Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Vuelta Rims w/ cog & tires, good deal or keep looking?

Obligatory newbie notice, I'm currently building my first fixed gear and a friend turned me on to these on eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Vuelta-Fixed-Gear-Track-SS-Wheels-Wheel-Set-Tires_W0QQitemZ380065161073QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item380065161073&_trkparms=72:1205|39:1|66:2|65:12|240:1308&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14). Looks like Vuelta XRP rims (auction calls them 'Pro Track") with 16t cog, lockring, and some cheap Kenda's. Do you guys think these would be sufficient to start building and then upgrade as needed the more I get into riding fixed? If not, anything in a similar price range you can recommend (under $200)? Thanks in advance and I look forward to my bike being posted on the "Jackass BFFSSFG poseur" thread once it's finished. :)

formula + mavic cxp22 ~$150

I had that wheelset for a year and a half. they worked well, never had a problem with them. i upgraded to open pros with paul hubs, you can really tell a difference but starting out i think thats fine. Never had to tru them untill i got hit by a truck. I don't know of anything better cause these are the only wheelsets I've ridden.

I bought some of those a while back, and while they are alright, they aren't very strong wheels. The rims are double walled, but very thin, and the hubs are the lowest of the low when it comes to ss/fg.
The cog/lockring/tires are also complete crap. The tires have ZERO grip in the rain and I took two spills while turning at about 5 mph because the front wheel has no traction.
My ex is currently riding on them (with different tires) and they seem to be holding up fine under her lightweight body.

I can recommend another set of wheels that I currently use that are around the same price. If there is a Giant dealer near you, they can order a wheelset that is bulletproof. The rims are wider than most road wheels come with and have only been trued twice over a two year span even after being subjected to plenty of beating (curb-hopping, crashes, etc). The downside is that they are heavy, because of the beefy rims and straight gauge spokes.
The front retails for $70 and the back for $80.
You also get to pick your cog(s)/locking, tires.

Buying wheels online almost guarantees that they will not come properly tensioned or trued. Buying wheels in a good bike shop means all that has been done for you at no cost (this can cost up to $40).

$71.99

http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=188_332&products_id=5140

$74.99

http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=188_332&products_id=5142

I ride these $129.99

http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=188_332&products_id=5139

Mine came with a lockring & a cog.

Pair of tires for $24.99

http://shop.vendio.com/benscycle/item/941580424/index.html

They also have tires & tubes & reasonable shipping.

$71.99

http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=188_332&products_id=5140


I just bought that set along with a cog and some bar tape from them.

Then I went to nashbar and spent $60 on tubes, tires, tire levers and a few other small things that I needed.

Hopefully they will arrive in a week or two and I'll try them out!

I spent about $175 for everything together including shipping.

probably the lowest price "turn key" decent set out there...$120 delivered to your doorstep is pretty inexpensive. I use one of these sets that I do not jump off curbs, blow over potholes or generally hit stuff with. For me, it was a no-brainer way to see if I was going to like FG riding & I'm one of those bike owners who can never end up having too many spare parts around anyway.....so they're sure to be used here until they can no longer remain round!

formula + mavic cxp22 ~$150

+1, they're great.

$71.99

http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=188_332&products_id=5140


I need wheels for a very cheap fixie conversion I'm doing. It's definitely going to be a beater, for my son to practice tricks. He's got a nice bianchi fixie that I don't want him to thrash and crash.

Two things:
1) the Vuelta wheelset seems to be $140 on their website (2008), and $154 on ebay!?! Maybe the higher price are for 2009 wheels.

2) Is this Ben's wheelset for $71 about the same quality as the Vuelta's? I've got lots of spare tires and tubes, and the Vuelta set has the wrong cog for me anyway, so the Ben's wheels with no-name hubs, is looking very attractive.

Sorry, but i owned those wheels and they're awful. The hubs are the worst part, they don't spin smoothly at all...and they came and were not true at all

I need wheels for a very cheap fixie conversion I'm doing. It's definitely going to be a beater, for my son to practice tricks. He's got a nice bianchi fixie that I don't want him to thrash and crash.

Two things:
1) the Vuelta wheelset seems to be $140 on their website (2008), and $154 on ebay!?! Maybe the higher price are for 2009 wheels.

2) Is this Ben's wheelset for $71 about the same quality as the Vuelta's? I've got lots of spare tires and tubes, and the Vuelta set has the wrong cog for me anyway, so the Ben's wheels with no-name hubs, is looking very attractive.

Many ebay sellers that also have private sites up the prices on the ebay stuff, I presume to cover ebay fees.

I would suggest just buying a set of wheels with tires & tubes if they're just for tooling around. I've seen a couple sets on ebay for $99.

I got these wheels from bike island, http://bikeisland.com/cgi-bin/BKTK_STOR20.cgi?Action=Details&ProdID=549, they working fine for me, had them for about 6 months came with decent tires. I would recommend for a first wheel. they were 140 shipped wheels, tires/tubes, 16t cog and lockring. hope that helps

^no. The mavic/formula combo is a much better option. They're $139 at www.bicyclewheelwarehouse.com and are a much better wheelset

Sorry, but i owned those wheels and they're awful. The hubs are the worst part, they don't spin smoothly at all...and they came and were not true at all

OK but which wheelset are you talking about?

I have both Vuelta XRPs and Mavic CXP22/Formula wheels. As long as you keep the spoke tension correct for the rim and also trued, you won't tell a difference if you're riding on the street. I just replaced the bearings on the Vuelta wheels and they spin really smooth. Since they're sealed, it has nothing to do with the quality of the hubs.

I've had the Vueltas for almost two years.

I actually just set up my first conversion today with this wheelset ($140 on bikeisland, blue color!) and they're alright for being a first timer. I've never ridden fixie before so I don't think I'd be able to notice the difference until later? They came perfectly trued actually. I recommend for the price.

As for the Mavic's with formulas, yeah it's $140, but then you gotta buy tubes, tires, cogs, and lockring which will come out to $200+ probably.

I bought some of the Vuelta's for my beater. I am currently too broke to finish buying the rest of the parts I need, but since i crashed my Mark V and bent my front rim a few weeks ago i've been using the Vuelta. The streets around me are pretty rough, but when I'm on smooth surfaces I can tell the difference between those and the IRO wheels I had. Just waiting for my Velocity fusion laced to formula to get finished then it's back to the half built conversion for the vuelta.

I've had a friend who has been running those wheels for over a year. he stripped the hub, but is runing it suicide style right now.

formula + mavic cxp22 ~$150

+1.. just got mine today.. $157 shipped.. includes 15t cog, lock ring, and rim tape. I ordered from bicyclewheelwarehouse.com

you can get a weinmann dp18 set (forget the hub though) from simple living cycles in framingham, MA for $120, probably other places would match that price.

you can get a weinmann dp18 set (forget the hub though) from simple living cycles in framingham, MA for $120, probably other places would match that price.

I already have a set of deep v's, and I dont like the look of the weinmann's.. the mavics look better imo.

I have had no problems with these wheels. I heard s%omeone say they aren't strong..BS!! i've ridden them for over a year every day, hit pot holes, blew tires, jumped curbs, and still haven't had them trued! I say get them and upgrade..besides you probably won't notice a difference between any of these CHEAP wheelsets.

True the hubs are sh%t.

yeah i ride the vuelta xrp's and think they are great so far. i commute in philly 20+ miles every day on pretty rough roads. these wheels have been mashed every day for about 2 months now. probably about 1500 miles or so through nasty potholes, over curbs and trolley tracks and they are still in almost perfect true. i keep the stock tires fully inflated and have only had one flat so far. the tires are crap though, i will definitely upgrade before the weather starts getting worse in the winter. i see no reason to but nicer wheels when the roads are this bad. i cant imagine it makes much of a difference.

i dont ride fixed though so i cant comment on the hubs. i ride the freewheel side and it is still smooth as can be so far.

Change your sealed bearings out and stop complaining about the hubs.

If you're stripping your threads then it's user error.

$71.99

http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=188_332&products_id=5140

$74.99

http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=188_332&products_id=5142

I ride these $129.99

http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=188_332&products_id=5139

Mine came with a lockring & a cog.

Pair of tires for $24.99

http://shop.vendio.com/benscycle/item/941580424/index.html

They also have tires & tubes & reasonable shipping.



Anyone rode these Alex sets? Looks like theres a few different options on Ben's - R-450 or DH-22 with either generic or Formula hubs... How do those compare to the Mavic or Vueltas? I'm pretty much down to one of the three.

I own a pair of the Weinmann's, so I have a feel for their quality, but what I'm really interested in is which is the strongest among these comparably priced options:

Vuelta XRPs - Bike Island - ~$150 (includes tires, 16T cog, ring, tape, tubes)
Mavic CXP22/Formula - Bicycle Wheel Wharehouse - ~$139 (includes 15T cog, ring, tape)
Weinmann DP-18/Formula - Wheel and Sprocket - ~$150 (wheels only)

I haven't ridden all three, but Mavic has the best reputation in terms of putting out strong, quality wheels. I would go with those. There have definitely been questions raised about the other two, but very few if any about the Mavic/Formula combo.

had the mavic/formula combo and honestly i loved them and they were a solid wheelset for $140ish

OK, I'm getting the Mavic's when I get back from my ride tomorrow. Thx.
I've got Mavic's (Ksyrium Elite's, I think) on my road bike.