MileHighMark

I want some ceramic-coated rims for my commuter, and it looks like the Open Pro's are the only choice for current production (700c) rims. My current setup is 32h Velocity Dyads laced (double-butted) to vintage Deore LX hubs. I weigh 197# or so, and carry 10-15 # in front panniers on low rider (front) racks. Tires are 32mm (actual) inflated to 50-70psi.

CliftonGK1

Aside from wanting to spend more money, what's your necessity behind a ceramic rim on your commuter? The Open Pro is an OK rim and you can throw a 32mm tire on there, but watch your spoke tension. A few guys in my rando club have pulled the eyelet and surrounding rim material clean out of the hoop on their Open Pros. They don't take kindly to overtensioning.

MileHighMark

Why ceramic?

Better braking in the wet.

KonAaron Snake 

I've had ceramic rims and I didn't really think they were notably better. They were more expensive and the brake pads were annoying to get since the LBS didn't stock them. They also squealed a lot more, even with ceramic pads. I would NOT go that route again...machined aluminum rims work just fine.

Mr IGH

IMHO, Open Pros are kinda light for urban/trail commuting, esp with a light load. I'd go for the Open Sports if the rider/cargo is less than 200lbs, otherwise I'd go for the 319s.

tarwheel 

I'm about your size and I've been commuting on Open Pros for 3-1/2 years with no problems, but I agree with the others that ceramic rims aren't necessary. OPs are prone to getting squeaky and noisy as they get older, which is my only real issue with them.

fietsbob

what rims do you want to replace when they get damaged? $110 or $40

achoo

According to Weight Weenies, CXP33s actually weigh less than the OPs. I'd guess the CXP33s are stronger, too.

Oh, yeah, and IMO ceramic coating is a waste of $$$.

KonAaron Snake 

I've ridden both the open pros and the cxp33s...the Pros are MUCH stronger and they go out of true less often (same builder did both).

HardyWeinberg

The most bombproof 700c wheels I've ever had were a pair of open-pro/105s (36 spokes each). I never had to true them over a couple thousand miles nor has the person who got them from me and has put a few more thousand miles on them. I marvel at those wheels every time I true up their successors...

MrCjolsen

You mean like this...? (just last week!)

Pippin

I'm a fan of Open Pro ceramics. I my experience the braking is better. Especially that emergency, unplanned braking in the wet. The ceramic coating minimized the "black ooze" that tend to get on everything during a long wet ride and you don't wear through the rim braking surface like you can with standard alum.

If built well you shouldn't spokes pulling through either.

Worth the money in my book.

labrat

The tire you are running is bigger than Mavic recommends (19 - 28 mm for OP) although I've heard of others who have run bigger without problem.

I did manage to kill an Open Pro - must have hit one of our large holes or something square edged that produced a snakebite flat and dented the rim while wearing a 28 mm Conti 4 Seasons at 100 psi. I don't know if a different rim would have held up better to such abuse.

Scheherezade 

Improving efficiency in your current brake system seems far more practical. Are your cables running smoothly? Do your brakes have adjustable or fixed mechanical advantage? Are you running Kool-Stop Salmon pads?

MileHighMark

After reading the post below, I think I'm going to just stock up on Kool Stop salmon inserts for now.

https://forums.serotta.com/showpost.p...9&postcount=12

KonAaron Snake 

I think you'll be happy about this decision. I have a set of those on Weinmann centerpulls...and even with centerpulls, they stop FAST, including in the rain.

tarwheel 

This is just plain wrong. According to the Mavic website, CXP33s weigh 470 g per rim and Open Pros weigh 435 g per rim.

If that doesn't convince, just look at them. The CXPs are much deeper and have more material (aluminum) in the rims, thus weighing more. I will agree that CXPs are supposed to be stronger than OPs.

achoo

Riiight. No manufacturer has ever cooked the books on weight.

And Mavic would have NO incentive whatsoever to claim the OPs weigh less than the CXP33s. Because if they DID claim the CXP33s weigh less than the OPs, who'd buy the OPs?

What incentive to fudge numbers do multiple independent people entering data into Weight Weenie's web site have? How about none?

And just because the CXP33s might weigh less, that doesn't make them weaker.

tarwheel 

What would Mavic's incentive be to lie about the weights? Give me a break. CXPs actually retail for a higher price than OPs ($80 vs $70). The CXPs are 23.6 mm tall vs. 18.4 mm for the OPs, so they have more material in them. They both have double eyelets.

It could be that some of the weight weenies aren't reporting info correctly or consistently. Eg, if they are tri-guys, perhaps they are using 650 c rims (which are lighter) and didn't happen to note that. Perhaps they are weighing the entire wheel and are using lighter hubs.

tarwheel 

OK, you made me curious and I checked the Weight Weenie website, and you are doubly wrong. Six people reported weights for CXP33 rims ranging from 451 to 470 grams, with an average weight of 459 g. Five people reported weights for Open Pros ranging from 425 to 435 grams, with an average weight of 431 g. I should be working for myth busters.

achoo

Nope. Pass on the Mythbusters, because you quit way too soon.

Read this thread:

https://weightweenies.starbike.com/fo...=50671&start=0

I'm not the only one who's noted that Mavic Open Pros hit the streets heavier than their listed weight, and that CXP33s hit the streets at less than their listed weight.

And there are no weight listings on Weight Weenies for Mavic Open Pros later than 2004. Gee, you'd think someone would weigh 'em, huh? Especially given that thread I just linked.

And the Wayback Machine doesn't list any Weight Weenies pages later than Aug 2008:

https://weightweenies.starbike.com/fo...=50671&start=0

Keep your day job.

tarwheel 

Everyone in the thread you linked were reporting weights for Open Pro CD rims, which have a ceramic coating that adds to the weight. Open Pro CD rims are marketed for people riding mostly in wet conditions, and they supposedly have better braking when wet, but most OPs sold are the regular rims not CDs.

KonAaron Snake 

I've owned both...Open Pros are lighter. Somehow they also required less work. My CXP 33s required constant trueing and I taco'd a rim on a sewer grate that I do not believe would have hurt the open pro.

electrik

Kool-stop salmon pads and durable rims are a more efficient solution IMO. The superior option is a disc brake, but that is out?

Pinyon

This happened to me just a few days ago. I was on a group ride, and one of my spokes popped about 25-30 miles from home. By the time I got back to town, one of the other spokes were pulling out of the bottom of the rim. For commuters that have to ride over lots of rough terrain, or haul heavy stuff; and with heavier guys like me, beefier rims are usually called for.

Over the last couple of years, I've been seeing lots of Velocity Deep V, Velocity Arrow, and a couple of kinds of light-to-heavier touring rims made by DT Swiss. These rims seem especially popular with people that use bike trailers to carry heavy items (instead of using an automobile), and with a lot of the 200 lbs and up riders. The Velocity Deep V's are also popular with the local hipster single-speed crowd, but not just because they come in colors (I like black or aluminum). Those rims can really take a pounding.