desconhecido 

Just saw an ad on Houston Craigslist for someone trying to sell a pair of wheels with Weinmann concave rims (27") laced to Maillard, maybe Normandy, hubs. Has a freewheel but no indication as to threading. Asking price is $100. The tires on the wheels are probably worth $1 for the pair and the hubs, not much. Can't tell whether the spokes are stainless or galvanized. Looks like a presta valve is installed -- can't see a grommet or bushing.

I see these mentioned from time to time, but have no personal interest in them. So they are there, if anybody does have an interest.

edited: spokes look stainless in the photos, but I've been wrong about that issue before.

OldsCOOL

If you are in an era type build of a french bike and cant find them locally, I'd pay 100clams.

rhm

I thought they were pretty cool the first time I saw them, in 1980, but within a few years I came to think of them as heavy, second rate rims. They're not even hooked. I'd say this pair, being 27", is overpriced. But perhaps the right buyer will see them....

Curtis Odom 

27 inch Concave's would be very popular for a vintage touring bike rebuild. The perfect match for some old Phil Wood hubs and a vintage Schwinn Paramount.

Mark Stone

Moved from C&V

oddjob2

I've bought whole bikes with Concaves for a Grant, so IMHO, too high. They are a real PITA to polish. But this set compliments the BBC (yes that Budget Bicycle Center) Moto Grand Touring nicely.

lostarchitect 

I'd be hard pressed to spend $100 on any set of 27" wheels. I think that's at least twice what I'd be willing to pay for these.

randyjawa 

I love the concave rim offered by Weinmann in days gone bye. My personal cruiser, a 1977 Motobecane Grand Jubilee is fitted with Dura Ace black anodized high flange hubs laced to the rims mentioned. Beautiful and darn near bullet proof. If there were to be a criticism, it would be regarding weight - they are pretty heavy compared to most other rims of the era. The rims on the Motobe are 700c, which came in two widths, not the 27" model pictured here...

desconhecido 

Thanks for the replies and opinions. I posted this just because I've seen people mention these rims and to let anybody looking for a pair know that they are available. As I said, I'm not personally interested as I would have no use for another set of 27" wheels or another pair of Maillard or Normandy hubs maybe with French threads -- not even if they were free. If anybody reading this were to make a deal with the seller, I'd be happy to facilitate with inspection or photos or help shipping just as a courtesy.

amirinisrael

Weinmann concave rims were relatively heavy, but easy to build up ...
They held up well on my fully loaded Bikecentennial bike, giving (mostly) trouble free service for the entire ride.

On the other hand. They were heavy and not much fun on fast club rides (when compared to the same bike with tubular wheels).

randyjawa 

For what it is worth, the actual wheel set weight difference, on my mid seventies CCM Tour du Canada is...

1325 grams or 2.9 pounds

79pmooney

I have a deep gratitude for Weinmann rims. They saved my butt once. Literally. They get me out of a high speed multi-bike crash (and all the rest of those riders also).

It was 1979, Santa Cruz, CA. First months on my new ride, my Peter Mooney. I had just built up the Weinmann wheels. (First ries we on the sew-ups of my racing days.) Saturday morning SCCC town line sprint. I went early off the small hill. Norm Alverez (?) came storming by on my right with a strong Cat 4 on his wheel. Norm snapped over to my line as soon as he cleared me to shed the guy behind. But guy behind followed. Suddenly there was a rear wheel where my front belonged. I steered away, but as you all know, sooner or later you have to bring your front wheel back under you or bad thing happen. His wheel was still there. I leaned my front into him and pushed off. The sickening sound of spokes snapping. Then were were clear. And I rode a very wobbly front wheel to a standstill. 8 consecutive spokes were snapped, a few loosened and a couple on the other side were also trashed. Brand new paint was scarped off by the tire on the fork. But that rim kept me and the line of riders behind from greeting the pavement at 30 mph.

Thank you, Weinmannn Concaves. Probably the only rims I have ever ridden so stiff side-to-side that I could pull that off.

Also the start of a friendship. The rider behind me was Robert Wright, author of 'Building Bicycle Wheels", operator of a tiny bikeshop out of his garage and keeper of bees. He was just as grateful as I that I did not crash! Turned around, got his truck and drove me home. (The book is excellent and is as hands-on and non-technical as Jobst Bradt's book of virtually the same time and place is techy.)

Ben

exxongraftek

I have a set of these laced on a pre-'64 set of high flange Campy Record hubs. Back in the day, these were my bulletproof "training wheel-set" but they've outlasted all my "weight-weenie" wheels and now that I no longer race, I depend on them for my lunch-break rides in South San Jose with the younger kids. Still keep up with them and their alumi-carbo frames with my Concaves mounted to my Rigi Bicicorta. I always leave the kids behind on the hills...

ridesoldtrek

I built a set of wheels in about '82 using 27" concaves with campy record hubs. They've been great wheels for many years except for one killer: changing tires is a painful experience. For that alone I have grown to hate them.

But for a bullet-proof wheel, these are great. Mine stayed true through years of heavy use and touring with gear. Never had any problems with tires coming off for lack of hooks. As hard as it is to get tires on and off these things, I can't imagine how a tire could so easily roll off when inflated.

If only I had gone with the 700c size, I would not be replacing them today.

cycleheimer

2 1/2 year old thread, but OK. Probably nobody would pay $100 for those wheels now, unless they came attached to the rest of the bike. Those concave rims, however, are really strong. Mine never seem to need trueing, and I do a considerable amount of riding. They are amazing.

juls

Not letting me post pics. WTF? Thinking im really done with bforums/more bs than what it is worth. Over and OUT. Who needs the arrgrovation. Wouldnt even let me post last reply with pics. Screw it.

bikemig 

I might pay a c note for them if attached to the right hubs (say phil woods). 27 inch wheels are pretty cheap, I just picked up 3 good ones for a total of $15 (one with a weinmann concave rim). They are strong rims but not my favorite touring rims; the best were super champion 58 rims.

pv2

Checked out the forum and decided and bought used on E-BAY 2 (front and rear) Weinmann Concave Rims made in Belgium with Dura Ace Uniglide 6sp freehub
Also purchased various cassette gears.
Slap it together and replace the wheel master wheel freewheel I purchased for 81 Trek 614 that I am upgrading into a commuter bike. Want to carry panniers including my 280lb Bod.

It is a kool build and I needed bomb proof tires/ wheels/ hub/ axles as I bend freewheel axles!

Currently it is in a bike trainer and I ride it every day 30min x 2 times a day when watching youtube bike races.

Highly modified 89 Cannondale SR700 is more for that; however, want to get the feeling for the Trek and am pounding it out.

New here and hope to continue reading and enjoying all that everyone has shared.

Thanks Kindly

pv2

Maohaus

If anyone has a set of 27" wheels with French hubs and Euro rims I am interested. Looks like lots of you hate them and put no value on them. Sell them to me cheap please! PM with options. Thanks.

Mdl

Here are my concave Weinmann rims on my fave chromey. 😁
Local bike store owner told me last week “That bike is iammin’. Wow. So cool. Are those Weinmann rims? Concave rims. Wow. They catch the light so nice…”

I don’t know what the rims weigh, but the bike is very light.

Best of luck in your search.



Chrome is cool 😎

Mdl

Agreed. Yes. They are a PITA to polish. But the appearance is so worth it when done. What did you use to polish them? I polished mine with the pokes on - I was tempted to remove the spokes, replace, etc. but didn’t have the time or patience.