Kathy Walter wrote that the seller of a pair of wheels wrote: <snip> Being wood rims, they should obviously never be used outside a velodrome, because water/moisture would ruin them. They are for tubular tyres, not clinchers. So far, I have resisted the temptation to use the wheels in my track bike at my local velodrome in Newport (S Wales, UK). They are surprisingly light. <snip> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I've done a century on my '38 Paramount with wood rims, on regular old roads in S. Virginia and uppper North Carolina (near the coast). I've never ridden mine in a velodrome. Yes, I don't ride that bike when the roads are wet, but I haven't thought it necessary to baby the rims. But, I'm not 200 lbs, either - although closer than I'd like to be.
harvey sachs
mcLean va