akropilot

After an tubular sidewall tear left me stranded, I've decided to build a new wheelset for my '86 Colnago Super, switching from tubulars to clinchers.

I found a pair of Campagnolo Record tall-flange hubs in good shape (English threading no less), 28h/32h, but am conflicted on rim selection.

None of that new-fangled black anodizing for me...I want the shine to match my Delta brakes. On any other bike I'd go straight for the polished silver H+Sons Archetype rims. Great rims, with the bling I demand, but obviously modern vintage. Option 2 would be the TB14 rims; not obviously modern, nice width, nice metallurgy. Option 3 would be scrounging for some Mavic MA2 rims on eBay, with their impressively svelte inner-bead width of 13.5mm.

If I put Ambrosio decals on Archetype rims and show up at L'Eroica can I still ride with the core-team? Or would the ghost of Luciano Berruti (RIP) keep me awake at night?

BTW the existing wheelset is 1986 100/126mm Bullseye hubs (the cool kids had to have them) and GL330 tubulars, 32/32. If anyone's interested when I'm done.

jeirvine 

I'd go with TB14 if you can find a polished one in 28h.

And are your hubs Record, or C-Record? High flange Record hubs would stick out more as an anachronism on an '86 bike than would modern, tastefully profiled rims, regardless of stickers.

Jeff Wills

I built a set of wheels on the H+Son Archetype polished silver rims a month or two ago. They went together like buttah... trued and tensioned like they wanted to be straight.

32 front, 36 rear... I'm 245 pounds nowadays.

3alarmer 

.
...if you still have an ethical dilemma, you've obviously still not suffered enough with tubular tyres. You should continue to ride them until your suffering produces a visitation of the holy spirit, and the accompanying epiphany. Then, fully enlightened, you'll be able to make the best choice for your new rim.

Possibly rereading the book of Job might be of some help.

P!N20

Why not try a pair of Pacenti Brevet? At least Luciano Berruti will be happy they sound Italian.

Lascauxcaveman 

I have never seen polished Delta brakes. Got pics?

Mine were more like a matte silver (anodized?), like all the other ones I've seen.

Road Fan

And after that self-chastization, the Chronicles of Jobst to inspire you toward the Light (something around 100 grams per wheel).

I have had sidewall pinholes expand into blowouts at 105 psi, but never a tubular sidewall tearing open. But one thing I do before a ride is look at the sidewalls after pumping up to see if there are any apparent weak points. I once saw one that I ignored, hence the blowout.

Bianchigirll 

You got two flats in one ride? Or you didn’t have a spare?

akropilot

I was riding with sealant, a valve core remover, CO2, and my Uber patch kit (cell phone).
but never counted on some debris causing a sidewall cut.

Reynolds 531 

I carry a spare sew-up folded under my seat just because it looks cool.

But velo orange rims are very shiny, and not so tall in the side profile

Salamandrine 

Sidewall cuts happen. Even with clinchers it's best to be prepared.

IMO when riding tubulars, always carry a spare. I can't even imagine going on a ride without one. On long rides over 100 miles, consider two spares. BITD sometimes I'd take a spare and a velox patch kit too. No cell phones when I was riding big miles on sew ups. You had to be sure you could get home.

top506

Somewhat down-market, but the Sun M13 II can be had polished, and have the look. I've built a couple of pair with them.

BUMP:
Never mind, not available in 28h.

Top

79pmooney

Yup. I remember patching my 2nd flat half way between Fitchburg, MA and Boston coming home after watching the Longsjo Classic bike race (except that was 40+ years ago; I'm not sure it was "classic" yet). I rode with the spare under the seat, the patchkit and a pocket knife always. As important as keys and wallet. That was a long day, but just that, long, but not an"epic" ride. And the Longsjo happened when the days were long. Was home well before dark. My biggest memories of the day - watching John Howard and Dale Stetina.

Ben

79pmooney

akropilot, if you still have those wheels and their 330 rims and still want to part with them, let's talk. My Mooney (126 spacing) spent its first 15 years on sewups, the last round on 400 grammers. (MA4?) Used to train on 330s (long before Mavic). Loved my race wheels, 290s and 250 gm Setas. The magic carpet. Your 330s and Vittoria G+ tires would take me back to that magic.

PM me if you are still interested.

Ben

crank_addict

Funny dilemma the OP is wrestling with.

No way would I go clinchers.

Here was my dilemma. I long dread the heavy but robust -dark ugly- anodized Mavic GP4 tubulars on my '79 Super.

Finally got around to lacing these mighty cool and considerable lighter Martano Superleggero tubulars. I did use backing washers - sweet looking as the spoke looks so clean and tidy in the rim drilling.
Scored the NOS pair for pittance at last years CR Cirque event.

Slightspeed

I just went thru this process prior to the past Eroica on my Legnano. My Legnano branded high flange Campy hubs spent the last 20 years hanging on the garage wall laced to a pair of tubular rims. I was riding mismatched Campy hubs on clincher rims, because I was done with tubulars too. The old hubs cleaned up nice, and I decided on a set of Sun CR18 polished 36 hole clincher rims ($70 shipped on Ebay). At first they looked kind of clunky and too wide, compared to the well used, beat up, unbranded old clincher rims. Mounted up with 28c Pasela PTs for Eroica, I'm very happy with the look, the ride and the price. The big logos are removable, but I just haven't got around to it.

Before ...

...and after clean and polish.