Choice of rim for handbuilt wheels?

DavidBelcher

I've already invested in a set of decent hubs without paying a fortune, but am stuck as to the rims I should get them laced onto. They'll be laced onto 32h hubs with d/b stainless spokes and mainly used for training outside of the winter months and the odd time trial. Ones I'm mulling over are;

Mavic Open Pro - used 'em in the past and can't be faulted, really, but I'm on a tightish budget and they don't come cheap.
Mach 1 RJ Project - cheap without weighing a ton (lighter than Mavic Open Sport but only 22 quid or so) and eyeletted. Not that well-known a brand but seem decent enough and look to be the best quality/price compromise so far.
Mach 1 CFX - cheaper and a tad lighter than the RJs above but no eyelets; then again not many deep-to-medium V-section rims do have them. V. similar to Mavic CXP22s but slightly lighter and a good 5-6 quid cheaper.
DRC ST17 - double eyelets, not too dear, but a good 50-plus grams per rim heavier than all the above. Plus, possibly difficult for getting tyres on to from what I've read?

Opinions on the above much appreciated - thanks in advance.

David

mekonta

Firstly I'd say beware of a false economy in buying cheap(er) rims. From my own expeirence I'd say £10-20 saved on a pair of rims is at least that much again on money/time spent trueing and repairing in the future ...

Certainly go with you on Open Pros - always been very good for me. For the same sort of money you can get DT 1.1. Think they stack up about the same weight wise but I think they can be stronger with the right build.

broachboy

David, have you considered the Mavic Open Sport ? They are a great training rim. I had some built up by Deeside Cycles before they went bump, for my fixie. I used them for training and commute and was well impressed, nice price too...

http://www.parker-international.co.uk/ProductDetails/mcs/productID/4696/groupID/8/categoryID/65/v/e7ef0fda-a2a1-4b9a-83dd-416befd5fc40

NervexProf

broachboy wrote:

David, have you considered the Mavic Open Sport ? They are a great training rim. I had some built up by Deeside Cycles before they went bump, for my fixie. I used them for training and commute and was well impressed, nice price too...

http://www.parker-international.co.uk/ProductDetails/mcs/productID/4696/groupID/8/categoryID/65/v/e7ef0fda-a2a1-4b9a-83dd-416befd5fc40

Second Mavic Open Sport..great value, built a pair early spring this year, very impressed with price and quality.

That said, you save on rims 'at the margin' if you are using the wheels for just training and the occasional TT then Mavic Open Pro's have no equal.

A good buy here at £27 each, with free postage:

http://tiny.cc/mVNEJ

acorn_user

We have two bikes with Rigida Chrina rims. They are pretty strong, and not too heavy. They were also cheap. I think there are some rims that are good value vs Mavic Open Pros, they are just heavier. I can live with that.

Of the ones the OP mentioned, my Euro-obscurity drive would force me to select the DRC rims. But don't listen to me

DavidBelcher

NervexProf wrote:

broachboy wrote:

David, have you considered the Mavic Open Sport ? They are a great training rim. I had some built up by Deeside Cycles before they went bump, for my fixie. I used them for training and commute and was well impressed, nice price too...

http://www.parker-international.co.uk/ProductDetails/mcs/productID/4696/groupID/8/categoryID/65/v/e7ef0fda-a2a1-4b9a-83dd-416befd5fc40

Second Mavic Open Sport..great value, built a pair early spring this year, very impressed with price and quality.

That said, you save on rims 'at the margin' if you are using the wheels for just training and the occasional TT then Mavic Open Pro's have no equal.

A good buy here at £27 each, with free postage:

http://tiny.cc/mVNEJ

Thanks for the link and to all concerned for feedback....but the Mavics you quoted at £27 are 650s not 700s! There's always a catch with some special offers! I've looked at the Chrina rims that acorn_user suggested, and they're a very respectable 18 quid from Spa Cycles (even though I once swore never to buy from them after the Campag-phobic service I got over the phone earlier this year), so may plump for those - I've generally been very satisfied with Rigida products in the past. Oh, and the Chrinas are also cheaper and lighter than the DRCs (plus are made in France, therefore a good match for my French frame) so just edge it for me, though both beat Mavic in the 'obscurity' stakes!

David

broachboy

NervexProf wrote:

broachboy wrote:

David, have you considered the Mavic Open Sport ? They are a great training rim. I had some built up by Deeside Cycles before they went bump, for my fixie. I used them for training and commute and was well impressed, nice price too...

http://www.parker-international.co.uk/ProductDetails/mcs/productID/4696/groupID/8/categoryID/65/v/e7ef0fda-a2a1-4b9a-83dd-416befd5fc40

Second Mavic Open Sport..great value, built a pair early spring this year, very impressed with price and quality.

That said, you save on rims 'at the margin' if you are using the wheels for just training and the occasional TT then Mavic Open Pro's have no equal.

A good buy here at £27 each, with free postage:

http://tiny.cc/mVNEJ

At Parkers the black 32h version and I believe silver are only £20.50 ea post free :shock: You can't gumble at that

pete.whelan

Maviv Open Sport are only single eyelet, which if built without too much spoke tension should be OK.

How about Velocity rims, very strong, though most without eyelets. velocity claim the profile of the extrusion means they don't need them. I've seen them built into tandem wheels, and am awaiting some Deep V for our touring tandem to build up soon.

topdude

Maviv Open Sport are only single eyelet, which if built without too much spoke tension should be OK.

What does single eyelet mean, where is the second eyelet on Open Pros ?

pete.whelan

a single eyelet only grips one thickness of the extrusion,whilst a double grips two thicknesses

salsarider79

I'm with mekonta and the DT 1.1's. They look sexy as hell, which must be worth 2mph+

broachboy

salsarider79 wrote:

I'm with mekonta and the DT 1.1's. They look sexy as hell

It seems salsarider that looks aren't everything, take a look at the reviews on the following link, eyelet & rim failures highlighted here...

http://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/wheels/rims/dt-swiss/PRD_328926_2488crx.aspx

Don't get me wrong, I know there is good and bad in everything (god I sound like Paul McCartney :oops: :roll: ), but Mavics have always been there, while others have come and gone. IMHO I would love to see a long term test pitching DT against Mavic, I think the results could be very interesting reading. What happened to all the other Rim manufacturers :?: You used to be able to buy Ambrosio & FIR rims from Parkers, and what happened to the Campag range of rims...the Berlin, Barcelona et al

:?:

top_bhoy

The wheels on my RC2 are DRC ST24 on a Centaur hub and are great for general commuting and weekend runs. Alistair Gow at Wheelcraft (so as good a recommendation as any) built them and they've never strayed from true - even after being hit by a car so they seem pretty bombproof to me. For training I'd recommend them no problems, for a competitive TT, as I don't TT, I wouldn't know if they'd be good for that or not.

I'd suggest try putting on/off the tyre before going on the road in anger just to stretch it a little in the comfort of the house - its a bummer doing it 25Km from home Once the tyre is stretched a little, no issues.

Beardy10

I have DT 1.1 Rims laced with 32 spokes on Dura Ace Hubs. I am 16 1/2 stone and have had absolutely no problems at all with my wheels.

I would pretend to be a serious Road Race cyclist but I have done 700 miles on these rims including commuting in Central London on potholed roads. Given my weight I think that's a fairly good test!

bennyboyh

about to enter my 5th winter on a pair of ambrosio excellence rims, with a chris king front hub and dura ace rear (both 32 hole), built 3 x, they been trued once, the braking surface looks new and they weigh 1650g. AND I'm talking Yorkshire winters

acorn_user

@broachboy:
Campag rim range is gone. You can sometimes find them NOS, but Campag would rather you bought their wheels instead. FIR went bust a couple of years ago, which was a great pity. Ambrosio are still going, and you can still get their rims in the UK. Their Excellight is supposed to be better than the Open Pro. Gipiemme still sell rims separately, but getting hold of them is extra hard.

Mach1 is another French make. Btw, if it were Rigida Chrina vs Mavic Open Sport, I would go for the Chrina every time. I have an Open Sport on my cross bike (front wheel), and it has a far worse wear indicator and I don't think it is as strong. You can get them from places other than Spa if you don't want to buy from them. Ironically, my wheels (on Campagnolo Athena hubs) were built buy them with Chrina rims. Ho hum.

Birillo

Another vote for Ambrosio.

A few years ago I would have recommended Mavic Open Pros, but I now ride Excelights which are very durable and much better finished IMHO.

broachboy

bennyboyh wrote:

about to enter my 5th winter on a pair of ambrosio excellence rims, with a chris king front hub and dura ace rear (both 32 hole), built 3 x, they been trued once, the braking surface looks new and they weigh 1650g. AND I'm talking Yorkshire winters

Those are classy rims 8) are they the red version with the balance weight ?

DavidBelcher

acorn_user wrote:

@broachboy:
Campag rim range is gone. You can sometimes find them NOS, but Campag would rather you bought their wheels instead. FIR went bust a couple of years ago, which was a great pity. Ambrosio are still going, and you can still get their rims in the UK. Their Excellight is supposed to be better than the Open Pro. Gipiemme still sell rims separately, but getting hold of them is extra hard.

Mach1 is another French make. Btw, if it were Rigida Chrina vs Mavic Open Sport, I would go for the Chrina every time. I have an Open Sport on my cross bike (front wheel), and it has a far worse wear indicator and I don't think it is as strong. You can get them from places other than Spa if you don't want to buy from them. Ironically, my wheels (on Campagnolo Athena hubs) were built buy them with Chrina rims. Ho hum.

Thanks again to everyone for their input. Looks like a straight fight between Mach 1/Rigida now. Sonic Cycles have competitive prices on Mach 1s, and a reasonably priced building service too - I understand Helmut Berns at Sonic has a good reputation for custom wheels.

David