Re: [CR] was, Dimpled, now Why are concaves execrable?

(Example: Framebuilding:Technology)

From: <freesound@comcast.net>
To: Sheldon Brown <CaptBike@sheldonbrown.com>, theonetrueBob@webtv.net (Bob Hanson), classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR] was, Dimpled, now Why are concaves execrable?
Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2006 22:05:55 +0000


Ok, Sheldon, just curious, but what was so bad about the concaves? I never had a set of my own, but I have a loaner bike from a bud right now, and it seems ok with concave clinchers. Spokes are not as tight as on some vintage tubie wheels I have, but ... ? I always thought they looked cool in stores, back in the day.

Ken Freeman
Ann Arbor, MI USA


-------------- Original message --------------
From: Sheldon Brown

> Bob Hanson wrote:

\r?\n> >The following linked jpeg is from a recently ended auction [not mine].

\r?\n> >These are a pair of Weimann alloy rims.

\r?\n> >

\r?\n> >http://i22.ebayimg.com/02/i/08/ca/08/30_1.JPG

\r?\n> >

\r?\n> Back in the '70s, there were two major Weinmann models, the 210 and

\r?\n> 256. One of those was the deluxe dimpled version, the other was a

\r?\n> simple extrusion. (The execrable concave rims came and went later.)

\r?\n>

\r?\n> These were THE hot clincher rims in the Bike Boom era.

\r?\n>

\r?\n> I can never remember which model number was which though.

\r?\n>

\r?\n> The dimpled rims had 4-way aimed spoke holes. Each spoke hole was

\r?\n> not only aimed left/right, but also clockwise/counterclockwise, so

\r?\n> the nipple was right in line with the spoke.

\r?\n>

\r?\n> The legendary Dunlop Special Lightweight rims also had this feature,

\r?\n> as do many better quality BMX rims.

\r?\n>

\r?\n> Sheldon "4-Way" Brown

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\r?\n> Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts

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