Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Fixed Gear wheelsets ?

I have been lurking on this list for about a year. Thanks to you silly people, the fixed gear bug bit. I purchased a surly flip flop wheel to mount on my old mountain bike. For about six months and 350 miles, I have ridden this bike, learning the joys of being fixed.

I have finally moved up from 26" wheels to 700's. Does anyone have any recommendations for a good set of wheels for $200 or so? I have seen lots of wheels sets on ebay with suze hubs, but I recall that some folks found them to be less than great.

Oh, the frame supports a 120mm width and the fork uses 100mm.

Thanks.

I have been lurking on this list for about a year. Thanks to you silly people, the fixed gear bug bit. I purchased a surly flip flop wheel to mount on my old mountain bike. For about six months and 350 miles, I have ridden this bike, learning the joys of being fixed.

I have finally moved up from 26" wheels to 700's. Does anyone have any recommendations for a good set of wheels for $200 or so? I have seen lots of wheels sets on ebay with suze hubs, but I recall that some folks found them to be less than great.

Oh, the frame supports a 120mm width and the fork uses 100mm.

Thanks.
There is nothing wrong with the upper end of the Suzue line of hubs. Look for the Fixed/Fixed ones. The 36 hole have NJS certification and are used at the highest levels of track racing. I have a set in 32 hole configuration and am very happy with them. The lower quality ones are cheaper and you should avoid them unless you can't afford the others.


fixedgearhead

Yeah, if you need NJS approved for the streets, go with the expensive Suzue stuff. Low-end Suzue can be used as candleholders or trotline weights...Otherwise, get some Surly!!!! Get some...ha ha!
120mm fixed/fixed on the rear and Surly front(Or use whatever for the front). Not sure if this fits the budget, but these will last

Yeah, if you need NJS approved for the streets, go with the expensive Suzue stuff. Low-end Suzue can be used as candleholders or trotline weights...Otherwise, get some Surly!!!! Get some...ha ha!
120mm fixed/fixed on the rear and Surly front(Or use whatever for the front). Not sure if this fits the budget, but these will last

I ride on a set of IRO Deluxe Wheels , nice looking, strong , smooth hubs and priced right.
IRO Wheels (http://www.irocycle.com/fixedgearandsinglespeedbikeframesfromirocycleinc/id72.html)

look for swap meets. The last one I went to had like 50 pairs of track wheels, they were going for like 50 bucks for the newish good ones to like 20 for more used...I would never spend over 70 bucks on a wheel for a fixie...fixies are supposed to be beaters...don't spend race-bike cash on one...

I beg to differ. My fix gear is not a beater. It is my primary bike and I love it. If you can wait a bit and look around, you should look into getting some sealed hubs if you are going to be riding this on the street. The higher end suzue hubs are a good buy but if you have the 135 soacing then go with the IRO or the Van Dessel hub sets. Or just save a bunch of money and buy Phil Wood. I never had a problem with those hubs.

...fixies are supposed to be beaters...
No they're not.

trotline weights

Your cultural depth is impressive.

...I would never spend over 70 bucks on a wheel for a fixie...fixies are supposed to be beaters...don't spend race-bike cash on one...Hmmm..... What if one of your fixies is your main bike?

I beg to differ. My fix gear is not a beater. It is my primary bike and I love it. If you can wait a bit and look around, you should look into getting some sealed hubs if you are going to be riding this on the street. The higher end suzue hubs are a good buy but if you have the 135 soacing then go with the IRO or the Van Dessel hub sets. Or just save a bunch of money and buy Phil Wood. I never had a problem with those hubs.

The IRO's are 120mm spacing.

...I would never spend over 70 bucks on a wheel for a fixie...fixies are supposed to be beaters...don't spend race-bike cash on one...

that's you, and that's fine. clearly not the case for a lot of the rest of us.

me, my three primary bikes are fixed, including the commuter that i ride about 200 miles a week. while some of it comes from the parts bin, swaps, and eBay, I don't hesitate to spend the cash when it's needed.

that's why it carries good, hand-built wheels (at least the rear), a brooks saddle, nitto moustache bars, nitto rack, etc.

fixies are what you want them to be. i want mine to be everything; that's why I have several (one of which is a beater that i ride to the local tavern and another is a semi-beater that i use to commute in the winter months). that's also why i don't have enough of them yet.

me, i wouldn't spend race-bike cash on ... a race bike. haven't raced in years, and have no plans to race again. i just ride almost everywhere, almost always fixed. life, for me at least, is better that way.

Your cultural depth is impressive.
then to you, gentle Texan. Provide with another recyclable use for trash hubs that is original.
:D

Hi Gang,

Thank you all for the really quick info. I very much enjoy riding fixed, so I want to use a good set of wheels. No bike swaps going on in KC, so I will go new. Riding fixed in our hilly city just is not popular like in Chicago and out east.

Good to hear that the dual fixed flip flop hub from suzue is ok to use. Iro seems to have a set of wheels for 250 or so. The Van Dessels are spaced for 130 and 135. Not sure if they can be respaced to 120. Suppose I can give them a call. Phil woods sound nice, but I think that they are bit over my budget. I will look around for a place that makes surly wheels, as I like my surly hub.

I do want sealed hubs. Not into repacking bearings every six months or so of street riding, grocery hops, and commuting.

The new fixie will be a Late 70's Raliegh Mixte. So sassy. Here is a link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3666698180&category=22681&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBWA%3AIT&rd=1

Thinking of painting it magenta. Brown just is not my thing.

Thank you all again for the tips and suggestions.

look for swap meets. The last one I went to had like 50 pairs of track wheels, they were going for like 50 bucks for the newish good ones to like 20 for more used...I would never spend over 70 bucks on a wheel for a fixie...fixies are supposed to be beaters...don't spend race-bike cash on one...
On the contrary, I think Multi geared bikes should be ridden off a cliff. Especially LeMond ones http://www.bikeforums.net/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=433480#
Seriously, Why would anybody want to not ride a decent bike of whatever persuasion.
Remember:" Friends don't let Friends ride Junk!"

Fixedgearhead

not sure if you're still as yet undecided w.r.t. wheels, but i just thought i'd let you know that i've had no problems w/ my cheap suzue + sun rim rear wheel. it's the lower end suzue. i know people say they aren't good, but that just hasn't been my experience. it keeps rolling. i rode it all through the winter, commuting, long rides, grocery shopping, whatever. the whole thing cost me 130 for the built wheel, cog, and lockring all put together. not a bad deal.

that bike rocks by the way. i want to build something like that in blue for tooling around campus. put big sweeping handlebars on it. not sure if i'd like it fixed gear or coaster brake though. good luck building it up.

dan

oops. I stand corrected. I just saw one of those mark v completes at Harris cyclery and boy is that a nice looking frame. Too bad that it was on it's way out the door with a new owner that wasn't me.


The IRO's are 120mm spacing.

not sure if you're still as yet undecided w.r.t. wheels, but i just thought i'd let you know that i've had no problems w/ my cheap suzue + sun rim rear wheel. it's the lower end suzue

Ditto here. My "low cost" Suzue hubs have performed well. They needed a repacking, but that was about it. Just cause somethings "low cost" doesn't mean its cheap quality. I had a set of Acera hubs on my MTB. Put about 7000+ miles on em with no service, they were in great shape when I finally replaced the wheels (rims had worn down).

I'll probably splurge on some nice HIgh Flange Dura Ace / CXP-33's this summer when I move the Suzue / MA3's over to the project bike.