For what it's worth, I've weighed several GEL280's and they all came in at around 295 grams. Fiamme Ergals, on the other hand, came in right at 280.
I've had no trouble with GEL280's. I use them a lot, 32h on my '81 Raleigh, and even 28 hole front and back on some other bikes, and like them alot. But I always have to add that I weigh 150 pounds, which is less than many (although still a little more than I probably should!), and seem to be generally pretty easy on my bikes.
-S-
peter naiman wrote:
>
> I believe the 330 and the 280 coresponded to the grams weight of the rims. I
> had a few pairs of wheels that I had built with the both GP4, 330 and 280s
> and was advised by a racer to be easy on the 280s as they are extremely
> light and could fail. I know a local sales rep in Massachusetts for Mavic
> and I will get the info from him.
> Hetchinspete
>
> >From: Steve Freides <sjf11@idt.net>
> >To: Mary Pfeiffer <marypf@telocity.com>
> >CC: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> >Subject: Re: [Classicrendezvous] Re: Classicrendezvous digest, Vol 1 #146 -
> >24 msgs
> >Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000 07:08:12 -0500
> >
> >So would it be correct, then, to characterize the GP4 as a heavier
> >version of the GEL280 and GL330? Was it stronger, was it less
> >expensive? I'm just curious.
> >
> >I thought the GEL280 was available _before_ the GL330 and that the
> >GEL280 went back to before 1980.
> >
> >-S-
> >
> >
> >Mary Pfeiffer wrote:
> > >
> > > >
> > > > Message: 20
> > > > Date: Sun, 26 Nov 2000 22:21:37 -0500
> > > > From: Steve Freides <sjf11@idt.net>
> > > > Organization: Friday's Computer, Inc.
> > > > To: Classic Lightweights <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> > > > Subject: [Classicrendezvous] When were Mavic GP4's around?
> > > >
> > > > I've used GEL280's and GL330, and I've got some that are earlier here
> > > > (forget the name right now). What about GP4, when were they? Is
> >there
> > > > any Mavic timeline online somewhere?
> > > >
> > > > TIA.
> > > >
> > > The Mavic GP4 were available at the same time as the GEL280 and 330
> > > ~1985-87. These rims weighed close to 400g.
> > >
> > > Mary Pfeiffer
> > > maryp@pfeifferpframes.com
> > > PFEIFFER Bicycles
> > > http://www.pfeifferpframes.com