A big question I had when I first got into fixed gear bicycling was how much money it would take to create a quality bicycle. I wanted safe equipment, but I really couldn’t afford to spend more than a few hundred dollars on a bike.
One of the most important parts of a fixed gear bike is the wheelset. There are many choices out there as far as wheels go. On average, you can purchase a quality wheelset for about a hundred dollars.
Many people want to buy the best wheels that they can afford, one brand in particular stands out as affordable.
Alex rims (http://www.alexrims.com) are a fairly good starter brand if you want to build your first fixed gear bike.
The double-walled models Alex R450, R400, and DA28 provide good stability for the price. I would not recommend these rims to more experienced riders, but for the average person who wants a commuter fixed gear, they get the job done.
My Alex R450 wheel set has lasted more than a year without major problems; I have trued the wheels once, replaced a broke spoke (bumped by a bike lock) and cleaned out the bearings. I ride about 40 miles a week in a major city.
Another big reason why I choose to ride Alex rims is that they are commonplace – thieves may think twice about stealing my wheels which are everywhere. They are inexpensive; not exactly superbike material. In the event that a thief steals my front wheel, it can be replaced for about $50; not a big loss compared to the more expensive rim and wheel combinations.
There are bike snobs out there who may look down on you if you have Alex rims; I suggest ignoring them and fly past using extremely powerful leg muscles.
Be careful when buying online – some deals may seem too good to be true. And some wheel sets are cheap for a big reason, they’re not high quality.
Right now, many factories that produce rims overseas are experiencing competition based on demand. As more companies get into the business, quality control can go down – there are stories on bike forums of low-quality merchandise being sold.
In general, I suggest sticking with brand name items. It’s a risk to purchase rims labeled as carbon by some seller in a foreign country. Do your homework! Look up reviews and see what other people think about the items you are about to purchase. Some brands are not highly recommended.
My reasoning behind sticking with brand names is this: many of the hub brands are the same hub. I’m putting my trust in the retailers that they’re buying from reliable companies and putting their label on the product.
Secondly, make sure that you have the rest of your bike in working condition. You can have problems with dropouts, chain length, chain alignment and tension without having a wheel problem.
Thirdly, make sure that the wheel itself is trued. There are many articles about how to true a wheel online if you don’t want to take it in to a shop. Wobbly wheels are no fun to ride.
Besides the rims themselves, the quality of your fixed gear ride also depends on your hubs. Most starting fixed gear bikes come with the factory set of hubs: non-sealed, Formula, or Joytech brand. More expensive hubs like Phil Wood or Miche will set you back a pretty penny. If you plan on riding a few miles every week, or just around town, you’re probably not going to notice a difference compared to the more expensive hubs.
