Anyone Have This Wheelset?
 

Hello all.

Just wondering if anyone has ever had any experience with this wheelset,
High Flange / Alex R-450-B (click here for the info)

I'm currently converting my old 89' Bianchi Sport SX into a fixed gear for my daily commutes to and
from school / work and I was in interest of purchasing some non-expensive wheels for my first
set to beat on. I came across these on Ben's Cycles and thought I might give them a shot.
Apparently, these already come with a 14T cog and a lockring as well. I was about to purchase
these two separately, but this is somewhat of a money saver ( using my economic stimulus
check strictly for my little project :) ).

I was also wondering if the 14T cog would be okay with the crankset I received for $Free.99
from a friend of mine...

- Sugino RD w/ 44T chainring

I'm still doing a lot of homework and just wanted to get some help from all of you before I purchase.

Appreciate you reading this, thanks!

Someone just posted a blue conversion in the photo thread with those wheels. And he started a thread too, find that poster and ask him?

They are a damned good price, I am sure that they are not the most solid of wheels but you will get some good use out of them until you are ready to upgrade. The silver ones are $4 cheaper ;)

Thanks for the heads up jet!

Maybe I should rephrase what I'm asking since there is a lack of replies.

What I meant was, would running 44/14 be a total pain in the arse? I was planning on purchasing a 16T cog
at first, but this already came with one so why purchase another one. My commutes have no hills,
flat land all the way through practically.

Do you have a road/mtb bike? If so you could ride around on that in a select gear, find out what is most comfortable for you and then get your fixed combo to get the same gear inches.
i.e. a 44/14 setup is 82.6 gear inches, that is equivalent to riding a road bike in a 53/17 configuration.
Use Sheldon's Calculator to work this out.
I personally prefer to push about 70 gear inches but that's because I'm a spinner not a masher.

It's a 89' Bianchi Sport SX road bike.

I was also thinking of doing what you suggested as well. From reading the forums, people seem
to play around with their gearing and switch from 14 to 18 to 16 etc etc. to figure out what is
most comfortable. I guess I'll be doing that as well for now since I've heard 44/14 is okay for
flat areas of riding. I can't seem to find out if the cog is a 1/8'' or a 3/32''. PM'd a few people
and seems like no one likes to answer PM's haha.

Also, when you refer to "spinner not a masher", I'm assuming by that you like to just cruise and
not like to go all out and fully sprint constantly, correct? If that's the case, I'm more of a spinner as well.

When I was riding my roadbike pretty regularly I'd like to keep my cadence around 100-110 just because I found it more comfortable and I didn't find it as tiring.

That wheelset has a flip-flop hub so you could always leave the 14t on the fixed size and get a 16t cog for the freewheel.

Can't be sure but it looks like a sovos hub in the pictures. If that is the case then pass.

That cog is 1/8" stamped steel, I had those wheels a long time ago. for the price they're pretty good, I abused them pretty badly and they are still true or close to it. Might be a good idea to re-adjust the cones when/if you get them mine were pretty tight.

i've had an r450 rim, it's pretty sweet. i'd go for it and change the cog and lockring just for kicks and peace of mind.

eyecandy(r450 front, indestructo-adventurer rear)
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1011/...336bb52e_b.jpg

Thanks for the honest and quick answers everyone.

Yeah, I just wanted to get these to beat on until I upgrade to a better wheelset. So far, it
seems like they just might do the trick for me from the answers I'm getting from everyone.

Awesome ride cc700 haha.

That bar tape looks silky smooth.

yeah it was reflective, which was awesome... but it was too slick to hold.
now i rock it like this:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2111/...c343168c_b.jpg