Originally Posted by
repechage
No, I will vote the other way since they are clear anodized to start. For me it is an upkeep issue. I like polished rims, but as I have 20 bikes that have them, no wall hangers and live not too far from Pacific Coast Highway, polishing them is a continued effort, one that only the Scheeren rimmed bikes get the full attention. For the half dozen where the rims have some form of anodizing, it is much easier to keep those wheels up. I will admit that I will never purposely buy mid 80's Mavic rims in the dark bronze grey tone as I just really dislike the look of messy streaked away color on the brake tracks.
As I have purchased NOS rims for future need from time to time, I go silver. (Martano made some "hard anno" rims in the 80's with machined sides but in 4 years f searching I have not found a unlaced set, so it goes.)
Maybe it's you, repechage, who has discouraged me from polished rims previously. Hmmm. I do understand the upkeep issues and the rims I'm riding are riders, not for show. The original wheels will be set aside for shows.
Originally Posted by
aixaix
I'm with Repechage on this one. Taking off the anodizing seems silly to me. I have a number of bikes with polished rims and they look messy after very little riding. It is a pain to keep them looking shiny. They also corrode faster. If the bike is going to be ridden a lot I wouldn't do it.
I'm not too concerned with corrosion since the bikes are in a climate controlled space (my hallway or living room, typically), but polishing is not my idea of a fun activity. I ride the Norman more than any other bike I have at this point in time, so maintenance is of
some concern.