brebla

I am looking for polished rims to lace to a set of Campy hubs for a nice weather commuter. They are going on a 1985 Club Fuji which will probably fit a 32 mm maximum tire. I'll ride mostly paved but some gravel paths. I would appreciate your experiences with the rims listed above. I would consider other possibilities, but they must fit 700c tires, have 36 holes and be polished aluminum.

cyclotoine

The velo-orange is a double eyeletted rim and in theory is of higher quality than a CR-18, but I have no direct experience. THe PBP is much narrower than the CR-18 so you should go with the rim that is more dimension-ally similar to what you had originally for optimal fit with your brakes.

Velognome 

TYou'd want a wider rim for 32's, I like the CR18's ; durable enough and seem to blend well with older frames and components. The profile of the VO PBP looks tall to me.

lostarchitect 

VO Raid would be a better match to vintage Campagnolo hubs than the PBP or the CR-18.

EdgewaterDude

Are there any CR-18s that are polished? I know mine are not. I agree that VOs would probably be higher quality, but they're also more than twice the price for a complete wheel-set.

TampaRaleigh

I have a set of each... as stated above, the PBP are narrow. They look perfect with 700x23 tires. I personally wouldn't run anything wider than 700x25. I put a 700x 28 on one and it just looked too "balloonish" for my taste.

The CR-18 are great for wider tires... I don't think I'd run anything narrower than 700x25. Those looked pretty "stretched" to me.

One important thing to consider... the "polished" CR-18 rims are NOT completely polished, the braking surface is machined. The PBP rims are completely polished. If you want a completely polished CR-18 rim, get the "silver" ones and polish them by hand.

MileHighMark

Check out the H+Son TB14 rims.

brebla

Thanks for the info on the CR-18 brake track. I assume the brake track has a brushed finish, and could be polished to a shine to match the rest of the rim?

brebla

Thanks. I'll check them out.

TampaRaleigh

It would take more than just polish. You'd have to sand them first.

brebla

Understood. I consider sanding to be part of the polishing process. I might be willing to accept the brushed look rather than risk waviness on the braking surface.

lostarchitect 

I believe there are 2 versions. One version has "ABT" (Advanced Brake Track,) which is machined. The other version has a non-machined brake area which may be left less polished than the rest of the rim. If the OP wants more traditional looking rims, he should make sure he's not buying the ABT version.

acoffin 

These are beautiful and can be had for a reasonable price. All the reviews I've seen have been very positive.

TampaRaleigh

I have 2 versions of the CR-18... one is "polished" and that has the ABT. The other is "silver" and it is a uniform finish, but not polished at all. If there is a third that is polished WITHOUT the ABT, I haven't seen it but would LOVE to have a pair!

MileHighMark

The H+Son rims are quite nice. I have a set of the Archetypes, and while they don't offer the aesthetics that the OP is looking for, they're excellent rims. My wheelbuilder have built up several pair of the TB14s, and he has nothing but praise for them.

lostarchitect 

I'm going to take a look at mine when I get home. I think they are polished without the ABT, but I might be wrong.

Paramount1973 

VO says you can go up to 32 mm on the PBP rims. I have a set of rims with the same width and 32 mm tires, works fine.

mechanicmatt

Well I thought I would chime in for 2 cents worth. I have used Sun CR18's off and on verse some spare mavics for quite some time and love them.

First, they are light.
Second, they are wide.
Third, they are made in the USA.
Fourth, they have proven to be super durable for me, 5'10" 200lbs.

I have had them on BMX, Mountain, and now in 36 hole form in the polished aluminum for my daily rider. I have them laced to a ultegra rear and 105 front, and have one laced up to the front rim of my favorite mountain bike. Just a solid rim.

Henry III

I built up a set of 32h low flange Record hubs with polished CR18 rims and came out amazing last month. Even with the unpolished braking surface they still look really nice.

rc211

I too have looked at these- everyone seems to push the H plus +son ones but they are very heavy at 490g
Sun CR18- 460g.
Not a fan of the velo profile.
I always try to be mindful of weight- it adds up especially on a wheel, then you can spring for a heavy brooks flyer for a cushy ride.
Going for Pacenti - PL23 classic box rim silver polished respectable weight 430g- you have to shop around you can get them for as low as 78 bucks each.

Know nothing of the sun ones but they seem popular have a competent builder and don't cheap out on good spokes (DT or wheelsmith) and brass nipples (drive side).

Velognome 

Pictures are needed. I did a all weather rider with CR-18's silver....not polished...they blend with the crank so I think I got away with it.



It seem to work well with the chrome fork ends & other shiney parts. Tires are 700/25 Paselas

SJX426 

Good looking bike!

TampaRaleigh

And these are the polished with "ABT":


Closeup of "ABT" braking surface:

TampaRaleigh

And here's a PBP during the build:


And after:

noglider 

Velognome, what bike is that? I don't think I know it.

Any of these rims would be fine. Check the weights.