Track Cycling - Track Wheels?

Hello,

I am looking to build a track bike for commuting and daily use (No racing), and the only concern that I have are the wheels. I have seen that I can buy rear trak wheels on ebay for about 60-70$. This is something I could afford. I have spoken to people who recommend that you buy a "track" front wheel. Is this necessary. I have always thought that font wheels are pretty much all the same.

I want to hear what others have to say. Thanks

any front wheel will do fine.

A track front wheel will have a bolt on hub. Other than that it's the same as a road wheel.

A track front wheel will have a bolt on hub. Other than that it's the same as a road wheel.

More specifically a track wheel has a solid axle compared to a road wheel that has a hollow axle for the quick release to go through. Of course you are correct, the front wheel spacing is generally the same for road and track wheels.

and many of us who race track actually use road wheels and an allen key skewer..to get double duty out of expensive wheels.
Nashbar sells a set, and Zipp also sells front wheel skewers.

i use a mavic cosmos front wheel on my fixie 4 commuting..the only difference i see is that it is easier to have your front wheel robbed due to the quick release...shouldnt be much of a problem to you provided you lock your front wheel...

SO whats the story with the back wheel then?

Can you do the same with it?

Change my road one to track by changing the cluster from9 speed to just 1?

i think shimano sells a converter that allows you to do that...

but im not 100% sure

there might be compatibility issues too.

The Surly Fixxer is used to convert Shimano casettes to Fixed. I am using one on my PowerTap.

I do not swap back and forth though.....

Thanks for your answers.

if you run a brake, make sure the from wheel is not radialy spoked, some track wheels are, radial spoked wheels cannot handle the tortional force created by a brake.

if you run a brake, make sure the from wheel is not radialy spoked, some track wheels are, radial spoked wheels cannot handle the tortional force created by a brake.


Unless we are talking about disks brakes(which seems highly unlikely) this post is completely false.

my preference is because of my weight and riding style

I have phil wood hubs laced to mavic hoops 36x3

but you can get a set of formula hubs laced to mavic cxp-22 for around 130 for the set

or you could get the nashbar track hub for 30 bucks and have a friend rebuild the rear whell you already have for a six pack or something

my lbs has suzue juniors with alex hoops for around 80 but I run brakeless and willl strip that thing in a day


hopefully this helps the mavic set with formulas I think is at super spokes just search for the decription you'll find it

Since u wont race what I would do is this,,, get a folk that is selling a set of old 7 speeds mavic wheels or any old campy road wheel set. Why 7/6 speeds? Simple U can fix the rear to 120 mms easyly or if your frame is 130 mms wide thats super easy to fix. Secondly u will be able to put a fix cog on those wheel sets.

3rd u wont be using bolts so it will easyer to fix in the street when u get a flat. Besides u'll carry one less tool w/u.

Thats the cheapest way to go unless u r purist as me. In that case get campy track hubs plus mavic tubular rims, sapim spokes and build the wheels your self. But let me tell you that set up could be like 600 bucks or so.

Go the way I told u before will cost like 60 bucks at most and for sure ull get a set of wheels that will last forever.

good luck...

if you run a brake, make sure the from wheel is not radialy spoked, some track wheels are, radial spoked wheels cannot handle the tortional force created by a brake.
First, it's torsional. Second, dutret has you covered on the only situation in which you are correct.

"I am looking to build a track bike for commuting and daily use (No racing), "

Thats what he wants... so any cheap old set of wheels will work. Come on guys! :p