Selecting a rim
Posted: 8 Apr 2007, 10:50pm
It’s make your mind up time for me, and I’m addressing the matter of the ordering the building of a couple of pairs of wheels. Despite misgivings expressed in certain posts on this site, I will probably order Mavic rims. Information received suggests that the rims don’t have the miles in them that they did in times past – my own experience certainly agrees with that. My wheelbuilder, agrees that the rims don’t appear to last as long, and his guess is that the demand for a lighter rim is responsible for that, but he maintains that the rims are now stronger. Any comments on that?
My cynical opinion is that quicker the rims wear out, the more are sold, and the greater the profit - but of course I may be wrong.
A look at the “CHICKEN CYCLE KIT” brochure shows a range of rims, including the Open Pro, which is the rim I am most likely to select this time around. The illustration of the Open Pro rim shows a lot of little symbols, which includes a “CD” symbol, and reference to the key on the following page advises that “CD” indicates a ‘re-inforced oxide surface, which gives 150 – 400 times greater resistance’. My question is, greater resistance to what? If it is resistance to wear on the braking rims, how does it achieve that, on the basis that the breaking surface features “UB CONTROL”, which is ‘Digitally controlled rim milling decreases friction’. The “CD” finish costs £8.00p per rim more than the basic silver finish – does anyone know whether it is worth spending the extra money, and whether the “CD” finish has any effective (as distinct from cosmetic) benefit?
Another option on the Open Pro is “CERAMIC 2” finish, of which it says ‘Thermal shield reduces braking distances’ – has anyone had any experience? The ceramic finish was once offered to me as a treatment, which would increase mileage – I have previously asked a question about this (it could be over a year ago now), but the responses that I received didn’t really help. Any comments?
A previous Chicken brochure, entitled “COMPONENT 2004” included small cross-sectional sketches of the road rims, which helped in the selection process (having previously decided usage and tyre choice), but this information is sadly no longer given. Does anyone know where such information is accessible? My wheelbuilder seems to have the information, so apparently he gets information material, which is not available to the end user/customer.
I’m posting this query on both the “Does anybody know……” section, in case anybody does know, and on the “Bikes and Bits – Technical Section”, because they are technical issues, and definitive information from CJ (as well as from anyone else) would be appreciated.
JohnW
My cynical opinion is that quicker the rims wear out, the more are sold, and the greater the profit - but of course I may be wrong.
A look at the “CHICKEN CYCLE KIT” brochure shows a range of rims, including the Open Pro, which is the rim I am most likely to select this time around. The illustration of the Open Pro rim shows a lot of little symbols, which includes a “CD” symbol, and reference to the key on the following page advises that “CD” indicates a ‘re-inforced oxide surface, which gives 150 – 400 times greater resistance’. My question is, greater resistance to what? If it is resistance to wear on the braking rims, how does it achieve that, on the basis that the breaking surface features “UB CONTROL”, which is ‘Digitally controlled rim milling decreases friction’. The “CD” finish costs £8.00p per rim more than the basic silver finish – does anyone know whether it is worth spending the extra money, and whether the “CD” finish has any effective (as distinct from cosmetic) benefit?
Another option on the Open Pro is “CERAMIC 2” finish, of which it says ‘Thermal shield reduces braking distances’ – has anyone had any experience? The ceramic finish was once offered to me as a treatment, which would increase mileage – I have previously asked a question about this (it could be over a year ago now), but the responses that I received didn’t really help. Any comments?
A previous Chicken brochure, entitled “COMPONENT 2004” included small cross-sectional sketches of the road rims, which helped in the selection process (having previously decided usage and tyre choice), but this information is sadly no longer given. Does anyone know where such information is accessible? My wheelbuilder seems to have the information, so apparently he gets information material, which is not available to the end user/customer.
I’m posting this query on both the “Does anybody know……” section, in case anybody does know, and on the “Bikes and Bits – Technical Section”, because they are technical issues, and definitive information from CJ (as well as from anyone else) would be appreciated.
JohnW