Either I got a nice score, or proof the rim brake market is dead-dead.

[AngryScientist]

Last week I was the only bidder on a set of wheels with the very [used to be?] very desirable and uber rare 28/28 hole silver record hubs.

They arrived today, laced to Velocity Escape tubular rims and are in beyond mint, perfect shape, complete with the proper non-rashed window skewers.

I remember these would have commanded a huge premium not too long ago.

I was the only bidder at $100.

Little, shiny things make me happy. That is all.

[saab2000]

It is definitely proof that time waits for nobody. You are correct that a few years ago these were valuable. I had two sets of these hubs and sold them for a profit years after I had bought them. Amazing you could get them today for so little!

[tv_vt]

Wow. Tubular effect, maybe? I bet the hubs alone would've sold for way more than that.

[Wunder]

Do you plan to actually use them as built or cut them up for the hubs? You landed on like a quintuple niche item. Rim brake, 28F/28R (rather than more in rear), silver, campy, and tubular... Not many people still on tubulars and not everyone would be willing to build a wheel.

[ridethecliche]

Seller would likely have made more selling just the hubs. The tubular wheels likely were the damning thing more so than the hubs.

[Permanent socks]

Not much market for silver hubs anymore. Rim or disk. Almost zero market for silver hubs laced to tubular rims...

I bet the hubs would sell for more than the compete wheels.

[saab2000]

Originally Posted by ridethecliche

Seller would likely have made more selling just the hubs. The tubular wheels likely were the damning thing more so than the hubs.

Likely true, but the fact is that these hubs date back to the previous century. The people who carry an infatuation of that vintage of stuff are growing older and less interested. Glad some are!

Bikes constantly evolve and so do tastes. Whenever I see a vintage 60s or 70s muscle car the driver is almost invariably someone in their 60s or 70s themselves. Or older. Famous car collector Jay Leno is 74 years old.

[Veloo]

Damn!

[unterhausen]

Rim brakes are a dead end, for sure. Only thing I ever worry about is rims though.

[benb]

Would these be a relatively weight weenie/small guy build too?

28/28 seems pretty low spoke count for a traditionally laced setup.

[9tubes]

At one time these would have been considered race wheels for a light rider.

Racers (well, the smart ones) stopped using round spokes a loooong time ago.

[bigbill]

I have a set of Colnago branded Ambrosio carbon tubular wheels with silver 28 hole Record hubs. I think they were from around 1999. I used them for time trials and a few crits. No discernible brake track so I had no expectation of stopping quickly. The cork brake pads had a cool smell after trying to stop.

[dcama5]

Nick, I think you got a great deal. Rim brakes are not dead as shown by the rim brake photo thread here. I got a similar deal when Bilenky posted an eBay auction for this frameset over 11 years ago. The opening bid was $500, I bid and was the only bidder. $500 for a frameset that was worth three times that. It was just a little too small for me so, after riding it for about 4 years, I sold it. Great ride though! Congrats on your purchase!

Dave

[robt57]

Tubular effect on top on rim brake effect.

I paid 150.00 for 303 Firecrest Zipp tubulars early 2024, or was it late 2023..

The glue on the tires was so old the tires peeled off by them selves. almost...

[El Chaba]

Incredible bargain. Awesome equipment doesn’t stop being awesome because the industry is pushing something else….Use these well….