Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - New Front Wheel: Open Pro and what hub?

I'd like a new front wheel for my FG. Right now I am using a wheel from another bike (24 spoke Bontrager Select) - I'd rather not keep swapping them.

My FG rear wheel is a silver Surly/Open Pro.

I'd like a front wheel to match as close as practical/economical - certainly using a Open Pro or equivalent rim

One option is an off the shelf Ultegra/Open Pro at ~$120

A perfect match would be a Surly/Open Pro, but this would need to be built, perhaps $190 (per Harris pricing)

Another choice is the 24 radial Mavic Cosmos for $70, which supposedly uses an Open Pro shaped rim

What other options are there? $120 premium to get a 'perfect match' but not a 'better' wheel seems a bit steep.

Al

i'd buy whatever cheap NOS (or lightly used) silver wheel you find on da bay...

to me aesthetics aren't that important and front wheels are pretty much all the damn same so you might as well not spend too much on it.

maybe then spend some of the extra money on nice new bearings and races & repack that baby so it's supah-smoov....

Is your rear hub high or low flange? does matching the hub or the rim matter more? Just get a reference...

Probably the best hub deal around. Same as your Surly,
just with a different brand name on it.

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/fixed-hubs.html

Is your rear hub high or low flange? does matching the hub or the rim matter more? Just get a reference...
Its a Surly hub. Not high flange, not very low like some 'road' hubs.

Matching the rim is probably significant, but the overall match is more important. I've had mismatched wheels on my FG for the past 3yrs. and just feel the time is right to get a complete 'wheelset' for each bike instead of mixing and matching.

Al

Probably the best hub deal around. Same as your Surly,
just with a different brand name on it.

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/fixed-hubs.html


that is nothing like a surly hub.

can't go wont with ultegra/OP.

I don't think rear HF/front LF looks bad at all, but you do and it's your bike. I would use this as an opportunity to build your first wheel, you could get the parts together for $120 or so. Building a front is really easy, and it's a little more forgiving than a rear.

I don't think rear HF/front LF looks bad at all, but you do and it's your bike. I would use this as an opportunity to build your first wheel, you could get the parts together for $120 or so. Building a front is really easy, and it's a little more forgiving than a rear.
Actually I don't care about mixing HF/LF. Thats why I'm considering the ultregra/OP wheel.
Al

I say go for the Ultegra-OP. 105-OP wheels can be had for around $80, too.

105-OP wheels can be had for around $80, too.
That would be excellent too. All I can find are 105-OS wheels though. Any leads?
Al

That would be excellent too. All I can find are 105-OS wheels though. Any leads?
Al
My estimation was based on a site that is out of stock of them (imagine that) but Performance has them for $110.

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=22792&srccode=2047&cm_mmc=Froogle-_-Datafeed-_-null-_-null

No longer offered here for $75, jerks.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=16982

There are also a few wicked cheap on ebay.

My estimation was based on a site that is out of stock of them (imagine that) but Performance has them for $110.

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=22792&srccode=2047&cm_mmc=Froogle-_-Datafeed-_-null-_-null

No longer offered here for $75, jerks.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=16982

There are also a few wicked cheap on ebay.
Funny stuff. I too did a search and found the same no-more $74 deal and performance. I figured for $10 more I might as well get the ultegra hubs version from performance.

Al