gmm213

So I am planning on upgrading my current Fixed until its only the frame then thatll go to. I want to do the wheelset first. My bike now is an MSC (its a boutique NYC bike I got cheap) Im wondering what to spend on a wheelset thats not overkill thinking of what itll end up being (right now im leaning towards an EAI Bareknuckle or Godzilla)

oouellette

/thread

https://www.velomine.com/index.php?ma...x&cPath=87_172

seau grateau

Velomine does indeed sell wheels. If you want more specific recommendations, it would be helpful to give some idea what you're looking for.

ThermionicScott 

+1. If you don't know what you have now, or what you want out of your next wheelset, it'd be pretty easy to spend money and get something that isn't an upgrade at all.

gmm213

The specs on my wheelset now are MSC hubs 32 hole (MSC is the company the bikes from) the rims are 42mm 32 hole MSW Aluminum.

Basically Im not asking for specifics at this point. Im wondering if theres a ratio that is generally accepted that you spend on your wheelset vs overall build cost IE: I spent $1000 building this so I should spend at least $x amount or x% on a wheelset. Any less and I wont get all available from my build. Anymore and I wont see any improvement over the less expensive set.

oouellette

Sorry. The Velomine page sells a variety of wheelsets that are not overkill. A recommendation of what wheelset to purchase could be based on what you have now and what you want, and what you want to spend. This site has the very reasonable to the quite pricey.

TMonk

how important is customer service to you?

JeremyLC

Is it this bike? MSC

For the most part that build, and that frame, look pretty decent already:

7005 Alu. frame, tapered headtube, full crabon fibre fork
SRAM Omniums
H+Son Archetypes on no-name hubs (formula or novatec?)
FSA bars (Vero Compact?) + stem (no idea)


Is there some performance aspect you want to improve?

Scrodzilla

Scrodzilla

He says the rims are 42mm deep so it's probably this wheelset: MSC Black Wheel Set : MSC Customs

TMonk

seau grateau

I really don't understand your question. How much you should spend on your wheels depends on what you want out of your wheels and how much you can afford to spend, which can vary a lot.

gmm213

No its the Trackster. Its a 4130 Chromo frame. For $350

Im trying to think of a way to phrase my question the way it is in my head.

Basically where would the cost start to out weigh performance in a $1000 build ($1000 not including the wheelset). In most things theres a point when your spending amounts that your not seeing any gain for because of other factors. In this case at what wheelset cost (in general terms for urban riding) would most wheelsets stop being any better because the other components (@ $1000 build) would not be able to show/notice an increase. The rest of the build being the limiting factor in seeing gains in performance in a more expensive wheelset.

hardboiled718

building a bike up from parts is generally more expensive than getting a complete. I feel like a $1000 build budget will probably get you wheels pretty close to what you've probably already got stock, unless you're good at shopping around or waiting for sales. If there's nothing wrong with your wheels you got why not just ride them until you either find an issue you want to upgrade on or they need proper replacing.

seems like you're going about it backwards. rather than having a reason to upgrade then finding your budget, you're trying to pinpoint a price point for a part you want to upgrade but don't know what you want exactly.

Scrodzilla

This.

You've yet to say what you're expecting from a new wheelset aside from "gains in performance". Are you looking for something lighter? Stronger? Stiffer? Wider? Glow-in-the-dark? Scratch & sniff?

ThermionicScott 

+2. That's a better way of saying what I was trying to earlier.

gmm213

I dont know what I want exactly (Im debating Bareknuckle vs Soma Rush, with definitely Nitto EAI RB018). I want to slowly upgrade this bike eventually having a whole bike, then throw this one back together as a back up/beater, I grabbed it because I needed something short notice, in my size and I hate gears. Its what was available.

Building my second bike Im going to figure out what I want then shop around slowly finding good deals and exactly what I want. With the wheelset I want something all around nicer and not powder blue deep v rim. Im thinking if I spend at least $300 on a wheelset it will be a big improvement (A23 or Archetypes with either Gran Compe or possibly springing for DT Swiss Tracks) Basically would spending another $200 or $300 be twice as good or maybe 1.5x as good? (Going to Phil Wood or 7600 hubs).

And would spending $1200 on a wheelset (I have no idea what wheelset would cost this, its purely hypothetical) be the same improvement percentage (2x, 1.5x, 1.25x) as a general rule (finding a wheelset that is comparable to H Sons and Phil Woods in that price range)

hardboiled718

here's the general rule: improvement percentage is exponential. spend enough money on wheels and you'll break records, maybe even travel back in time.

seau grateau

This is the issue, I think. You need to figure out what you want in order to get it. I will say that spending a ton of money on wheels is not going to get you a good return on investment, because fixed gear bikes for street use are generally not performance-oriented machines. A Phil Wood or Dura Ace hub is not going to make you any faster than a Gran Compe or DT Swiss hub.

Scrodzilla

Did your bike suddenly grow gears?

gmm213

No but that was a factor in me choosing this particular bike. My fuji was stolen and I had limited funds. My only other options were older road bikes

gmm213

This answers my general question. Spending more money won't be very cost effective. That money would be better saved. I will see negligible improvement for twice the price

Airbrushkid

I have never had a problem with customer service with them. I have bought 10 wheelsets from them so far.