Track Cycling: Velodrome Racing and Training Area - 24" Tubular Rims/Tires?

Anyone know of any high quality 24" tubular rims and tires? I'm looking for a front wheel for a pursuit bike, and the pickings look pretty slim. I don't care about braking surfaces, or spoke counts, but definitely double-walled rims. And what abou tires? I'll be looking for a very narrow one.

Any help is appreciated.

I had a bike with a 24" front wheel and built up a couple Sun Mistral M17 rim wheels - 24H, 17mm rim. I put Panaracer 17mm tires on the same. They're sort of cheap nylon tubulars but you can pump them up a lot.

I don't know if they're still available but it's worth a shot. The shop got them through Quality Bicycle Products. If they don't have it, good luck.

cdr

QBP doesn't seem to have those.. anyone know about 24" clincher rims or tires that are nice for the track?

I rode pursuit on a 24" front, and later rode kilo on 24" front and rear. Had very good luck with Saavedra Aero Turbo rims, which were the lightest available at the time, high flange hubs with 24 spokes, and Panaracer Rapide tires.

I assume carpediem is talking about the Rapides when he mentions "cheap nylon tubulars", but I don't remember them as inexpensive or poor quality. IIRC they were about $60 at a time when Vittoria CXs went for the same. They were definitely the narrowest tires I ever saw, and they didn't grip well or last terribly long. They haven't been made for years, but are still available from Yellow Jersey. http://www.yellowjersey.org/panaracer_tubular_tires.html
Too expensive IMO, and I'd question the reliability of tires that old, but there you go.

UCI rules state that both wheels must be the same size.

Funny bikes are a dying breed...

i was just thinking the same thing... "why this guy wants a 24" front wheel if he wont be able to use the bike in a competition?"... saavedra rims are quite good anyways. thanks...

"Not UCI legal" and "Can't use in competition" are two different things. Regardless, the fellow didn't say anything about competing on it.

lets ask then.... Boss Moniker are u going to race with that bike or just play with it?

Light tyres for the 24" wheels are becoming rarer, the panaracer were made during the time of the funny bike and I haven't seen any for years. The set I have are starting to crack up and the only replacements I've found are the chen shing.

Also be aware there are 2 different bead dia. marked as 24"x1" tyres, the 541 dia. are true 24" and the 520 dia. are closer to 23". I've only seen light tyres in the 520 bead.

Oh, I thought this thread was long gone. Lots of good info, but turns out I didn't get the frame I originally wanted.. a 3Rensho pursuit with 24" front.

Yeah, it's likely I would have just played with it. Depending on my closest velodrome's rules, I would have liked to compete on it.. but UCI sponsored competitions? Very, very doubtful.

And 520 is the diameter one would need. The other 24" ones are for mountain bikes.

Continental still makes 24" tubular tires for wheelchair racing/sports called Saalsport. They come in 24x1" and 24x1 1/8"

Sam