SSC Rims...
FYI...
During the late '70's to early '80's I was the SRC Raleigh head mechanic and equipment manager for the National level team based in Ames, Iowa owned by Michael Fatka of Michaels Cyclery. Many USCF National Team Members came from this team. This was the USA counter part to the TI Raleigh Team. I also did several south of the Border trips as a USCF National Team Mechanic with Bill Woodul as well as becoming the first USCF mechanics instructor.
Mavi SSC rims, and to just a slightly lesser extent the GP4 rim were the rim of choice for real racing (crits don't count). We built them with 36 or 32 holes only on Campy small flange (nobody in their right mind ever used anything but Campagnolo), DT 14 gauge spokes tied and soldered, with Vittoria CX, Clement Paris-Roubouix or Champion del Mondo tires.
These wheels/tires were used for stage racing in the winter months down south. They never broke and got the riders to the finish line. We could sell them to other international teams (usually South American) after the race and bring home enough cash to build another pair and make a small profit.
When racing, rim weight is ridiculous and a non-factor in all but specialty races. You have to get to the finish line intact. True, lighter rims do go faster, but they break....often.
While everyone seems to be an expert, until you've got 6 riders in a 2 week south of the border stage race with nothing but international teams, roads from hell, and hundreds of thousands screaming spectators lining a stage in the mountains, you haven't been to a bike race. I loved it!
While I have some old Campagnolo left over that Campagolo in the US gave me, I wish I hade some SSC's or GP4's.
Respectfully,
Andy Bohlmann
Colorado Springs, CO USA
http://www.sandcreeksports.com
> Eric Elman wrote:
>> Thanks everyone for your replies and information It was mostly factual
>> and a great start. Now though, I'm really curious to know if in the day,
>> were these used for training or actually raced on? Seems that there were
>> plently of other very durable rims that were lighter and therefore I
>> presume, better for the serious racer. No?
>>
>> Seems to me the SSC rims would have been more of a weight disadvantage in
>> a race versus the bombproof durability noted in numerous replies.
>>
>> Thoughts on list please.
>>
>> Thanks agaain,
>>
>> Eric Elman
>> Somers, CT USA
>>
>
> I remember reading in Winning Magazine in the early eighties that the
> Renault Gitane team ran Mavic SSC rims on their race bikes. I suppose
> they may have used lighter rims for some races, but I think the Mavic SSC
> were widely raced on back then, especially in races where durability was a
> major concern, like the Tour of Flanders and Paris Roubaix.
>
> -Eric
>
> --
> Eric Goforth
> Raleigh, NC USA