Originally Posted by
mihlbach
You could remove close to a pound with a lighter handbuilt wheel set. I'm 205 and I ride 24 spokes up front and 28 in the rear with no problems and could probably get away with 20/24. Taking out a few spokes doesn't really add up to much, however, so there's no need to skimp. The big weight savings will be in the rims and front hub.
A carbon fork is also a good idea, if its the right geometry for your frame.
The best advice is to research before you buy. Component weight and other specs are readily available on the web. I used to buy parts without really researching. But now I research every part before I buy it...looking at weight and many other factors. Take you time...ride and read a lot, until you develop a good understanding of what sort of upgrades will really improve your ride.
Slowly upgrading a bike is rewarding if done with careful thought, and it doesn't necessarily have to be expensive. If you keep the old parts, you will soon realize that you have enough laying around to build up a beater.
I'm with you on the research thing. A good idea and part of the fun of it all - doing things bit by bit and learning in the process. I worked in a bike shop as a kid and built lots of custom BMX and Mountain Bikes back in the 80's. I stopped riding for about 15 years so am a complete newbie when it comes to the products that are out there now. I am also totally new to fixed gear, but enjoying getting back into bikes.
So would your wheelset be strong enough to hop curbs (no tricks or anything, just city riding). What wheelset are you running and do you mind if I ask an approximate price for something similar?