andrevautour

I am doing a new build with a Wabi classic frame and I wanted to try something different than my Velocity Deep V's this time, plus my Deep V's were orange, so I wanted something with a different, more subtle color for this build.

I liked the performance of the Deep V's, and I rode them for 4 years without any issues. I really like the look of the polished aluminum Deep V's, but I ended up getting a pair of Silver Open Pro's instead.

The first batch of reviews I read were pretty much positive, but I did read some people who have had issues with them going out of round, and I think some people mentioned cracking as well.

Has anyone had experience with these? I got them from Velomine built with formula hubs and 32h spokes.

Should I give these a try when they come or just put them on craiglist as new and flip them for as much as possible before they are "used" and less valuable?

GENESTARWIND

They are great rims. If built properly you shouldn't have any issues plus they are sexy. Wish they had them in all black not just the cd finish.

bbeasley

I've got two Wabi's, I'm really looking forward to pics of your build. Please keep us updated!

hockeyteeth

I have personally seen several of these rims have their eyelets pull through. Perhaps a problem with overtensioning spokes. I don't remember if Velomine wheels are handbuilt or machine-built, but either way I would completely detension them and retension them with less spoke tension than most other wheels I build. How bad are the Toronto road conditions?

vledaD

Can you post pics of your Wabis? Im ready to pull the trigger on one of the 3 Wabis in the next couple months. Im looking at the Classic. The price is good, but im split between that and the Special. Do i really need lugs?

andrevautour

I have sort of a mix of parts since I originally was planning on using parts from my old bike, but then I switched frame and ended up replacing most of the parts anyway.

Here is what I have so far.

Wabi classic frame in Jet black: Wabi Cycles Classic fixed gear bike specs

The frame came with a Silver FSA headset, so that plus the picture of the way the Wabi classic is built up for the full bike version sort of set my mind on a path of including some silver in the build. Plus I had been having a look at the silver Velocity Deep V's and I really liked the look of those.

I ordered the Silver Open Pro rims from Velomine along with a White San Marco Zonocolan: Mavic Open Pro Silver Track Singlespeed Wheelset Fix Free Hub 32 [73896] - $199.00 Velomine.com : Worldwide Bicycle Shop, fixed gear track bike wheelsets campagnolo super record vintage bike

Robot Check

I like the classic look of the silver Open pro's. I think they will suit my current build. I have had wheels built from Velomine in the past and they seemed to be well built.

I have a pair of Velocity Deep V's, but they are about 5 years old now (but still fine) they are orange, which I am not going to be using for my new build (although I do have the orange rear wheel on there for now just so I can ride in the mean time until the new wheels come) and the bearings on the rear wheel is worn out, so I figured I would just order a new set of wheels that suited the build better and I would get new hubs and spokes too.

Then I was thinking that I silver seat post would be nice to round off the silver / black mix for the build. I already bought an Easton EA50 post in black, which is fine, but what I would really like for the build is a silver Thompson Elite. I might sell the EA50 post and get a silver Thompson. who knows.

I have FSA Omega compact drop bars, 40mm plus a Richey Pro stem, which I have ridden a few times now bare. I picked up some cork bar tape today but I have never wrapped bars before, so I'm not sure if I will try and do it myself along with some yotuube tutorials or if I will bring it to my bike shop and have it done.

I also need to replace my front sprocket/rear cog/chain and I'm not sure if I will do 46/16t or 47/17t. anyone know what the difference in feel is between those two?

I really like the Wabi classic frame. I bought a Mercier Kilo TT frame with "black magic" paint and it was a fine frame but the paint was really soft and it was scratching easily within the first couple of days, so I flipped that on craigslist and ordered a Wabi frame after it Wabi cycles was suggested on here. The paint on the Wabi is much higher quality as well as little things like the welds, dropout, seat post clamp area are all nicer on the Wabi.


I have the Wabi built up now with my old Velocity Deep V rims and my old saddle (selle italia XO) and it feels good so far. I'm excited to see how it will feel with these new wheels and saddle.

Bandera

Mavic Open Pros have been a well proven choice for road riders for a long time, a well built pair of wheels will give good service in FG use. All rims eventually fail, not beating on them doing stupid stuff aids reliability. Fit at least 25mm tires, 28mm are better, and proceed.

A Wabi is a proper road FG machine, wouldn't mind having one myself.

-Bandera

bconneraz

I love OP's- I've run them for years, thousands of miles, without issue.

andrevautour

Velomine are hand built. Hmm I definitely don't really want to be playing around with the tension. I rode the Deep V's for 4+ years with no issues and I never trued them either. Maybe I should just flip these and go with a set of polished aluminum Deep V's, since I have already proven these and I like the V's ride...

Road's are mixed - some newly paved or recently paved and some damaged from snow, etc with patches.

I started a build thread for my build and I will be posting some pictures on there: https://www.bikeforums.net/singlespee...tom-parts.html

Bandera

That's often how rims fail, after many tens of thousands of miles of un-eventful use.
Mavic Open Pros have been a standard of reliability for years, but all rims eventually fail if ridden enough miles.

Chains, headsets, cogs, rims, spokes and brake pads are consumables. Replace as necessary and proceed.

I have several front wheels still in service for many years after the matching rear has been re-laced: C'est La Guerre.

-Bandera

andrevautour

The Deep V's I have don't have eyelets as far as I know -- What's the pros and cons of eyelets?

Also, does anyone know what the ride quality of the Open Pro's are like compared the the Deep V's - I know the Deep V's are pretty stiff and I do like that. Richard from Wabi was telling me his rims are lighter as well as "less stiff and more comfortable" than the V's

I really love the aesthetics of the Velocity Deep V's in polished silver -- Maybe I will order a set of those too and if I don't care for the Open pros I will sell those and use the silver V's

Velocity Deep V Polished Silver Fixed Gear Wheelset Formula 32 H [74136] - $195.00 Velomine.com : Worldwide Bicycle Shop, fixed gear track bike wheelsets campagnolo super record vintage bike

Bandera

Why not do some research on your own on wheel building instead of asking to be spoon-fed?
You do have that Google-thing and a local library?

Try: "Jobst Brandt" "Sheldon Brown" "wheel building".

-Bandera

Scrodzilla

I always buy things, then ask a bunch of questions. It makes life a lot less predictable.

IthaDan 

^ yep, that.

Why do these threads only ever get made after the OP has already ordered the part?

Bandera

C'est l'aléatoire!

-Bandera

andrevautour

the only rim i know for sure that i like is deep v's... but people were saying get something lighter blah blah so i figured i would try something different. i just want something that will look good with the current build and last for a few years without falling apart. i don't care that its already ordered i will sell them if i don't like them.

GENESTARWIND

you will be fine. if you are worried find a reputable shop that does wheel building and have them inspect the wheels before riding.

91MF

scrod, i want to use the quote function. how do i do that?

europa

Click on 'Reply With Quote'

Elvo

They are heavy and outdated

gl98115

Flip them.

c0urt

i love them, they are great for fighting crime with to.

IthaDan 

Why do you like them?

Serious question. Because they look cool? Because they ride like they're wooden? Why?

Soo__Fuego

Perhaps try some Kinlin XR300. Look of the Deep V with less weight than an OP (I think?).

JeremyLC

You're the first person I heard call them heavy. What would you suggest as a lighter alternative? (that's still as durable)


To the OP, I have a set of Open Pro rims on my Surly, and they've been good for many thousands of miles without any issues.