Road Cycling - rims

I have a pair of old campy hubs in great condition and want to have some wheels built using them as part of an old Bianchi restoration. I am considering MA-3 or Open Pro's. What would you recommend?

I've had good results with the Open Pro Rims (32h front and rear, 14/15 stainless steel spokes) with 105 hubs on my old setup. They have endured some good jolts (e.g. accidentally running through a potholes and wide cracks at high speeds) and stayed true.

I have no experience with the MA3's... I think they're heavier? Not sure.

But the Open Pros have been durable for me, and I do a lot of riding in city streets on the way to the 'nice' road bike routes.

Personally, I'd build with period correct rims
if I were doing a restoration. For me that
means either the MA3's (great rims) or similiar
older rim.
Do you know what the bike came with?
If it was a higher end Bianchi it might have had
tubulars, in which case I'd recommend either
GP4's, Gel330's both Mavic, or Fiamme Ergals.
let us know what you're building. . .
Curious minds want to know.

Marty

I tend to agree with Marty about period-correctness if you're doing a restoration and the MA-3s are fine rims. However, I have to point out that Open Pros are great. They're on my #1 ride and have given great performance and I'm no lightweight. I'm running 32h with 14g front and rear. Visually OPs don't look all that different from the earlier Mavics.

Happy New Year!


:beer:

Yes,it depends on how deep you are into correctness. Beyond that, another vote for open pros.

The bike is an 80's vintage Bianchi Rekord. I really don't know alot about this bike, so if you have info on it, I would appreciate it.

Marlin,

Bianchi had 3 different Rekord models,
The Rekord, Rekord "M" Strada, and Rekord "W"
Strada. Do you know which model yours is?
The Strada models were metalic red, the
Rekord was sky blue.
The only differences I see between the 2 Strada
models is the brake Calipers, M had Dia Compe
Centerpulls and W had Universal Centerpulls
both had Dia Compe Levers.
The M strada had paint/chrome finish
the W strada was all paint.
If you have a Strada, they came with 27 inch
Clincher rims (no name in catalogue), the
Rekord came with Mavic "sport" rim (have no
idea what model this is) with Clement Tubular
tire.
Hope this helps. If you want more info
let me know. FYI This is for 1981 Bianchi
Marty

Wow, you seem knowledgeable. This particular Bianchi Rekord is all paint, and is marked 1980. It is a Rekord-748 with Tre Tubi Zetta Columbus Tubing. Manufactured by F.I.V.E. (whatever that means) serial number is 70168. More info please if you have it. Thanks

Ok, got it.
Its the light blue one, right?
I'm not sure about the Tre Tubi, I was under the impression
that the record 748 was all Columbus tubing. I'll post to CR
and see if anyone has any ideas, may be incorrect decal, then
again may be correct.
Here's the specs.
Available in 55, 57, 61 and 63 cm frames (I believe c-t).
Columbus Zeta tubing
Bianchi Corsa fork ends
Fork - Columbus Zeta, with Bianchi cast crown
Headset - Bianchi Corsa
handlebar - TTT rekord
Stem - TTT Rekord
Brakes - Universal model 77 with drilled levers
Derailleurs - Campagnolo Nuovo Record
Freewheel - Regina Extra Oro 14-22
chain - Regina Oro
Crankset - Gi. Pi. Emme Corsa 42/52 Bianchi complete
Pedals - Gi. Pi. Emme Dual Sprint
Rims - Mavic special sport (not sure which model)
with lightened spokes (butted?)
Tires - Clement Tubular (no model specified)
Hubs - Gi. Pi. Emme "normal Flange" 32 holes
Saddle - Italia Corsa Velvet Leather
came with Pump (most probably Silca), Bottle cage
and bottle, and toe clips and straps (no manufacturer
specified here).
Colour Sky Blue.

That does it, thats all I have for this one.
Marty

Oh it looked like this in the catalogue:

Originally posted by Marlin523
Wow, you seem knowledgeable.

not only does he seem... but he is :D

anyhow I use MA3's on two of my bikes, without any problems great rims and not too expensive.

If the bike was a genuine classic, the sort of thing a collector would go nuts over; I'd agree.
Otherwise, I'd go for the gusto. If it was my dime, I'd go for the Open Pro's in a heartbeat (Actually, I just had a wheelset built. I need to lose a 'few' pounds before I can ride Open Pros.....but, it's on my 'to do' list :)

Thank you.

For a really nice ride, try the GP4 tubular rims
with Conti tires (or any good tubbie).
I haven't tried the MA3's, my training wheels
have heavy Campy Omicrons (515g per rim).
Absolutely bulletproof but HEAVY. I can really tell
the difference between them and the GP4s.
(if you can get the "old style" GP4's their lighter!).

Marty

Here is a very interesting link concerning wheels,
lightweight high tension wheels, with a good
wheel weight calculator for all the weight weenie types .

Rambling About Light Wheels (http://www.bsn.com/Cycling/tubulars.html)

Marty

lotek, where are you getting this info about the bianchis? I have a Bianchi from about that time period, but I can't find anything about it. Do you have the catalog on the computer? All the ones that I have seen either cost money or are incomplete, only showing the top racing models.

That's the bike, but mine is celeste in color
Hey Lotek, will you email that photo to me?
my address is: Marlin523@aol.com

Marlin,

I believe you can just right click on the picture and
save picture as. . .if not let me know I'll mail it to you
(its on pc at work, shhh don't tell the boss!)
edit: The Tre Tubi from what I've received is probably
correct. THat doesn't mean that all the tubes aren't
Columbus, they used to draw all of the Bianchi tubesets.
its just that Bianchi used their own mix. thus the tre tubi
transfer. As I said the 1981 catalogue specs Sky Blue
(is that another name for Celeste?) I'm looking for 1980
catalogue to see what was different.

Phatman, what year is your Bianchi The catalogue I'm
reading is 1981, also model. the 81 has other models
and not just Supraleggra and Specialissimo.
let me know I'll see what I can dig up.

Edit: I'm really enjoying this thread, I really like vintage
bikes.
Marty

I got the picture (duh)
I too am really enjoying this thread. Is there a place on the web to learn more about Bianchis besides the main Bianchi site?

Marlin,

check out Classic Rendezvous (http://www.classicrendezvous.com) for starters. You can also join the
CR mailing list. There are a few people on the list
who are Bianchi Aficionados and know just about every
model year and component for the past 120 years. (it may
actually be more than that).
Be warned, once you get hooked by the CR thing, its hard
not to spend time lusting after things like Confentes and
67 Masi track bikes. . .
I'll see if I can find any other Bianchi sites.
Marty

lotek, I'm not really sure what model my bike is. I belive that It is a bit more of a tourer. It has a long wheelbase and braze-ons for racks. It has 27x1 1/4 wheels, and suntour friction shifters. It also has non-aero brake levers, so I think that it is from sometime in the early eighties. It is a deep blue metallic, which is different from many of the solid celeste biachis of the era.