Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Wooden Rims?

How do wooden rims fare with street riding? No tricking just riding, would they break after a while? Thanks for the input.

How do wooden rims fair with street riding? No tricking just riding, would they break after a while? Thanks for the input.

fare.

I think they'd brake after a while.

I'm guessing skids + wooden rims = catastrophic failure in fairly short order.

For a person of normal weight riding well maintained streets, they'd probably be fine.

I would compromise and get the wood-grained Velocity deep Vs.

http://www.zapatacycles.com/blog/?p=275

(They still can't cure the fail of that guy's upside down risers with no end caps, but that's not our problem.)

I find upside down risers to be pretty comfortable. I friend of mine flipped his one day goofing around and ended up keeping them that way.

I'm guessing skids + wooden rims = catastrophic failure in fairly short order.
I would compromise and get the wood-grained Velocity deep Vs.

http://www.zapatacycles.com/blog/?p=275

(They still can't cure the fail of that guy's upside down risers with no end caps, but that's not our problem.)

+1; and that's one tricked out conversion....

The funny thing is my mother's boss is replacing his wooden rims for those exact velocity wood grain rims so he can run brakes on them. I was considering using his old wooden rims but i'm pretty sure they would break like scrod said.

Yeah...I'm sure they're pretty sturdy but I'd be worried about what every day street riding (potholes, curbs, etc.) would do to them over time.

My thoughts exactly. Well if I can get the rims for a decent price I'll try them out and report back, other wise I'll stick with my old wheels.

I believe wooden rims have a rather catastrophic failure mode, I don't think I'd be subjecting them to street use.

I believe wooden rims have a rather catastrophic failure mode, I don't think I'd be subjecting them to street use.

Like what? Catching on fire?

Termites.

There is a reason that no major manufacture makes them.

The don't fail gracefully.

Also, braking surface...

I thought this was a joke. You can actually buy wooden rims???

You guys are such dorks...

http://wheelfanatyk.blogspot.com/2007/05/cermenati-wood-rims.html

They're heavy, but you can ride them like any other rim, and even use brakes.

I would probably choose to use a disk brake with them. Not because you can't use rim brakes, but I wouldn't want to mess up the finish.

And they aren't heavy at all.
"It is now 20% heavier, going from about 17mm depth to over 19 mm. The new Corsa rim weighs about 400 g."
" The Elegant rim weighs about 430 g."

Yeah? And aluminum fails gracefully? Once again a collection of conjecture. I only ask what wood does better?

Like what? Catching on fire?

From Sheldon Brown
"They were eventually outlawed for competition because of their dangerous failure mode: When a highly-tensioned racing wheel with a metal rim was damaged, it would fold up, but it would stay together. Similar wood-rim wheels, when overstressed, would suddenly turn into a cloud of sharp, dangerous splinters. "

How do wooden rims fare with street riding? No tricking just riding, would they break after a while? Thanks for the input.

Why is it that nearly all completely idiotic posts are in SS/FG?

wooden rims advantage over aluminum (or steel) = being sexy.

If you have some moderately decent woodworking skills you could probably make a pretty sweet wooden aerospoke at least for the front. Old world/New tarck fusion.

You guys are such dorks...

http://wheelfanatyk.blogspot.com/2007/05/cermenati-wood-rims.html

They're heavy, but you can ride them like any other rim, and even use brakes.

That's a cool blog!

Hmmm - They're $180.00 each and the clincher rims are straight sided so that limits you to some pretty low air pressures. They're harder to build and there are some issues with long continuous brakeing. I can't imagine useing them for every day but they sure are pretty.

That's a cool blog!

Hmmm - They're $180.00 each and the clincher rims are straight sided so that limits you to some pretty low air pressures. They're harder to build and there are some issues with long continuous brakeing. I can't imagine useing them for every day but they sure are pretty.

Jaa, they'd be great on a retro build that sees the velodrome once in a blue moon.

wooden rims advantage over aluminum (or steel) = being sexy.

If you have some moderately decent woodworking skills you could probably make a pretty sweet wooden aerospoke at least for the front. Old world/New tarck fusion.

Don't forget, they might float o:

Why is it that nearly all completely idiotic posts are in SS/FG?

probably because you have people that "upgrade" to a machine built wheel set and put risers on there kilo tt and they think they know about fixed gear bikes and comment like they know all.