mavic gell330 tubular rim strength
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Posts: 9,847
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
Mentioned: 106 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2338 Post(s)
Liked 2,824 Times
in
1,541 Posts
mavic gell330 tubular rim strength
hi,
Any experience thoughts on durabllity strength of mavic gel 330 tubular rims.
Or if you were a 240 pound rider would you ride these with 27mm tires with a 32 spoke build on roughish roads/ gravel aka Cino ?
Any experience thoughts on durabllity strength of mavic gel 330 tubular rims.
Or if you were a 240 pound rider would you ride these with 27mm tires with a 32 spoke build on roughish roads/ gravel aka Cino ?
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
#2
Phyllo-buster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 8,847
Bikes: roadsters, club bikes, fixed and classic
Mentioned: 133 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2298 Post(s)
Liked 2,054 Times
in
1,254 Posts
I remember them as very well respected rims. So I vote yes, break a leg! - kidding.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,435
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5888 Post(s)
Liked 3,471 Times
in
2,079 Posts
No. If you're going to build tubulars to ride rough roads, I'd go with the GP4s at 400 grams in a heart beat.
VeloBase.com - Component: Mavic GP 4 (Red Label)
The big boys rode these in races like Paris Roubaix and that should tell you something.
VeloBase.com - Component: Mavic GP 4 (Red Label)
The big boys rode these in races like Paris Roubaix and that should tell you something.
#4
Le Crocodile
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Santa Barbara Calif.
Posts: 1,873
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 370 Post(s)
Liked 787 Times
in
311 Posts
Hmmm. That's a tough call. The 330's are pretty light, and not as durable as the 4's. I had some 28 spoke 330's that developed cracks (rear wheel) after maybe 600-1000 (?) miles. At the time, I was a strong 185-190 lb. rider. Was going up a steep hill at full gas, and the rear wheel taco'd and basically stopped me dead cold.
The reason I used the rims was because they are what I had on hand, and I was on a budget. At the end of the day, I lost money, because I had to have that wheelset re-built with GP4's anyway.
The reason I used the rims was because they are what I had on hand, and I was on a budget. At the end of the day, I lost money, because I had to have that wheelset re-built with GP4's anyway.
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Posts: 9,847
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
Mentioned: 106 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2338 Post(s)
Liked 2,824 Times
in
1,541 Posts
No. If you're going to build tubulars to ride rough roads, I'd go with the GP4s at 400 grams in a heart beat.
VeloBase.com - Component: Mavic GP 4 (Red Label)
The big boys rode these in races like Paris Roubaix and that should tell you something.
VeloBase.com - Component: Mavic GP 4 (Red Label)
The big boys rode these in races like Paris Roubaix and that should tell you something.
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,435
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5888 Post(s)
Liked 3,471 Times
in
2,079 Posts
you’re just a freewheel swap away from riding the ma40 s. You will not be a happy camper if you develop mechanical issues on the ride.
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Posts: 9,847
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
Mentioned: 106 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2338 Post(s)
Liked 2,824 Times
in
1,541 Posts
lol that is what I thought....except the ma40's are built on a early shimano cassette (ultra glide) so as best i can tell I am limited to the 28 and am just going to workout harder..... the idea of running tubies was kinda fun
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,435
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5888 Post(s)
Liked 3,471 Times
in
2,079 Posts
Shimano uniglide? There are solutions for that.
https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-m...yperglide.html
or put up a wtb on the C & V for sale forum
https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-m...yperglide.html
or put up a wtb on the C & V for sale forum
#9
Garage tetris expert
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Texas Hill Country
Posts: 892
Bikes: A few. Ok, a lot
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 387 Post(s)
Liked 692 Times
in
329 Posts
I’ve had great success converting late UG 7-speed freehub bodies to HG using this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Shimano-Fre...k/274322577186
If that works for your hub, HG cassettes are plentiful.
If that works for your hub, HG cassettes are plentiful.
#10
Junior Member
Are the GL330 rims stronger than the GEL330s? I was given a 36h GL330 wheelset with Campy Nuovo Tipo hubs (to be rebuilt). Like squirtdad, I'm "full grown" at ~230 lbs. I'm hoping these wheels with 27mm to 30mm tires will support my prodigious mass.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 20,305
Mentioned: 130 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3464 Post(s)
Liked 2,829 Times
in
1,995 Posts
if you ride "light", get your weight off the saddle when the washboard gets going or you see a pothole, thrasition to tarmac to dirt or the other way around, should be OK unless the rims are well used.
Read, brake track anodizing gone.
Read, brake track anodizing gone.
#12
Klaatu..Verata..Necktie?
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 17,965
Bikes: Litespeed Ultimate, Ultegra; Canyon Endurace, 105; Battaglin MAX, Chorus; Bianchi 928 Veloce; Ritchey Road Logic, Dura Ace; Cannondale R500 RX100; Schwinn Circuit, Sante; Lotus Supreme, Dura Ace
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10425 Post(s)
Liked 11,900 Times
in
6,095 Posts
My 1982 Lotus Classique has an early Uniglide freehub and it came originally (and still) with a 13-32 cassette.
__________________
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,435
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5888 Post(s)
Liked 3,471 Times
in
2,079 Posts
Maybe the OP will be fine but maybe not. I worked in a top 100 independent bike dealer in the 80s. It was a really good shop with some excellent wheel builders. The shop was in New Orleans which is where I grew up. The city is a natural testing ground for headsets, wheels, and tires. It’s built on mud and the roads sink on a regular basis. Consequently they are cracked and full of potholes. Plus many of the locals think they have a right to toss their empties out on the street. Like I said, the city was and is a fine testing ground for wheels, tires, and headsets. I would not have recommended those rims to the OP for a ride like the CINO BITD. Ive done my share of gravel riding on GP 4 s back before anyone knew that was a thing. They will hold up.
Likes For bikemig:
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Posts: 9,847
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
Mentioned: 106 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2338 Post(s)
Liked 2,824 Times
in
1,541 Posts
ok oft to WTB and ebay thanks
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
#15
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Posts: 9,847
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
Mentioned: 106 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2338 Post(s)
Liked 2,824 Times
in
1,541 Posts
Maybe the OP will be fine but maybe not. I worked in a top 100 independent bike dealer in the 80s. It was a really good shop with some excellent wheel builders. The shop was in New Orleans which is where I grew up. The city is a natural testing ground for headsets, wheels, and tires. It’s built on mud and the roads sink on a regular basis. Consequently they are cracked and full of potholes. Plus many of the locals think they have a right to toss their empties out on the street. Like I said, the city was and is a fine testing ground for wheels, tires, and headsets. I would not have recommended those rims to the OP for a ride like the CINO BITD. Ive done my share of gravel riding on GP 4 s back before anyone knew that was a thing. They will hold up.
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
#16
Klaatu..Verata..Necktie?
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 17,965
Bikes: Litespeed Ultimate, Ultegra; Canyon Endurace, 105; Battaglin MAX, Chorus; Bianchi 928 Veloce; Ritchey Road Logic, Dura Ace; Cannondale R500 RX100; Schwinn Circuit, Sante; Lotus Supreme, Dura Ace
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10425 Post(s)
Liked 11,900 Times
in
6,095 Posts
I did see a number of listings for 32t Uniglide cogs, if you're inclined to make your own cassette. The other observation is that the gaps in a 13-32t 6-speed cassette are pretty darn big. The words "yawning chasm" come to mind.
__________________
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 4,488
Mentioned: 102 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1641 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 831 Times
in
540 Posts
GEL280s are considered by many as "special event" wheels. Very very light and quite fragile. Most would only consider them for use in time trial applications. It is not uncommon to hear about GEL280's developing cracking around the spoke hole eyelets, after some miles. I wouldn't recommend them for 200+ pound riders.
__________________
72 Line Seeker
83 Davidson Signature
84 Peugeot PSV
84 Peugeot PY10FC
84 Gitane Tour de France.
85 Vitus Plus Carbone 7
86 ALAN Record Carbonio
86 Medici Aerodynamic (Project)
88 Pinarello Montello
89 Bottecchia Professional Chorus SL
95 Trek 5500 OCLV (Project)
72 Line Seeker
83 Davidson Signature
84 Peugeot PSV
84 Peugeot PY10FC
84 Gitane Tour de France.
85 Vitus Plus Carbone 7
86 ALAN Record Carbonio
86 Medici Aerodynamic (Project)
88 Pinarello Montello
89 Bottecchia Professional Chorus SL
95 Trek 5500 OCLV (Project)
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 20,305
Mentioned: 130 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3464 Post(s)
Liked 2,829 Times
in
1,995 Posts
Thinking more, I like the freehub solution for a different reason, avoiding a bent axle.
#19
Junior Member
You might be referring to the GEL280s not 330.... I don't remember Mavic making GEL330s.
GEL280s are considered by many as "special event" wheels. Very very light and quite fragile. Most would only consider them for use in time trial applications. It is not uncommon to hear about GEL280's developing cracking around the spoke hole eyelets, after some miles. I wouldn't recommend them for 200+ pound riders.
GEL280s are considered by many as "special event" wheels. Very very light and quite fragile. Most would only consider them for use in time trial applications. It is not uncommon to hear about GEL280's developing cracking around the spoke hole eyelets, after some miles. I wouldn't recommend them for 200+ pound riders.
Looks like the GP4s are for "the worst conditions and all kinds of surfaces", the GL330s are for "all roads, except under the most extreme conditions", and the GEL280s are for "the fitting of extra-lightweight wheels".
Seems like the Holy Grail of old Mavic tubular rims are the Paris Roubaix SSC grey, like these => https://www.ebay.com/itm/274333855218?hash=item3fdf926df2:gwkAAOSw7mhekgGj
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,906
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
Mentioned: 129 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4806 Post(s)
Liked 3,929 Times
in
2,554 Posts
Too bad those 330s are on a hub that cannot run Campy 9-speed. If they could, I"d take 'em in a flash as wheels as close to race as I'm going to do. I'm 155. I trained on the 330gm Arc en Ciels and raced 290gm Faimme Ergals.
I'm planning to go back to tubulars on all my good bikes to stop the recurring nightmares I have of flatting a clincher on a big descent and it coming off the rim. (I did it at 25 mph. That was bad enough! I've also blown tubulars at 45+ at least once and I cannot even remember where or which wheel; it was so inconsequential.) I'm thinking a pair of GP4s or equiv and a pair of GL330s for my fix gear and another of each for my 9-speed.
Actually, I have full use for the front, Send me a PM as to what you want for the pair. A good 7-speed hub will get used sometime. I have (2) 7-speeds. Be a shame unspoking the wheelsmiths but the rebuilding is always fun. This will also kickstart my conversion. (I've got GP4s from a forum mate but they'll go onto my current hub - when those rims die. Sadly, not soon enough.)
I'm planning to go back to tubulars on all my good bikes to stop the recurring nightmares I have of flatting a clincher on a big descent and it coming off the rim. (I did it at 25 mph. That was bad enough! I've also blown tubulars at 45+ at least once and I cannot even remember where or which wheel; it was so inconsequential.) I'm thinking a pair of GP4s or equiv and a pair of GL330s for my fix gear and another of each for my 9-speed.
Actually, I have full use for the front, Send me a PM as to what you want for the pair. A good 7-speed hub will get used sometime. I have (2) 7-speeds. Be a shame unspoking the wheelsmiths but the rebuilding is always fun. This will also kickstart my conversion. (I've got GP4s from a forum mate but they'll go onto my current hub - when those rims die. Sadly, not soon enough.)
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Berkeley, CA
Posts: 7,244
Bikes: '72 Cilo Pacer, '72 Gitane Gran Tourisme, '72 Peugeot PX10, '73 Speedwell Ti, '74 Peugeot UE-8, '75 Peugeot PR-10L, '80 Colnago Super, '85 De Rosa Pro, '86 Look Equipe 753, '86 Look KG86, '89 Parkpre Team, '90 Parkpre Team MTB, '90 Merlin
Mentioned: 87 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 834 Post(s)
Liked 2,126 Times
in
555 Posts
I've had good experience with GL330s. I'm also no lightweight. My weight has fluctuated a lot over the years, but I'm usually in the 200-215 pound range. The 32h front GL330 rim on my LOOK has lasted throughout my teenage race years, and continues to roll like the Energizer Bunny since I rebuilt it 2x in 2008. This bike gets as much use as any in my collection. I've used GL330 rims in the rear in the past, but don't have any currently in operation. That said, I like light wheels, even if I'm beyond the recommended weight limits. I have a bunch of bikes and spare wheels with low-three-hundred gram tubular rims/wheels (Campagnolo, Wolber Super Champion, Araya, Wolber Arc-en-Ciel, Record du Monde, Fiamme Red Label, Fiamme Ergal) . The Mavic GL330s stack up really well against the rest in that class, but still do need periodic trueing. Definitely expect a bit more maintenance than a GP4 or MA40, but don't let that stop you, especially if you can fit wider tires like the 27mm you mention. I think a fat tubular, not over-inflated, does wonders to prolong wheel life.
Oh, and I don't think the 753r tubeset on my LOOK is recommended for riders above 175 pounds, but that's not stopping me either. A lot depends on "how light you ride"--plowing through bumps with your butt heavy on the saddle, versus constantly being aware of hazards and soaking up bumpy roads with the legs as much as possible.
[
Oh, and I don't think the 753r tubeset on my LOOK is recommended for riders above 175 pounds, but that's not stopping me either. A lot depends on "how light you ride"--plowing through bumps with your butt heavy on the saddle, versus constantly being aware of hazards and soaking up bumpy roads with the legs as much as possible.
[
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: GWN
Posts: 2,538
Mentioned: 27 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1858 Post(s)
Liked 606 Times
in
403 Posts
You and I are about the same size. I have 7 road bikes all running tubulars. 5 with 36 hole and 2 with 32's. Very rarely do I have to true the 36's.
At our size the 36's are your best bet.
At our size the 36's are your best bet.