Deep Rims for Fixed Gear Pros & Cons

For lightweight, top-tier steel bikes, check out Wabi Cycles:


Between 2008-2013, deep rims (30-43mm) were the standard for most fixed gear riders. When asking for wheelset recommendations, you'd most likely be told, "just buy Velocity Deep-V's and be done." Now, the standard rim depth is shallower, around 23-25mm, as fixed gear riders increasingly favor more versatile, lightweight wheels. But do deep rims still a place on your fixed gear? Here are the pros and cons of deep rims for fixed gear bikes.

Deep Wheelset Recommendations:
Velocity Deep V

Velocity B43:

Velocity Chukker:

H Plus Son Formation Face:

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#fixedgear #deeprims

[zipias]

I can handle every sacrifice for deep rims!! 👌

[hansweller]

Another negative point that I recently noticed is that it is harder to lock up your rear wheel with a U lock (to your frame AND something else) if you have deeper rims. It’s kinda obvious but i did not realize it until I got them.

[jonesparza]

Yo shoutout to Zach, this channel has saved me money and trips to the bike shop

[juanbarroso]

The "if your streets are garbage" part made me settle on keeping my deep rims. The streets I ride in here in Puerto Rico are often hazardous due to so many potholes, cracks, bumps, etc. Thanks for so many great vids! I literally visit your channel before even researching some bike related topic elsewhere and before a bike part purchase.

[jackhammerk_]

​If you're riding fixed brakeless and tricking you might as well go for MTB 29er rims. You're mad to put 700g rims on any bike.

[TL]

carbon, alloy, aluminum, deep.... matters little for my style of riding. It is the tires that make or break the ride for me. I learned long ago that over inflating helps 'softer' wheels. A larger tire size on front and smaller on back helps my efficiency and comfort level immensely, especially when riding rougher roads and riding for 'longer' distances.

Ride on! Ride Strong Zach!

giving up some big nuggets here! but as you might say... Ride what you got to be reasonably dangerous ...!

[robertespinosa]

I started out with velocity deep v rims. Riding through the streets smashing hard & bombing hills but had lots of problems with the rims going out of tru & hitting potholes to warp my rims. Once I switched over to velocity b43 I had no maintenance problems. You trade off for beefy rims over rims that required more maintenance was a no brainer. I had b43 for about ten years with little to no problems. There were lots of used sets of b43’s due to the weight but like any harder transition you can work through the difference until you accumulate.

[TL]

Just watched the video again. And caught the squirrel at 1:10. So cool.

[MrJasonodonnell]

I have used cheap alloy 45mm deep dish rims daily for 3 years now and they weigh a ton...but If you run a low gear say19t rear etc, they spool up quick and the gryo effect makes them roll super nice, A light strong wheelset will always be "better" but with weight you get planted handling, better cruzing, and they smooth out your technique.

[theigadwolf]

@0:50 a beautiful orange bike with the GGB in the background.

Go Giants!! 🧡🖤

[silentcyclist]

I love your videos. You have most useful fixed gear channel for fixed gear riders.

[mustangms]

I got DT swiss E550 for my hybrid bike, very very nice, thanks for the advice

[evergut]

I'm running the Miche Pistard WR 870g front/1080g rear. Haven't ridden other wheel sets. This set is super solid and I've done all kinds of riding in them-climbing, sprinting, velodrome, descents, commuting. Haven't had any issues with them I think gearing is more important for me ha

[peachmelba]

I have 38mm deep wheels, which came stock (in bright red, no less) on my ride, which is an unbranded, steel frame fixed gear by CCM (the venerable budget bike manufacturer here in Canada).
The stiffness and trueness of the wheels is really astounding, and as much as I know they are heavy, I just can't switch back to box sections on this bike.

[josephf]

This video definitely put a smile on my face. Remind me of a situation where I had a flat tyre in the middle of night in no man's land! And the inner tubes available that I had at the time were too short for my deep rim wheel!

[marcosr]

While I did notice the weight of my B43s at first. Its one of my favorite wheels, in terms of looks and rigidity. I take my bike on all types of terain though

[jcarlson]

deep rims are typically narrower also to keep the weight gain "acceptable". Cornering / max tire size will be a little less compared to wider rims. But I love the Deep V look though - have SL42's on the townie "fun" bike and a proper lightweight wheelset on the road bike.

[BruceChastain]

deep rims just look so cool, but I don't think I'll ever mess with them due to the price and all the other disadvantages you mentioned.

[pineboy]

The tube thing tho.
You did not mention it but the biggest downfall of deep vees is tubes are hard to get.
Even if you get a stock of them at home, it's complicated making sure you have long stems on your ride.

[davidwoods]

Hey Zack, long time subscriber; I keep watching 'cause you're an interesting guy, and while videos like this are great info, I'd be just as interested to see what you're up to, and who you've met, even if it's just one of those now de rigueur 'How Coronavirus is fucking with my life' jobs. Hoping you're keeping The Black Dog at bay, my friend.