Mike Garcia

[redir]

Anyone know what ever happened to him? For those who don't know he was a guy around turn of the century that was building some pretty decent wheels for very good prices out of Florida IIRC.

Anyway I nailed a pothole last night on our local race ride real hard. Slow leak flat took a few minutes to go down and then I saw that I had damaged the rear rim. It's one of those Niobium 30's that Mike built for me about 2005.

Anyway I'm totally bummed. Back in the day I only used these for racing and just recently decided to start riding them again and they really are nice wheels and super light weight.

If anyone knows where I can score a replacement rim or if perhaps Mike still sells stock or someone took over his business etc.. I'd appreciate it.

[soulspinner]

I had a pair built by him....he went out of business years ago.. still have the wheels. Replaced a few spokes but they are still rollin great.

[jmoore]

I have a set of his wheels as well. I had so many spokes break in the first year that I had the get the entire read wheel relaced by my LBS. They were fine after that.

[ikecycke]

I'm pretty sure those rims are just the Kinlin XR-300. You should be able to track one down pretty easily for under $50

[Mark McM]

All the Niobium rims were/are made by Kinlin, and sold under different brand names. Kinlin rims are available from a variety of sources including, Bike Hub Store, Fairwheel Bikes, Wheelbuilder.com ProWheelBuilder.com, and many others. It sounds like your rim is probably a Kinlin XR300 (30mm deep, 19mm wide), which can be had in a variety of different drillings (and a few different colors) for around $50.

[mgm777]

Yes. His business was Odds & Endos, I believe. I too have a wheelset built by him. Solidly built, but like others have experienced, I too have had some spokes break. I think he may have built them with overly high spoke tension.

[eddief]

Ultegra, Open Pro 9 speed, 28 spokes, going fine still.

[TimD]

I had a set which started out with him, not built for me specifically. AmClassic hubs, DT Swiss RR rims, nicely built but ultimately a little too lightweight for my 185 lbs.

[redir]

Thanks for the tip on the Kinlin XR-300. Are those Niobium? It doesn't specifically say. I have no idea what niobium is but those AL clinchers were the lightest I've ever seen at 1425g IIRC.

I'm really surprised to hear that folks had spokes break. I am the KING of breaking spokes and have broken spokes literally on every wheelset I've had to date including trusty 32 hole Open Pro's as well as a variety of Campy wheels and even Nemisis. But I've never broken one on my Garsia's and they are even low spoke count.

[malcolm]

Thanks for the tip on the Kinlin XR-300. Are those Niobium? It doesn't specifically say. I have no idea what niobium is but those AL clinchers were the lightest I've ever seen at 1425g IIRC.

I'm really surprised to hear that folks had spokes break. I am the KING of breaking spokes and have broken spokes literally on every wheelset I've had to date including trusty 32 hole Open Pro's as well as a variety of Campy wheels and even Nemisis. But I've never broken one on my Garsia's and they are even low spoke count.

Breaking spokes is usually a built issue. I had a set of wheels from mike that are on there 3rd or 4th owner and last I heard they are going strong.

[jmoore]

Thanks for the tip on the Kinlin XR-300. Are those Niobium? It doesn't specifically say. I have no idea what niobium is but those AL clinchers were the lightest I've ever seen at 1425g IIRC.

I'm really surprised to hear that folks had spokes break. I am the KING of breaking spokes and have broken spokes literally on every wheelset I've had to date including trusty 32 hole Open Pro's as well as a variety of Campy wheels and even Nemisis. But I've never broken one on my Garsia's and they are even low spoke count.

My wheels are Velocity Fusion rims laced to his Speedcific hubs, 28f, 32r. I def broke several spokes on them. I emailed and called him after maybe #4 broke but never got any response.

[alembical]

I have a pair of his wheels too. They have been great.

[oldpotatoe]

Breaking spokes is usually a built issue. I had a set of wheels from mike that are on there 3rd or 4th owner and last I heard they are going strong.

Could be, as in tension too low, then ridden, which deforms the rim..too low tension=broken spokes. Kinda like the metal coat hanger-bend-bend-bend-break.