New Wheelset
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Portsmouth Va
Posts: 123
Bikes: 2015 Fuji Feather, MSC fixed gear
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
New Wheelset
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)
#2
Senior Member
#4
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,670
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Liked 2,600 Times
in
1,593 Posts
+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.
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Portsmouth Va
Posts: 123
Bikes: 2015 Fuji Feather, MSC fixed gear
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.
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.
#6
Senior Member
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.
#7
Not actually Tmonk
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 15,067
Bikes: road, track, mtb
Liked 3,878 Times
in
2,026 Posts
how important is customer service to you?
__________________
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Arlington, TX
Posts: 1,414
Bikes: 2008 Surly Cross Check, 2010 Fuji Track Comp
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
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)
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?
#10
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?
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?
#11
Not actually Tmonk
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 15,067
Bikes: road, track, mtb
Liked 3,878 Times
in
2,026 Posts
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: PHL
Posts: 9,948
Bikes: Litespeed Catalyst, IRO Rob Roy, All City Big Block
Liked 400 Times
in
196 Posts
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.
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.
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Portsmouth Va
Posts: 123
Bikes: 2015 Fuji Feather, MSC fixed gear
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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?
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?
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.
#14
Senior Member
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.
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.
#15
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?
#16
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,670
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Liked 2,600 Times
in
1,593 Posts
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.
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.
#17
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Portsmouth Va
Posts: 123
Bikes: 2015 Fuji Feather, MSC fixed gear
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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)
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)
Last edited by gmm213; 09-07-16 at 12:33 AM.
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: PHL
Posts: 9,948
Bikes: Litespeed Catalyst, IRO Rob Roy, All City Big Block
Liked 400 Times
in
196 Posts
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.
#20
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.
#21
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Portsmouth Va
Posts: 123
Bikes: 2015 Fuji Feather, MSC fixed gear
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#22
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Portsmouth Va
Posts: 123
Bikes: 2015 Fuji Feather, MSC fixed gear
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.