I have an older Mavic rim here that has the word Sport stamped into the aluminum next to the label. It has half-ferrules and patterned sidewalls to make the brakes sing and let everyone know you are a wuss. I have no idea how much it weighs, but it seems about the same as other Mavics, Fiamme red labels and AVAs of the 70's. Certainly, a lot heavier than a Fiamme yellow.
Maybe those embossed sidewalls were to hide the Mafac squeal? A bunch of Frenchmen watching out for each other? They sure didn't seem to make any difference in the rain--they might have been worse than smooth rims. I remember hating the ones that came on my '72 Paramount because of the noise. I replaced them with smooth sidewall Fiamme reds. In those days, wheels tended to have less spoke tension, to keep the spokes from distorting the rims. I recall adjusting my brakes really close, only to hear the vvvvvt-vvvvt-vvvvt of the Mavic in the rear kissing the brakepad when I was out of the saddle on a steep climb, accompanied by a 20-something making some snide comment about the jerk kid who couldn't true his wheels...
Steve Barner, whose latest Paramount has those darn singing Mavics, and who will have to keep them for hysterical accuracy purposes, Bolton, Vermont
A word of caution to the over-the-hill-club members in the north. I went out for a ride on my '74 Raleigh Pro, Sunday afternoon. Felt good at the 20 mile mark, where I had planned to turn around--too good to turn back, I thought. Decided to extend the loop. Knew I was in deepest doo-doo when I saw frozen ponds and a sign indicating 10 more miles to the Canadian border. 45 very painful miles later, and in the dark, I got back to the car. 90 miles all together. Moral? It's early yet, START SLOW! (Ouch)
> Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2003 16:40:46 +0000
> From: "Thomas R. Adams, Jr." <kctommy@msn.com>
> 2nd question. Does anyone remember a Mavic "Sport" rim? Rim is polished
silver, with a rectangular Mavic label, the red with gold inside old style.
Hubs on the rims appear to be late 70's, which checks with the rim label (I
think). Does anyone know the weight and intended use of these rims?