Thursday, September 5, 2013

Wheels for a Fixie


    Mavic Ellipse ($550) (20 Bladed Spokes)
  • Front: 905g
  • Rear: 990g

    Forte Titan (16 Bladed Spokes)
  • Front: 755g (MSRP $130 -> $39)
  • Rear: 1000g (not for fixie)
OR build my own
Front: Shimano Dura-Ace Track 28H Hub (203g), Mavic Open Pro Black Rim (435g), DT Swiss Competition (311g for a set of 64 spokes at 264mm)
Rear: Shimano Dura-Ace Track 32H Hub (298g), Mavic Open Pro Black Rim (435g), spokes

H Plus Son Formation Face Rim (615g) $80
Velocity Deep V Rim (580g) $79

Front: Phil Wood High Flange Hub (225g)
Rear: Phil Wood High Flange Hub (389g)

Front: Phil Wood Low Flange Hub (185g)
Rear: Phil Wood Low Flange Hub (349g)

Thoughts on deep dish rims and durability: Jaime shared some ideas with me about durability of deep dish rims after I went on about trade offs between aerodynamics vs durability vs weight concerning wheels. He confirmed that I am correct when I say deep dish rims + high flange hubs are more durable by shortening the spokes. The side effect of using the combination is the spokes have less play and therefore stresses the rims more, decreasing durability of the rim itself.

In track racing the priority of the three issues described above would be prioritized as: aerodynamics > weight > durability. Deep dish rims weren't designed for the purpose of durability but for the advantage of aerodynamics. Then what's important for the poor street riders, whom includes me, where hills are involved? I would order them like so: durability > weight > aerodynamics. This prioritizing can be further complicated by adding aesthetics and cost.

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