Info on the H Plus Son TB14 700c rim.

Hi people,

I am going to be building my first steel road/racing bike and was looking to use the H Plus Son TB14 rims, as they are 23mm wide and look classic. I have emailed a bunch on UK wheel builders and one has just got back to me saying that they don't build wheels with the TB14 rims as they have had issues with cracking/fracturing around the spoke holes.

Can anyone comment on the reliability of these rims and how they run? Feeling a bit worried now that I have the rims and hubs. I don't want to build on rims that have a common problem of fracturing. If any riders or wheel builders can comment, that would be great.

Any info is greatly appreciated.

Tona

link to a bike forum, mentioning the cracking around the eyelets :
http://www.velocipedesalon.com/forum/f2/h-son-tb14-rims-available-yet-experiences-20318.html

Mine were great until I got ran over.

Great rims, but in reading some of the responses on the other thread and now this, it's clear they are CURSED or car magnets or both

Got two wheelsets with TB14s. They are great. Ridden through London last winter and they're still true with no damage

Ouch, sorry to hear that MBroady. So they were a reliable rim? I am exactly thinking of getting the same ones as you, polished silver 36 hole drilling, but the guys from Wheelsmith Ltd told me that out of the 2 he built, they both suffered from cracks at the spoke holes. So I have been reasearching the internet to find if other have experienced the same.

Thanks for the replies guys.

I am hoping that those rims with cracks at the spoke holes were just a bad batch and from the early years of production. Surely recent production TB14 are better. I ordered the rims a few days ago, but just today i come across these 'issues' with the rims. It kind of put me off and got me worried if I should build on them. I really do like the look and sound of them tho. Hopefully they are not cursed! :s

Can you tell me how you have yours built? I am currently going for a 36 hole TB14 polished rim, with Sapim Race spokes, Brass nipples laced, probably, 3 cross onto Dura Ace 36hole hubs.

I've heard from several wheel builders that they don't stay true and are prone to cracking etc. I've also heard that the archetypes and tb14's braking surfaces dont last long.

If you want a 'classic look'/use an excellight, open pro or any low profile alu clincher with the stickers taken off and some gumwalls tyres.

Ah, now i'm starting to regret buying the TB14 rims without reading on them beforehand.

I was looking to get a 23mm wide, classic style, all silver rim. Any recommendations?

By the way, did they mention if the it's only the polished silver TB14s that are affected by this cracking?

I find it's best to base my buying decisions on what random people have heard rather than what random people have experienced ;)

FWIW I've heard the same about A23s, but people seem to be riding them still, even if people like Strada refuse to build with them.

Anyhoo I'll take the TB14s off your hands, call it £20 eh?

For reference, in the 6 months I had them they didn't crack, even after getting knocked off.

I've been riding my rear one since Christmas and it is still straight wit no cracks. Its the polished version

They're completely fine. With rims this popular theres bound to be some stories of them cracking. A decent wheelbuilder will be able to build them up to be strong. Ive also heard stories of A23's, Open Pro's and Archetypes cracking. Just get them built and ride the shit out of them

Lolz

I've only built a few TB14s up but I have not seen any of the problems described here. Built one up for a big, heavy guy and he wore the braking surface out due to a combination of loving the brakes too much and heavy commuter mileage, but that took him a year and half.
If you really want to change rims then maybe consider a destickered Open Sport. Though not as wide as TB14 if you want a classic look on a budget it would be fine especially as it's made from 6106 alloy and not the softer Maxtal used in the higher end of the Mavic range. If you're not careful brake pads eat into that Maxtal like it's cheese.
But since you have the TB14s already I'd say just get them built.

I have some TB14's on Royce x32. Been great for the 5 months I have been running them, I use 35cc Pasela's and they are still true...

Was gonna purchase some TB14s in ado grey 36h when I get paid...now I don't know if I should

I've got 32h Tb14 on my 14R. My only complaint is that they shred my thumbs trying to get 23c and some 25c tyres on. I probably just need to HTFU. Apart from that they are fine (no idea about the break surface as that bike is brakeless).

Ugh open sports are the worst - I went through 4 rims in 6 months. Also have those horrible grooves in the brake surface.

36h 3 cross to Phil Wood rear and 32h radial to Phil Wood front. Potholes of London haven't stopped them after ten months. No brakes so can't say about the surface wear. Panaracer 23c goes on and comes off with no tools no problem. Great rims IMO but if you were to lace to Dura Ace I'd go for the Open Pro CD Grey. That's a nice combo

Your joking right, disc brakes or on the track?

I went through 4 rims in 6 months.

Interesting. Under what circumstances did this occur?

In contrast to the TB14 I've built with many, many Open Sports and as long as they are built well they perform well. They are basic, sure, and definitely not as good as TB14s or as asthetically pleasing but are functional and a classic box section rim. They also have very similar qualities in terms of how they build up, perhaps largely stemming from their closeness in terms of ERD.
I do think the Open Sport is much maligned.

I've got some 28h tb14's coming, I'll let you all know if they cause me to fall off a bridge and get hit by a lorry.

Yeah, I think i'm just going to get the wheels built with the TB14s. Most people have had a good experience on them. I guess it really depends on how they build them and how much tension are put into the spokes.

Nice wheelset you got there. I'm most like to lace the TB14 rims on to the Dura Ace hubs, as I already have the rims. Who built your wheels?