I have two sets of wheels built with wood rims for tubulars. One on a fixed gear and the other for a derailleur equipped bike. You do need cork pads or pads designed for Kevlar (?) rims ie, Swisstop yellow pads. My supplier is Seattle based and insists that one can ride them in the rain but, since I live in Colorado, I don't really have that problem. ;-) I do enjoy riding those two bikes very much. I've been up to 50 mph and lived so I think that they're reliable. If only the tubular tires were too.
Paul Patzkowsky
Longmont, Colorado
> From: ken@kfhume.freeserve.co.uk
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 08:08:05 +0000
> Subject: Re: [CR] Wooden wheels rims
>
> Hi,
>
> Re Kevin's post about wooden wheel rims I wonder if anyone has any
> experience of riding on this type of rim. For example, how do brake blocks
> perform against a varnished (?) wooden surface. Is the ride springy? Do the
> wheel rims deteriorate when used in rain and / or are they affected by
> fungal decay or woodworm.
>
> Regards
>
> Ken Hume