As a competitive cyclist on the road and track I can attest to the aerodynamic benefit of 0,3, and 5 spoke wheels. Disc wheels are generally used on the rear for time trials and mass start track events, as well as on both front and rear for individual and team track pursuit events. Many discs are solid construction of carbon fiber and other light weight materials (zipp makes their discs this way), and others are a traditional spoked wheel with a carbon fiber ferring. notably these spoked discs are lighter, stiffer and more aero (HED Jet Disc) Tri spoke and five spoke wheels are generally used on the front in TTs and track events. The high quality ones such as the HED H3 and Mavic Comete are full carbon and generally made tubular only.
The HED3 is the Specialized/DuPont(me) 3 spoke wheel. First manufactured at a Dupont site in delaware, wages to much, productivity too low. Fabrication system sent to Spain, then from there to Steve Hed, who was involved with the wind tunnel testing of the prototype. These wheels have a machined-shape, aerospace Rohacell foam core, wrapped with a dry layup per my specs ( 50E6 psi modulus uni fibers on spoke near hub for stiffness .. steel is less stiff ) then clamped in outer-wheel-shaped mold halves, vacuum pulled before multi port injected polyester rein (resin transfer molding, RTM process). Heated to cure, then shipped.
I did the structural design for the Specialized ( later the Hed3) wheel, and can verify you don't get any benefit until you exceed 29 mph. Chester Kyle did the aero shapes, and Steve Hed helped with wind tunnel testing.
If this is true, then you were a part of cycling history. That model of trispoke wheel represented a high point in wheel aerodynamics design. It's neat that you cited two familiar names associated with the Specialized TriSpoke wheel. Two others are Mark Hopkins and Frank Principe of DuPont. But I must admit I find it hard to believe that one has to be at 29 mph for there to be any benefit. If this is correct, then the only way for regular people who are not expert time trialists to gain anything on level ground would be if they were riding into strong headwinds where their velocity plus that of the oncoming wind exceeds 29 mph. The only other context is going downhill. Other people commenting are using their subjective experience with this wheel to claim that the wheel is still beneficial at lower speeds.
@@imjonathan6745 The July 1990 issue of Bicycling Magazine had the article about the wheel. Info: 30 Years Ago: July 1990 in Bicycling magazine Articles included are: Innovation: LeMond TVT Carbon Bike Drugs and Cycling: The Inside Story Bike Tech: Pivotal Issue (fixed or floating?) New Product: Specialized/duPont composite wheel John E duPont cycling championships ad (yes, that guy) Off the Back: Twisted Sisters The tandem road tests will be posted in a future thread. As usual, let me know if you'd like to see something else listed in the ToC and I'll post it in a reply to this thread or send you a pdf. Just send me a PM that includes your email address.
@@SanjaySingh-oh7hv No benefit at low speeds, proven by wind tunnel tests, aero theory, and my personal down hill tests. Aero-drag power-consumed is proportional to the cube of the speed.
Malcolm X just stick with normal spoked wheels. these shit; like he said its bad with crosswind and its really bad . not only that your gonna go really slow . but your handle bar will shake and move
if you don't know how to handle crosswinds in general. I mean i once taped my front wheels(box section alloy rim ) with masking tape into a 100mm deep wheel and it handled like pig but stil possible if you stay focused. And believe me when i say the tape caught massive amounts of wind. 3spokes aren't that bad in comparison.
They're meant for track or time trials/ triathlon. Not for road and definitely not for urban use. You'll destroy them very quickly if you torment them in urban areas
@@someguy9520 i can picture the tape converting to a deep wheel. Was there a gap in the center? like if you looked straight down at the rim. or did you also apply tape perpendicular to the rim to cover the middle?
Hello there Zach! first of all great content. I’m 38 years old and I’ve been riding fixed gear with aerospokes (both wheels) installed on a 2010 Fuji feather for almost 12 years now. First I was riding from Glendale to Wilshire (here in Southern California) that will consume a good 24 miles back and forth for almost 2 years , five days a week (between beginning of 2011 till the end of 2012) Then I got a new job closer to my home and I would be riding my fixed gear bike for the next 10 years 4 miles a day . So far as an everyday tool aerospokes feels pretty solid. When I first got them I didn’t really worry or put too much emphasis if it weighs a lot. I’m also an amateur competitive bodybuilder back in my early fixed gear days (10years ago 2012) and I just use my bike as a tool to commute and a work out. I would traverse uphill streets on my daily commute and didn’t worry if my aerospokes was heavy or what not. I just used it and go from point A to point B. at the end of the day I get a leg work out then hit the gym to do my daily workout. Peace to you! Now that I found your channel I will treat my almost 12 years old Fuji feather with a new wabi Sub 15’s and will put it back to how it closely look to the the way it looked when I first go it. Simple and classic look. Peace!
"I didnt read most of it, because I didnt understand it, and it made me feel dumb" Hahahaha. Truer words were never spoken, I know that feeling, slow comprehension of being out of your depth and instantly uninterested. Love your honestly man, and general sense of humour.
The relationship between mag wheels and fixed gear bikes came from New York messengers in the 90's who felt it was easier to quickly throw a big chain through a mag wheel while locking it up for a delivery than feeding a cable through spokes. The trend faded with the 90's "messenger boom" (for lack of a better term) and the majority of messengers started to and still use geared bikes (or now a lot of us who do heavy and fast city riding so a sort of 1x cyclocross type of deal). Anyway, like narrow cut bars or wearing your lock around your waist it was a thing that had a perceived function in the messenger community and the aesthetics carried over to the current fixed gear thing.
Also messengers could pick up these wheels for next to nothing because triathletes were abandoning them because of their dodgy handling in crosswinds. Makes me laugh that kids pay through the nose for them now because they think they're cool and good. Messengers didn't use them because they were good or cool- but because they WERE cheap(and the chain lock advantage}!
I just installed and tested out my alloy tri-spoke wheels. When I go at high speeds my bike felt very comfy and stable. Tho it weighs the same as a traditional spoked wheel I didn't feel the weight as I gain speed plus it came with a 3 month warranty which is nice.
I am the proud owner of a trispoke. I love it and yes its true cornering isnt as good as you had a standard spoke wheel. Croos winds can suck if you are n your game. I love the aerodynamics and the sound of it when you speed.
Joe Blow I'm sure u found your answer in 6 months. But by true he means strait. If the 3 spoke or 5 might have a slight wobble or a little bit of extra weight in a place it shouldn't be it will through off the ride an your stuck with it. unlike spoke rims where u can loosen an tighten the spokes to true (straightening) the wheel so it does not wobble an stays true.. only ever rode bmx just stumbled on this. I had nice gt mags when I was young just remember then being much heavier. .
I think the fact that they never need to be truing makes them better than the regular ones. And also you can tell that they are a lot safer. What if you dash down, the normal rim bents forever and with this ones, I believe, you dont get that problem. I am getting the 5 spokes rims and try them out, im pretty sure is what im looking for.
I switched over for my e-bike. It carries a lot of weight (batteries, motor, etc) and i travel off-road a lot. The regular spoke wheels kept needing adjusting and i even broke a few on fallen tree branches. The 3 spoke magnesium have no such issues. The regular ones also collected a lot of snow, the new ones don't, snow slides off. They work very well for my type of riding, cost effective at $200 for the pair but for normal everyday road riding probably overkill.
I once had a privilege to try a specialized trispoke wheel. This carbon beauty begged me to ride faster, you can really feel the performance benefit. Also it improves your reaction, since you really don't want to ruin that 1500$ piece which costs more than your... anything. You missed the crosswind vulnerability which most complain about. Personally I had no problems in a pretty blowing-4-directions-at-once wind while riding with my 66cm riser bar. Yeah. Wide riser and aero benefits. Nice topic btw
I have a front aerospoke. I got if for $180 off of a group and I use my bike almost every day to go places like school and I the only difference that I noticed was that it rode way smoother than my other wheels but that's to be expected when the others haven't been overhauled in a while. I personally love it because of appearance and have been offer up to $250 for it (These Chicago bike selling pages treat aerospoke slime any other wheel, they sell them for like $150)
Regarding weight losing 1lb of rotational weight is the same as looking 5 lbs of static weight. So go with carbon 3 spokes and you can double down on burritos mid ride without loss of performance.
I rode on HED3s for years. They are great for training on hills and sprints and they make a great sound, good for long rides because they have momentum characteristics that ultralight spoke wheels don't have.
I've been riding carbon aero wheels for a long time- Spinergy Rev-X 26"clinchers, Spinergy Rev-X 650 tubulars, and HED 3 clinchers. The HED 3s (pronounced head) were tested as the fastest wheel on the planet at one time. I've also had a set of custom FIR wheels made with DT spokes and and XTR hubs. The HED 3s are awesome, fast, light, and stiff- I bought these clinchers to ride everyday. The Spinergy Rev-X 650s tubulars have been to the Hawaii Ironman World Championships. I used to ride these daily with very few problems (tubulars are a whole other level of ride/care, that pros tend to ride). The Spinergy Rev-X 26" clinchers are on my urban assault hardtail mountain bike. I LOVE these wheels, and have been riding them forever. They're fast, light, stiff, and piss off a lot of roadies (not realistically comparable to the HED 3s, however, not too much of a difference in the ride except for crosswinds). Final thoughts: carbon fiber spoked wheels are like buying a carbon frame... EXPENSIVE, but you'll always appreciate the money spent. Spoked wheels will eventually break, and the good ones aren't cheap. These days, cutting edge wheel technology is going towards tubeless road tires, which I swear by from mountain biking in brutal terrain. At the end of the day, the guys that ride to look cool get dropped by the guys who ride because it is cool... Big quads and big lungs are what you want to invest in.
I used to ride Specialized 3-spoke carbon wheels (patent now accuired by HED) racing back in the 1990's. They were really light for the era and cut through the wind like a hot knife through butter. Even cornering stability and acceleration was impeccable due to tons of stiffness. Side flex was not the greatest compared to laced wheels. Open brakes is advisable. The aerodynamics has been tested by several institutions and is comparable with Zipp 808 so the speed is definitely a very welcome benefit.
I have blue 7 spoke 24 inch skyway mags on my BMX. I love them. Before the center of gravity was too high and the bike would slide on turns. The mags are heavy but lower the center of gravity and create far more control. The added weight is countered by the inertia of the spokes, once you get going they help you maintain speed. You can feel each one push you, and really helps you whip around turns. That being said, that bike is fast and maneuverable, far too much so, but the added weight is only a benefit as it is by far the most dangerous bike I own, but you can easily keep up with street bikes.
In London at least, spoked front wheels became popular with couriers as it was easier to the thread a lock threw them multiple times a day. If you are a courier or a time trial rider, then spokes might be for you otherwise a spoked wheel is better in my opinion. I run some Archetypes with Dia Compe hubs, early days but I have had some pretty big hits and the wheels are fine.
Hi, Thx for the review Zach. I have had an alloy rim painted matte black as my front wheel for about 3 years. The 5 spoke rim is magnesium alloy which makes this wheel sturdy yet sporty. It comes at a Price. I had to get used to the weight a bit, but you can get used to it. Crosswinds are an issue, especially in windy Hamburg (Germany) or out along the dikes. But basically it drives well and the rim is very robust and low maintenance. The purchase price was only half of an Aerospoke from a Brand located in Berlin and up to now I can say it was a good deal : ) Honestly, however, it is more the appearance than the purpose, yet - I love it!!!
messenger bag. Backpacks pull your arms back and keep your chest from fully expanding. Going one-strap has a legitimate function beyond the messenger's need to sling it under their arm quickly.
low cost option: take regular laced wheel, Mark three evenly spaced groups of four spokes each, remove all other spokes, wrap each cluster of spokes in electrical tape, reinstall wheel, profile baby!!! ( disclaimer; this may adversely affect the durability of your wheel ).
Those Aerospoke wheels are the MOST flexible on the market!! Your hacked wheel idea STILL may be Stiffer!! LOL. A agree that the durability may be compromised--to some degree;)
He’s like “unless you like your bling enough to pay for it...” and I’m like “yup mhm that’s where I’m at right now. Mm’ buying some three spoked for muh road bike” 🥰
Pretty awesome video! But the key is really in the aerodynamics of the wheel, less spokes means less aerodynamics resistance during the ride, that's my opinion, confirmed from personal experience. In fact, the difference in speed of 36 spoke wheelset and 20 spoke Ultegra wheels (same bike, same tires) is perceptible while are you riding against the wind. :)
Thank You Zach, just recently subscribed to your channel because ive always wanted to have a fixie even without the means to have one, still, interested in watching your vids since other than the specs, price is one thing i always look onto when watching reviews or vlogs like these.
For an affordable yet extremely lightweight and durable spoked wheelset, it's hard to beat the Vuelta Corsa Lites from Nashbar. When they run single-item sales you can often get them for under $200 for the entire wheelset, they're 11-sp compatible, they're EXTREMELY true with excellent bearings straight out of the box, and they weigh only 1,575 grams for the entire wheelset. I've been running these wheels in 20/24 aero bladed spoke configuration on my commuter road bike for almost 3 years now, and they have probably 8,000 miles on them or so. My commute has plenty of bumps and potholes, though I try to avoid the rough parts as best I can, but even now they're still just as true as when I bought them, from what my eyes can tell.
Unless you're a racer at some level then the spokes are mostly just pure aesthetics. If someone wants to trick out their bike with them, I see no harm in that. And these 'mag' style large spoke wheels can be trued. See mountain bikers do it all the time when they warp one on a jump. QR it off, lay across a couple rocks, a couple swift kicks or stomps and wheel is pretty straight again. Also, if you're using these wheels then you're also using disc brakes and a slightly warped wheel will have no effect on braking. As far as weight balance goes, that's easy enough to fix yourself, or take to a shop to put on their spin balancer. You could also use the bubble balance or simply tabletop balance method to find heavy spot of wheel, then use stick-on lead weights to counter it to 'true" the wheel by weight balance just like a car. I used to do that stuff hundreds of times a day when I worked in an auto shop.
Ive owned both. Actually my bike is at the 2:01 mark of this video, white saddle, pedals, chain and white front aero. Aero takes some time to get going due to weight. Sucks too for stopping, especially for fix riders but they're tanks. My HED front is great for long distance rides. Not so much in street since there always pot holes and the often curb jumps.
I mean it does integrate with the track bike aesthetic of as few parts as possible and visible spokes count as parts but unless your average speed is 50 kph I'm unsold for use outside it
in the spirit of the 20 inch TUFF Wheels from the 1980s I just bought myself a pair of 3 spoke and 10 spoke 26 inch wheels, I don't expect to downhill on them, mostly will be used for street and paths they should do the job gonna always be haters though
Years ago my friend owned a fixed gear bike shop in Columbus Georgia. He decided to let me test an aero spoke front wheel for a week. I was so excited! Testing before the commitment. I rode that thing for less than an hour and got my other wheel back. It felt sluggish and non responsive. It did look really cool, but as a commuter in Georgia riding on a river walk, it straight up sucked. I would rather my high flange Phil radial laced any day of the week. My friend even offered to discount it for me just to get it out on the street. Once again i declined. It felt like a tank. I dont care how good it looks, it was like putting a silk suit on a pig. Just my take on the aerospoke about 10 years ago and i saved a great deal of money after having the phils built up
I live in NYC and there's obviously a big fixie community here, and I get frustrated when I see all the too-young fixie wannabes, that have Cinelli frames and Zipp carbon wheels, (both 3-5 spoke and normal spokes) yet they don't even race. They just cruise around in the street. Anyway, great video !
Do you think there is a special age, you have to reach to ride fixed?! I agree with you. I hate people not knowing how to ride fixed, but buying the Best stuff. My frame is just an Old GDR track frame, I built it up myself, I repair it myself and I (mostly) just cruise with it. I'm 16 years Old so I think there is no age for people to ride fixed as long as they Know what to do. Greetings from Berlin, I hope my comment was understandable.
3:59 "To be honest, I didn't read much of it because I didn't understand it, and it made me feel dumb." Perhaps you should head on over to Hambini and watch some of his videos where he explains aerodynamics. Also, CFD is a computer method to approximate the behavior of fluids according to known mathematical laws that model how fluids move and how they transfer forces. It doesn't model every nuance, especially unsteady or separated or turbulent flows, which are quite common in low speed aerodynamics. Technical people may be tempted to trust CFD completely, but that would be a mistake.
The Aero spokes also soak up road imperfections much better than traditional wheels I have both one at the front and rear and I took my fixie last last year while visiting the UK I have to say that the roads in the UK are probably some of the worst in Europe potholes everywhere. they don't maintain their roads properly.
I've only ridden 3 to 4 spoke wheels and a disc wheel for my rear, I only used them on the track and also going back home on them but the only advantage you get on them is if you really get up to speed then you'll feel the difference on 3 to 4 spoke wheels, but over all if your just commuting or riding casually on those wheels there nothing special mostly just looks
Imagine the following example - you use a whisk(wire spokes) that can trap air for beating whipped cream Vs using 3 knifes(tri spokes) for beating whipped cream. At the end of a short bicycle trip, you can end up with whipped cream on wire spokes tires.
aloy mags rule if they bend you can bend them back in the bke ,i used many types of mags for 30years from skyway to spin ,and i had many spoked wheels ,,, i find the main benifit isthey are easy to keep clean
I am a heavy bloke and have ruined my share of spoked wheel bikes from normal use. Truing a wheel is a pain in the ass so i am thinking about getting a mag wheel bike.
nice video! One more(or 2;) important facts. Pro/competitive riders can produce lots of power(watts) and maintain a much higher top speed and cruising speed As speed increases, the aerodynamics have much more effect. If you are a casual rider, you probably cannot maintain that high cruising speed to get a good benefit out of aero rims. More importantly for me, acceleration SUCKS on aero wheels. If I am riding around the city, I am stopping and starting a lot! So, I want light wheels that easily accelerate up to speed. Also, Aero wheels are slow and sluggish in the handling department. I want fast razor sharp handling wheels--especially in the city. for me, good regular spoked wheels feel lighter, easier, and more fun to ride--especially city riding.
Been running Tri-spokes since they came out in the early 90's. I have one set that has over 30,000 miles on them. I still have them on my Time Trial bike and Single speed bike. Here's my single speed with tri-spokes ruclips.net/video/qFHJHj1PrIU/видео.html
I use a composite aerospoke . 2things they cost way more than my whole bike and it's fucking heavy. Infact it's weight is noticeably way heavier than my 26'x2.4 mtb wheel and it makes my bike weigh more than original but it definitely turns heads
From my experience, not much different other than it looks cooler and yeah the weight. However, jumping, climbing curbs and riding down stairs is a no no. If that Rim bends, well I still haven't found a video to help me fix that. Spokes wheels can be straightened tho.
I regularly see bikes with only the front being a 3 or 5 spoke. Is that because of their price or is there some type of benefit from doing this? I've seen one in the back once maybe, but why is it usually placed in front?
I was wondering if you have checked the carbon composite aerospokes instead of the plastic composite. The plastic comp weights 17lbs, and the carbon is around 10-12lbs. I've been doing research because thinking of getting one.
+Jesse Bowen nope apologies, I've searched out and asked Brick Lane Bikes (Europe's only aerospoke distributer and seller) they've weight it out and said it was only 1400g. Less than 2kg. Sorry about that.
my middle of the road rr wheelset weighs under 1500 grams. and it has a longer rear axle, a freehub and other thing that increase weight. if you try you can easily build a sub- 1700 gram fixed wheelset. just don't be stupid and use good shallow rims, like the dt swiss R 460. or similar. also, hubs shouldn't be heavier that 250 grams a piece.
I have a doubt and I need to ask some expert in the field. Is its possible to use these wheels with a geared rear hub like shimamo nexus ? I think it is the only serious drawback.
I bought a used Spinergy wheel from a local guy who needed quick cash and got an entire front wheel, tube and Continental tire for $65, a huge bargain. Otherwise I'd just stick to spokes.
I have been using 3 spoke and 10 spoke mags from eBay on my urban bike running 26 x 1.50 tires just make sure to get the rear with freehub for cassette instead of the older freewheel type they definitely feel different than spoked wheels and the 10 spoke set is much more rigid than the 3 spoke set
Was able to find 3 and 5 spokes for around $100 both are good and durable but the 5 spoke I got the barring to place the freewheel on keeps unscrewing when I do a skid brake so I’m trying to figure out how to solve that issue... for street riding I recommend the 3 in the front 5 in the back due to their weight difference but for racing I recommend the reverse to give you that lighter boost when at the start or during hill climbs
Personally I do think the carbon tri rims are over kill but the plastic rims i call “700c mags” only lack with weight and cross winds but there not bad rims i ran a front navigate rim a lower cost rim than areo spoke Anyone running a vilano track frame ?
...I do wonder about year round riding.I've had steel wheels,with spokes, creak when the temperatures at 0 and below.(f, not c.) I'm afraid the carbon will just snap and possibly the alloys.I'd Really like to get 5 spoke aluminums.
I've been using them for over a year without any issues. Magnesium is also a much safer bet than carbon fiber because it's a stronger material. Did you know every carbon fiber manufacturer in the world is chinese? Just because something is chinese doesn't make it crap
As a competitive cyclist on the road and track I can attest to the aerodynamic benefit of 0,3, and 5 spoke wheels.
Disc wheels are generally used on the rear for time trials and mass start track events, as well as on both front and rear for individual and team track pursuit events. Many discs are solid construction of carbon fiber and other light weight materials (zipp makes their discs this way), and others are a traditional spoked wheel with a carbon fiber ferring. notably these spoked discs are lighter, stiffer and more aero (HED Jet Disc)
Tri spoke and five spoke wheels are generally used on the front in TTs and track events. The high quality ones such as the
HED H3 and Mavic Comete are full carbon and generally made tubular only.
I just learned there are 4 spoke wheels. Thoughts or opinions on them in comparison to the 0,3 and 5 you mentioned above?
The HED3 is the Specialized/DuPont(me) 3 spoke wheel. First manufactured at a Dupont site in delaware, wages to much, productivity too low. Fabrication system sent to Spain, then from there to Steve Hed, who was involved with the wind tunnel testing of the prototype. These wheels have a machined-shape, aerospace Rohacell foam core, wrapped with a dry layup per my specs ( 50E6 psi modulus uni fibers on spoke near hub for stiffness .. steel is less stiff ) then clamped in outer-wheel-shaped mold halves, vacuum pulled before multi port injected polyester rein (resin transfer molding, RTM process). Heated to cure, then shipped.
Been riding three spoke for ages now, and I have to fucking say, there is a certain 'feel' which personally I adore, plus it looks gorgeous.
You ride fixed ? And if so do u notice the weight pulling you
Is it a comfortable ride tho
How much for the expensive of all 3?
I did the structural design for the Specialized ( later the Hed3) wheel, and can verify you don't get any benefit until you exceed 29 mph. Chester Kyle did the aero shapes, and Steve Hed helped with wind tunnel testing.
what about bladed spokes versus circle?
If this is true, then you were a part of cycling history. That model of trispoke wheel represented a high point in wheel aerodynamics design. It's neat that you cited two familiar names associated with the Specialized TriSpoke wheel. Two others are Mark Hopkins and Frank Principe of DuPont.
But I must admit I find it hard to believe that one has to be at 29 mph for there to be any benefit. If this is correct, then the only way for regular people who are not expert time trialists to gain anything on level ground would be if they were riding into strong headwinds where their velocity plus that of the oncoming wind exceeds 29 mph. The only other context is going downhill.
Other people commenting are using their subjective experience with this wheel to claim that the wheel is still beneficial at lower speeds.
source? proof? dont care. tri spokes are cool. your claims are invalid to me.
@@imjonathan6745 The July 1990 issue of Bicycling Magazine had the article about the wheel. Info:
30 Years Ago: July 1990 in Bicycling magazine
Articles included are:
Innovation: LeMond TVT Carbon Bike
Drugs and Cycling: The Inside Story
Bike Tech: Pivotal Issue (fixed or floating?)
New Product: Specialized/duPont composite wheel
John E duPont cycling championships ad (yes, that guy)
Off the Back: Twisted Sisters
The tandem road tests will be posted in a future thread.
As usual, let me know if you'd like to see something else listed in the ToC and I'll post it in a reply to this thread or send you a pdf.
Just send me a PM that includes your email address.
@@SanjaySingh-oh7hv No benefit at low speeds, proven by wind tunnel tests, aero theory, and my personal down hill tests. Aero-drag power-consumed is proportional to the cube of the speed.
Didn't understand much of this, but as a non cyclist, these spoked wheels look dope af.
Malcolm X just stick with normal spoked wheels. these shit; like he said its bad with crosswind and its really bad . not only that your gonna go really slow . but your handle bar will shake and move
if you don't know how to handle crosswinds in general. I mean i once taped my front wheels(box section alloy rim ) with masking tape into a 100mm deep wheel and it handled like pig but stil possible if you stay focused. And believe me when i say the tape caught massive amounts of wind. 3spokes aren't that bad in comparison.
They're meant for track or time trials/ triathlon. Not for road and definitely not for urban use. You'll destroy them very quickly if you torment them in urban areas
@@someguy9520 i can picture the tape converting to a deep wheel. Was there a gap in the center? like if you looked straight down at the rim. or did you also apply tape perpendicular to the rim to cover the middle?
@@neilbaquiran643 Thats n0t what he said!
Hello there Zach! first of all great content. I’m 38 years old and I’ve been riding fixed gear with aerospokes (both wheels) installed on a 2010 Fuji feather for almost 12 years now. First I was riding from Glendale to Wilshire (here in Southern California) that will consume a good 24 miles back and forth for almost 2 years , five days a week (between beginning of 2011 till the end of 2012)
Then I got a new job closer to my home and I would be riding my fixed gear bike for the next 10 years 4 miles a day . So far as an everyday tool aerospokes feels pretty solid. When I first got them I didn’t really worry or put too much emphasis if it weighs a lot. I’m also an amateur competitive bodybuilder back in my early fixed gear days (10years ago 2012) and I just use my bike as a tool to commute and a work out. I would traverse uphill streets on my daily commute and didn’t worry if my aerospokes was heavy or what not. I just used it and go from point A to point B. at the end of the day I get a leg work out then hit the gym to do my daily workout.
Peace to you!
Now that I found your channel
I will treat my almost 12 years old Fuji feather with a new wabi Sub 15’s and will put it back to how it closely look to the the way it looked when I first go it. Simple and classic look.
Peace!
What do you think about wheels like this on a road bike for climbing in mountains, also with a 15mm internal width for 28mm tires?
"I didnt read most of it, because I didnt understand it, and it made me feel dumb" Hahahaha. Truer words were never spoken, I know that feeling, slow comprehension of being out of your depth and instantly uninterested. Love your honestly man, and general sense of humour.
😂 😂 😂 I liked the video immediately after that line!!! 😂😂😂
The relationship between mag wheels and fixed gear bikes came from New York messengers in the 90's who felt it was easier to quickly throw a big chain through a mag wheel while locking it up for a delivery than feeding a cable through spokes. The trend faded with the 90's "messenger boom" (for lack of a better term) and the majority of messengers started to and still use geared bikes (or now a lot of us who do heavy and fast city riding so a sort of 1x cyclocross type of deal). Anyway, like narrow cut bars or wearing your lock around your waist it was a thing that had a perceived function in the messenger community and the aesthetics carried over to the current fixed gear thing.
Also messengers could pick up these wheels for next to nothing because triathletes were abandoning them because of their dodgy handling in crosswinds. Makes me laugh that kids pay through the nose for them now because they think they're cool and good. Messengers didn't use them because they were good or cool- but because they WERE cheap(and the chain lock advantage}!
@@ronasaurus74 BUT, ur wr0ng, 0r at Ieast n0t t0taIIy right!
I just installed and tested out my alloy tri-spoke wheels. When I go at high speeds my bike felt very comfy and stable. Tho it weighs the same as a traditional spoked wheel I didn't feel the weight as I gain speed plus it came with a 3 month warranty which is nice.
I am the proud owner of a trispoke. I love it and yes its true cornering isnt as good as you had a standard spoke wheel. Croos winds can suck if you are n your game. I love the aerodynamics and the sound of it when you speed.
Joe Blow I'm sure u found your answer in 6 months. But by true he means strait. If the 3 spoke or 5 might have a slight wobble or a little bit of extra weight in a place it shouldn't be it will through off the ride an your stuck with it. unlike spoke rims where u can loosen an tighten the spokes to true (straightening) the wheel so it does not wobble an stays true.. only ever rode bmx just stumbled on this. I had nice gt mags when I was young just remember then being much heavier. .
Starving to death or having a 5 spoke front wheel ? fuck it i'm just going to starve to death the thing looks fucking awesome.
Sooooo you want the wheel? Im lost
@@caltunka4273 ikr
I think the fact that they never need to be truing makes them better than the regular ones. And also you can tell that they are a lot safer. What if you dash down, the normal rim bents forever and with this ones, I believe, you dont get that problem. I am getting the 5 spokes rims and try them out, im pretty sure is what im looking for.
I switched over for my e-bike. It carries a lot of weight (batteries, motor, etc) and i travel off-road a lot. The regular spoke wheels kept needing adjusting and i even broke a few on fallen tree branches. The 3 spoke magnesium have no such issues. The regular ones also collected a lot of snow, the new ones don't, snow slides off.
They work very well for my type of riding, cost effective at $200 for the pair but for normal everyday road riding probably overkill.
I once had a privilege to try a specialized trispoke wheel. This carbon beauty begged me to ride faster, you can really feel the performance benefit. Also it improves your reaction, since you really don't want to ruin that 1500$ piece which costs more than your... anything. You missed the crosswind vulnerability which most complain about. Personally I had no problems in a pretty blowing-4-directions-at-once wind while riding with my 66cm riser bar.
Yeah. Wide riser and aero benefits.
Nice topic btw
the "cool"factor gets people out and riding....
word.
no I'm just better than
stop riding kid.....
+pop eye ,you might be better at riding. but you arent better at forming a complete sentence.
do u even ride fixed......
get out of this comment section........
Mr.ActionGal101 lmao love u🤟
I have a front aerospoke. I got if for $180 off of a group and I use my bike almost every day to go places like school and I the only difference that I noticed was that it rode way smoother than my other wheels but that's to be expected when the others haven't been overhauled in a while. I personally love it because of appearance and have been offer up to $250 for it (These Chicago bike selling pages treat aerospoke slime any other wheel, they sell them for like $150)
Regarding weight losing 1lb of rotational weight is the same as looking 5 lbs of static weight. So go with carbon 3 spokes and you can double down on burritos mid ride without loss of performance.
nO m..M..S
I rode on HED3s for years. They are great for training on hills and sprints and they make a great sound, good for long rides because they have momentum characteristics that ultralight spoke wheels don't have.
I've been riding carbon aero wheels for a long time- Spinergy Rev-X 26"clinchers, Spinergy Rev-X 650 tubulars, and HED 3 clinchers. The HED 3s (pronounced head) were tested as the fastest wheel on the planet at one time. I've also had a set of custom FIR wheels made with DT spokes and and XTR hubs. The HED 3s are awesome, fast, light, and stiff- I bought these clinchers to ride everyday. The Spinergy Rev-X 650s tubulars have been to the Hawaii Ironman World Championships. I used to ride these daily with very few problems (tubulars are a whole other level of ride/care, that pros tend to ride). The Spinergy Rev-X 26" clinchers are on my urban assault hardtail mountain bike. I LOVE these wheels, and have been riding them forever. They're fast, light, stiff, and piss off a lot of roadies (not realistically comparable to the HED 3s, however, not too much of a difference in the ride except for crosswinds). Final thoughts: carbon fiber spoked wheels are like buying a carbon frame... EXPENSIVE, but you'll always appreciate the money spent. Spoked wheels will eventually break, and the good ones aren't cheap. These days, cutting edge wheel technology is going towards tubeless road tires, which I swear by from mountain biking in brutal terrain. At the end of the day, the guys that ride to look cool get dropped by the guys who ride because it is cool... Big quads and big lungs are what you want to invest in.
I used to ride Specialized 3-spoke carbon wheels (patent now accuired by HED) racing back in the 1990's. They were really light for the era and cut through the wind like a hot knife through butter.
Even cornering stability and acceleration was impeccable due to tons of stiffness. Side flex was not the greatest compared to laced wheels. Open brakes is advisable.
The aerodynamics has been tested by several institutions and is comparable with Zipp 808 so the speed is definitely a very welcome benefit.
I have blue 7 spoke 24 inch skyway mags on my BMX. I love them. Before the center of gravity was too high and the bike would slide on turns. The mags are heavy but lower the center of gravity and create far more control. The added weight is countered by the inertia of the spokes, once you get going they help you maintain speed. You can feel each one push you, and really helps you whip around turns. That being said, that bike is fast and maneuverable, far too much so, but the added weight is only a benefit as it is by far the most dangerous bike I own, but you can easily keep up with street bikes.
Ah, yes I managed to binge watch your videos and now I am 4 yeara in the past 🤣🤣
I have metal 3 spokes. They are basically bling factor only. I will say they do an excellent job of making drivers aware of me.
But you can't attach reflective lights on them like you can on a spoke wheel, so when car headlights hits your bike drivers can see you
In London at least, spoked front wheels became popular with couriers as it was easier to the thread a lock threw them multiple times a day. If you are a courier or a time trial rider, then spokes might be for you otherwise a spoked wheel is better in my opinion. I run some Archetypes with Dia Compe hubs, early days but I have had some pretty big hits and the wheels are fine.
Hi,
Thx for the review Zach. I have had an alloy rim painted matte black as my front wheel for about 3 years. The 5 spoke rim is magnesium alloy which makes this wheel sturdy yet sporty. It comes at a Price. I had to get used to the weight a bit, but you can get used to it. Crosswinds are an issue, especially in windy Hamburg (Germany) or out along the dikes. But basically it drives well and the rim is very robust and low maintenance.
The purchase price was only half of an Aerospoke from a Brand located in Berlin and up to now I can say it was a good deal : )
Honestly, however, it is more the appearance than the purpose, yet - I love it!!!
fyi, "HED" is pronounced "head." It's not an acronym - it's the name of the founder, Steve Hed.
backpack vs messenger bag
+1 for messenger bag
messenger bag. Backpacks pull your arms back and keep your chest from fully expanding. Going one-strap has a legitimate function beyond the messenger's need to sling it under their arm quickly.
I ride with the Chrome Barrage backpack, it distributes the weight nicely and is very comfortable with heavy loads.
Same, it's very well balanced
+1 for backpacks. fits more, is more balanced
Seeing that you have uploaded a new video always makes me happy. :)
low cost option: take regular laced wheel, Mark three evenly spaced groups of four spokes each, remove all other spokes, wrap each cluster of spokes in electrical tape, reinstall wheel, profile baby!!! ( disclaimer; this may adversely affect the durability of your wheel ).
Those Aerospoke wheels are the MOST flexible on the market!! Your hacked wheel idea STILL may be Stiffer!! LOL. A agree that the durability may be compromised--to some degree;)
someone should do that and take serious;) pics and send it into Zack for a bike check. His head may explode, or he may laugh--or both.
He’s like “unless you like your bling enough to pay for it...” and I’m like “yup mhm that’s where I’m at right now. Mm’ buying some three spoked for muh road bike” 🥰
I like how you always give reasonable advise. Keep up the good work
Freaking brilliant!!! This video was both fun and quite informative. Thanks for sharing Zach!
Pretty awesome video! But the key is really in the aerodynamics of the wheel, less spokes means less aerodynamics resistance during the ride, that's my opinion, confirmed from personal experience. In fact, the difference in speed of 36 spoke wheelset and 20 spoke Ultegra wheels (same bike, same tires) is perceptible while are you riding against the wind. :)
Nice man. Finally someone that is really serious. So profesional that you mention some good sources!
Thank You Zach, just recently subscribed to your channel because ive always wanted to have a fixie even without the means to have one, still, interested in watching your vids since other than the specs, price is one thing i always look onto when watching reviews or vlogs like these.
For an affordable yet extremely lightweight and durable spoked wheelset, it's hard to beat the Vuelta Corsa Lites from Nashbar. When they run single-item sales you can often get them for under $200 for the entire wheelset, they're 11-sp compatible, they're EXTREMELY true with excellent bearings straight out of the box, and they weigh only 1,575 grams for the entire wheelset.
I've been running these wheels in 20/24 aero bladed spoke configuration on my commuter road bike for almost 3 years now, and they have probably 8,000 miles on them or so. My commute has plenty of bumps and potholes, though I try to avoid the rough parts as best I can, but even now they're still just as true as when I bought them, from what my eyes can tell.
Unless you're a racer at some level then the spokes are mostly just pure aesthetics. If someone wants to trick out their bike with them, I see no harm in that. And these 'mag' style large spoke wheels can be trued. See mountain bikers do it all the time when they warp one on a jump. QR it off, lay across a couple rocks, a couple swift kicks or stomps and wheel is pretty straight again. Also, if you're using these wheels then you're also using disc brakes and a slightly warped wheel will have no effect on braking. As far as weight balance goes, that's easy enough to fix yourself, or take to a shop to put on their spin balancer. You could also use the bubble balance or simply tabletop balance method to find heavy spot of wheel, then use stick-on lead weights to counter it to 'true" the wheel by weight balance just like a car. I used to do that stuff hundreds of times a day when I worked in an auto shop.
Ive owned both. Actually my bike is at the 2:01 mark of this video, white saddle, pedals, chain and white front aero. Aero takes some time to get going due to weight. Sucks too for stopping, especially for fix riders but they're tanks. My HED front is great for long distance rides. Not so much in street since there always pot holes and the often curb jumps.
I think disk wheels look cool
I mean it does integrate with the track bike aesthetic of as few parts as possible and visible spokes count as parts but unless your average speed is 50 kph I'm unsold for use outside it
@@andreyv116 got them crosswinds
@@AurumFaber well yes that's why tt/tri bikes have the disc only in the back
@@andreyv116 one big gust would throw you into the ditch. T
in the spirit of the 20 inch TUFF Wheels from the 1980s
I just bought myself a pair of 3 spoke and 10 spoke
26 inch wheels, I don't expect to downhill on them,
mostly will be used for street and paths
they should do the job
gonna always be haters though
your facial expressions are craaaazyyyyy, im sitting hear watching your videos tripping tf outtttt, woooooowwwww...
Your page is informative and helpful, thank you.
Years ago my friend owned a fixed gear bike shop in Columbus Georgia. He decided to let me test an aero spoke front wheel for a week. I was so excited! Testing before the commitment. I rode that thing for less than an hour and got my other wheel back. It felt sluggish and non responsive. It did look really cool, but as a commuter in Georgia riding on a river walk, it straight up sucked. I would rather my high flange Phil radial laced any day of the week. My friend even offered to discount it for me just to get it out on the street. Once again i declined. It felt like a tank. I dont care how good it looks, it was like putting a silk suit on a pig.
Just my take on the aerospoke about 10 years ago and i saved a great deal of money after having the phils built up
Aerospoke is a Kmart-special toy.
So if my bike comes standard with 3 spoke wheels, you're saying I should change them for normal traditional wheels?
I live in NYC and there's obviously a big fixie community here, and I get frustrated when I see all the too-young fixie wannabes, that have Cinelli frames and Zipp carbon wheels, (both 3-5 spoke and normal spokes) yet they don't even race. They just cruise around in the street. Anyway, great video !
lol this is so true haha
Santiago Hernandez real pros ride 10year old crappy steel bikes lol
Santiago Hernandez in my opinion if you have the money you can buy whatever you want with it and that includes expensive wheels!
Do you think there is a special age, you have to reach to ride fixed?!
I agree with you. I hate people not knowing how to ride fixed, but buying the Best stuff. My frame is just an Old GDR track frame, I built it up myself, I repair it myself and I (mostly) just cruise with it. I'm 16 years Old so I think there is no age for people to ride fixed as long as they Know what to do.
Greetings from Berlin, I hope my comment was understandable.
문민곤 No, they ride all, well almost all, carbon fiber bike.
3:59 "To be honest, I didn't read much of it because I didn't understand it, and it made me feel dumb." Perhaps you should head on over to Hambini and watch some of his videos where he explains aerodynamics. Also, CFD is a computer method to approximate the behavior of fluids according to known mathematical laws that model how fluids move and how they transfer forces. It doesn't model every nuance, especially unsteady or separated or turbulent flows, which are quite common in low speed aerodynamics. Technical people may be tempted to trust CFD completely, but that would be a mistake.
Honesty never needing to true my wheels again I enough for me. I live in Boston and the roads f*ck my shit up all the time.
I'm 65kg. I'm looking for fixie wheel. Is 20 spoke on rear wheel enough for my weight?
be greatful for any help, i have 5 spoke , how can you take slight buckles out ...look great but not as practical as spoked as buckles area nightmare
The Aero spokes also soak up road imperfections much better than traditional wheels I have both one at the front and rear and I took my fixie last last year while visiting the UK I have to say that the roads in the UK are probably some of the worst in Europe potholes everywhere. they don't maintain their roads properly.
what about alloy ie...magnesium and aluminum?
Is it possible to put front breaks on a tri spoke ?
I've only ridden 3 to 4 spoke wheels and a disc wheel for my rear, I only used them on the track and also going back home on them but the only advantage you get on them is if you really get up to speed then you'll feel the difference on 3 to 4 spoke wheels, but over all if your just commuting or riding casually on those wheels there nothing special mostly just looks
Imagine the following example - you use a whisk(wire spokes) that can trap air for beating whipped cream Vs using 3 knifes(tri spokes) for beating whipped cream. At the end of a short bicycle trip, you can end up with whipped cream on wire spokes tires.
5:00 ... You forgot to mention composite spoked wheels are allowed in triathlon, where many innovations in cycling originated.
aloy mags rule if they bend you can bend them back in the bke ,i used many types of mags for 30years from skyway to spin ,and i had many spoked wheels ,,, i find the main benifit isthey are easy to keep clean
I have my bike with aero spokes- yes these wheels help you make your ride easier if it's windy !! Other than that . The looks :)
Can you put a cassette hub on the 3 spoke wheel or only fixed?
Hey I bought a complete fixed gear and the rim have a line between the rim joint, is it normal for aluminum rims?
Apichard Canham it's just a line? Not a visible separation like a crack? Then yes, everything is fine
I'm using the Spinergy Rev-X Roks wheels on my bike. Looks awesome and is a head turner..
i found a ero
bike spoke wheel for 300 dollars, is it worth it or is it just for show
I am a heavy bloke and have ruined my share of spoked wheel bikes from normal use. Truing a wheel is a pain in the ass so i am thinking about getting a mag wheel bike.
I sincerely doubt the average commuter would be able to notice the difference in aerodynamic drag.
Depends at what speed you commute ;)
If u can feel the air slowing u down on winding days? I think average commuters will notice a difference specially on good set of wheels.
nice video!
One more(or 2;) important facts. Pro/competitive riders can produce lots of power(watts) and maintain a much higher top speed and cruising speed As speed increases, the aerodynamics have much more effect. If you are a casual rider, you probably cannot maintain that high cruising speed to get a good benefit out of aero rims. More importantly for me, acceleration SUCKS on aero wheels. If I am riding around the city, I am stopping and starting a lot! So, I want light wheels that easily accelerate up to speed. Also, Aero wheels are slow and sluggish in the handling department. I want fast razor sharp handling wheels--especially in the city. for me, good regular spoked wheels feel lighter, easier, and more fun to ride--especially city riding.
Good information. Just as I was about to plunk down $400 for an Aerospoke wheel
This video really spoke to me...
Been running Tri-spokes since they came out in the early 90's. I have one set that has over 30,000 miles on them. I still have them on my Time Trial bike and Single speed bike. Here's my single speed with tri-spokes ruclips.net/video/qFHJHj1PrIU/видео.html
I use a composite aerospoke . 2things they cost way more than my whole bike and it's fucking heavy. Infact it's weight is noticeably way heavier than my
26'x2.4 mtb wheel and it makes my bike weigh more than original but it definitely turns heads
From my experience, not much different other than it looks cooler and yeah the weight. However, jumping, climbing curbs and riding down stairs is a no no. If that Rim bends, well I still haven't found a video to help me fix that. Spokes wheels can be straightened tho.
I regularly see bikes with only the front being a 3 or 5 spoke. Is that because of their price or is there some type of benefit from doing this? I've seen one in the back once maybe, but why is it usually placed in front?
Because in a fixie, you only legally need a front brake. Trispokes don't go out of true, so you can have lower travel on the calipers without rubbing.
thanks!
Can u repair or replace the hub on this?
Yeah but sometimes there hard to find depending on the brand model
I just came across 4 spoke wheels. Any thoughts or opinion on them in comparison to the 3 or 5 spoke?
i spot volk c ultra jdm car wheels in your google search! i love 3 spokes! hahah
Can someone please tell me what the front wheel is at 3:30?!?! any info, whether you can buy it stock or is it custom HED 3 or something?!?
Declan Yardley It is custom.
wait what.. your benchmark conventional front wheel weighs 1000g? My downhill wheel weighs less than that.
I like my bling enough but is 400 for each tri spoke carbon wheel too low?
I was wondering if you have checked the carbon composite aerospokes instead of the plastic composite. The plastic comp weights 17lbs, and the carbon is around 10-12lbs. I've been doing research because thinking of getting one.
17 lbs?!?!?! thats so freaking heavy for a wheel!
+Jesse Bowen nope apologies, I've searched out and asked Brick Lane Bikes (Europe's only aerospoke distributer and seller) they've weight it out and said it was only 1400g. Less than 2kg. Sorry about that.
I had a 70s bmx style bike with plastic four "spoke" wheels, rode rough and caught crosswinds bad. Spokes!
What about the cheap aluminium 3-5 spoke wheels sold by amazon
Based on my experience aerospoke sucks in uphill but it is so good in downhill because i feel faster and it is aero dynamic.
how does stiffness affect your ride? PLEASE make a video about making a fixed gear the best commuter bike.
You just saved my money thank you
There are cheap alloy tri spokes you can buy for ~$120 each. I plan on buying a wheelset, only really because they look cool
I have an Encore in the front, very nice and fast wheel though sucks in cross winds and is stiff especially for street riding.
3 and 5 spokes look dope. If you got the cash... cop' em.
Spoked wheels are stronger and more durable
my middle of the road rr wheelset weighs under 1500 grams. and it has a longer rear axle, a freehub and other thing that increase weight. if you try you can easily build a sub- 1700 gram fixed wheelset. just don't be stupid and use good shallow rims, like the dt swiss R 460. or similar. also, hubs shouldn't be heavier that 250 grams a piece.
Does it use an inner tube for the wheel?
I have a doubt and I need to ask some expert in the field.
Is its possible to use
these wheels with a geared rear hub like shimamo nexus ?
I think it is the only serious drawback.
Yah but why do you only use one?
oh hell.... only a grand for 2 rims !! why not double it ?
I bought a used Spinergy wheel from a local guy who needed quick cash and got an entire front wheel, tube and Continental tire for $65, a huge bargain. Otherwise I'd just stick to spokes.
I have a front and back three spoked wheels and I'm here to say that they are highly untrued. So much that I need new wheels :(
Those magnum wheels are dope af
I have been using 3 spoke and 10 spoke
mags from eBay on my urban bike
running 26 x 1.50 tires
just make sure to get the rear with
freehub for cassette instead of
the older freewheel type
they definitely feel different than
spoked wheels and the 10 spoke set
is much more rigid than the 3 spoke set
Was able to find 3 and 5 spokes for around $100 both are good and durable but the 5 spoke I got the barring to place the freewheel on keeps unscrewing when I do a skid brake so I’m trying to figure out how to solve that issue... for street riding I recommend the 3 in the front 5 in the back due to their weight difference but for racing I recommend the reverse to give you that lighter boost when at the start or during hill climbs
Where did you happen to find the $100 wheels?
Personally I do think the carbon tri rims are over kill but the plastic rims i call “700c mags” only lack with weight and cross winds but there not bad rims i ran a front navigate rim a lower cost rim than areo spoke
Anyone running a vilano track frame ?
...I do wonder about year round riding.I've had steel wheels,with spokes, creak when the temperatures at 0 and below.(f, not c.) I'm afraid the carbon will just snap and possibly the alloys.I'd Really like to get 5 spoke aluminums.
They look really nice, and if you have the money to afford them, way not. 🤷🏼♂️
id you ride or touch one of this wheels?
You can buy magnesium 3-5 spoke complete wheelsets from AliExpress for $140
I've been using them for over a year without any issues. Magnesium is also a much safer bet than carbon fiber because it's a stronger material. Did you know every carbon fiber manufacturer in the world is chinese? Just because something is chinese doesn't make it crap
excellent narrative.