Bike Forums - View Single Post - Let's talk rims...

05-30-14 | 08:29 AM

#18

ColonelJLloyd

Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2009

Posts: 8,343

Likes: 16

From: Louisville

Modern rims are better than vintage ones. It's not to say there's anything wrong with vintage rims; there's not. But modern rim designs are stronger and lighter and there are some offerings these days that look really great on vintage steel. I am all about the wide rim trend. Unless you're an elite level racer and need to shave every gram possible, the wide rims make sense on just about every application. The 23mm wide rims are awesome.

I have built up many wheels for myself and others over the last few years. Here are some observations.

Sun CR-18: Great budget rim. Wide enough for fatter tires. Builds up pretty easily but not as nice as more expensive rims that have some better QC.
VO PBP: Not really on my radar anymore as they're not wide and I don't care for the taller sidewall. That said, they build up easily and are good looking rims.
VO Diagonale: Same profile as the CR-18. On the heavy side (like the CR-18), but a stout, double walled, eyeleted rim.
VO Raid: The best of their offerings in my opinion. 22mm wide, classic profile and build up easily.
Velocity A23: Great combination of wide rim, strong V shape and build up well. Velocity offers most of their rims with an off-center (OC) rear for more even spoke tension. I like this. Made in USA. Pretty much everything else is made in China or Taiwan FWIW.
Velocity Aerohead: Comparable to the A23, but only 19-20mm wide so why not go with the A23? Because they come in a lot of colors might be a reason.
H+Son TB14: Vintage looks, 23mm wide, eyelets, sexy little name plate and builds up easily. I have two wheelsets with these rims and really like them. They come in polished, black (kinda hard to find), gold (harder) and grey anodized (for that MA-40 look).
Kinlin XR300: Modern medium V shape, only 19mm wide, but light, strong, aero and relatively inexpensive.
Pacenti: He makes really good products and I'm eager to try out some of his rim offerings.

And here's a great tip. Stop using cloth rim tape!!! It's heavier, can retain water and rust eyelets if present and make it tough to mount certain tire/rim combinations. Using Stan's or Pacenti or the like rim tape is the way to go. It's lighter, stickier and makes it so easy to mount tires. I've converted nearly all of my wheels to this type of tape.

Kinlin XR300