Road Wheels & Road Wheel Recommendations?

If you're interested in a pair of Mavic Cosmic Carbone SR I've got a pair currently up for sale. Feel free to PM if you're interested, they're not in classified yet.

Thanks but these will be for hand-built wheels.

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/WPHEJTSE/hed-jet-tune-se-wheelset

HED say they price-match too.

I've been trying to resist them for a while now. Still resisting, but I'm starting to wonder if resistance is futile.

Would bikehubstore be the place to go for kinlin rims, they have the XR-19W and XC-279 rims in colour and hole count I want, now just wondering if there's anywhere closer to home also stocking them in order to cut down on shipping & customs costs.

FYI all latex tube discussers - it was the rim tape. I put some 22mm tape today and both tubes went in fine after being patched.

caveat emptor everyone buying superstar wheels, I guess.

If Superstar haven't got them in stock, then I'd buy from BHS. OK, there's VAT and customs charges, but their customer service is pretty damned good.

On a Retro note ...

I'm building a 1980's style "racing" bike, using period Campy stuff that I've collected. For wheels I currently have Grand Sport hubs with GP4 tub rims (rims in good shape). The spokes (32) are old chrome/rust so a rebuild to stainless is in order.

It will be a Sunday bike, and only ridden to put a smile on my face. The question is, should I keep these rims, or move to clinchers ? I need help in choosing rims/spokes/tyres, the idea to maximize beauty and useability.

Thanks,

the idea to maximize beauty and useability.

Maximal beauty (and still very usable) - Vittoria Corsa SC tubs on the GP4s

Maximal usability (while keeping a somewhat retro look) - H+Son TB14 grey with 25C Conti GP4000S

Or Vittoria Open Corsa 25mm to gain that gumful look.

25 would be a tight fit on most older racing bikes, no? Or is it just 80's "style"?

If we're talking lugged steel, then even 28mm generally fit, plus with the TB14, it'll sit a little lower than on normal rims.

Tubs. With spare strapped under saddle.

Yeah Morgan's right. Anyone buying superstar SL23 wheels needs to buy stans rim tape, otherwise mounting the tyre will be awful. With Stan's it's super easy.

On a Retro note ...

Thanks for everyone's input - much appreciated. I Ggld what you said, and I think on balance I'll rebuild what I have (GP4 + tubs) and enjoy the originality. To me, it feels nice to keep parts together if they've been attached for so many years - am I going soft in the heeed ?? Additionally it's the cheapest option (short-term certainly) and it's the rarer option - I like to be part of a group, not a crowd ;-)

Almost forgot, which stainless spokes would you recommend ?

Thanks again.

Is the anodizing different between the black H+Son Archetype rims and the 'Hard Anodized' (gray) ones?

The name would suggest so, but after some googling I read different answers. Some say the Hard Anodized version is indeed tougher, while others say it's just the name (and colour obviously) that's different (both are anodized the same way).

There's nothing hard about the anodised grey surface on archetypes. I imagine the black is the same. For comparison my grey anodised open pro has survived about 600 miles without a mark to to the brake surface (using swiss stop blue) The archetype lost it's ano coating in 50 miles...

Yeah. But. Open Pro's>>>> Archetype's<<<<<<

You could wipe the black ano off with a stiff cloth.

The hard grey is definitely moar durable, but don't expect to grow old together...

My black archetypes lasted about a month before the braking surface wore off - which included doing a week of mountaim descents in Mallorca. First wet ride back in blighty, they wore through.
Braking does seem to improve once this has happened though. Less grabby.

Basically; if you don't want silver braking surfaces, buy carbon wheels, or exalith Mavics.

Or discs.

Or install brakeless.

Cheap decent 11 speed 700c disc wheels with 15mm thru axle front hub.

For cx bike so plenty of clearance for wide rims/tyres

Fulcrum racing sport DB? Sub 1900g, 17mm int. rim, good price. Think the CX extra sealed hub version is only avail. in 9mm QR.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/fulcrum-racing-sport-disc-brake-alloy-clincher-wheelset/

Just received my Superstar Pave wheelset. I think they're going to go straight back to be re-trued. Box came with a massive great hole in it, front wheel is about 5mm out.