Ceramic Rims?

Guglielmo

I believe Mavic Open Pro Ceramics are discontinued.

Any other manufacturers make (or used to make) ceramic rims? I know DT and Bontrager did on MTB's but what about 700c?

Cheers guys.

ugo.santalucia

You can buy CD open pro... Effectively the anodises surface is a ceramic oxide... It will wear off pretty quickly though. Open pro ceramics were rubbish in the wet, which is probably the reason they were discontinued

bianchiblue

I've seen another ceramic coated brakewalled rim, but its old school and not currently made and the name escapes me.

Guess the current closest thing would be Exalith. Supposed to be good but not tried it so can't comment. I'd be tempted if they did a handbuild rim though!

Ugo, I always found braking better on ceramic than alloy, wet or dry. In the wet you have to brake early to clear any water but I found that with alloy too. I munched through too many alloy brake tracks so am a big ceramic fan too as it lasts and lasts.

I'd also be Interested to learn what other ceramics are/where available.

ugo.santalucia

bianchiblue wrote:

I've seen another ceramic coated brakewalled rim, but its old school and not currently made and the name escapes me.

Guess the current closest thing would be Exalith. Supposed to be good but not tried it so can't comment. I'd be tempted if they did a handbuild rim though!

Ugo, I always found braking better on ceramic than alloy, wet or dry. In the wet you have to brake early to clear any water but I found that with alloy too. I munched through too many alloy brake tracks so am a big ceramic fan too as it lasts and lasts.

I'd also be Interested to learn what other ceramics are/where available.

You are in the minority...

As I understand, exalith is hard anodised, so not dissimilar to Open PRO CD or other rims that use this method. At the moment the OP CD are well priced at chain reaction cycles, if you want them built

Guglielmo

I have found Ceramics are great in the wet, you just have to keep the rim clean and de-glazed. Definitely better braking than normal alloy in the wet and the dry when correctly maintained.

I really fancy a wider-bed rim now for the extra air volume and tyre profile but doubt there will be a ceramic one ever... Oh well!

maddog 2

ceramics can be a bit slick in the wet but depends a lot on which blocks you run.

there's no doubt they last better than alu rims - I have a pair that are knocking on 5 years old and still clean as a whistle.

The exaliths are the visual heirs but they are silly money. CD looks okay new but end up tatty in no time.

bianchiblue

Old thread I know but came across Rigidas CSS rims, the Grizzly CSS looks like a good, wider alternative to an Open Pro Ceramic... Heavy, but it's wide so should be comfy. Should be strong too for a good winter wheel running 28c plus tyres.

A bit different to Ceramics, being Tungsten Carbide blasted (!). So should be tough but expect brake blocks to last a matter of days!