Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Rear wheel dilemma...

I'm currently converting an old roadie to a fixed gear and i'm going with a cheap suicide hub conversion. I'm wondering whether I should keep the old steel wheel which is rusty but is a bolt-on or if I should buy a used aluminium rear wheel which would be lighter but would be a quick-release. Anyone know which is best?

Stupid death trap vs. stupid death trap is one decision I'd love to be a part of.

my friend, not everyone is fortunate enough to be able to afford a rear track hub and the cost of a rebuilt wheel. When you're 15 years old and you love cycling, you have to make some sacrifices. Think about this before you make another unhelpful comment.

Not being able to afford a proper track hub doesn't justify anything to me.
Get a job. Save your money. Whatever.
Save for a suzue jr. and relace it to the aluminum rim you have.
There are economical ways to do it right that aren't unsafe.
Suicide hubs are just idiotic, imo.

you can replace the axle on the qr wheel without too much trouble. plus you'll know more about bike hubs than any 15 year old on the block. if you want help doing this, post pictures and as accurate of a description as you can.

Suicide hubs are just idiotic, imo.

+1

if you're gonna be idiotic, leave both brakes on.

the web is littered with suzue jr laced to alex rims for about 80 bucks us
or you can sometimes find a formula mavic combo for around 130 us

search google

I am confused about the rear wheel. Ok i am reading some stuff about a wheel that's dished where the wheel is off center? or the hub is? well now what are flip flop hubs?
i always thought flip flop hubs were a rear wheel iwth fixed on one side and free on the other, so if you wanted to go change, u take out wheel and flip it around. am i think of the right thing?

so if your wheel is dished one way, if you flipped it around wouldn't you have to dish it again the other way?

sorry for my noobness but i am new to fixed gear.

The flange width on flip flop hubs is narrower, so there is no dish.

I vote option "Go to local bike kitchen/co-op, replace QR axle with a solid, and rotafix-locktite-BBlockring a cog on, move some spacers around to get the chain straight, then redish wheel".

there is usually no dish on a track wheel and the bb lockring and jb weld is dangerous without a front brake be warned!!!!!

there is usually no dish on a track wheel and the bb lockring and jb weld is dangerous without a front brake be warned!!!!!
I love how JB Weld became the adhesive of choice for a suicide hub over the past year. Maybe gorilla glue would work? But a rotafixa'ed cog with blue loctite and clean threads worked extremely well for me for quite a while.

sorry I have a friend who rode brakeless with a jb welded cog for 20 years but she also only weighs 105

The problem with JB weld is that once you use it, the hub is done. You can't change the cog. If you're really paranoid, use red loctite. It won't come off until you've put some heat to it, but it will come off if you want to change the cog.

Not being able to afford a proper track hub doesn't justify anything to me.
Get a job. Save your money. Whatever.
Save for a suzue jr. and relace it to the aluminum rim you have.
There are economical ways to do it right that aren't unsafe.
Suicide hubs are just idiotic, imo.


i feel the same way. brand new decent track wheels can be had for $135, and complete bikes for $300. good quality used on craigslist and ebay can be even less. it doesn't seem like it would be difficult for most people to save that much up over a couple of months. bumbikes are fine for people who have experience putting bikes together. for first timers who tend to be young, chances are they're going to end up with a bike that doesn't fit, has a cruddy chainline, with sludgy bearings, and has the distinct possibility of being unsafe. i don't think it's wise to encourage that.

Dude, I'm 18 now and getting ready to leave for college so cash is super tight, but I'm still going with track wheels for a new frame I got for free, I've loved bikes since I was 15. My dad bought me my first roadie when I was about your age and everything since has been all me-upgrades, race feees, licenses, what not. Save up for a cheap track wheel. You can get cheap Suzue stuff for less than $100 and formula/IRO for just over $100.

The best advice I can give to someone who's young, loves bikes, and low on cash is to ride the living **** out of whatever you can put between your legs (damn, that makes sense for everything I did in high school, doesn't it?)

Also, learn to do work yourself. It's a good feeling when you can do it all to your bike and won't lean on a shop (even though my current LBS is ****ing awesome). If you do go with the suicide deal be careful and run brakes.

Oh, and dudes (and chicks) here know their ****. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Even though some folks might bust your balls a bit, you'll get your help and get on down the road.

Save for legit track stuff. IRO/Formula is the best deal going it seems. I rock one on my Cross-Check and it's solid. I'd rather wait a little longer to not have to worry about jamming back hard to slow down.