Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - rims...eyelets or no eyelets?

i'm a bmx'er. i build my own wheels. i try to always use alloy spline drive nipples, and insist on using them for the fixie wheels i am preparing to build. should i use rims with eyelets? this bike will mostly be used on the street.

thanks.

Eyeletted rims can be built with tighter spokes = stronger wheels. Never used alloy nipples though. Generally for fullsize wheels its eyelets unless budget is tight.

you can get good rims that arent eyeletted. some velocity rims dont have eyelets and are very strong, but thats because they are deep section. if you're getting a rim that is not a deep section, definately look for eyeletted rims. some rims have double eyelets which are even stronger, allowing for higher spoke tensions.

Eyelets prevent the spokes from being pulled through the rim, so you can make a tighter (stronger) wheel with them. Eyelets also prevent water and road grit from getting inside the rim, a consideration if you ride in the rain or off pavement. But if you're just riding a fixie in the street, and don't plan on seeing much wet weather you can choose- you get what you pay for. Alloy spokes don't really make that much difference in weight/performance over standard brass, especially for a fixie that doesnt see real steep hills or racing. But they come in colors, so they can look cool. But easier to strip than brass, and more likely to weld/oxidize themselves to the spokes over time than brass, so they're not as practical for long-term longevity.

Alloy spokes don't really make that much difference in weight/performance over standard brass, especially for a fixie that doesnt see real steep hills or racing. But they come in colors, so they can look cool. But easier to strip than brass, and more likely to weld/oxidize themselves to the spokes over time than brass, so they're not as practical for long-term longevity.

i use spline drive alloy spoke nipples. they DO NOT round out while tightening. as far as i am concerned, they are one of the best bicycle innovations of the past 10 years, along with the white industries eno freewheel. dare i say it, even better than the threadless headset system.

i guess since i may be attempting stuff like rockwalks on this bike, i'll go with eyelets, 3cross, maybe even on the front wheel. thanks for the info.

they also weaken a rim because they make a larger hole. a single eyelet hard anodized wheel is a weak wheel prone to cracking. velocity rims are very strong (not just the deep v rims and they have no eyelets.