Chuck Schmidt wrote:
>
> Steve Freides wrote:
> >
> > In my reading accounts of wood-rim-era Tours de France, I don't recall
> > ever hearing about a problem with a wooden rim. Did the recorders of
> > history just leave out these facts, or did the rims at least last a day
> > under the legs of a TdF champion?
> > When did metal rims first take hold in races like the TdF?
>
> Mavic had aluminum rims in the TdF in the early 1930s (1931 or 1932
> TdF?).
Thanks. It sounds like the wooden and aluminum rims must have
overlapped for at least a few years, then, no? If not in the TdF, then
elsewhere.
> > I've really got a hankering to do this, but I don't want to kill myself
> > while out on a my favorite local club ride, either. What I'd *love* to
> > do is some light touring on a set of wooden rims.
>
> No offense, but this sounds kind of perverse to me. Do you really mean
> touring, and not just occasional riding???
Ask anyone who's ever ridden with me to answer that question <grin>. All kidding aside, what I'm trying to figure out is if it's a viable idea, and if not, why not? So far, I've heard a lot of people say it's not viable, but since people did it years ago, I'm trying to flesh out why one wouldn't want to do it today, and if I can convince myself that none of the reasons are show-stoppers for me, I might just try it.
-S-