Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - why tri/quad-spoke front wheel?

Can anyone shed some light on why some fixie riders use a tri/quad-composite-spoke front wheel? HED H3, etc.

Is there a functional reason for this?

Aesthetics. I assume many fixed freestylers come from a BMX background, so they may be attracted to those sorts of wheels given the superficial resemblance to mags.

once you go tarck you never go barck

Money Money Money

cool/style points (which is, of course, in the eye of the beholder)

anyone who says differently is lying.

p.s. peabody the progressive checkout lady kind creeps me out

Money Money Money

you sold your pista?

p.s. peabody the progressive checkout lady kind creeps me out
:lol:
i pm'ed him the same thing a few days ago, professing my hate for that character. so ****ing annoying!

HAHA I've been wondering who that lady is for the past couple of weeks... I don't have TV and rarely see it so I had no idea.

Tri spokes or five spokes (Hed3 Aerospoke) don't go out of true since the spokes are solid and should never need tightening.

Four spokes (Rev-X) - The cool factor of landing a bar spin and having your wheel explode sending slivers of carbon fiber into every bystander within a 30 foot radius. There's also the badass factor of riding a wheel that could unexpectedly disintegrate and send you face first into the pavement. That kind of disregard for personal safety is worth 300 scene points

aerodynamics, vertical stiffness, lateral compliance

actually tri spokes/hed3/corima/io do go out of true. its just that when they do you cant re true them.

originally they were meant for aerodynamics. but with all the tarck guys now a days track bikes arent even riden on the track anymore.

I ride my Tri Spoke on the street and race it on the track. Also, no tricks for me.

Breaking stereotypes one wheel at a time!!!

ok sweet.. so looks like there is no real reason for a fixie on the street to have one, aside from asthetics.

aerodynamics shouldn't be a concern, if they are.. it's much cheaper (and more effective) to get TT bars. handling is also compromised in windy conditions, having a much larger side profile.. especially without a disc in back. as already mentioned, they do come out of true, and they don't go back into true. i'd hate to slam a nice carbon wheel into a pothole. they also generally weigh more.

now it's a different story if you're riding in a non-drafting track event, against the clock.

it's fine if you're riding a mass start event too, gotta break away from the pack at some point if you want to win. more aerodynamics when you're already near your max speed and breaking your wind is only going to help you.

I have it so I use it.
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z256/jackxter/1009.jpg

I have it so I use it.
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z256/jackxter/1009.jpg

Road clipless & aero wheel with riser bars huh?


If you had different handle bars on it that were intended for long open road use, then your bike would make comlete sense.

I dont mean to hate though your bike is awesome.



Why road clipless though? I don't get the impression that you leave town with those pedals and those handlebars...



IMO you either need to:
A. Put some street-friendly pedals on there (straps+clips or MTB clipless)
or
B. Put some drops or bullhorns on it if you actually do road rides with it.

MY BAD if you bike is currently inbetween setup A or setup B coincidentially in that pic...

it's fine if you're riding a mass start event too, gotta break away from the pack at some point if you want to win. more aerodynamics when you're already near your max speed and breaking your wind is only going to help you.

ya.. that makes sense. but I would rather run Zipp 404s or Reynolds something or other deep dish wheels (front and back), and not pay the weight penalty of tri/quad/5 spoke composites.

I know that if someone tossed an aero wheel my way, I'd rock it with my risers and PowerGrips. Don't matter where or how I ride.

it's fine if you're riding a mass start event too, gotta break away from the pack at some point if you want to win. more aerodynamics when you're already near your max speed and breaking your wind is only going to help you.

nor can it hurt when you gotta get to the plaid pantry for some tall boys ASAP

hamms demands aerodynamic wheels

ya.. that makes sense. but I would rather run Zipp 404s or Reynolds something or other deep dish wheels (front and back), and not pay the weight penalty of tri/quad/5 spoke composites.

I don't think there's much of a weight penalty in this case. You're already getting up to a fast pace drafting behind someone's wheel (unless you like to lead the pack from the get go), so by the time you pull out the momentum of the wheel in theory should be helping, not hurting.

Either way, there's always the common advice of "spend some more time training and less time thinking about this", and with that I'm off to the track!

I know that if someone tossed an aero wheel my way, I'd rock it with my risers and PowerGrips. Don't matter where or how I ride.

My 404 front, on my TT bike, costs more than my fixie + goodies.. would hate to ruin it or get it stolen goofing around town.

Road clipless & aero wheel with riser bars huh?


If you had different handle bars on it that were intended for long open road use, then your bike would make comlete sense.

I dont mean to hate though your bike is awesome.



Why road clipless though? I don't get the impression that you leave town with those pedals and those handlebars...



IMO you either need to:
A. Put some street-friendly pedals on there (straps+clips or MTB clipless)
or
B. Put some drops or bullhorns on it if you actually do road rides with it.

MY BAD if you bike is currently inbetween setup A or setup B coincidentially in that pic...

wow. seriously? it bothers you that much?

I know that if someone tossed an aero wheel my way, I'd rock it with my risers and PowerGrips. Don't matter where or how I ride.

same thing. I wouldn't come on here and show the kids on bikeforums my wheel, but I'd ride it around town for free. I love the way they look when someone's riding them. And when it comes down to it, are there really any GIGANTIC differences in wheels you can slap on a road fixed besides looks? Most of us shouldn't have any concern besides weight[deep v's]

Dude take those risers off the clipless KHS. are you crazy?
someone call the police! jk. who cares?

I've got apehangers and derailers on mine, plus a dually rear wheel to avoid having to flip flop. pics to come as soon as I get up to speed on photoshop.

My 404 front, on my TT bike, costs more than my fixie + goodies.. would hate to ruin it or get it stolen goofing around town.

*blink, blink*

mikeyp... TT bike... do you work for CDW, by chance?

I wouldn't come on here and show the kids on bikeforums my wheel

Oh, I totally would.

"HA HA! LOOKIT WHAT I GOT FER FREE, *****ES!"

:D

*blink, blink*

mikeyp... TT bike... do you work for CDW, by chance?

nope.. not me

Oh, I totally would.

"HA HA! LOOKIT WHAT I GOT FER FREE, *****ES!"

:D

omg you ruined my day barspinzbarspinz hipster fad fad just4looks :cry:

for the same reason a dog licks itself, because we can.

Road clipless & aero wheel with riser bars huh?


If you had different handle bars on it that were intended for long open road use, then your bike would make comlete sense.

I dont mean to hate though your bike is awesome.



Why road clipless though? I don't get the impression that you leave town with those pedals and those handlebars...



IMO you either need to:
A. Put some street-friendly pedals on there (straps+clips or MTB clipless)
or
B. Put some drops or bullhorns on it if you actually do road rides with it.

MY BAD if you bike is currently inbetween setup A or setup B coincidentially in that pic...


I rode 160 miles to and from Toronto with riser bars and clipless. You can do whatever you want, not needing to change anything.

The reason it's on the front only is because track rear wheels of this type are rare, and front wheels are ubiquitous.

Road clipless & aero wheel with riser bars huh?


If you had different handle bars on it that were intended for long open road use, then your bike would make comlete sense.

I dont mean to hate though your bike is awesome.



Why road clipless though? I don't get the impression that you leave town with those pedals and those handlebars...



IMO you either need to:
A. Put some street-friendly pedals on there (straps+clips or MTB clipless)
or
B. Put some drops or bullhorns on it if you actually do road rides with it.

MY BAD if you bike is currently inbetween setup A or setup B coincidentially in that pic...


I do not want you to lose any sleep over this...so here...
I switch bars, seats, pedals all the time...it depends on my mood. I happen to love my risers because they are extremely comfortable on my back (I'm am 40+ years old)
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z256/jackxter/IMG_3107.jpg

freestyle trackstand variations, since you can put the foot on the spokes :roflmao2:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3047/2719576644_90455dc783_o.jpg

do those vans have cleats on them ...

The reason it's on the front only is because track rear wheels of this type are rare, and front wheels are ubiquitous.

not really more rare perse as far as HED3s go. is't just noone wants to be pogo'ing on them ;)

It's a lot easier to deal with a front Tri Spoke. They're also more available since the difference between a road and track front is just a swap of an axle away.

freestyle trackstand variations, since you can put the foot on the spokes :roflmao2:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3047/2719576644_90455dc783_o.jpg

Oh sweet, it's skate dad!

It's a lot easier to deal with a front Tri Spoke. They're also more available since the difference between a road and track front is just a swap of an axle away.

well i was speaking for the purchase of 1 new vs new. used yea a front is probably easier to deal with but if u have 750$ to burn.... a new rear track vs new front hed 3 is the same jam

Oh sweet, it's skate dad!
hahahaha