I have seen similar wear patterns on many of my older Mavic sewup rims, all GEL280's and GL330's, but have never had one fail. (Well, there was one time, but I was foolish enough to be carting around heavy loads, pulling trailers, and the like, all on a 28-hole GEL280, so that one was my fault. All the rest of them I've used, in 28, 32, and 36 holes have held up very well.)
I believe the GEL280 predates the GL330 but that's just a guess on my part. The former is lighter than the latter and, in both its older, non-anodized version as well as the later one, my rim of choice for all my bicycles, new and old. I've seen both these rims in newer and older versions so perhaps they existed alongside each other.
-S-
Mark Poore wrote:
>
> Many of us have preferences when it comes to equipment or frames. Those
> preferences are based on personal experiences, likes or dislikes and/or from
> highly respected sources. For me, my experiences with Campagnolo rims and DT
> spokes have left me with the opinion that there are none better or more
> reliable. That is not to say they dont have equals. On my Mercian I have
> Mavic Open Pro, I know they are not vintage, clincher rims, which I have
> come to trust and believe they, are about as good as they get. In the past
> few weeks I have had some failures with some of my road wheels. The first
> time I ever have broken a spoke on a road wheel was a few weeks ago and it
> wasnt a DT, but another big name spoke which led me to question these
> spokes and rebuild the wheel with my trusty DTs. Now for the question
> regarding rims; for the first time I have some wheel sets with Mavic tubular
> rims, specifically the GL 330, should qualify as vintage, and the GEL 280,
> and not sure if they are vintage or not. The problem I am seeing with these
> rims is that on the braking surface where the spoke and eyelet is there wear
> is down to the aluminum and the anodizing is still there between the spokes.
> I have seen this on other Mavic rims as well. When braking, I know to brake
> is to admit defeat, I can feel these wide spots. Is this just the way these
> rims are and do they need more wear to be completely broken in?
>
> Mark, thanks in advance, Poore