So I asked our other shop if they had any tubular rims and the owner said he had some old Matrix ISO that weren't in the system anymore. Being it was right around my birthday he gave them to me as a present.

I asked a week or two ago about when hard anodized rims first came onto the scene as my Guerciotti is in desperate needs of some new rims but didn't want anything too out of place. I know ISO's were about ten years ahead of my bike but their free, brand new and I've been wanting a tubular set of wheels.

I guess my question is that these rims are quite aero in the fact that they almost seem like track rims as there's basically no sidewall. Were these actually road or track tubular rim because I can't imagine braking on these to be anything decent with such and angle sidewall? Though I've read their quite light so If I decide to use them they should build up to be a fairly light wheelset with some nice spokes.

I knew I had a set of those, so I had to go out and look. I bought a wheelset with those rims laced to 8s DA 7402 hubs, and they have a small amount of brake wear on them. I actually haven't used them yet, so I can't comment on the braking performance.

I have a wheelset with Matrix ISO tubular rims on them. Definitely used as road wheels, maybe around the end of the 80's, into the early 90's.
It has the typical arrowhead profile of the latest tubualr rims back then like the Wolber Profil series rims, which I also have on another wheelset. The trick to get best braking is to adjust the brake pads to be very close to the edge of the rims where the profile is closest to vertical, to maximize pad contact. Eventually after some miles the pads wear in closer to the shape of the rims and I assume brakeing gets better (although I don't really feel the difference)......
I think the Matrix ISO tubulars came in as standard for higher racing model bikes from Treks. The brand was known for really good quality rims that were a true alternative to the best that came from Europe.

What they said.

I have a set of 640? hubs laced to Matrix ISO-II tubular rims. They are light, aero, and smooth, definitely a competitor to what Ambrosio and Wolber had. I had a set of Wolber GT Profiles that were very similar, maybe a little more aero. I really like that they're 32h each.

They brake just fine, are not showing any wear yet, and as Chombi said, were OEM on the '95 Trek OCLV 5500 Dura Ace model. I'm a big fan of the 640? hubs that have the 8/9/10 freehub. Rebuildable, light enough, and silky smooth, without the hassle of DA compatibility.

I built up a pair of wheels using Matrix ISO-T rims (on Suntour Superbe Pro hubs) in 1987 for road use (time-trial and triathlon). Braking is fine.

Tim Isaac designed the Matrix ISO rims ("ISO" was a reference to "ISOsceles triangle," from the cross-section profile) based on the profile of the Nisi "Laser" rim. I've had several sets in use since the early 80s with no problems. They are anodized and heat treated, and have resisted brake wear quite well without compromising braking performance in my experience.

And yes, they were intended for road use, and spec'ed on Trek's top of the line race bikes.

My De Rose came with them, there is a little brake wear, as you can see, but nothing major.

Awesome thanks for the replies fellas. Looks like my Guerciotti can get rid of the one of a kind Mavic Biopace rims. lol. Time for some tire shopping and I'm not talking about YJ pair and a spare or Ralleyes for this bike!

This thread has helped to convince me to go ahead and take the time to remove the old glue on mine, mount a set of Tufo S33 Pro's, and hang 'em on a 1995 Kestrel with otherwise full tricolor. I appreciate everyone's unwitting reinforcement. Can't go wrong, Henry, and can't wait to see 'em. Glad you're out of the freezer, eh?

See biblibob's post on $58 Vittoria high-enders. Very good price for very good tires.