Being to this discussion group it was easy for me to get off the general theme of what should be the focus here. For this I apologize. In posting the information about the ride I was hoping to entice members of this group to come and join the ride so I could have some folks to ride with and talk about this wonderful machines we find so pleasurable.
And now on to the subject of wheels. If this topic has been brought up before let me know and I will drop it. As I have stated before the last 16-17 years I have been involved in solely in mountain biking, but have gotten back in to road riding last year and purchase several classic steel rides. Havent touched my mountain bike much since then, mainly because of a wet summer last year. Around 1963 my mentor Oliver Boots Ward taught me how to build wheels. Boots has probably built more wheels than most wheel builders would ever dream of. He had the touch and there wasnt anything he couldnt do in wheel building. Since that time I have built many wheels and quit a few with different lace patterns than the standard 3x. A custom built wheel, when it is done right, is a wheel of strength and to some an object of beauty in its own right. We have seen wheels try to evolve to a different level and many manufactures have laid claim to the benefits of their wheels. Some seem to have valid points. Where I have problems or questions is are they really that much better. Are they stronger, lighter more durable? I have tried some of the high-end wheels, just on test rides, and havent been that impressed. The main reason is that I could not feel the difference from my custom wheels. Maybe I am imagining things, but I feel a drag with the wheel. I figured it had to be the hub. Upon lightly spinning the wheel it came to a stop quicker than that of my Campagnolo, Dura-Ace or XTR hubs. Could I be feeling this when riding? Granted, these wheels havent had much time on the road or dirt and the hubs might need a break in period. The other problem I have with these wheels, as well as our guest who have tacoed their high end wheels, is that some of them need to be sent back to the manufacture to have the rims replaced or many shops dont carry the parts to rebuild them. Most shop have rims and spokes so one could be up and riding in a matter of hours after toasting a regular spoked wheel. One other thing, I have noticed that many riders in the peletons are riding traditional wheels, it would seem there is a very good explanation for this.
It seems that a good hand built wheel hasnt changed much since the mid sixties or earlier or hasnt really been improved upon.
Mark Spinning through life Poore