merckx
03-25-2015, 08:07 PM
Several years ago I needed some new wheels for winter training, and wet summer rides. I had been using a pair of Ambrosio Excellence rims laced to Campag hubs that served me well until the brake track cracked from wear. I had a pair of NOS Mavic MA40's hanging from a peg in the basement so decided to lace those up to the Campag hubs. This was a standard build mind you; DT 14db spokes and brass nipples, 32 count. I was reluctant to bother with the MA40's because my other clinchers were the ubiquitous 23mm and it seemed a stutter-step backward to use 20mm's again. Never-the-less, I thought, when will I ever use these poor Mavics if I don't now? After I built them, I don't remember what rubber I fit to them, I just remember the good ride I had that first day on them. These wheels didn't get used much as they were relegated to trench duty when the conditions were right, or wrong. When those first tires wore thin, I replaced them with another pair of thick-skinned brutes. Another ride and another day of good legs. It seemed that they enjoyed rolling over broken tarmac like they were lapping up the head of a frothy cream soda. They were just so smooth even with ···· tires! Then I had the idea about fitting some nice tires. I pulled a pair of Vittoria Evo CX tires from my pampered wheels and couldn't mount them to the Mavics fast enough. I was not disappointed with the result. They just squeezed every pimple in the road and rolled and rolled and rolled. I couldn't push the pedals hard enough because they felt so good. Do you have a pair of magic wheels?