Nail the details on your bike build with Wheels Manufacturing
If you're building your own bike, one of the nicest parts is figuring out all the little things that will really make the build. Sure, the frame, wheels and groupset are the glamour items, but the smaller bits like bottom bracket, derailleur hanger, thru axles, top cap and seat clamp are the parts that turn a good build into a great one. One brand that's earned an excellent reputation by making just these sorts of things is Wheels Manufacturing (or Wheels MFG) who made their name by making top notch bottom brackets and a huge catalogue of mech hangers to fit almost any bike. Oh, and possibly the best-looking bearing presses that money can buy. That's not all they do, though, and one of their latest creations is a variety of beautifully machined thru axles that will make any bike look that little bit better.
Almost all disc brake frames come with thru axles as standard, but the quality can vary wildly from those that complement the frame very nicely to those that really feel like an afterthought. Some are also surprisingly heavy, which isn't what you're after if your goal is to build a super light bike - for reference, a 12 x 120mm front axle from WheelsMFG is just 26g, and a rear 12 x 162 is 38g. That's light, but not is-this-going-to-explode-if-I-hit-a-pothole light. Sensible, is what we're saying.
As well as being available in either 12 or 15mm diameters, one of the really smart things Wheels MFG have done is make their front axles in six different lengths - that's 118, 120, 125, 148, 155 and 158mm, since you asked - and an even greater variety of lengths for the rear. While your road frame might say that the fork dimensions are, for example 12 x 100mm, that's the internal width of the fork, and the external dimensions can vary as not all forks are the same thickness and your axle needs to go all the way into the thread on the other blade, not partially as that's not safe.
If you like a little splash of colour on your bike, Wheels MFG also make anodized thru axle caps that fill the holes on either side of the axle and add a little brightness to your build. Not for everyone, sure, but a lovely little touch if that's your thing.
While we're talking Wheels MFG, it's definitely worth taking some time to look at its new, anodized bottom brackets as well. A benchmark for quality for years now, Wheels MFG has taken the opportunity to branch out from just two colour choices in red and black and add a few more options into the mix with purple, blue, green and orange.
None of the spec has changed - they're just as great as always - just the colours, making it easier than ever to find the perfect bottom bracket to complement your dream build.
