Mavic Open Pros

lae

I'm after some discreet/sort-of-retro-ish looking rims for my Coventry Eagle rebuild - I was looking at some silver Mavic Open Pros - which I assume are pretty good rims from the brand's reputation - does anyone have experience of them?

Also, would anyone recommend any other rims? I'm just after a good all-round road rim with fairly discreet styling (i.e. no super-deep section black anodised covered in red stickers stuff).

Preferably 36h as I like crowsfoot lacing.

Thanks

brownleather

Ambrosio rims are currently beating open pros on the quality front.

Garry H

Very popular, makes an excellent wheel when combined with decent hubs and spokes.

Another to consider may be Ambrosio Excellence or Excellight, but a tad dearer.

dennisn

No problems with my Open Pro's.

brownleather

dennisn wrote:

No problems with my Open Pro's.

Aren't yours decades old though It's the new batches apparantly that have issues - especially the ceramic coated ones.

Monty Dog

Ambrosio or DRC if you want a classic look. I wouldn't bother with crowsfoot lacing though, particularly if you want something discrete.

lae

Yeah I'm not dead set on crowsfoot lacing, just wanted something a little different.

Both the DRCs and Ambrosio rims look pretty tempting!

dennisn

brownleather wrote:

dennisn wrote:

No problems with my Open Pro's.

Aren't yours decades old though It's the new batches apparantly that have issues - especially the ceramic coated ones.

You've got it backwards. I'M decades old and my RIMS are fairly new. What kind of problems are people having with the ceramic coated rims? I got a pair that I use in the mountains(when I can get there) and really like the braking. No other problems.

Anonymous

I've never heard of anyone I know who has ceramic open pros having problems, I suspect the usual 'someone said they had a problem on the interwebz' so there must be issues with it.
Much like with Zipp Rims...

Can't go wrong with normal silver open pro or ambrosios.

If going silver open pro then IMO the funky stickers should be removed as they are quite modern...

brownleather

NapoleonD wrote:

I've never heard of anyone I know who has ceramic open pros having problems, I suspect the usual 'someone said they had a problem on the interwebz' so there must be issues with it.
Much like with Zipp Rims...

Can't go wrong with normal silver open pro or ambrosios.

If going silver open pro then IMO the funky stickers should be removed as they are quite modern...

From a respected UK wheelbuilder:

http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum ... cs#p580070

Anonymous

Well, that's that then!

dennisn

brownleather wrote:

NapoleonD wrote:

I've never heard of anyone I know who has ceramic open pros having problems, I suspect the usual 'someone said they had a problem on the interwebz' so there must be issues with it.
Much like with Zipp Rims...

Can't go wrong with normal silver open pro or ambrosios.

If going silver open pro then IMO the funky stickers should be removed as they are quite modern...

From a respected UK wheelbuilder:

http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum ... cs#p580070

I would note that the key words in his letter were "I THINK that the latest batches of....". No proof of anything, just what he thinks might be the problem. Sounds like another case of "well, I know this guy who said he read on the Internet where some guy said this was a really bad wheel......". Can't argue with that kind of logic. :roll: :roll:

crankycrank

Seeing how I just bought some Open Ceramics last week I'm hoping this is just internet slag. I tend to think dennisn and NapD may be right hopefully. It's only the one guy making any claims and I haven't heard this mentioned anywhere else. I'll report back if my rims develop acne.

hopper1

Thank God I got the 'plain' silver rims, then...

balthazar

frinkmakesyouthink wrote:

Yeah I'm not dead set on crowsfoot lacing, just wanted something a little different.

Both the DRCs and Ambrosio rims look pretty tempting!

If you're using normal hubs - campag or shimano - then the radial spokes in crows foot style lacing risk causing hub flange failure. Hubs designed to handle radial spokes will be ok. I'd also suggest staying with the normal graceful tangential spoking, as well.

Nuggs

Open Pros are fantastic and I find easier that other rims to build. I use them on my winter hack and they have been bombproof so far.

lae

balthazar wrote:

If you're using normal hubs - campag or shimano - then the radial spokes in crows foot style lacing risk causing hub flange failure. Hubs designed to handle radial spokes will be ok. I'd also suggest staying with the normal graceful tangential spoking, as well.

Ah! I didn't know that, thanks. I haven't actually bought the hubs either (in fact, I haven't really bought anything except the frame, forks, headset and chainset) but I was looking at these stunningly beautiful Miche hubs


Yeah, looks are as important as performance to me. I'm not allowed to say that, am I? [/i]

balthazar

frinkmakesyouthink wrote:

Yeah, looks are as important as performance to me. I'm not allowed to say that, am I? [/i]

Oh you are. I use my preferred hubs – the last generation polished Campag Record – largely on the basis that they look wonderful. The marvellous bearings and so on are nice too, of course...

Those hubs look great but I wouldn't lace radial spokes into them until you've checked the small print. With a standard 3x build your wheels will be beautiful.

Also, keep an eyo out for some NOS Mavic MA2 rims. They're almost perfect rims, sadly not made anymore, but you may get lucky, and they'll suit a classic build.

Anonymous

If going for a classic then you should have, IMO, 3x laced 32 or 36 spokes anyway.












They look fantastic when sparkly!

karlmoreton

I bought a tiagra 4500 hubbed Rigida Chrina from Spa Cycles, 36 sapim spokes for £75 . Its super comfy with no lateral flex whatsoever, even with the panniers loaded up.
Just looks like a work of art and even has the name of the person who hand built it on the rim.

Much better than my now deceased Shimano RS20's :evil: