has anyone ran a brake on velocity B43 rim without a machined sidewall

Yeah, but they're dead now, so they won't be able to say much.

The sidewalls on B43s aren't designed to be used with a brake. Sure, you can use one but it will eventually weaken the sidewall of your rim.

Nice knowin' ya, kid.

i did it for about a month. posted pictures here. got lots of advice from those in the know.

changed wheelsets rather than go brakeless.

traded them to a brakeless rider. now we're both happy.

yeah but as a rear brake on a SS/DS so I really don't use it much

why not just get a machined velocity? Less weight and a better rim imo

looks like kak, not as cool ; )

You really don't need a rim brake with the B43. I found that if you bundle between 6-7 bricks together with twine and tie the bundle to the frame with about 4 feet of line you can just drop it overboard when you want to slow down. Its a solution that works well with my current setup.

Protip: A single Velocity B43 Hoop will work in place of the bricks.

mentioned this to the mechanic at the mega-bucks roadie LBS today:

"once the paint wears off, it's like any other rim. nothing's going to happen...."

I'm riding an unmachined velocity on the front, and it looks like garbage, but works just fine. I highly doubt that this "self-machining" was any rougher on the sidewall than what a professional machining would do, and machining in general is an unnecessary practice. Did I mention that it looks like garbage?

It's not about the machined surface or the paint, it's about the structure of the rim not being intended for the force exerted by braking on it.

Velocity makes a lot of rims. If it's a Deep V or any other rim with parallel sidewalls, you're fine (it will just look ugly). If it's a B43 - which is what we're talking about here - you're doing structural damage to the rim over time, as the sidewalls are not meant to withstand wear that brake pads cause.

Ah, I didn't realize B43s taper right from the base. Thanks.

ah. that explains it.

the mechanic i talked to lumped A23, B43 and Chukkers all together.

personally i'm glad i ditched the B43's. brake issues aside, i don't miss the weight.

I came in here to troll, and actually learned something.