Open Pros - not as good as they were?
Rezillo
Posts: 95
My LBS used to regularly build wheels using Open Pro rims and Revolution lightweight spokes, although a year or so ago they switched to Ambrosios for lightweight option wheels. The LBS has a very good name locally and from an earlier purchase, I have Open Pros that have done 7K and remained true.
When I brought in a set of new Open Pro rims and Ultegra hubs for them to build up and asked how I could keep the weight down but still have a strong wheel, they suggested Revolution spokes. However, they had problems building up the rear wheel and keeping it true, which they told me about before collection.
Sure enough after 100 miles, it was already out of true. Only a mm but that was enough. I took the wheel back but they couldn't adjust it fully - although apparently true unstressed, built up,the wheel was going out of shape either side of the rim weld and the lightweight spokes couldn't bring it back into shape without some very uneven tensioning.
I arranged to take the rim back to the supplier and the LBS ordered another one - same problem! LBS opinion was basically that the Revolution spokes need a good quality rim to build a true wheel and that the Open Pros weren't of the same quality as when they last used this rim/spoke combination.
The upshot is that they will build up the original rim with stronger but heavier Competition spokes which they are confident will be able to keep the rim true. I've heard some rumours that these rims aren't quite what they used to be but a sample of two isn't enough to make a judgement on - anyone got an opinion on this?
John
When I brought in a set of new Open Pro rims and Ultegra hubs for them to build up and asked how I could keep the weight down but still have a strong wheel, they suggested Revolution spokes. However, they had problems building up the rear wheel and keeping it true, which they told me about before collection.
Sure enough after 100 miles, it was already out of true. Only a mm but that was enough. I took the wheel back but they couldn't adjust it fully - although apparently true unstressed, built up,the wheel was going out of shape either side of the rim weld and the lightweight spokes couldn't bring it back into shape without some very uneven tensioning.
I arranged to take the rim back to the supplier and the LBS ordered another one - same problem! LBS opinion was basically that the Revolution spokes need a good quality rim to build a true wheel and that the Open Pros weren't of the same quality as when they last used this rim/spoke combination.
The upshot is that they will build up the original rim with stronger but heavier Competition spokes which they are confident will be able to keep the rim true. I've heard some rumours that these rims aren't quite what they used to be but a sample of two isn't enough to make a judgement on - anyone got an opinion on this?
John
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Sounds more like dodgy wheelbuilding to me.0
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Ditto. Just got a new open pro rim due to a pothole killing my last one, no probs at all!!0
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It may sound like dodgy wheel-building but really that's the last thing I would expect from this particular LBS. I won't name it but some may recognise it if I say it's a few miles south of Stowmarket in Suffolk.
John0 -
winter beast: http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr34 ... uff016.jpg
Summer beast; http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr34 ... uff015.jpg0 -
Well, there's a choice of three in that link....
[edit] Well, admittedly two as one looks like being a car plate seller.
John0 -
Completely off-topic but that's a nice looking bike in your avatar Rezillo, the only other red one I've seen so far
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Rezillo wrote:It may sound like dodgy wheel-building but really that's the last thing I would expect from this particular LBS. I won't name it but some may recognise it if I say it's a few miles south of Stowmarket in Suffolk.
John
I know exactly who you refer to John
Your secret is safe with me!0 -
Chrissz wrote:Completely off-topic but that's a nice looking bike in your avatar Rezillo, the only other red one I've seen so far
It's my pride and joy, but not in the same league as yours! Those red wheels are something else.
It was Orbeaorca's Orca (posted below yours), a thing of beauty, that prompted me to look at Orbea - I couldn't run to the Orca but the Onix was on offer in Ipswich and I couldn't resist.
The Open Pro wheels give a much, much smoother ride than the Aksiums it came with. A handlebar camera mount was unuseable with the Aksiums on anything other than smooth tarmac but it is fine with the Open Pros. I don't think it will be quite as smooth with stiffer spokes on the rear wheel but I'll find out next week.
John0 -
I'd stick with Open Pros if i were you and find a wheelbuilder who knows what they're doing ...0
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If you fancy trawling through the wheelbuilding thread on the weightweenies forum, you'll find exactly the same opinion expressed by a number of people, including a number of wheelbuilders. Namely, open pros of late build up less evenly, particularly around the join, and they are far more sensitive to small changes in spoke tension. I've also been told this in person. Go with Ambrosios!0
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I've been told that Open Pro rims aren't as long lasting as they were. My lbs prefers to use DRC rims instead these days.0
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huuregeil wrote:If you fancy trawling through the wheelbuilding thread on the weightweenies forum, you'll find exactly the same opinion expressed by a number of people, including a number of wheelbuilders. Namely, open pros of late build up less evenly, particularly around the join, and they are far more sensitive to small changes in spoke tension. I've also been told this in person. Go with Ambrosios!
Thanks - some interesting reading there.
I should explain for the others that the LBS could demonstrate to me what was going on with the wheel in the jig in front of me. In brief, the thin lightweight triple butted Revolution spokes were stretching from having to be put under excessive tension either side of the rim weld. Apart from the knock-on effects this had in building true in the first place, the result was that the wheel continued to go slightly out of true with time.
It's not an issue with standard double-butted spokes as they are not prone to stretching so much. Mind you, given the debate about wheel weight elsewhere, perhaps I should have gone for double-butted from the outset.
John0
