Mavic Open Pros

Nuggs

Hi Gang

I'm about to start building my first set of wheels for my winter bike.

I'm going to go for the ubiquitous Open Pros, but am deciding which type (regular/CD/ceramic) to go for.

They'll be on my winter hack. The ceramics are almost twice the price of the regular hoops - are they worth the extra just to be used on a hack?

Answers on a postcard gratefully received...

brit66

I went for the CDs but the anodised finish is already mostly gone after several months - made worse by the grit thrown up bythe rain.

With hindsight I would go ceramic next time.

Hudster

Ceramic lasts a lot longer and will be worth it if you get through rims quickly. CD seems to be just a cosmetic outer which wears off very quickly and isn't worth the extra IMHO.

dennisn

Hudster wrote:

Ceramic lasts a lot longer and will be worth it if you get through rims quickly. CD seems to be just a cosmetic outer which wears off very quickly and isn't worth the extra IMHO.

+1 I have a ceramic set. No problems.

Dennis Noward

terongi

don't get ceramic for a hack bike

(1) if you pay double for something that lasts twice as long, where is the saving? They would have to last substantially more than double the duration to make it worthwhile.

(2) not only do you not save, you also increase the risk: what if you crash and damage the rim? double the cost to replace.

(3) if you enjoy wheelbuilding, you are better off spending less for something which wears out quicker so you get to build wheels more often = more fun.

Nuggs

terongi wrote:

don't get ceramic for a hack bike

(1) if you pay double for something that lasts twice as long, where is the saving? They would have to last substantially more than double the duration to make it worthwhile.

(2) not only do you not save, you also increase the risk: what if you crash and damage the rim? double the cost to replace.

(3) if you enjoy wheelbuilding, you are better off spending less for something which wears out quicker so you get to build wheels more often = more fun.

Fair points. Also, as this is my first build, the set-up costs (jig and tools) are quite high so savings would be much appreciated.

Dennis - do you use the ceramics in the dry weather? I heard that they weren't so good in the dry, but would be keen to hear your views (as I'll need to build another pair for my good bike before long!)

pete.whelan

Go for Velocity Deep V rims. Plenty of finish choice (lots of colours) and they build up very easy into a wheel. The main plus point being they are not made of the same alloy that Mavic use that is prone to cracking.

Brick Lane Bikes are now the UK imported, though 53-12 in Colchester do have some still

dennisn

Nuggs wrote:

terongi wrote:

don't get ceramic for a hack bike

(1) if you pay double for something that lasts twice as long, where is the saving? They would have to last substantially more than double the duration to make it worthwhile.

(2) not only do you not save, you also increase the risk: what if you crash and damage the rim? double the cost to replace.

(3) if you enjoy wheelbuilding, you are better off spending less for something which wears out quicker so you get to build wheels more often = more fun.

Fair points. Also, as this is my first build, the set-up costs (jig and tools) are quite high so savings would be much appreciated.

Dennis - do you use the ceramics in the dry weather? I heard that they weren't so good in the dry, but would be keen to hear your views (as I'll need to build another pair for my good bike before long!)

I use them mostly on The Bike Tour of Colorado(7 days) with no problems
wet or dry. Better braking than standard rims IMHO. You will need to get ceramic specific
brake pads for them and these pads cannot be used on regular rims, but changing out pads every once in awhile is no big deal. Mine are 5 years old. I don't use them on a daily basis. They are sort of my climbing wheels and I live in what has to be the flattest part of the world. Can't say as I paid "twice" as much for them as standard rims but they weren't the cheapest, that's for sure. Glad I have them.

Dennis Noward

akcc05

I heard the CXP33 rims are stronger than the Open Pro, and the subsequence weight penalty is minimal. Wouldn't a stronger rim be easier to build/true? I think they are definately worth considering. When my Open Pro wears out, I think I might go for the CXP33.

dennisn

pete.whelan wrote:

Go for Velocity Deep V rims. Plenty of finish choice (lots of colours) and they build up very easy into a wheel. The main plus point being they are not made of the same alloy that Mavic use that is prone to cracking.

Brick Lane Bikes are now the UK imported, though 53-12 in Colchester do have some still

I have built up a set of Velocity rims. Not the deep section ones. The rear is an offset
hole pattern. This was 2 years ago and no problems. I pretty much use them as my daily wheel. Good rims. 32 spokes. DA hubs.

Dennis Noward

Anonymous

Got my Open Pro's in august time, they are going concave shaped now

Wonder how much longer they have, the rims are super smooth and shiny which cant be a good sign.

EricE

I'd go ceramic. Almost no wear on the rim after two years regular use. You need the correct brake blocks and with these the braking is excellent. I'm using Campag ceramic blocks.

Anonymous

With say 105 hubs would the ceramic runs make a wheel cost about 120 quid each?

andyrr

I know of a guy in my club who has a pair of OP ceramics with Hope hubs which he's had for approx 5 years.
Don't think he uses specific pads, has raced, trained, commuted on them and they are still unmarked.
Obviously they are as prone to crash damage as any other but barring that, I'd get a pair if I could get them at a decent price.
Pair with good hubs and it's a do-it-all wheelset that will last for yonks.

Dustine

For my winter hack, i built up a pair of Open Pros on Shimano XT hubs, the rear being a londonfixiebike conversion. 32 spokes front and rear, DT Swiss Competition. I wanted hubs i could easily regrease, adjust and were cheap, and spokes that were dependable enough not to be going out of true every week. The front weights about 800g, the rear 995g. The front CD finish disappeared in no time with muddy brake blocks, and i would not bother with it again- it just looks shabby compared with a proper braking surface. The rear looks fine as theres no brake on it, but its covered in mud from the roads anyway, so you cant tell.

They have lasted the best part of 12 months now, of daily 20 mile commute, without much need for adjustment/ truing. That said, the DT RR 1.1 rims i have used for other wheels are easier to build, but have gone up a massive £12 each since this time last year!! I do prefer the DTs though.

When the front rim wears out, i will probably go for a cheaper, slightly heavier rim: since i started running Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres at 800g each, getting a 70g heavier rim like the Open Sport, for just over half the price of an Open Pro makes more sense. But you live and learn with these things...

Anonymous

I've used the Open Pro's since august, they haven't needed to be trued yet, done around 3000-4000 miles on them.

pjm-84

Sugar...

Just read through this post and decided to buy the DT Swiss 1.2 rims I was eyeing up the other day at just a touch over £40 each. Went to the website and they are now £54 each! Oh well looks like I'll be saving my money.

Mavic Ceramic have no braking what so ever in the wet once this rim becomes "polished". If anyone knows how to resolve this please let me know.......