Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - So you get ONE Aerospoke.

Would you rather have one as a front wheel, or one for the back wheel?

please explain why.

One on the front of your adult trike.

I'd sell it and purchase a better wheel and still have change left over.

I know I sure wanted one for my front wheel back in '03.

I thought it would be unique.


Anyways, I hear their track hubs slip, I dunno. So the front? Take the money and get some Open Pro's is my two cents.

I like the look of them and want one just based on the look factor alone. I wouldn't buy one unless I found one ******** cheap, but I would want the front.

Rear. Crosswinds suck. How are the bearings on those things?

Front.

Easy to change between bikes. Easier to re-sell.

rear, every poser and their mom goes front. dont be that guy

I have a rear Aerospoke ... performance on it is pure crap ... feels like I am pulling a ball and chain. But the rear wheel is the one that takes a beating and that's what Aerospokes are good at doing so, no complaints. Came painted by my LBS a sparkle green color. Looks good on my steel rig and wears damage wonderfully for polo. Not so great for races.

people still buy aerospokes?

I am sure if you were to check eBay you would find they are selling like hotcakes. Just guessing. I can't imagine people aren't still buying them.

Oh wow- just searched ebay- 40 aerospokes for sale; all of them 300-400. Plus this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1996-EV-WARRIOR-Electric-Bike-Bicycle-AEROSPOKE_W0QQitemZ380075199618QQcmdZViewItemQQptZRoad_Bikes?hash=item587e3f4c82&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A15|66%3A2|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50

Lol that thing is weird.

Oh wow- just searched ebay- 40 aerospokes for sale; all of them 300-400. Plus this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1996-EV-WARRIOR-Electric-Bike-Bicycle-AEROSPOKE_W0QQitemZ380075199618QQcmdZViewItemQQptZRoad_Bikes?hash=item587e3f4c82&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A15|66%3A2|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50

Graeme Obree's bike with a lawn mower engine and arrospokes instead of trispokes?

Oh wow- just searched ebay- 40 aerospokes for sale; all of them 300-400. Plus

morons and fashion-victims -- all of 'em.

An aerospoke for polo? Doesn't the ball just go right through?

An aerospoke for polo? Doesn't the ball just go right through?

cardboard can cover up the holes if you were really worried about it

Yes, it goes right through. It'll even go through a 32 spoke wheel though too. A lot of us have disc covers.

yo devilshaircut do you have a picture of your bike? green sparkle aerospoke sounds ballin

One on the front of your adult trike.

Yep, that's what's on shapelikes trike

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3213/2912759828_c6873e34a3.jpg?v=0

That's my Aerospoke, painted by a guy at one of my LBSs.

In theory, the reason why you put a aero wheel in front (if you only have 1) is that the front wheel sees more wind than the rear. The rear wheel is mostly obscured by the seat-tube (If you have one). Disc wheels are not suitable for the front because in x-winds steering can get sketchy, and this is why they have 3/4/5 spoke aero wheels.

That is how it applies to road/ tri riding. But since Aerospokes are neither aero nor light, I don't think it really matters.

i have heard that the power transfer is greater with the spoke and thats why some people put em in the rear. entirely hearsay though, this dude was no expert.

can i get some specs on the paint job btw? looks ****ing awesome.

im a fashion victim and i dont care if youre not ok with it.

Not sure what kind of paint the guy used. His name is Bobby Costello and he does a lot of the bike paint jobs here locally in Atlanta. With an Aerospoke it takes forever to get up to speed and when you do you have to put your back into it (compared to a regular wheel). But it really does carry a good deal of momentum. Anyhow I don't recommend this wheel if you care at all about performance. It is, however, resilient ... and good looking.

if the aerospoke is bad then why do so many people bust a nut for it.

looks. cred. swag. i could go on...

Because most new people to fixed gear bikes are more in it for the looks of it than the actual sport. Image is more important, just look at all the new yahoos that have popped up here lately asking the dumbest of questions that a monkey with internet access can figure out!

^^^ hahahaha but of course you're not jaded Thetank...

well, he is right.

an aerospoke, for the most part, equals noob or moron or poseur.

sweet, ill take 2. wait, probably should only get 1 rite?

front.
sell it.

guilty, I ride an aerospoke in the front. I guess I just grew tired of having to tru the front wheel often (due to the numerous atrocities encountered daily). I state that the aerospoke has also survived two major crashes (including one hit by automobile). *shrug* I call it my training wheel.

Because most new people to fixed gear bikes are more in it for the looks of it than the actual sport. Image is more important, just look at all the new yahoos that have popped up here lately asking the dumbest of questions that a monkey with internet access can figure out!

i too agree, just want to point our that your avatar is a monkey.

guilty, I ride an aerospoke in the front. I guess I just grew tired of having to tru the front wheel often (due to the numerous atrocities encountered daily). I state that the aerospoke has also survived two major crashes (including one hit by automobile). *shrug* I call it my training wheel.

IMO, don't apologize for what you ride. Trying to impress people on BF is sadder than riding a tarcked out bike IRL.

As Aerospokes go, life isn't always about functionality. The same logic that indicates Aerospokes are poor wheels would also make you think riding a fixed gear is worthless. It really doesn't take into account the fun factor. The reality of the situation is that even if something has less than ideal performance, it might still be the best fit for you. Why do you think we MSPaint our mishaps and not Photoshop? Obviously, we get a kick out of using something that is not technically "better" or more "efficient".

If everyone rode the most efficient bike, we would all be clones of eachother and it would be rather unexciting to be a cyclist.

I ride what I find comfortable, enjoyable, and fast. an unnecessarily heavy and non-aero wheel that cannot be trued and has zero design benefits simply does not make the cut for me.

I guess the novelty of the whoosh-whoosh-whoosh sound is fun and the adherence to bike fashion/trend can be satisfactory. But that's just transient -- no wonder everyone is trying to sell off their aerojokes on ebay-- probably to fund a better wheel that isnt a boat anchor.

You can true an Aerospoke by dropping it in a freezer and then thawing it out or so I've read, although, it takes a long time for them to begin to go anywhere out of true.

Design benefit of Aerospoke is that they are durable and require little maintenance. One reason these qualities probably appeal to many urban SSFG riders is that many of them prefer steel (durable) and simple drive trains (little upkeep). Whether or not the designers intended that when they made it is debatable. Also, at one point, these wheels were cheap.

Obviously people buy them coz they are pretty though too, which, personally, I have no problem with. EDIT: I mean, it's pretty undeniable cyclists from any segment of the bike community care about fashion.

whoosh-whoosh-whoosh

uhhhhhhhh yes please.

You can true an Aerospoke by dropping it in a freezer and then thawing it out or so I've read, although, it takes a long time for them to begin to go anywhere out of true.

Design benefit of Aerospoke is that they are durable and require little maintenance. One reason these qualities probably appeal to many urban SSFG riders is that many of them prefer steel (durable) and simple drive trains (little upkeep). Whether or not the designers intended that when they made it is debatable. Also, at one point, these wheels were cheap.

Sure, I'll just throw my spoke inside my meat locker :rolleyes:

As far as a design benefit is concerned, the durability is something that is up for debate.And as opposed to breaking a spoke on a regular wheel where you would just replace it, breaking a spoke on an Aerospoke means you're screwed. In fact, any sort of compromise on the integrity of an Aerospoke seems to make for a hosed wheel. Combined with the cost, Aerospokes seem like a bad idea for anyone riding on the streets and not on the track.

And I would think that people get into fixed gears not because of little upkeep, but because of simple upkeep. Like buying an old VW Bug. It's upkeep that anyone can do provided they learn how. Kinda like truing a wheel.

a wheel built by a reputable and well-versed builder will be plenty durable for the streetz

Aerospokes don't really break though. At worst, they might go out of true very very slowly; from my experience, none of the Aerospokes I've observed have gone noticeably out of true. Snapped spokes on traditionally laced wheels are fairly common and no matter how well it is built, it will go out of true very quickly with regular urban/street riding. Durable? Yes, absolutely. But it does require the regular tune-up. The only Aerospoke failures I have seen have been intense impacts, usually involving a car.

aer-o-spoke! aer-o-spoke! aer-o-spoke!

Don't like them almost as much as I don't like the bi-weekly debates on their practicality.

aer-o-spoke! aer-o-spoke! aer-o-spoke!

Don't like them almost as much as I don't like the bi-weekly debates on their practicality.

very true.

i also was thinking the same thing re: meat lockers. who has a freezer big enough for a spoke? hahaha are you a butcher?

Aerospokes don't really break though. At worst, they might go out of true very very slowly; from my experience, none of the Aerospokes I've observed have gone noticeably out of true. Snapped spokes on traditionally laced wheels are fairly common and no matter how well it is built, it will go out of true very quickly with regular urban/street riding. Durable? Yes, absolutely. But it does require the regular tune-up. The only Aerospoke failures I have seen have been intense impacts, usually involving a car.

In the last 6 years, I have never broken a spoke. And my wheels do not regularly go out of true. The only serious time they have was when a truck ran over my rear wheel.

And, for the record, I have seen an incredibly out-of-true aerospoke. The wheel ended up in the garbage.

But that's not the point or the reason I dislike them. I'd rather deal with spoked wheels and the occasional need to maintain tension/trueness then ride a wheel that is so heavy that it is slow and uncomfortable, especially when the only benefit to this heaviness is a supposed durability. That's a weird trade-off when spoked wheels are plenty durable enough and easily taken care of in the event of out-of-trueness. I personally prefer components that are light and rebuildable -- the 'spoke is neither.

why am I discussing this topic again? who cares...

I would say go for the front...

PS: I agree 100% that all bike riders care about fashion/expression to some extent (is your bike painted the color you want it?).. If you like aerospokes...F'n Get It...If i could afford it, I would prob get a HED 3 for the hell of it..I just like the way they look. I wish ppl would quit telling everyone how they SHOULD have their bike...Then if everyone had the same bike, they would complain about how "Cookie Cutter" their bike is, and how they copied everyone else's,there would be no individuality. Enough ranting...sorry I got carried away on the post scriptum..

are you saying that when people use an aerospoke, they're being unique and a cultural rebel?

lolz

I'm pretty sure I see a broken spoke every polo session if not worse.

As for Aerospokes, I can see why someone wouldn't want one. When I want to ride fast, I don't ride my rig with the Aerospoke.

What I don't understand is why people hate on them. Hate the idiots who often ride them, not the gear itself. The gear is fine. It is durable and doesn't require attention ... it gets the job done. The tarck kids who ride them aren't tarck because they have an Aerospoke. They have an Aerospoke because they are tarck. It is possible to ride one without harboring delusions of it being a performance wheel. I don't see why that has to be said, but evidently it does.

I THINK what fixed up was trying to say is that they are not necessarily the most practical wheels, but they are fun to look at. Personally, I would never buy them but I like that they exist if that makes sense haha. I kinda like seeing them on tarck bikes and I do think they are cool looking. Again, it's hard to argue that they are practical or a good deal for the cash, but they are fun to look at.

And they don't make someone a cultural rebel, but they are a nice change from the normal rim.

I'd say the main drawback to them is that they are pricey these days. I definitely think an Aerospoke would be an ideal urban wheel if you could get them for closer to ~$150.

I'm pretty sure I see a broken spoke every polo session if not worse.

As for Aerospokes, I can see why someone wouldn't want one. When I want to ride fast, I don't ride my rig with the Aerospoke.

What I don't understand is why people hate on them. Hate the idiots who often ride them, not the gear itself. The gear is fine. It is durable and doesn't require attention ... it gets the job done. The tarck kids who ride them aren't tarck because they have an Aerospoke. They have an Aerospoke because they are tarck. It is possible to ride one without harboring delusions of it being a performance wheel. I don't see why that has to be said, but evidently it does.

I don't think anyone who rides one on the street harbors any illusion of performance enhancement. That's the point. Aerospokes are so ill-conceived for regular day-to-day usage that the number of people using them is baffling. I see people who aren't even fixsters use Aerospokes on the street. And that's where the hate comes in (which in my case is always directed at the rider and not the wheel). When you're dealing with something as utilitarian as bicycles, there needs to be some sort of functional value to a component as crucial as a wheel. I'm all for making my ride look pretty, I actually go to great lengths to make sure my bicycles are up to my aesthetic standards. But I'll never compromise performance or durability in the name of fashion. I pay attention to it yeah, but not to the point of it getting in the way of performance/durability. And with even the one perceived advantage of Aerospokes on the streets, durability, often doubted, one wonders what the point is. That kind of placement of form over function with something so functional just seems moronic. Which is not to say that I would never ride an Aerospoke on the street. Just not everyday, which a lot of people end up doing. More a ****s and giggles thing.

And while you may see a broken spoke during a polo match, the person that suffers it can just go get their wheel repaired. Someone swings a mallet really hard at your Aerospoke, and you could be out a wheel.

All I am saying is that I've seen regular spoked wheels fail often in a variety of ways. I am sure you all have experienced this as well if you ride at all. Compare that to my experience with Aerospokes, of which I have seen zero fail. The only failures I have seen there have been online, usually car collisions.