Re: [CR]Strong rims...soft rims...???

(Example: Framebuilders:Tony Beek)

From: <"brianbaylis@juno.com">
Date: Sat, 11 Nov 2006 17:32:24 GMT
To: tsan7759142@sbcglobal.net
Subject: Re: [CR]Strong rims...soft rims...???
cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

Tom,

Generally "soft" or "hard" rims refer to the hardness of the alloy

they are made of. Older rims are generally soft and not heat treated

or hard anodized. More modern rims are frequently better alloys and

can be heat treated to improve strength.

The other factor on rims are the wall thickness and/or profile of the

extrustion; both of which can effect the strength of the rim. Rims are

a combination of all of these factors. One can choose what kind of

performance they need from their rims based on an understanding of

these factors. Needless to say, the number of spokes in the wheel will

also have some effect on the overall strength of the finished wheel,

along with a few other things like amount of dish and so on.

Brian Baylis
La Mesa, CA


-- "Tom Sanders" wrote:


We often speak of a rim being strong. Some are held to be stronger

than others. Has it ever really been spelled out just what we mean by this? Obviously if a rim bow ties easily, it is not strong, but I have never

had a rim failure of any kind and I am no light weight rider. When we speak

of " soft" in regards to a rim, what are we really saying? How can we

separate this aspect of rim performance from their spoking? Has Sheldon or some other agency ever done any objective or scientific testing of on topic

rims (Or even those rims many of us often use on on topic bikes, like Mavic

Open Pros, MA2s or Module Es ~Module Es are on topic...right?~) for

qualities like strength or softness and posted the results so that we might objectively assess them? Tom Sanders Sitting on his stash of Module Es and MA2 &3 rims, but riding mostly

Open
Pro,
In Lansing, Mi USA