Fixed Super Light Super Safe

Rear rim should always be deeper than front.

He is planning on doing so, 20mm fornt, 50mm rear i believe is the current plan?

something like this?

Yep, OK.

I suggest you buy a spoke tension gauge for this - don't wanna be snapping no crabon. I'll go halves with you if you want?

I'm sure Smallfurry will chime in as he knows this stuff backwards, but the key is balancing rim depth and the related reduction in spoke count due to the increased strength of the rim.

I'd say that 38/50 would be the aesthetically pleasing choice- but acknowledge that that says nothing about the spoke/strength trade off.

what Spoke Tension gauge/ meter should i get?

Park Tools £40 one or is that rubbish?

I'm sure Smallfurry will chime in as he knows this stuff backwards, but the key is balancing rim depth and the related reduction in spoke count due to the increased strength of the rim.

I'd say that 38/50 would be the aesthetically pleasing choice- but acknowledge that that says nothing about the spoke/strength trade off.

I was thinking a 38/20 based on the weight weenie brief.

The rim depth needed in relation to spoke count is down to the tension needed in the spokes, in order to keep the wheel from flexing vertically (detensioning the spokes). I seem to remember looking into the viability of a 38/38 road wheelset for myself (85Kg). I found 24 spokes would be fine. As this is a undished wheel. It'd be even stronger.

what Spoke Tension gauge/ meter should i get?

Park Tools £40 one or is that rubbish?

You could just borrow one. But the parks tools one is fine.

i bought a new toolbox and it is yearning for things to go in it ;-)

It's already full!

It is impossible, rearward sloping top tubes can GTFO>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

*Edited sloping directionality to allow for the lopro sloping of awesomeness

Jog on, sunshine.

^ :-(

Not aero innit...

also, check your phone!

I think a 50mm rear would look better aesthetically.
But as this is WW a 38mm might make more sense

R50 rim is reduced to 99 so maybe worth it

I think a 50mm rear would look better aesthetically.
But as this is WW a 38mm might make more sense

R50 rim is reduced to 99 so maybe worth it

My weight calc above is based on a PX rim build 50/20.

Me and My Hill Climb Bike - YouTube

fit

...as fuck.

is that saddle a stripped flite?

It is.

Either that or a stripped SLR.

Smell you.

Perhaps more weight conscious than a weight weenie as such, I’m in the process of building a “light weight” high performance fixed-gear bike for racing, training and exercise and managed to get a good deal on a Campagnolo Pista tubular wheelset. Okay, so at 2.15kg (excluding tires) they’re not exactly the lightest option on the market, but they are extremely rigid and perform like a dream. Note that this bike must comply with the 6.8kg UCI minimum weight restrictions, which for a fixie still leaves a bit of leeway

Admittedly I have a thing for Campagnolo and I definitely want a tubular wheelset, but nevertheless I am having second thoughts. While I’m not in anyway, shape or form planning on applying any unnecessary stress or abuse to these wheels, I am somewhat concerned whether the hubs and spokes can withstand the potential pounding of road use e.g. accidentally hitting a pothole.

This is a factory made wheelset, needless to say designed for the track, thus “recommended for track use only” by the manufacturer, much like many of the track framesets you see on the road today. Both hubs are low flange Campagnolo Record adaptations. The rims are 38mm boxed aero profile aluminum alloy and the front wheel has 20 spoke radial lacing, while the rear is 24 2-cross spoke laced - both wheels are laced with bladed stainless steel spokes and fitted with aluminum nipples.

The question is, would you consider this a viable solution for a so-called light weight fixie, or more likely an accident waiting to happen? Would I in fact be better off going for a purpose build, less rigid, higher spoke count and possibly lighter wheelset, leaving me more weight to play with in terms of frame and additional components? I should mention that I weigh in at just over 90kg in full autumn/winter kit and shoes, so I’m not exactly feather weight myself.

Your thoughts please? I’m particularly interested in hearing from anyone who’s ridden the said wheelset or something similar on the road.

Thanks, Lynch

Campag Pista wheels are like the old Shamals (when Shamals were good) but with more spokes. Shamals were considered pretty bomb proof with 16/16 spokes (tough enough that a 12 spoke version was made for lighter riders), loads of them are still being raced 20 years after they were bought.

Putting it another way, the Campag Pista is like a Mavic Ellipse but even heavier, deeper, and with more and fatter spokes, and the Ellipse is as tough as old boots too.

The only slight concern with using Campag Pista on the road is that the bearings are not well sealed, so they will need looking after if you use them in all weathers, and the rims will look tatty if you brake on them.

The other thing is that you're probably not going to want the same tyres for racing and training; tyre changes are a PITA even with clinchers, with tubs much worse. So, for that reason at least, I'd recommend keeping the Campag wheels for racing (so you can use proper race tubs without worrying about the expense) and buy some V-Sprint or other budget clinchers for training and general riding.

Thank you mdcc_tester, thank you so much!

That’s is just about the most insightful, intelligent and straight forward answer I’ve come across plowing through this forum. And here I was expecting to get hammered for asking a stupid newbie questions about my “monster heavy” bike in a weight weenie thread. Still it’s early days yet I suppose…

I’ve changed more tires than diapers in my time, as I’m sure my ex will testify to, so while tire change is indeed a pain in the a**, I’m not overwhelmingly concerned, much like bike care and maintenance is something I used to enjoy almost as much as riding my bike. As for the lack of braking surface… well, let’s just say that that won’t be much of an issue either.

Thank you again, Lynch

PS Being in the game you might not have noticed much of a difference, but I can assure you that prices hasn’t dropped in the 10 years or so, since I was last riding, quite the opposite in fact, and I’m already pushing my initial budget. Still, I was thinking about getting a spare wheelset anyway, so I have ordered a set of Mavic Ellipse this morning - my bike-guy sends his love.

There's something you don't see very often.

Can we have the last few posts deleted please? They are far too sensible and informative and therefore have no place on this thread.

Kind regards,
roboto.

There's something you don't see very often.

You'd have seen it four times if you'd been here last night while I was trying to post during the server back-up