low budget wheels
 

I recently ruined my rear wheel while riding at the track. I need to replace it, but Im not looking to spend a ton of money. I dont think I can afford a disk or any carbon wheels. So what are my best options?

I dont really want to spend more than $200 whether it be for just the rear wheel or a complete wheelset.



also, I've heard tubular is the way to go. how are these? http://www.velomine.com/index.php?ma...d4poic6q901c15

I picked up a zipp 950 for 200 off of ebay. They seem to go pretty cheap and are a decent wheel.

Buy a rim, a book on wheelbuilding, and some spokes. Use your old hub.

Tubulars are fine. Clinchers are fine too. Neither is as important as the fact that you need to do more intervals.

look at planet x has some cheap but amazing stuff

cool, Ill keep an eye out for one!

I've considered this, but I figure I'd also need a stand to build the wheel on. Not to mention, the hub that I have is not very nice. So after factoring that it, it seems to me that it would be easier just to buy a built wheel.

if I was to go this route though, what rim would you suggest?

build one. get a basic fixed hub, maybe a formula or something around 50 bucks. pick up a rim to your liking whether it be aero or what. if you want aero carbon will break the bank. could try a h+son. they are popular for street use but not sure about the track. it'll be aero 42mm and aluminum so a little heavy maybe. then 32 or 36 wholes. puts you right around 200 or just under it. could even go by a shop to build it or tension it after you build it.

mavic open pros are very mice. could go velocity.

Rim isn't very important. Go heavier rather than lighter. More spokes rather than less. Learning to build sooner rather than later is better because this is not the last wheel you're ever going to need. The sooner you learn, the more money you'll save. And you don't need a stand, though they're nice to have. When I was a junior racing track I built my wheels using my bike as a stand.

Mavic reflex to low flange DA

I agree.

1) You can buy a basic SET of Velocity or Formula brand fixed clincher wheels for $200. That's all you need.
2) There are diminishing returns on fancy gear. Most beginner races are won and lost by seconds or TENS of seconds. An expensive carbon wheelset won't be of any value until you start losing by 1/10s of a second.
3) Most racers own a set of wheels similar to those described in #1 above. That's their "training" set. They save the fancy wheels for race days or sometimes just important race days.
4) Tubular is one way to go, but if you are on a budget, go with what your budget allows. There are many more clinchers available. Supply vs Demand.


I suggest getting a basic, strong 32 spoke clincher wheel with a flip/flop hub. It's easy to find one for less than $200 new. This will last you for years. Your profile states that you are in Georgia. If you are in the Atlanta area, try Skate Escape. They have lots of "street fixies" and lots of wheels for such. Plenty to choose from in your price range there.

My favorite wheelset is a mid 80's Campy Record road hubs laced to Hardox tubular rims. An old freewheel wheel can be found really cheap. Simply redish and spin a track cog on and you are good to go. If you just toasted the rim then I'd get the same rim new and then just reuse the hub and spokes unless they are trashed too.

By the way, if you want the tubular feel plus the really high PSI, then maybe consider "Open Tubular" tires. These are tires that have the same casing as tubulars, but are cut and have a bead like clinchers. They are expensive, but really do feel just like a tubular.

thanks for the input everyone. I ended up buying a cheap set of clinchers with formula hubs from velomine. They were only $130 shipped. So even building my own wheels, I couldn't compete with the price.

I'll definitely look into them. since I stayed under budget on the wheels, Ill have a little more for the tires.