Question. I like black wheelsets. If I was to put black wheels on a eddy merckx or some other classic roadbike, what black hub/rim combo would be kosher? I don't want to ruin the bike by putting mavic ksyriums or deep vs. I was thinking of mavic openpro cd rims and black spokes, but i don't know the good roadbike hubs in black. Finally, where can I order up such a wheelset to be made? Thanks in advance!

buy some campy high flange hubs on ebay and have them anodized black. then have them bult up localy, or buy some suzue hubs or something neo-retro in black. I'd search out a cool local shop to build them, those wheels will make you the shop hero.

Depending on when your Merckx was made, there may not be an off-the-shelf, period correct answer to your question. The all-black aesthetic that's so prevalent these days is not something I recall seeing on bikes of the 70's and early 80's.

i was thinking this campagnolo record low flange hub might look just fine. prowheelbuilder.com could possibly be what i'm searching for. they just dont have the openpro cd.

yeah, i guess i'd like to somehow have a black wheelset that didnt look totally ********. Maybe silver nipples and eyelets and lowflange hubs... or i just do some black and not all black.

Shimano made Dura-Ace hubs in black anno finish in the middle 70's high and low flange, but the low are easier to locate. Super Champion made some rimes in Black Anno finish about 1976-onwards.

Black spoke nipples were later.

Some guys custom anno'd their Campagnolo hubs, have to knock out the races though, quite a bit of work.

polished aluminum high Flangehubs. black everything else. if you do too much silver and black you'll be accused of being a Raider Fan. in my completely BS opinion- quality vintage hubs are more important than rims, people trash rims daily good hubs are good hubs

What would be complete sacrilege. Like putting an iPod in a '56 Thunderbird.

I gotta say again, what's with u kids and black? Black looks good stationary but when turning, nothing look better than a chrome wheel.

Even if u have a modern bike, ALL BLACK? Sheeez man, don't ride that thing at night! At lest throw in some red nipples + red tires to break the bleakness/monotony.

I have some black "simondi" 27 inch clinchers on my cherry red Mitchell (Aussie bike,82) look,s awesum !

I have a pair of "black" Matrix Titan wheels, but they are really brown...

I built a black wheelset for my SS, an early 80's steel frame, and it really doesn't look out of place like paired spoke wheels do. 16 front radial, 24 rear 2X/radial

I was about to say American Classic hubs, but they still look ugly, no matter how you slice it.

-Kurt

This is my rim..
https://www.totalcycling.com/index.ph...XCELLENCE.html

It's a high quality rim intended for people who have a nice traditional bike and want a sharp looking wheel that will last indefinitely.

Pics don't do it justice. Btw, I am a Clydesdale, it's tough.