched Decals

In order to reduce plastic waste, we use laser etched decals, which have the extra benefit of shaving several grams off our wheelsets.

Raw Finish

Another thing that we have done to save material while also saving weight is by choosing a unidirectional raw finish for all of our wheels. On rims with 3K, 12K, and other finishes, extra carbon fiber is needed to maintain the same characteristics.

Rim Durability

While our rims are lightweight, they are also durable. A weak rim can be easily broken, and carbon fiber is not something that can be easily recycled. For this reason, our rims have been engineered to survive more than twice the force of the UCI Vertical Impact Test, making them durable and letting them last longer. Our spoke holes are also reinforced to improve structural integrity and eliminate cracks.

Reducing Material Waste

Another way we have reduced weight while maintaining safety is by using improved manufacturing methods to ensure rims have proper compaction, and are void and wrinkle free. For this reason we do not have to overengineer rims with extra material.

Materials and Components

Replaceable Carbon Spokes

Gone are the days where carbon spoke rims had to be thrown away with a broken spoke. Our carbon spokes can be just as easily replaced as steel spokes. Not only are our spokes durable, surviving far higher tension than steel spokes, but they are also slower to fatigue. We have two carbon spoke options, 3rd generation and 4th generation. 4th gen spokes reduce weight even further while offering better compliance, giving you a smooth ride.

Particle_Carbon_Spokes

Star Ratchet Hubs

Star ratchet hubs are quickly becoming the norm. Our AR1 hub shells and axles have been machined to 0.005mm and 0.003mm tolerances respectively, significantly reducing stress on the bearings, allowing them to last longer and allowing for less rolling resistance. This makes them much more precise than other ratchet hubs. Furthermore, the rear hub uses a labyrinth seal and double layer contamination barrier, so there is a significant reduction in the likelihood of ingress, protecting bearings and ratchets from the elements.

In addition to the hub accuracy and how it protects the bearings, as opposed to regular pawl and ratchet hubs, a star ratchet hub can be made new again by easily swapping ratchets. This means that the freehub mechanism can last much longer, saving you the money of having to get a new hub.

Particle_AR1_Hub

Bearings

While hybrid ceramic bearings have become more popular, evidence shows that they wear faster than steel bearings due to ceramic balls being harder than steel races., leading to them needing to be replaced earlier. For this reason, we offer both quality S&S steel and ceramic bearings, giving riders the option to ride what they want. Regardless of the bearings you choose, they will last longer than usual due to our AR1 hub design.

Packaging

Minimal Packaging

In order to keep things simple, we include the essentials with every pair of wheels, including tubeless valves, tubeless rim tape pre-installed, and spare spokes in case you need them. Our packaging has been designed to be minimal as well. While not as flashy, our wheel boxes have simple, unpainted designs. Additional documentation is all on our website. If you would like any accessories, let us know and we can include them in the box.

Non-Woven Fabric Storage Bags

A carbon wheelset is by no means a small purchase, and we think they need to be protected. We have chosen a special kind of non-woven fabric to protect your wheels from scratches and scrapes. Each of our wheelsets comes with a set of these bags to keep them in good condition when off your bike.

Local Sourcing

Despite the claims of many brands claiming to be OEMs, the truth is the vast majority do not produce what they say they do. It can be difficult to verify their claims. At Particle, we feel that honesty is the best policy. Those on our team with previous experience working for OEMs, as well as wheel and frame brands in Xiamen are aware of false marketing claims, and we have decided to be fully transparent. We pick and choose the suppliers based on what we know works from years of experience in customer service and by seeing the ins and outs of manufacturing in Xiamen.

The truth is that every factory has their own specialties, and not every carbon rim, spoke, hub, and bearing is created equal. We are glad to have options and are dedicated to making the best performance wheelsets possible.

Carbon Fiber

All of our materials are sourced within a few hundred kilometer radius. They come from two places, Xiamen, China and Taiwan. We use genuine Toray carbon fiber that has been sourced from both Fujian, China and Taiwan.

Rims

All of our rims are sourced by our factory partners in Xiamen, China. The hub of carbon rim manufacturing. In addition, the wheels are also built packaged and shipped to you without leaving the city.

Spokes

Just like our carbon rims, we have also chosen to partner with local manufacturers. Xiamen is the leader when it comes to carbon spokes, and we are proud to be using some of the first 4th generation carbon spokes, weighing only 2.1 grams each.

Hubs

Our AR1 hubs are also locally made by our supplier. They are Chinese made and are among the most precise hubs currently available, outperforming even the most well-known Western brands.