shrimpx

So I'm putting new wheels on this bike:

https://www.cs.pdx.edu/~marius/pics/track/track1.jpg

and the two final rim choices I've come to are the Velocity Aero black, and Araya Super Aero.

The Velocity is basically the only all-black rim that is super-stiff and almost never goes out of true. This, with a all-black tire will make for a nice semi-aero stealth look. (No machined braking surface.) The downside of this setup is the weight of the Aero rim--at 500+ grams.

The Araya is a super-shiny chrome rim that is much deeper than the aero and looks really trick. The chrome would go with my naked bars... This rim is lighter than the aero despite the depth, and makes for a really sturdy and laterally-stiff wheel. But I fear that the deep, tech-looking rim would look strange on my oldskool frame.

Initially I was looking at some Campy Record Crono super-thin tubulars which would be perfect for the frame, but the bike shop guy and George talked me out of it--those thin rims seem to fall out of true all the time when ridden on the road.

Anyway, your help in making this choice would me much appreciated. I'm dead on 50-50 at the moment...

pitboss

Here's my 1%:
Go Velocity

roadfix

Nice setup.........and the stem......is that a Cinelli Grammo??

Kev

I agree go velocity, I have had great luck with their rims. I have a wheelset built up with Velocity Deep V rims on my track bike I love them, use some aero spokes to lace it up and will match perfectly

dumpstervegan

If it were me I'd go Velocity as they seem like the nicest rims you can find (without spending two arms and a heart on it), but I've also heard nice things about Araya!

jasonyates

Why are you doing new wheels? Are you getting new hubs, and if so which ones? Do you have any pictures of the Arayas? I don't really have a recommendation but I think polished/chromed deep-v's are cool. I don't see very many around though. Business Cycles has some in the shop (not shown on the web site) but they are tubulars.

-Jason

al5

keep it chrome! that bikes too pretty to look like something out of night-rider

but then again, my aesthetic advice is worthless - i built up a pepto pink singlespeed for my girlfriend.

shrimpx

George, the stem is a Pazzaz; pretty cheap and flexy. I plan on buying a new one, since this one belongs to my fixie, anyway.

al5, pepto pink ROCKS!

Jason, I'm getting new wheels because the current ones belong to my road conversion. Basically, I took my other bike apart to build up this one, due to budget. Unfortunately, I can't find any pics of the Arayas, but they are shiny chrome deep rims (about 30mm). They are similar to this:

https://www.bikecult.com/works/archive/merckxSQls.jpg

but chrome, and not as round--the V sides are flatter.

As far as the Velocity, I was going for this kind of look:

https://www.bikecult.com/works/archive/casatiEM.html and this:
https://www.fixedgeargallery.com/leakos11.jpg (george's cinelli)

As far as durability and strength they are about the same, though the Araya makes for a stiffer wheel.

Thanks everyone for the input. Choices can suck sometimes.

shrimpx

oh, and i forgot... Jason, yeah I'm getting new hubs too but I already had my mind set on the Miche Primatos. I don't know of there's anything out there that would compare for the price...

jasonyates

I think the polished/chromed deep-v's would look pretty cool, only thing is that the guy from Business Cycles told me when I was there that people generally use a deep-v with less spokes to save weight, as the rim itself weighs more, and if you use one with like a 32 or 36 hole hub you are doing it just to look cool and you might as well just use a regular wheel. I don't think there is anything wrong with looking cool, but whatever.. However it goes I say use something shiny though. It will match up with your bars like you said.

-Jason

jim-bob

It's a shame I can't find MA-40s any more. Those things were tanks.

gally99

if you're really worried about that then you should toss that seat...