Track Wheels

rudycyclist

I am looking to have a set of custom wheels built for my track bike. I want something around 1500 grams for the pair. Another thing I've been told is important on the track is to have good bearings. I'm assuming that means I should get ceramic, right or wrong? Also, where would anyone suggest I could get a set of wheels I am describing? Would you recommend me going through Excel Sports or getting some pre-built wheels from a manufacturer? Price range is around $500.

kdelong

At your price range and the weight that you are looking at, you will probably have to go with pre-built and upgrade the bearings, although I have been told that ceramic bearings don't add that much performance. Might be differernt on a track bike though.

BikingBrian

I am looking to have a set of custom wheels built for my track bike. I want something around 1500 grams for the pair. Another thing I've been told is important on the track is to have good bearings. I'm assuming that means I should get ceramic, right or wrong? Also, where would anyone suggest I could get a set of wheels I am describing? Would you recommend me going through Excel Sports or getting some pre-built wheels from a manufacturer? Price range is around $500.

Forget the ceramic bearings; the decrease in rolling resistance would probably be unnoticeable, as well as being super pricy. Good bearings means get a decent set of hubs (can't go wrong with Dura Ace track) and then have them built up with something like Araya track rims if you really want something light...although I don't think light wheels are necessarily any type of advantage on the track (no hills!).
If you're looking for pre-built, Campy Pistas are rather nice - good hubs, stiff, aero rims. However, they weight about 2 kgs or so, and they're a bit out of your price range (cheapest is about $900). But if I were buying track wheels...I would choose aero over weight anyday. Witness how many track riders use disc wheels....
another option for prebuilt is the Mavic Ellipse, which are also heavy, but right in your price range. But they are clincher, not tubular....don't know if this matters to you or not.
For $500, I think the best value is handbuilt....go to businesscycles.com, they have lots of good choices for track equipment.

nerdag

although I don't think light wheels are necessarily any type of advantage on the track (no hills!).
I may be totally wrong here, but I was once told that on track bikes, having some weight (not all of it of course!) in the wheels may have even been an advantage because the there's more angular momentum in a slightly heavier spinning wheel, which means that your speed output is going to be less sensitive to fluctuations in your power output. This is supposed to be an advantage in longer races.

It made sense to me, but then again, I ain't no physicist.

n

bobbyOCR

Easy. Get a pair of dura ace 7710 low flange hubs from Bike Parts USA for ~ $160 for the set. Then get a pair of velocity aeroheads, lace them with DT competition both or aerolite on the front. If you want to lower the weight you could look around for 28h front, but I'd go 32 on the rear. Use alloy nipples on the front, and assuming you are reasonably light and won't rock em' on the street, the back too. Pretty sure machined sidewalls is lighter, but I'd go non-machined for looks and the little extra strength that it should provide. It should all come to around $350 USD or less. And, the weight should be around 1650g. If you want to go light, you really need to go for a low flange road front hub which they may not let you race because it isn't bolted. Keep in mind, low flange is lighter, and 1650g for a track racing wheelset is pretty reasonable, seeing as the hubs will fly. You can run them 1 ball out and light oil too for a little extra speed. If you really want ceramics, contact Phill P, he is a great guy and can 'hook you up' with some at a reasonable rate. I got some for my Road DA rear hub, and they should be arriving tomorrow.