"Is it okay to equip a fixie bike with road wheels?" "What's the difference between fixie wheels and road or cross wheels?"

Today, we will resolve these concerns.

In conclusion, it is fine to equip a fixie with road wheels, but only for the front wheel.

This time, in addition to "reasons why it's okay to equip fixie wheels with other wheels," we will also look at "compatible parts."

Reading this article will be useful if you're building fixie wheels yourself or buying bicycle parts at a shop.

Reasons why it's okay to equip a fixie bike with road wheels

For the front wheel, it's possible to equip a fixie bike with road wheels, etc.

This is because the standard OLD (Over Locknut Dimension) of a fixie bike is 100mm, and the wheel width of road bikes, mountain bikes, and cross bikes is also 100mm.

If it's a bike you ride around town, you can almost certainly equip fixie wheels with them.

Note that when purchasing used wheels, the OLD of fixie bikes may vary, so keep that in mind.

Supplementary: What is OLD?

OLD refers to the frame width at the part where the wheel is clamped.



The yellow part above is called the OLD.

Also, while the front wheel's OLD is 100mm for most bicycles, it's good to be aware that the rear wheel's OLD varies considerably.

Below are common OLDs for rear wheels.

Mountain bikes: 135mm
Fixie bikes: 110mm
Road bikes: 130mm


For road bikes, 130mm is common, but there is still variation, with some being 135mm. The reason for multiple widths is due to brake types and bicycle manufacturers.

Precautions when equipping fixie wheels with "other wheels or custom builds"

When equipping fixie wheels with other wheels, make sure to install brakes on both the front and rear. This is because skidding, a braking method unique to fixie wheels, cannot perform emergency braking. Road traffic laws also mandate the installation of brakes, so it is recommended to equip brakes as a precaution.

Also, while we see fixie bikes that have been made lighter for speed, it's generally better not to lighten them too much. Recently, there's a trend of beginner cyclists riding fixie bikes, and many of them, despite not being accustomed to fixie bikes, lighten them and lose balance.

Rather than lightening, the skid braking puts a considerable strain on the wheels, so I feel that increasing the strength of the rear wheel offers greater benefits.

Differences between fixie bikes and road bikes

・Number of gears
・Presence/absence of brakes

The differences between fixie bikes and road bikes are as listed above.

Let's take a quick look.

Number and types of gears

Road bikes have a derailleur (gears), with 2-3 chainrings at the front (crank) and about 9 at the rear wheel, while fixie bikes do not have a derailleur. To be precise, they cannot shift gears.

Also, fixie bikes have a fixed gear. They are designed so that when you stop pedaling, the wheel also stops. So, the number and types of gears are a differing point between fixie and road bikes.

Presence or absence of brakes

If you purchase a complete fixie bike, many probably won't come equipped with brakes. This is because fixie bikes have a braking method called skidding, which uses the pedals.

About parts compatibility between fixie bikes and road bikes

From here, we will compare fixie bikes with road bikes, cross bikes, etc., and look at parts compatibility. Compatible parts are useful when assembling or purchasing parts.

Parts that are "compatible" between fixie bikes (fixie wheels) and road bikes, etc.

・Front hub
・Seatpost
・Some stems

The parts compatible with fixie bikes are as listed above.

Let's look in detail.

Front hub

The front hub is the part that fits into the yellow section. Since it's part of the front wheel, road and cross bikes also have 100mm compatibility. Also, there's a part called a hollow axle, which is the axle part of the hub, but it's a different type for road and fixie bikes, so it should be replaced.

Saddle

The saddle refers to the part you sit on. 90% of saddles are compatible with fixie bikes, but some competition saddles are said to be different.

Seatpost

▲ICAN Fixie Bike Track Bike AC135


The seatpost is the rod below where you sit, and there are multiple standards depending on the type of bicycle.

As follows:

City bikes: 25.4mm
Cross bikes: 27.2mm
Road bikes: 27.2mm
Fixie bikes: 27.2mm

It's possible to use cross or road bike seatposts on a fixie bike.

By the way, the thickness of the seatpost is also called the seatpost diameter, so it might be good to remember that.

Some stems

Ahead stems (threadless stems) are compatible with fixie bikes. However, be aware that even with ahead stems, some parts have different widths.

Parts that are "not compatible" between fixie bikes (fixie wheels) and road bikes, etc.

・Handlebar
・Rear hub
・Rear wheel

The parts not compatible with fixie bikes are as listed above.

Let's look in detail.

Handlebar

▲ICAN Fixie Bike Track Bike AC135

The gripping part of the handlebar is called the grip diameter, and the central part where lights are attached is called the clamp diameter.

If this clamp diameter is the same width, it can be used on a fixie, and even a 1mm difference would likely be fine.

Also, mountain bikes, fixie bikes, and randonneur bikes are said to have the same clamp diameter (may vary by manufacturer).

Rear hub

Since the rear hub standards differ between fixie bikes and road bikes, etc., the rear wheel also has no compatibility.

【Conclusion】Recommended wheels for fixie bikes

Although I've written a lot so far, all wheel types are recommended for fixie wheels. As long as the wheel's width matches the fixie bike's OLD, any wheel is fine.
It would be good to choose based on your reason for riding a bike and the characteristics of the wheel.

The wheel types are as follows:

【Types of wheels】
・Clincher wheels
・Tubular wheels


【Wheel shapes】
・Disc wheels
・Baton wheels
・Spoke wheels

Link

 

It's fine to equip fixie wheels with other wheels: Summary

【Parts compatible with fixie bikes】
・Front hub
・Seatpost
・Some stems


【Parts not compatible with fixie bikes】
・Handlebar
・Rear hub
・Rear wheel
・Handlebar
・Drivetrain
・Most stems

 

The same applies to the above compatibility for bikes other than road bikes.

However, it also depends on the manufacturing year of the parts, so ultimately, it's recommended to measure the dimensions.