Hmm, it's a balancing act between what's available, what's period correct and what looks nice. If your bike is older than 1970, I'm not much help on what rim models were available. If it's a 70's model, then I would suggest looking for the period correct Super Champion 58's, a wider rim that builds up into a tough wheel. To be avant garde, go for a set of Weinmann concaves (the "dust catchers").
If you want something more modern in a wider rim, the now venerable Sun CR18 is nice and wide, very tough and is about the only polished aluminum rim available today. Plus you can get just about any drilling you want. But it does have a slightly higher vertical profile than historic rims, and I don't know about availablity in Europe.
In narrower rims, the Gentleman is close in age, although the Mavic Module E is older. But if it looks good to you and the tires aren't too fat, the MA2's will be fine. They were always hallowed in memory by the Rivendell crowd, although I've heard a few wrenches opine they were fussy to true.
Good luck!
Tom Adams, Shrewsbury NJ
>From: "Feeken, Dirk"
>To: "'Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org'"
>Subject: [CR]which rims for traditional french randonneur
>Date: Mon, 27 Oct 2003 10:10:11 +0100
>
>
>What kind of rims are correct for a traditional french Randonneur like Singer or Herse?
>My Singer with 28mmm Michelin tires and 42mm fenders has modern Mavic Open pro 622x15 rims. To be honest the greyish modern look of the rims annoys me, I would prefer classy polished rims. Would it be "historically correct" to replace the rims with polished Mavic MA2 which are narrower (622x13) or did Randonneurs usually had slightly wider 622x15 or even 622x17 rims?
>I have a pair of red label MA2s and Wolber Super Champion Gentleman rims but both are 622x13.
>Which classic french rims have been made in 622x15?
>I know that MA2s would work with 28mm tires, but I want to know if it would also be "correct" to put them on the Singer (you what I mean).
>
>Dirk
>
>------------
>Dirk Feeken
>Heidelberg
>Germany
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