Originally Posted by
octopus magic
Dude, you don't have a road bike and you say you've done "races"?
No offense, but you're going to get dropped on the track like you've broke your legs.
Buy a road bike with the money you want to spend on wheels. Your training schedule is bunk and isn't doing any benefit for you. Doing errands, bar hopping, commuting... all of that is pretty much worthless for improving yourself. When you actually start riding a road bike HARD, you will understand.
Sheeet. For 1500 bucks, you can get a really nice used 10 speed rear road bike and actually GO REALLY FAST and start to really train yourself, which will make you faster than any wheel set right now.
I'm going to make a very wide sweeping generalization, but most fixie kids are not good riders in the sense of performance. Sure there's a few fast guys, but they probably also already own road bikes, and if they don't, they'd be a lot faster if they did.
Originally Posted by
dutret2
done races in what sense? As in you've done a few alleycats, fm24 and maybe a silver comet tt or two or done races in that you have a license and are well on your way to upgrading out of the 5s. Spending >$1000 on track race wheels before you've ever raced on a track is kind of stupid. Even if you were seriously committed to tts you'd be looking for different wheels if you decided the track wasn't for you. Get down to the track right now, race at least until you're out of the d's if not the c's, then you can think about what wheels will best suit you and if it's really worth spending a grand on them.
Yes, races like that. As I said before, I am not looking to be a pro racer. I am happy doing races for charity, alleycats, other fun races, like FM24, etc. I am not going to be a great track cyclist. But I am by no means slow either. I am fairly fast. Regardless, I'd like nice wheels for this build. I've already scheduled the DLV course for the 6th/7th. I've ridden on the track before, and I know I like it, I've just not done so legally at this point. I know I am getting new wheels because I have nothing else to upgrade at this point. My P2T already has a Record drivetrain (although I am using an FSA 49t chainring instead), Thompson stem, carbon fork, etc., but the wheels on it are **** (Weinmanns). I'm getting the carbon version of the seatpost also, which will let me shed almost 100g. But honestly, the wheels will make more difference than the seatpost.
If it matters to you, I rode a 10 speed for 2 years before I ever started with the track bikes. To be frank, I noticed I didn't really get that much better at cycling til I changed to the fixed gear. Take that how you will, but I am a way better cyclist now than I was when I was riding my 10 speed. And frankly, I do think my riding routine is fairly rigorous given the amount of free time I have (though by no means do I mean to imply I do anything formalized). I don't typically get to clock in the 50+ mile rides on the weekend like some people do but I ride more daily. The people with cars can afford to go up to Tennessee or the Silver Comet ... but I ride my bike to get groceries, go to work, to do anything.
Anyhow, about the wheels, I have seen several TT bikes with the same rims you might use on the track. Trying to dual purpose, and only swap the rear.
Some people like cars. They buy mid-priced sports cars, like 370zs or RX8s. These cars perform very competitively. That doesn't mean their drivers have aspirations to race professionally. I like bikes.
I have 5 bikes. I have money. I like to spend my money on bikes. None of my bikes currently have "nice" wheels. I have H Plus Sons, Weinmanns, Arayas, Velocitys, an Aerospoke, some cheap Alex rims, some other stock generic wheels, and 3 pairs of beater wheels for polo. But I really don't feel that any of these are nice enough to put on this frame for the track. I'd like a nice wheelset to take to the track with me. That is all.
P.S. I'd just like to point out (again) that not everyone who posts in SSFG has only ever ridden a SSFG bike. I've clocked WAY more miles on my old 10 speed than I have on any of my FGs.