Why the Aerospoke hatred?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Alameda, Ca
Posts: 115
Bikes: Surly Steamroller, Broakland Pipe Bomb
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Why the Aerospoke hatred?
I notice a lot of people making fun of those with Aerospokes...it never seems to be any sort of criticism about their performance or build quality.....so why the hatred?
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: los angeles
Posts: 2,147
Bikes: 2012 redline conquest pro / 2008 yeti 575 / motobecan fantom cross uno
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
most (99% of) people have them for looks. i've never seen one on a track before. that's why they get hated on.
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Alameda, Ca
Posts: 115
Bikes: Surly Steamroller, Broakland Pipe Bomb
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
There are lots of wheels that people don't use on tracks....would a set of Mavic discs make more sense while riding down a city street just because you can see them on tracks? And people have lots of things on their bikes for looks and yet people don't pick on those things.
#6
Senior Member
Because they are utterly pointless on the street. They shave hundredths of seconds off your lap time on the track, but you will never notice any improvement when using them on the street. Aerospokes will give you a rougher and nosier ride, slower acceleration, and increased stopping difference. But of course, anyone who uses them on the street hasn't ridden a bike long enough to understand such things.
Why do people ride aerospokes on the street? For looks, and nothing else. I have a set of old Specialized carbon tri-spokes on my century bike (an old Marin triatholon bike). My century route has no stops or pauses along it's entire distance, and I ride for time, so they aren't a bad choice. No acceleration, no braking, just steady speed over a very long distance. In such a situation they are a good choice. The rear tri spoke is threaded on both sides, so it can be used with a fixed cog or a freewheel, so I could easily use them on my fixie, but I'm not "cool" enough to bother.
Why do people ride aerospokes on the street? For looks, and nothing else. I have a set of old Specialized carbon tri-spokes on my century bike (an old Marin triatholon bike). My century route has no stops or pauses along it's entire distance, and I ride for time, so they aren't a bad choice. No acceleration, no braking, just steady speed over a very long distance. In such a situation they are a good choice. The rear tri spoke is threaded on both sides, so it can be used with a fixed cog or a freewheel, so I could easily use them on my fixie, but I'm not "cool" enough to bother.
#8
Utilitarian Boy
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Bronx, NY
Posts: 3,235
Bikes: Check the sig to find out
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
Because they are utterly pointless on the street. They shave hundredths of seconds off your lap time on the track, but you will never notice any improvement when using them on the street. Aerospokes will give you a rougher and nosier ride, slower acceleration, and increased stopping difference. But of course, anyone who uses them on the street hasn't ridden a bike long enough to understand such things.
Why do people ride aerospokes on the street? For looks, and nothing else. I have a set of old Specialized carbon tri-spokes on my century bike (an old Marin triatholon bike). My century route has no stops or pauses along it's entire distance, and I ride for time, so they aren't a bad choice. No acceleration, no braking, just steady speed over a very long distance. In such a situation they are a good choice. The rear tri spoke is threaded on both sides, so it can be used with a fixed cog or a freewheel, so I could easily use them on my fixie, but I'm not "cool" enough to bother.
Why do people ride aerospokes on the street? For looks, and nothing else. I have a set of old Specialized carbon tri-spokes on my century bike (an old Marin triatholon bike). My century route has no stops or pauses along it's entire distance, and I ride for time, so they aren't a bad choice. No acceleration, no braking, just steady speed over a very long distance. In such a situation they are a good choice. The rear tri spoke is threaded on both sides, so it can be used with a fixed cog or a freewheel, so I could easily use them on my fixie, but I'm not "cool" enough to bother.
Last edited by Gyeswho; 08-13-08 at 07:51 AM.
#10
ganbatte!
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: nyc
Posts: 1,648
Bikes: '06 Vanilla touring, '09 Vanilla cx, Zanconato cx, Moots Psychlo-X RSL prototype, Nagasawa track, Kalavinka track, Black Cat 29er, Cannondale Rize 2 26er, Serotta CRL Legend
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
They're heavy, flexible, and fragile.
__________________
3RENSHO SRA | CO-MOTION CROSS | SAMSON | KALAVINKA | DE ROSA | DE ROSA PRO | CANNONDALE SIX13 | CO-MOTION NOR'WESTER
many many bikey photos
3RENSHO SRA | CO-MOTION CROSS | SAMSON | KALAVINKA | DE ROSA | DE ROSA PRO | CANNONDALE SIX13 | CO-MOTION NOR'WESTER
many many bikey photos
#12
FNG
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 2,313
Bikes: 2008 IRO Angus, 2008 Jamis Exile 29er
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#13
Guest
Posts: n/a
Mentioned: Post(s)
Tagged: Thread(s)
Quoted: Post(s)
#14
partly metal, partly real
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Philadelphia.
Posts: 3,597
Bikes: Hummer H2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
because anything that puts fashion over function on an entity that's so reliant on function deserves to be mocked inherrently.
#16
JuNKie! bike junkie!
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,559
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
who cares ride them if you want to.
but they are heavy and when they fail holy **** bad news but not as bad as Spinergy wheels
but they are heavy and when they fail holy **** bad news but not as bad as Spinergy wheels
__________________
www.cranks505.com
www.cranks505.com
#17
Senior Member
No hate here. I think they look cool, but I'm a child of the Skyway-heavy 1980s BMX scene. For me, that's all it is though: they *look* cool. They don't do anything for me that a regular wheel doesn't already do.
__________________
https://www.pedalroom.com/members/iamtim
https://www.pedalroom.com/members/iamtim
#18
not actually Nickatina
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: OR
Posts: 4,447
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Here is a brief history of the Aerospoke, as related by a 10 year veteran messenger to me:
-long ago, they were actually somewhat of a 'legit' race wheek. This was in a time when people didn't really know dick about what was actually aero.
-they fell out of favor for nearly everyone as they were a) heavy b) flexible and c) untrueable.
-eventually, messengers noticed they were being blown out on sales for so cheap (think $25 a wheel used, $80 new) that it made sense to ride them because once they were toast from hard riding, you wouldn't have much invested in them and could get another anyway.
-people emulate the messenger look, Aerospoke fashion catches on with the hip.
-inevitable Aerospoke backlash.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 187
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#21
FNG
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 2,313
Bikes: 2008 IRO Angus, 2008 Jamis Exile 29er
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#22
Banned.
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 34
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#23
Cat 7 Pro
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 448
Bikes: Fuji Roubaix Pro
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#24
not actually Nickatina
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: OR
Posts: 4,447
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
It used to be easier to find Tri Spokes at a deal from what I understand, now the market is more inflated with a lot of people buyin them on the street. Me, I got a deal on one for $200, figured it was too good to pass up. I ride it on the street though not daily by any means and can see easily how it's less than practical - the way it picks up cross winds is not that safe at all in traffic, so it's best to keep them at home on windy days. I'll admit it's for looks on the street, but I also race it on the track as it's my only tubular wheel and is noticeably faster and better handling in a race when I have the tire pumped up to 160psi (vs. 120 for clinchers).
Also, apparently Tri Spokes can be trued, but I'm gonna call HED and ask myself.
Edit: just called HED. Rear Tri Spokes CAN be trued to an extent. Front HEDs no, but Specialized Tri Spokes were designed to be interchangeable front/rear so there'd be a possibility for them. BFSSFG t will now explode in 3, 2, 1...
Last edited by andre nickatina; 08-13-08 at 11:15 AM.