Re: [CR](CR) Wooden rims

(Example: Framebuilding:Paint)

From: "John Pergolizzi" <jtperry1@verizon.net>
To: <Roxlamb@aol.com>, <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References: <69F08AAF.309623A4.001A3D8D@aol.com>
Subject: Re: [CR](CR) Wooden rims
Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2005 23:34:57 -0500
reply-type=original

Will, This past July, while my wife Sally and I were in Italy, we were able to take a day trip from Cernobbio on Lake Como to Ghisallo. It was aSaturday and just so happened to be on the day of the second to last stage of the female Giro D'Italia. WOW, that's timing! This event takes place durring The Tour de France. After visiting the Church where all the cycling stuff is, I spotted a guy walking around with a set of wooden rimed wheels. I approached and asked as to their manufacture as a friend of mine in the U.S. had herd that they were produced in the basement of the Church! The gentleman told me that I should ask the manufacturer himself and proceeded to introduce me to Signore Giovanni Cermenati who just happened to be walking by. His company "Cerchi Ghisallo" , makes "cerchi in legno per cicli" and is located at 22030 Magreglio (Como), Via Adua, 40. Tel# 031/96.51.46 (you must add the country code). The set of wheels was for the winner of the days stage which ended at the summit of the climb leading to The Church. A very long climb. The wheels were built with modern Campagnolo hubs with 130 spacing! Sig.Cermenati will build you whatever rims you need. You will need loooooong spoke nipples and the wheels will be "soft"/ "spongy" ; as in very absorbent. After the stage, the riders entered the church to pay homage. The TV crews caught it all and Sally and I were on RAI TV that night!

ciao, GianTindaro Pergolizzi Brooklyn, New York


> Hi! I saw these really nice looking wooden rims for sale on eBay #
> 7131419348.The brand is Ghisall and the owner says they're 1970's vintage.
> In all the pictures of vintage bikes you all have shown on the list in my
> year or so of subscribing, I've never seen wooden rims on any of your
> bikes. Will you help answer the following questions?
> 1) what year were they really made?
> 2) were they hard to lace up and keep true?
> 3) what were they like to ride?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Will McKnight
> Whitehouse, Ohio