In a message dated 12/28/02 10:26:40 AM Eastern Standard Time,
bill_bryant@prodigy.net writes:
>
> Back when they were commonly used for racing, I regularly tied &soldered
> Fiamme Ergals for many customers. It'll be a better wheel that will last
> longer and stay true, especially carrying your 76 kilos. They can be dented
> rather easily on potholes, so I wouldn't recommend them as daily "riders"
> for any rider. Save them for special event usage on fairly smooth roads or
> on the track. Use the Fiamme Reds for normal road riding, it is a fine rim
> and better suited for all-around use.
>
> Bill Bryant
> Santa Cruz, CA
>
Agreed on the Ergals. Arguably my favorite all time rim for all purpose It has no memory. This deserves a small story. The victim of a blatant hook in the final dash in a Canada race years ago, I was whisked to hospital. After the brief experience with socialized medicine, and a 2k hobble back to the motel in detto 74's, then bare feet, i was reunited with the Puch Ultima and the wavy wheel. Without a spare and barely a countryman from whom to borrow, i visited the local 'official support' bike shop. Ha! The owner, in a Frech accented giggle, said (in so many words) "zee wheel, is fineeshed" Sorry monsieur. Stranger in a strange land? Somewhat, but wheelspeak and backroom bikeshop is universal. I convinced a sympathetic young f-wrenchman to sell me 7 Robergels ( to replace the ones severed by the foe's 1037) and let me sit (on the non-injured cheek) at his truing stand.
After 1/2 hour I was the one brimming as I paid the owner and spun the spot-on wheel a few feet from his perplexed face.
The Fiamme simply did not remember the trauma and came 'round again, and 18 years later is still helping a senior citizen keep up with sruuounding whippersnappers. It even saw a tour of duty in a few tandem races.
The rest of this story of this wheel was recently recounted when the fastack tire cementing thread arose, when it past the Commissaire's inspection after having been applied 8 minutes before the event.
As far as soldering goes, there may theories but most experts agreed that road machines should be spared for added compliance.The late Artie Greenberg of New York, was arguably one of the finest wheelbuilders of the 20th century, avoided the process on all but track and special needs wheels.
Happy New Year
Larry Black Mt Airy, Md. Where tomorrow's heat spell of 47 will bring us fair weather riders out to pedal.