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mattyc
TvH
branwen
Because the CSS coating is darker than hard anodising, black dyed soft anodising is a closer colour match. Soft anodising on the spoke bed is considered better by some as it doesn't crack as easily as hard anodising. Microcracks in hard anodising around the spoke holes can be an initiation site for stress corrosion cracking through the base material.
As far as being tarty is concerned, why not just be true to the retro look. Anodised rims didn't magically stay grey back in the olden days, they got the colour scrubbed off by the brake blocks just like they do now, so tatty rims are period-correct :-)