Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Urban Wheelset looking for suggestions

I perused the forums to try and find some solid information on wheelset suggestions for urban riding / commuting. Between talking with people and what I did find on the site, Velocity Deep Vs seem to be a common suggestion. However, though I've never ridden them, I think they look a little dumb- i know, lame. I'm trying to see if there are any other suggestions... or if you're going to say "Velocity Deep Vs" can you tell me why? Would you recommend anything else by Velocity that's not so deep/dumb looking?

I ride a Surly Steamroller. Currently has stock wheelset (Alex DA-22 rims with Surly Hubs). So specifically looking for rim and/or complete wheelset suggestions for long distance urban riding. Should I keep the Surly Hubs and just get new rims?

Looking to spend less than $200 total.

Thanks for the help.

Is there anything wrong with the current wheelset? Alex DA-22 aren't the best rim but they make a really good wheelset. I'm currently rolling a set of them that I built 2 years back and they're going strong.

Unless you're relatively heavy and jumps curb all the time, I don't see why you need to upgrade to something more heavy. However, my opinion could be total BS to you.

What type of rim are you looking for? Spoke count?

My DP18s are incredibly solid wheels, but they are the same depth profile as the Deep Vs.

Sun M13s probably aren't the strongest rims, but a lot of people on this forum seem to like them.

That's good to know. I appreciate the opinion. I don't ride like a banshee in the curbs/jumps sense. I do ride a lot/long distances though (don't have a car in LA) :)

To be honest, this started with me needing new tires -too many flats. That led to me toying with the idea of getting new rims/wheelset as well. I know the Surly hubs are pretty solid, so I'm really just not sure about just getting rims vs. whole new wheelset. Looking for ideas/opinions is all.

Spoke count... That's something i was wondering about, does lower spoke count increase or decrease strength?

Just picked up some Sun M13's. Hopefully will be able to offer some input soon. And a lower spoke count will decrease strength

The reoccurring flats could be many things, bad luck, running pressure too low, riding through debris a lot, rim tape etc etc. Were the flats puncture or pinch flats?

Generally, the higher the spoke count, the stronger the wheel.

Why do people keep saying Surly hubs are solid? I don't know if they are or aren't, but I never thought they were that popular.

Flats aren't a result of your rims. See Squirrelli in post #6.

I find them slightly overpriced for what they are and the adjustable seal bearing is silly.

i've only had one pinch flat. i was stupid, changed the tire too quick. the rest have been puncture. I know it's mostly because the wheels aren't super awesome. Not bad, but not awesome. I think they're Maxxis 700 something or another.

right, i know my rims have little to do with my flats. what i mentioned before was, needing new tires led to me toying with the idea of getting a new wheelset...i figured..."while i was at it" you know? just looking for opinions on wheelsets, that's all.

Know you are not into deep Vs but just get strong wheels if you are urban riding. I have a rear DP18 as well and Radonnuer tires. This combo has already bailed me out and survived some serious potholes. I am so sold that I am getting another DP18 for the front. It is worth it if you ride in the city even for a little comfort boost as well.

If you want to push your budget a little, you could probably pick up some Mavic Open Pro's laced to Formula hubs.

is that what's on the bike http://www.pedalroom.com/bike/mercier-2211 in this link...

is that what's on the bike http://www.pedalroom.com/bike/mercier-2211 in this link...

Those are Weinmann DP-18's

^^ he is correct, I have DP-18s, which are similar to Velocity's Deep V's. I'm looking into getting a lighter wheel and I've never heard a bad thing about Mavic Open Pro's.

is that what's on the bike http://www.pedalroom.com/bike/mercier-2211 in this link...

It says right to the left what wheels those are.

i'm dumb.

i'm dumb.

Nah.

But just for future reference, you can go through that site and see all sorts of parts and know immediately what they are.

A little off topic, but does anybody know if the M13's will accommodate 700x25 and larger? Is it recommended to go bigger because these rims arent as strong? I'm used to running deep v's and weinmanns, so kinda switching up the rims here..

Properly-built M13s are strong as Hell on steroids and will have no trouble running up to most 28c tires.

I've got 25c Pasela TGs on mine, am a big ape of a dude who rides harder than Henry Rollins raping a water buffalo on the back of a speeding flatbed truck and have no trouble with mine.

I've got 25c Pasela TGs on mine, am a big ape of a dude who rides harder than Henry Rollins raping a water buffalo on the back of a speeding flatbed truck and have no trouble with mine.

That's a solid endorsement.

Right?

I'm rolling on a set of 32 spoke Velocity Fusion - DT - Phil's that I built a couple months ago. The Fusion is ~$65 a piece and plenty strong and lighter than the Deep-V's. I run a folding RibMo on the front and a Gatorskin on the back...I highly recommend the RibMo. I commute in LA on those everyday and do pretty long group rides on weekends on the same set. I haven't had anything to complain about.

As far as your flats go...investing in a proper pump (lyzyne floor pump) was one of the best investments I made so far...Having solid tires that are properly inflated will solve most of your problems. I work in NoHo in a somewhat industrial area, I was getting a few flats a month...I haven't had one since I built up the new wheelset and check their pressure every other day.

pedalroom.com - super helpful.

Yeah I was looking at the Velocity - Fusions. Those look good... Question though, do you prefer the RibMo to the T-serv?

I have a nice floorpump, so yeah, laziness is probably also a factor in this. But dude, seriously, there is so much crap on the roads all the time. it's ridiculous out here. I live in Thai Town and it's trash everywhere.

Fusions are awesome and so are Aeroheads.

@scrodzilla - what kind of hubs do you use?

Formulas on my 722TS and a Phil Wood on my 725.

Velocity Fusions = IRO Cold Fusion = $15

?

ah i see what you guys do there. links in your signature...to your bikes. bangarang

Velocity Fusions = IRO Cold Fusion = $15

?

rims/hubs= $70

how much would everything else run about though?

Factor in shipping, too.

You can get a nice wheelset built with double butted spokes for <$140 with rim tape included if you look around.

Low profile box rims like the Mavic Open Pro will get beat up on LA streets. Get something slightly deeper or with an aero/semi-aero profile (Velocity Fusion, Aerohead, A23; Mavic CXP 22 or 33; Kinlin XR270). Too deep and it's the rider that takes a beating; those super deep v rims might be strong but they have a jarring ride.

I find them slightly overpriced for what they are and the adjustable seal bearing is silly.

x10
I still regret buying one when I was a newb

Velocity Fusions = IRO Cold Fusion = $15

?

I'm pretty sure that they are. We've been round and round on the subject on another forum thread and some of us received our IRO rims in Velocity boxes, some got theirs in Kinlin boxes. Might be that IRO OEMs these things as both unbadged Velocity Fusions and Kinlin XR-240s.
Either way, I've been really happy with both pairs of mine. One I had built up by IRO, the other I built up myself on their hubs. I'm using one pair on my SSCX bike and I've got a pair of 37mm tires on there without any problems. The other is on my SS-roadie and I've had both 28mm and 32mm tires on them.

Yeah, if yer not into the Deep V's I'd suggest the Aeroheads too.

Might be that IRO OEMs these things as both unbadged Velocity Fusions and Kinlin XR-240s.

Kinlin or Velocity, either way is excellent in my opinion. For a $15 rim, you can't complain. One of the ones I received was perfectly straight, one had a slight hop in it. I don't think it should affect the build too much, though.

I replaced my Alex DA-22s (which ate a pothole, or maybe the other way around) with a Wabi Wheelset on my Steamroller and love it. If you're in LA already, ride over to Richard's shop (down by Staples Center) to check em out. I've put a couple hundred miles on mine now and they're holding up like a champ.

http://www.wabicycles.com/GXwheels.html

Kinlin or Velocity, either way is excellent in my opinion. For a $15 rim, you can't complain. One of the ones I received was perfectly straight, one had a slight hop in it. I don't think it should affect the build too much, though.

No issues with any of the 8 (eight) of them that I've purchased.
Wish they were all mine, but some were builds for friends.

I replaced my Alex DA-22s (which ate a pothole, or maybe the other way around) with a Wabi Wheelset on my Steamroller and love it. If you're in LA already, ride over to Richard's shop (down by Staples Center) to check em out. I've put a couple hundred miles on mine now and they're holding up like a champ.

http://www.wabicycles.com/GXwheels.html


I usually go to Orange 20, but that Wabi set looks really nice.

re: IRO cold fusion. awesome, that is up for serioius consideration.

don't want to start a new thread so...

i must choose my next set of rims between sun m13 or sun cr18

which way should i go???

thanx for your suggestions...

M13s if you want to use tires no wider than 28c, CR18s if you want wider tires.

thanx for that info...ability to use wider tires does matter to me so i guess that makes my decision

a dude who rides harder than Henry Rollins raping a water buffalo on the back of a speeding flatbed truck and have no trouble with mine.

I think I just sh*t my dick when I read this.

:lol: