Thanks David: Seems like we're on the same page.
A Wheelmen tour of around 10 miles is a nice promenade ride.
Obviously doing a century is no problem, but one has to examine the rims
carefully for integral strength and delamination. The newest of the old rims
is about 1940ish and when the war started those productions ceased and never
restarted after the war.
When I sell my fixed gear bikes sometime in the not to distant future, I'll
have about fifteen or so wood rim bikes.
Some have very good rims, and some have rims that had small delamination and
I've used carpenter's wood glue and reglued them.
They are nice and straight and could be ridden easily. When I suggest harder
riding, I mean banked track riding or hard 30mph + road and downhill stuff
with angle turns and hard braking. That's when the rim has to be in nice
shape.
Some of these rims were made more than 100 years ago but we don't know how
it was used, stored, weathered.
So, I would rather err on the safe side.
I been on my ass to many times to take equipment lightly and don't suffer
fools and irresponsible chance taking when riding.
The newer post war equipment is not so chancy, but any bike has to be
PROPERLY put together.
I don't want to endanger myself or any rider in my group, let alone any
vehicle that could be too close. S... happens.
We supposed to have fun reliving the romantic classic age
with our Italo - French etc. two wheeled thoroughbreads.
Then when we get home we can enjoy our champagne and double baked vanilla
almond biscotti while we tell exhilarating war stories of how it was when WE
USED TO RIDE!
Ted Ernst
Palos Verdes Estates
CA USA
> In the Wheelmen, lots of people ride wood rims on the official tours,
> which
> are 10 miles and some ride centuries on them. I don't think they are all
> that fragile, but I'm sure some do come apart.
>
>
> David Toppin
> dave@pelletizer.com
> http://www.pelletizer.com <------ see our complete, searchable inventory.
>
> The Pelletizer Group, Inc.
> 4 LaChance Street
> Gardner, MA 01440-2476
>
> (978) 669-0060
> (978) 669-0061 fax
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org
> [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of ternst
> Sent: Friday, January 12, 2007 2:21 PM
> To: joebz@optonline.net; Greg S
> Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Subject: Re: [CR]Spoke tension wooden rims
>
> I'd be very carefull riding other than promenade on OOLLLDD rims!
> They lamination could come apart under bending and stress.
> New rims should be OK to ride harder even on track, if made properly.
> The spoke tension can be quite tight and even underlapped. not underlapped
> makes a spongy wheel, and tied a soldered is a nice snug wheel.some guys
> used to loosen the spokes a couple of turns to gently detension them,
> after
> the season, for winter rest but they could still be ridden. Then retense
> for
> spring.
> If guys had indoor races, they had several sets of wheels and reversed
> season adjustment.
> Other guys rode all year round and kept them snug and replaced as needed.
> Ted Ernst
> Palos Verdes Estates
> CA USA
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <joebz@optonline.net>
> To: "Greg S" <gtsoftley@ozemail.com.au>
> Cc: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2007 12:10 PM
> Subject: Re: [CR]Spoke tension wooden rims
>
>
>> These need more than slightly relieved tension. Usually they are
>> loose enough that you will unwind the spokes if you don't use linseed
>> oil on the threads. Tie and solder is a good idea. Even then I would
>> not recommend riding them given their age if they are the lightweight
> racing rims.
>>
>> Calling Ted Ernst. Whats your opinion?
>>
>> Joe Bender-Zanoni
>> Great Notch, NJ
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Greg S
>> Date: Wednesday, January 10, 2007 10:11 pm
>> Subject: [CR]Spoke tension wooden rims
>> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>>
>>> Am currently having some wheels built by my local wheelsmith.
>>> Early
>>> wooden rims that are in great condition, no warpage or cracks. I need
>>> some advice on the spoke tension - normal tension or possibly
>>> slightly releived. Straight 15 guage stainless, correct nipples and
>>> washers.
>>> These are for my '38 Bianchi and will see the odd spin down the road
>>> with my 90kg astride.
>>> Greg Softley
>>> Coffs Harbour
>>> Australia
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>
> _______________________________________________
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