I'm flirting with the idea of picking up a set of modern Campagnolo Vento G3 wheels for a good price. They would be paired with a silver Daytona 10 speed group. The question is, would they look terrible on a vintage steel frame (Mercian) with fenders?

Does anyone have photos of such a potentially ghastly combination? The wheels in question:

I wouldn't bat an eyelash as long as the bike is on a street being ridden.

If they are priced well I would take advantage.

Function first. Internet sensibilities and style points second.

FWIW I rode a Cross Check for an afternoon last week when we were visiting friends. His CC had Ventos and a Veloce groupset. Worked well together.

Wheels themselves look good,.....but it's the loud graphics that might ruin the picture on a C&V frame.....
If you can take off the graphics, it will be a big improvement, IMO....

If you look in the thread of bikes with integrated shifters you will see lots of bikes with modern wheels.

I might take the stickers off. I think the big wheel stickers look better on modern bikes than on vintage.

The G3 spoke pattern has never appealed to me for any bike but beyond that I wouldn't have issues with your set up. If it makes you want to get out and ride, then go for it!

Where's the picture of the Mercian?

I think the combination of those wheels and fenders may be without precedent.

My son and I had good luck with a couple pair of G3 wheels. But I agree - pull the decals. If anyone complains, tell them Banjo wheels were once all the range when your Mercian was made.

You would need to ride our Greenway on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

Every time I think I have seen it all, I go into shock all over again.

This one is a small problem in comparison.

It might be really really ugly. But it won't bother me at all. Especially if I never see it.

Therefore, my advice is: take photos of the bike before you change the wheels. When you need to post photos of it for internet cred, post the old photos.

Since your asking, no way does a race set laced like that mix with any bike having mudguards.

But then again, I've done worse. My long gone Colnago Mex in pearly white would sometimes sport Sun M19a anodized rims - front laced radial with CF Fiberflite spokes, the rear having Marwi titanium spokes..... tye dye... radial non-drive side / 3x drive...... both wheels on Nukeproof Ti hubs. Oh so silly cool I wish to still have them!

Nice thing about wheels, they can be easily removed and repurposed if you decide they don't suit your current application.

Try everything at least once.

The idea gives me the shivers. I doubt that I would do this, but I tend to like discordance so I think I could see the beauty.

That's the spirit.

Frankly though, if I lived in a rainy climate, I would put fenders on every bike I owned.

The wheelset point would be moot.

The G3 lacing makes a lot of sense, at least on the rear. Not sure what it accomplishes in front, but that wouldn't stop me from using them.

It will look different for sure. But if you like it, why not. For me, the decals would have to go. Dumb takes a lot more effort than just a set of wheels and fenders

Please explain. I have the opposite opinion, i.e., that a high spoke count wheel with a more traditional 3X pattern, still wins for reliability and maximum strength to moment of inertia ratio.

One (probably the main) drawback of traditional lacing for rear wheels is the lower tension for the NDS spokes. In order to keep the NDS spokes from loosening and throwing the wheel out of true (or breaking), you need to crank up the DS tension (which can lead to cracks with some rims.) Especially with wider freewheels/cassettes. None of that will be new to you.

G3 is much like triplet lacing -- there are fewer NDS spokes, so each one can carry more tension without throwing off dish. And that, in turn, allows more reasonable tension on the DS spokes, so less chance of rim cracking.

I've been meaning to play around with triplet lacing at some point, but my 32/36-spoke wheels have worked well enough so far.

You know we have a long running thread called retro roadies or something like that, where we put modern stuff on old steel frames. Try it. I'm in the process of putting Shimano STI stuff on my beloved old 1982 McLean. If I don't like it, I can always switch things back. Those wheels look pretty good. They're a lot less gaudy than other modern offerings. If they're light, they'll ride well.

[MENTION=61463]gomango[/MENTION], I'm glad I'm not the only one. I had Rolf Sestrière wheels on my first Cross Check. It was anomalous, with the heavy frameset and the light wheels, but overall, it was a good package.

I think it'd look just fine, even with the graphics left on - sort of "Wolf in Sheep's clothing" cool! I love the look of trick wheels with fenders, but then again I live on a rainy island!

On a significantly less blingy scale, here's my recently built hybrid with alloy fenders, carbon fork, bars, stem & seat post - and Shimano WH500 wheels - the front's the Ridgeback version with silver hub and radial spoking - what I had to hand.

The Brand = prestige..

yep...just putting in 500 posts..LOL

Gotta pair it with the Berthoud carbon fibre fenders!

Who cares what it looks like when you're riding it? You won't be able to see it.

They don't look as though they offer much coverage!