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Aerospoke! need a review/tips/thoughts.

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Aerospoke! need a review/tips/thoughts.
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flag XTC-FTW
Posted: Jan 18, 2012 at 14:49 Quote
I want to build a fixie this summer and I've always wanted an aerospoke (The first fixie I ever saw had one) I've heard online that they are heavy... My current fixies rims weigh 3.8lbs and I heard that aerospokes weigh 5.3lbs ... will this actually make a large difference? I want to know what your folks experience are. I weight 190lbs and I heard that aerospokes can hold more weight and don't get as flat often.

Basically I just want to know your folks thoughts.
flag cvcdx
Posted: Jan 20, 2012 at 11:16 Quote
Contrary to most on-line opinions(usually by people that have never owned one), i feel the benefits of durability, strength and craftsmanship far outweighs any concern

I've had real life experience from swapping out a deep v rim on a couple of my fixies

Its Strong: never had to true it

Spin Forever: ceramic bearings/ aerodynamic design

Feel Buttery: carbon fiber numbs all the road vibration

Don't get me wrong, i still have the deep v just in case.. collecting dust
flag never-stop
Posted: Jan 20, 2012 at 11:27 Quote
yep, i never owned one, never want to

over priced, over weight, over rated and personally i just think they look ugly
flag cvcdx
Posted: Jan 20, 2012 at 11:35 Quote
your opinion might change if you get one on the rebound...

got mine used for less than half of new from exchange student leaving back to his home country

not regretting the purchase one bit

different strokes for different folks, i guess???
flag never-stop
Posted: Jan 20, 2012 at 12:09 Quote
my opinion wont change, i'm not the only one either

you can buy a pair of wheels that do the job better for the same price
flag road-cyclist
Posted: Jan 20, 2012 at 19:58 Quote
never-stop wrote:
Don't do it!!!
flag
Posted: Jan 23, 2012 at 14:15 Quote
Personally I would only have one on an actual track bike, i think it's pointless for commuting
flag roxovanos
Posted: May 20, 2012 at 18:40 Quote
Well, I've been running black 26" Aerospoke wheels now for about a year without any problems whatsoever. For starters, I don't think they're that heavy to be honest. But then again, I only ever get to lift mine up after I've been pumping iron (I always have a workout before doing any mechanic stuff), so my perception might be somewhat warped. But even with a fat 2.1 fully inflated tyre on the front, I can easily pick the wheel up with one finger. They are really not that heavy at all. A good weight I reckon.

As for looks.....Well that's definitely their calling-card. They are truly beautiful. I almost cried when I received mine in the post. It was like Aliens had landed in my living room; they are definitely futuristic-looking. Come on, to those who say they are ugly....That's just being silly. There's no way you can call an Aerospoke wheel ugly; not in a million years. Seeing one fly past you on the road, is truly a delight to the onlookers eye. They look like helicopter blades.

As for the quality of the hubs, well, all I can say is put the bike in the jig and spin the front wheel and see how long it takes to come to a halt. It's like half an hour or something. So if that's not proof that the bearings run smooth, then what is? They might not be as high a quality as Tune hubs, but they seem pretty high quality to me. They get the job done.

I've heard rumours that the bonded rim poses a threat to fixie riders who like to stop their bike by locking the back wheel. Well, I can't comment on this, but we are reassured by Aerospoke on their website, telling us that this rim is bonded to the wheel using super-glue etc, and that there's no way in hell of it coming loose.

So if 'looks' is it's calling-card, then the mainstay would undoubtedly have to be it's Truing capabilities. I've lost track of how many times I've bent a wirespoke wheel by hitting something like a Coke bottle in the road or bunny-hopped off a curb or whatever...The wheel always ended up a tincy wincy bit buckled. And for me that meant having to book it into a workshop who charged £15 to True it (one week waiting time). Hassle, hassle and more hassle. My Aerospokes are as straight today as they were a year ago. And I've been riding them everyday. To be honest, along with 'de-railleurs', I think wire-spoked wheels is an old fashioned technology. There's just so much room for error. And not only that, but the outcome of the straightness of the wheel, remains solely in the hands of the Truer...Again, Human error is a factor. And if you want to get into the game of building/truing wheels yourself, you got to buy all the equipment that goes with it. Not only that, but having a Mag wheel eliminates the worry of having to choose three extra components for your bike-build (hub, rim, spokes).

There is a downside to Aerospoke wheels, and I have firsthand experience of what this is. When you go cycling in high winds, especially cross-winds, the wheels tend to catch the wind, similar in style to that of a Windmill, and can literally steer you off course by at least a meter or so. And there's nothing you can do about it. The more you try to fight it, the more wind you catch in the blades. Only way is to stop cycling or go against/with the wind. But if you think about it, your body catches cross-winds as well, so cycling in any wind sucks. Gotta hate wind, man; it's worse than rain.

Another thing I've noticed is that these wheels gather momentum. Just like watching a helicopter warming up it's blades....Once these suckers start spinning, I do feel they carry you somewhat more than a normal wire-spoked wheel. Not sure if they actually do, but it definitely feels so.

So bottom line....If you got a good Steel or Titanium frame, a set of high quality stiff cranks, and some light Carbon bars + components, then buying a set of Aerospoke wheels will finish your bike off a treat. You just can't go wrong with these babies; apart from maybe getting called a 'poser' or a 'fashionista' or something insulting like that...
flag richniques
Posted: Jun 2, 2013 at 6:04 Quote
Apparently just don't ride one in England,

I have had one on my city ride for a couple of years now and think it is perfect for what it is. Have put over 10,000km on it easy. Here in Ottawa we have proper winter weather meaning due to the extreme temperature changes and plowing our roads are shit and full of holes. Aerospokes are heavy yes, but they are very strong. Never need truing unlike my spoked wheels which I do every couple of weeks. The bearings are amazing and gives a super smooth ride that keeps on spinning. Once you get it cruising it go's.

They're not race wheels they just look sick, give a smooth clean ride and are bombproof, all this negative shit on the web about them is by jealous haters that have never even tried one. I'm old enough now to not really give a shit what others think(aesthetically speaking), this style of wheel has been dope since 84 when I had them on my Raleigh Burner.

My advice, don't believe the hype chat with folks that have actually owned and ridden on them.
flag gsms
Posted: Oct 16, 2013 at 4:52 Quote
All I have is experience to relate regarding 26" Aerospoke wheels on a Cannondale tandem. I have done no trick riding or mtn bike riding with them... just miles and miles and miles of all around road riding, over 30,000 miles. On the same set. No bearing failures, no out of round, they just keep going. They weigh 1.5 lbs more than a set of tandem rated 40 spoke wheels a friend has, which from my perspective, tolerable since I tour. No more broken spokes. The reliability has been 100%. When you tour, you take whatever the road has to throw at you for the day with the all the extra weight. As far as expense, they sure cost a lot less than current wheels sets out there now that are, granted, a lot lighter, but a lot more fragile as well. These wheels have been on the tandem since 1997.
flag smashine
Posted: Nov 4, 2013 at 10:29 Quote
its heavier than the mavic sup/gran compe i replaced by alot, but it's also super easy to keep spinning once youre up there. its been straight as an arrow for a year and i bought it used, the bearings are just just starting to go.
just keep in mind they run about 500$ a peice and you could get a pretty slick mavic elipse wheelset for something like 600 bucks. i would definately not have this thing if i didnt get it for a screamin 250$


it does look insanely cool though, and thats mostly why is still rock it.

erit: also its plastic, no crabon.
flag daApe
Posted: Sep 6, 2014 at 2:44 Quote
BEWARE... Don't support a business backed by poor customer support and bad practices. They sent me the wrong wheel set and screwed me for return shipping... Jerry assured me he'd send me a return label then when silent. My creditor said there's nothing they could do to force the merchant to provide return shipping and they couldn't help me until I returned the wheels. The creditor said many merchants know this and stall until the creditor dispute window expires. Then you're screwed...
Thanks Jerry. YOU cost me $106 to ship wheels back that you acknowledged should have never been shipped to me in the first place.
CRIMINAL!!!
flag roxovanos
Posted: Sep 12, 2014 at 10:59 Quote
The Aerospoke guys are good guys, trust me. They won't intentionally try to screw you..... They do however make the odd mistake; and out of about 3 pairs of wheels I've ordered from them (overseas), one of them was the wrong combo...... but...... they acknowledged the mistake straight-away and gave me like half-price off my next set of wheels!!!!!!!!!!


Aerospoke rules.
flag HardtailHucker03
Posted: Sep 20, 2014 at 17:38 Quote
roxovanos wrote:
Well, I've been running black 26" Aerospoke wheels now for about a year without any problems whatsoever. For starters, I don't think they're that heavy to be honest. But then again, I only ever get to lift mine up after I've been pumping iron (I always have a workout before doing any mechanic stuff), so my perception might be somewhat warped. But even with a fat 2.1 fully inflated tyre on the front, I can easily pick the wheel up with one finger. They are really not that heavy at all. A good weight I reckon.

As for looks.....Well that's definitely their calling-card. They are truly beautiful. I almost cried when I received mine in the post. It was like Aliens had landed in my living room; they are definitely futuristic-looking. Come on, to those who say they are ugly....That's just being silly. There's no way you can call an Aerospoke wheel ugly; not in a million years. Seeing one fly past you on the road, is truly a delight to the onlookers eye. They look like helicopter blades.

As for the quality of the hubs, well, all I can say is put the bike in the jig and spin the front wheel and see how long it takes to come to a halt. It's like half an hour or something. So if that's not proof that the bearings run smooth, then what is? They might not be as high a quality as Tune hubs, but they seem pretty high quality to me. They get the job done.

I've heard rumours that the bonded rim poses a threat to fixie riders who like to stop their bike by locking the back wheel. Well, I can't comment on this, but we are reassured by Aerospoke on their website, telling us that this rim is bonded to the wheel using super-glue etc, and that there's no way in hell of it coming loose.

So if 'looks' is it's calling-card, then the mainstay would undoubtedly have to be it's Truing capabilities. I've lost track of how many times I've bent a wirespoke wheel by hitting something like a Coke bottle in the road or bunny-hopped off a curb or whatever...The wheel always ended up a tincy wincy bit buckled. And for me that meant having to book it into a workshop who charged £15 to True it (one week waiting time). Hassle, hassle and more hassle. My Aerospokes are as straight today as they were a year ago. And I've been riding them everyday. To be honest, along with 'de-railleurs', I think wire-spoked wheels is an old fashioned technology. There's just so much room for error. And not only that, but the outcome of the straightness of the wheel, remains solely in the hands of the Truer...Again, Human error is a factor. And if you want to get into the game of building/truing wheels yourself, you got to buy all the equipment that goes with it. Not only that, but having a Mag wheel eliminates the worry of having to choose three extra components for your bike-build (hub, rim, spokes).

There is a downside to Aerospoke wheels, and I have firsthand experience of what this is. When you go cycling in high winds, especially cross-winds, the wheels tend to catch the wind, similar in style to that of a Windmill, and can literally steer you off course by at least a meter or so. And there's nothing you can do about it. The more you try to fight it, the more wind you catch in the blades. Only way is to stop cycling or go against/with the wind. But if you think about it, your body catches cross-winds as well, so cycling in any wind sucks. Gotta hate wind, man; it's worse than rain.

Another thing I've noticed is that these wheels gather momentum. Just like watching a helicopter warming up it's blades....Once these suckers start spinning, I do feel they carry you somewhat more than a normal wire-spoked wheel. Not sure if they actually do, but it definitely feels so.

So bottom line....If you got a good Steel or Titanium frame, a set of high quality stiff cranks, and some light Carbon bars + components, then buying a set of Aerospoke wheels will finish your bike off a treat. You just can't go wrong with these babies; apart from maybe getting called a 'poser' or a 'fashionista' or something insulting like that...
is that 26" wheel NOT built for a mtb???
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