Andrew and all,
As to anodized rim cracking, I've only seen it
consistently in two rim models, MA40's and Matrix
Titans, both along the bottom-of-braking-flat edges
and both in the numbers of several dozen rims each
during the 1990's. I have yet to see a cracked MA-2.
The Torelli Masters sure do look a whole lot like the
MA-2 shape--maybe Ambrosio did buy the old tooling!
David Feldman
Vancouver, WA
> CRs:
>
> Thanks to David Feldman's preceding CR remarks on
> the Torelli Master rims.
>
> I've used both the Torelli Master (made by Ambrosio
> in Italy) and the Mavic MA2, so I'll add my $ 2.02
> to the discussion:
>
> 1. Wheelbuilding.
> My recent Torelli rim experience is very limited
> compared to David Feldman's.
>
> I've built up only one pair of Torelli Master rims,
> six years ago. My wheels had greater variability in
> the spoke tension (ie, more variability in rim
> dimensions?) compared to the Mavic MA2s. Over the
> years (1980 onwards) I found that the Mavic rims
> always gave the most even spoke tension compared to
> other rims. However the Torelli rims were still very
> good, and I'd use them again.
>
> No so incidentally, Torelli's website states that
> the rims are extruded in France and rolled in Italy.
> This is very interesting to me...did Mavic sell off
> their old MA2 extruding machinery??? Maybe their
> rims have improved since I used them last. Who
> knows?
>
> 2. Anodizing.
> The Masters were/are available in both hard gray
> (nearly black) and soft (clear) silver anodizing.
>
> The Mavic MA2 was available as non anodized (most
> familar here in the USA), clear silver anodized (MA2
> "argent") and hard gray anodized (MA40, also
> commonly distributed). I also have in my possession
> (as I write this) one odd MA2 "SBP" which has a hard
> silver anodizing, similar to the MA40 but apparently
> the anodizing wasn't dyed dark gray.
>
> The Argent model wasn't imported into the USA (to my
> knowledge, I've never seen it here) but I purchased
> a couple pairs a few years ago from UK mail order.
> One of these pairs is on my Richard Sachs (Record 9
> Ergo) and is not showing any trace of spoke hole
> cracking after 5(?) years of use.
>
> I don't know the reliability of Jobst Brandt's
> remarks against anodized rims. I do know that all of
> the modern extra-light and ultra-light handelbars
> are hard anodized to supposedly reduce the risk of
> surface imperfections create a stress crack which
> could propagate into the material.
>
> I prefer the "clear silver" anodized rims for the
> corrosion resistance, yet the sidewalls are not too
> hard and wear down quickly for better braking. The
> hard anodized rims (MA40, SBP) take a long time to
> wear in.
>
> 3. Rim Construction (Spoke holes/Ferrules).
> Both the Master and the MA2 use the same double
> ferruled eyelet construction. I've had the Master
> eyelets rust out pretty quickly (when washed with
> water) so I'd stick to wiping the rims down with
> Pledge wax and avoid the risk of corrosion.
>
> Incidentally, I also prefer to use plastic rim tape
> instead of cotton. If the wheels get really wet from
> a rainy ride ("it never rains in Southern
> California!") then I'll remove the tires and the
> rims strips to let the rims dry out from both sides.
>
> 4. Weight.
> I'd guess that the weights of the two rims are
> nearly the same. As far as I know, the Torelli rim
> is the only classic box clincher left on the market,
> so there's not really much of a choice in the
> matter.
>
> 5. Recommendation:
> The differences between old MA2s and newer Torelli
> Master rims are pretty minor. Buy the Torelli rims
> and keep the manufacturer's product line open.
>
> Be happy!
>
> Andrew Gillis (heading towards 97 F in Long Beach,
> CA today!)
>
>
>
>
>
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>
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