Rigida rims?
 

I recently picked up a 70's Campy Record wheelset, with the original Rigida rims on it, clincher. Any info on the rims?

A French manufacturer.

They made a number of different cross sections, one was really narrow, had a good hook bead to keep the tire on but the eyelets were too close to centerline, no stagger. If of that type, very hard to keep true. I understand there was a later design that put things right, and those performed better. Much rather have Mavic. Or even the rare narrow Super Champions. Or, be a man, cut them out and lace up a set of tubulars.

These are straight as an arrow. Just wondering if they had collector value to anyone before I ride the hell out of em. Don't wanna destroy history.

On the hip scale, not that high. 700c or 27"? Stainless, chrome or cad plated spokes? 4x, 3x? 120mm? 126mm? all those factors can effect value. On the plus side if 700c, most of the current tires will mount very well with the ability to hold the stated pressure. Straight lever quick releases are more desireable than the later curved. In that period most likely 36 hole, if less than worth more.

Out of curiosity, I thought I'd emerge from the lurking shadows and ask: why?

'Cause the straight lever is pre-'78, and less common these days. There is an exception here with the Campag releases... They made a rare curved release that looks otherwise just like the straight style version...supposedly for track use. Also, it wasn't uncommon for racers to put a curve in their straight releases prior to '78, and if well bent, they're cool too. BTW- lever forging for earlier straight levers reads Campagnolo in block letters; post '78 curved release levers are in script.

My 1977 Peugeot UO-10 came with Rigida rims, still wears them.
Never had to true them.
Probably heavy, but so is the bike, so it doesn't really matter.

I have a recently acquired Motobecane with Rigidas, the rear being slightly less than perfect. It trued ok, but that led me to a search, which led me to the Jacks Bikes webpage. Good news is they have some, better yet a buddy gave me one he had laying around, but still riding the original.

I had a pair that I used for 8 years and I too never had to get them re-trued. (is that a word) :p
I just loved sprinting on them as they were as stiff as. I had my wheels built though, so I don't know if the reason why the wheels were so stiff was because of the builder / build, or just the rims.
Steve.

I have a set that Ive used on a few bikes. Just redished the rear wheel and there now on my fixed gear. They ride real nice.

had a '81 Trek 400 with them
nice rims

Rigida rims can build a stiff wheel. I think that's because there's a lot of material at the inner eylet edge, and the center of the rim. But, all of the Rigida rims I have are of a very soft alloy, and easily dented in the thinner bead area. If given a choice, I would take Mavic of the same period, like Module E or later, MA2. That said, a big, heavy friend who's been building wheels since the '70s, swears by the Rigida rims.... I think if you've got a good set, ride 'em, but they're not a "hot item" like a Nisi Sludi, early Martano or Mavic SSC (all sewup rims, BTW).

I know this is a way old thread but I am trying to build a couple of wheels using some reclaimed Rigida rims circa about 1975 and the hubs they were originally built with. The spokes were rusted trash, hence the rebuild. The hubs front and back have no name or numbers or nothing. What I'm getting at here is how do I know what spoke length to use? Oh, the bicycle they came off of is a "Clubman". It says Made in Austria on the frame. It's not the Raleigh clubman.
Kate

Puch is an Austrian make, and I believe they made a Clubman model...My Puch also has Rigida rims with Campy hubs...

Your rims ERD need to be measured. Its a tricky measurement because it goes to the inside of the rim and you need to know the flange diameter of the hubs.

As I recall, the Rigidas were a lower cost rim than the comparable Super Champions or Mavics. However, they build up a good wheelset; I have a number of wheels with Rigida alloy rims. Finding any oldstyle silver clincher rims is a chore these days. A good set of used rims will bring a bit on ebay...

Ah, you could always measure the old ones...

My Motobecane has alloy Rigida's on maillard hubs. - I got them trued when I bought the bike but they have otherwise been a decent wheelset.

I recently flipped a dept-store "PanWorld Olympian" that had steel rigida rims, so they obviously catered to the lower markets with some of their offerings.

Do they still have a legible label?
When the first high pressure, narrow clinchers came out, Rigida was one of the first companies to make a compatible rim - their "13-19" model (red label). There were some reports of incompatibilities with certain tires and they replaced that model with the slightly wider "13-20" (blue label). I used a pair of the 13-19s in the 27" size to rebuild the wheels on my Gitane Interclub that had come with tubular wheels. Still have the rear wheel - the rim on the front eventually wore out on the braking surface so it was rebuilt with a different rim (but still the original hubs and spokes from the tubular wheel).

I had no complaints about these Rigida rims - they stayed true and worked well with all the tires I put on them over the years.

Man I wish people would start a new thread instead of making me read through an old one. How hard is that?

agree 100%
going to have to start looking at the dates on the first posts just to make sure I'm not replying to a three or four year old thread :notamused:

Rigida rims are good, even though they were fairly low priced.

Try spocalc Requires a bit of measure for hubs, but
I am reasonably sure the ERD for rigidas is in there.

Rigida rims curious and granted this is an older thread...
 

Granted this is an older thread...
but as an experienced lifer, but a newbie to the forum, what is the preference to start a new thread on vintage technology, if the old thread is still relevant?