Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Looking for Bontrager Race Lite-type Wheels for SS

I really like the look of the spokes on these wheels. Has anyone seen a wheelset like this (preferably on a flip-flop hub)?

These would be going on an old chrome Raleigh frame. I'm really trying to get my father to buy the Sarthe, in which case perhaps I could steal the wheels.

you could probably just buy the rims and get them laced up to your choice of hub. Bontrager doesn't list rims on their website now but I'm sure your local Trek dealer can get you "Replacement" rims to lace up.

That might be the way to go--I wonder how much they'd charge me for just the rims. Alternately, does anyone know of anywhere else that has a 20-hole rim like this? This is more of an aesthetic change--for the kind of riding I'm doing (banging around the city) the Bontragers as such would be total overkill.

Aren't the hubs for these wheels drilled in a specific manner? I've never examined one that closely..

From what I've read, I think they might have to be, if they were going to last. I think the hubs have to be heavier to work with this kind of lacing pattern.

A fun (dangerous) experiment idea: Lace up a 36h hub and rim with 18 spokes, just skip every other leading/trailing pair. Lace it 4-cross, for added strength.

Report back.

I run a pair of bontrager race on my road bike and the hub is definately designed for the low spoke count. They just look nice, nothing special, but pretty nice wheels for the price.
I've seen people run 16h rims with track hubs, looked pretty nice, but don't know how stront it'd be though and also they are harder to true and keep true so if you are really bombing around town on them, they might not be able to hold true.

http://www.bontrager.com/News/09-03-2003.php

the track wheels are available from Bontrager/trek stockists

http://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/wheels/wheelsets/Bontrager/PRD_303579_2490crx.aspx

wow, didn't think they had the track sets, how much do they run for? I'd still stick with the traditional spoke count though. They probably cost more than my bike.

i have no idea how much they cost, but a friend has a pair. they (at least his pair) flex like mad in the corners and it's freaky as hell.

A fun (dangerous) experiment idea: Lace up a 36h hub and rim with 18 spokes, just skip every other leading/trailing pair. Lace it 4-cross, for added strength.

Report back.
something like this?

A fun (dangerous) experiment idea: Lace up a 36h hub and rim with 18 spokes, just skip every other leading/trailing pair. Lace it 4-cross, for added strength.

Report back.
Sheldon sez its ok!

Msngr, these are nice! You build these?

Msngr, these are nice! You build these?
no, i saw these on ebay and thought about having my bsg build a set up for me so i copied the images. since then, though, my sponsor (CEYA!) has loaned me the best wheels ever invented (with the expected results at the track), so the whole idea has gone by the wayside. as i've thought more about it, the super-low spoke count doesn't work for me at the track. i still like a lower spoke count than most (28), but not 14 or 16. at least not for the track. not the way i ride.

lower spoke count helps with distance, not on the track, where responsiveness is king. at least in my O.

wow, didn't think they had the track sets, how much do they run for? I'd still stick with the traditional spoke count though. They probably cost more than my bike.

They seem to have disappeared from their website, but if I remember correctly they ran about $800 for the set. I don't think they were carbon though

" i still like a lower spoke count than most (28), but not 14 or 16. at least not for the track. not the way i ride."

what does the way you ride have to do with your spoke count....? just curious

" i still like a lower spoke count than most (28), but not 14 or 16. at least not for the track. not the way i ride."

what does the way you ride have to do with your spoke count....? just curious
i really think ceya would be better at answering this, but i'll give it a try.

i have a weird track style. i use a bigger gear than most and i can power in mid race, but not early or late. so i like to jump middle race, and i can usually hold the lead i get for a while. any kind of flex in any kind of sprint will hurt me. races on the track are short, so any and all disadvantages are magnified. if i can't jump, i'm screwed. does this make any sense?

ok, let me rephrase. . . if someone can hang my wheel, they will beat be in a long race. if i can get away, i can push a little distance and just ride it out. so jumping is important to me. once i get a little separation, i'm there. if flex is invloved, they have me and will pass me in the long run.