Vintage clincher rims
 

I was looking at a track wheelset someone locally is selling. The wheelset is unused but built up from deadstock vintage (1980s) hubs and Campy clincher rims. I was wondering about riding clincher rims this old, even deadstock ones -- I've heard old clinchers aren't nearly as strong as modern ones, though heavier. I'm wondering if it's a bad idea to ride these. I would be using this wheelset on the street, not the track. Anybody have any experience or knowledge of this?
Thanks!

All my miles come on things like 70's and 80's Weinmann's, Rigida's, and Super Champion 81's ect...

Ride em, you will be fine.

My 25 year old 36hole matrix (rear) clincher rim cracked badly while I was on my rollers last year, however, my 25 year old 36hole mavic module e's are still going strong.

I'm interested to know what exactly happens when your rim cracks as I've never had that happen to me. Did your wheel collapse? Did the brake lock the wheel?

Danny

I recently built up some wheels with Campagnolo Omega 19 rims. They've run nicely for me so far.

80's Campy rims would not really be considered "old", design wise they are very similar to a modern traditional rim. I think the concern with earlier (60's and 70's) clinchers rims where flanges that did not hold hi-pressure tires on well. This was when tubulars were the only choice for racing.

You'll be fine riding these.

What model of Campy clinchers are you referring to? Campy made excellent rims, especially the ones with the offset eyelets.

I'm running a mid-80's Omega XL Strada wheelset on one of my bikes. Couldn't be happier with them.

what the heck is "deadstock"?

I've ridden plenty of old rims - clincher and tubular. The only problem I've ever had was with overtensioning spokes on a non-Campagnolo tubular rim and distorting the portion of the rim around the spoke holes. There was no catastrophic failure, but it did put an untimely end to a nice rim.

Deadstock is discontinued merchandise that is still lying around and available for sale, aka NOS.

They are Omega Strada Hardox

Mavic module are the best...It took getting hit by a car to make the rim out of round. Oh how I miss my Mavic Modules...I'm kicking myself for not buying the NOS pair of 27 1/4 modules for next to nothing!

Cool.

I had a pair of those Campagnolo Omega's on the '90 Bob Jackson I rode last year. I have absolutely no criticism of them.

+1. I gladly tolerate the extra weight, as these provide a great ride and stay true.

The rim suddenly went "untrue." Basically, the walls of the rim blew apart. I think it was the pressure of the 2 rollers on the back wheel against the old, fatigued alloy of the rim. Also, the tire was pumped to 100lbs. Anyway, it did blow away. 1st and only rim failure for me.

I'm still riding a set of wheels I laced-up back around 1965.