Mavic CXP-33s or Mavic Open Pros?

OK, I'm getting a new bike built up and have to decide on rims pronto.
I'm not going to bother with the ridiculously expensive Kyrisiums. I
weigh probably 170, and ride for distance and exercise. I do encounter
lots of potholes and choppy pavement. Durability is my first priority.

The CXP-33s are supposedly more durable, but are slightly heavier than
the Open Pros. They also require tubes with a long valve, though
they're not truly aero enough to matter. Although the CXP-33s are
heavier, the guy I'm working with tells me that that does make them tend
to keep speed up once they are going. Has anybody found this to be
true?

Also, does either of these ride harsher than the other?

Dave

How about Ambrosio rims?

http://www.ambrosiospa.com/cerchi_corsa.htm

Evolution 480g
Excellence 460g
Excellight 430g

As far as the CXP33s keeping speed better, it's theoretically true but
probably won't be noticeable in that range. Also, to the extent that it is
true it has more to do with the heavier weight than it does with the aero
profile. That will be true of any heavier rim. The flipside is that it will
also be more difficult to accelerate, but were not talking about a big
difference here.

The Ambrosio Excellence is more like the Open Pro than the CXP33 but weight
wise is sort of a balance between the two. Very nice rim. The Evolution
should be very durable and can be had for about US $45. All else being
equal, the heavier the rim, the higher you can make the spoke tension, and
the more durable your wheel will be (assuming it's properly built).

Also Fir makes some rims that are similar to Open Pros but a bit beefier.

http://www.fircerchi.com/Dati/products.html

The Zenith is 470g and the SC-200 is 490g but otherwise they're pretty
similar to Open Pros.

Have your bike shop call Red Rose Imports for Fir. Not sure about Ambrosio
for bikes shops but I know you can get them online in the US.

Bruce


"Dave Stallard" wrote in message
...
OK, I'm getting a new bike built up and have to decide on rims pronto.
I'm not going to bother with the ridiculously expensive Kyrisiums. I
weigh probably 170, and ride for distance and exercise. I do encounter
lots of potholes and choppy pavement. Durability is my first priority.

The CXP-33s are supposedly more durable, but are slightly heavier than
the Open Pros. They also require tubes with a long valve, though
they're not truly aero enough to matter. Although the CXP-33s are
heavier, the guy I'm working with tells me that that does make them tend
to keep speed up once they are going. Has anybody found this to be
true?

Also, does either of these ride harsher than the other?

Dave

I've got the Open Pros with Ultegra hubs and double butted spokes after
thrashing the CXP-23s that came with my Specialized Allez. The new wheels
and spokes made a big difference in the ride which is now silky smooth
compared to the 23s. The ride on the 23s was so harsh and I kept breaking
spokes so often that I didn't want to ride it anymore. With the Open Pros,
I'm not concerned about selecting well paved streets and just ride with
abandon. Don't know about the 33s compared to the Pros but I think the Pros
are a good all around performer.


"Dave Stallard" wrote in message
...
OK, I'm getting a new bike built up and have to decide on rims pronto.
I'm not going to bother with the ridiculously expensive Kyrisiums. I
weigh probably 170, and ride for distance and exercise. I do encounter
lots of potholes and choppy pavement. Durability is my first priority.

The CXP-33s are supposedly more durable, but are slightly heavier than
the Open Pros. They also require tubes with a long valve, though
they're not truly aero enough to matter. Although the CXP-33s are
heavier, the guy I'm working with tells me that that does make them tend
to keep speed up once they are going. Has anybody found this to be
true?

Also, does either of these ride harsher than the other?

Dave




-----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =-----
http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
-----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =-----

On Fri, 07 Nov 2003 19:46:30 +0000, Allan wrote:

I've got the Open Pros with Ultegra hubs and double butted spokes after
thrashing the CXP-23s that came with my Specialized Allez. The new wheels
and spokes made a big difference in the ride which is now silky smooth
compared to the 23s. The ride on the 23s was so harsh and I kept breaking
spokes so often that I didn't want to ride it anymore. With the Open
Pros, I'm not concerned about selecting well paved streets and just ride
with abandon. Don't know about the 33s compared to the Pros but I think
the Pros are a good all around performer.

Oh, dear. First, be clear. A v-shaped versus square-section rim will not
matter in terms of "holding speed". Marketing hooey. A deep v will be
slightly more aerodynamic, which will only matter in a time trial, not for
general use.

V shaped rims are stonger, as well as heavier, than box section rims of
similar thickness. I find that they build up easier, and they are quite
durable. There will be no measurable difference in the ride. The
previous poster's claims that the rims were the reason he broke spokes due
to a harsh ride is a misperception. The spokes broke for the same reason
they always do. The wheels were poorly built. His new ones were better
built, so they do not break spokes. As far as being able to ignore
potholes now that he has Open Pro rims, come on.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | And what if you track down these men and kill them, what if you
_`\(,_ | killed all of us? From every corner of Europe, hundreds,
(_)/ (_) | thousands would rise up to take our places. Even Nazis can't
kill that fast. -- Paul Henreid (Casablanca).

"Dave Stallard" wrote in message
...
OK, I'm getting a new bike built up and have to decide on rims pronto.
I'm not going to bother with the ridiculously expensive Kyrisiums. I
weigh probably 170, and ride for distance and exercise. I do encounter
lots of potholes and choppy pavement. Durability is my first priority.

The CXP-33s are supposedly more durable, but are slightly heavier than
the Open Pros. They also require tubes with a long valve, though
they're not truly aero enough to matter. Although the CXP-33s are
heavier, the guy I'm working with tells me that that does make them tend
to keep speed up once they are going. Has anybody found this to be
true?

Also, does either of these ride harsher than the other?

Dave

I weigh around 200lbs and have ridden Open Pros for 3 years (same set).
They were well built and I only had to slightly true them once. I ride
backroads in Virginia, although not many potholes, still not the best of
roads. I absolutely love the rims, classic look and strong. I use the Open
Pro CD's (great braking qualities) and the finish is still pretty much
there, although not intact. I imagine that both would do you fine, but in
my humble opinion, the Open Pros are a safe bet, light and strong. But then
again, as someone has mentioned, you could find alternative rim brands with
similar benefits for cheaper.

Dave Stallard wrote in message ...
OK, I'm getting a new bike built up and have to decide on rims pronto.
I'm not going to bother with the ridiculously expensive Kyrisiums. I
weigh probably 170, and ride for distance and exercise. I do encounter
lots of potholes and choppy pavement. Durability is my first priority.

The CXP-33s are supposedly more durable, but are slightly heavier than
the Open Pros. They also require tubes with a long valve, though
they're not truly aero enough to matter.

No, they don't (require long valve tubes). And no, they aren't aero
enough to make a difference but it does make them stronger.

Although the CXP-33s are
heavier, the guy I'm working with tells me that that does make them tend
to keep speed up once they are going. Has anybody found this to be
true?

Also, does either of these ride harsher than the other?

Dave

You should know that harshness is about 0.0015% rim stiffness, the
rest, tire pressure. I have a pair of 32 Hole OP's and a pair of 36
Hole 33's, both pairs built by me. Both are great, the 33's being
more durable.

You know the roman chariot race scene (Ben Hur?) in which the wheel of
one chariot gets shredded by the weapon attached to the axle of the
other? My rear 33 got that from a fellow rider on the second day of a
back to back century weekend. Got his nut for his front qr jammed in
my rear spokes at an intersection. Took out seven spokes, which ended
the ride for me - no spare wheels, and I had intended to bring the
OP's, shoot. Anyway, the 33's rebuilt just fine, and are stable,
round and true w/in ~0.2 mm.

If I did it over again, I would do 3x 32 hole rear, 14/15/14 and 28
hole front 15 straight ga CXP-33's, instead of the 36 3x 14/15/14 all
the way round (I go about 200 lbs). The difference between the OPs
and 33's is about 50 gms/rim (OP silver, 33 black). If you go OP CD
Ceramic, the difference is about 5 gms. And the 33's are
significantly stronger.

But my 33's are bomb proof. Seriously.

App

Appkiller wrote:
Dave Stallard wrote in message ...
snip

No, they don't (require long valve tubes). And no, they aren't aero
enough to make a difference but it does make them stronger.

snip
App

Not quite true, riding to work last week I hit something that wrecked my
rear tyre and tube. I happened to be near a Halfords and bought a
replacement Conti GP3000 and a Halfords brand tube. I couldnt get the
pump onto the valve due to it being exceptionally short. Luckily I had
my standard valve Specialized spare tube with me and the valve on that
was long enough. The Halfords tube is now on my open pro rear

Stan Cox

I have wheels built from both.

The CXPs-33s are by far the most durable rim I've ever used. I am 6'3", and
over 200 lbs. I have never had them go out of true more than a hair. I have
over 25,000 miles on the set that just got retired from the road to my
trainer. The open cds are a touch more confortable, though I agree with
other posters who say that tire pressure is a far more noticeable factor.

Build either set up with double-butted spokes and brass nipples and you'll
have a super bombproof set of wheels. You can always get a super light pair
of racewheels later if you are so inclined. It's never a bad thing to have
too many wheelsets lying around, and if you only have one, it should be a
super reliable and durable one!


"Dave Stallard" wrote in message
...
OK, I'm getting a new bike built up and have to decide on rims pronto.
I'm not going to bother with the ridiculously expensive Kyrisiums. I
weigh probably 170, and ride for distance and exercise. I do encounter
lots of potholes and choppy pavement. Durability is my first priority.

The CXP-33s are supposedly more durable, but are slightly heavier than
the Open Pros. They also require tubes with a long valve, though
they're not truly aero enough to matter. Although the CXP-33s are
heavier, the guy I'm working with tells me that that does make them tend
to keep speed up once they are going. Has anybody found this to be
true?

Also, does either of these ride harsher than the other?

Dave

As far as the CXP33s keeping speed better, it's theoretically true but
probably won't be noticeable in that range. Also, to the extent that it is
true it has more to do with the heavier weight than it does with the aero
profile. That will be true of any heavier rim.

I do not believe this. It will coast further, sure, but it requires more energy
to keep it at speed for a distance on a flat road.
Would a 50 lb bike be easier to keep up to speed over a 10 mile flat course or
a 25 lb bike?

Second, my opinion:
Get the open pro rims. They are lighter, wider, and you do not have to look for
tubes with long stems.
B

(remove clothes to reply)

Have had both on Ultegra hubs...

Verdict?

The CXP-33's are heavier, and a little harder going on hills (I weigh about
75 kg)...

The OP's are better for braking, and easier to keep in true (had a lot of
problems with the CXP33's getting out of true)...

Currently, I'm riding CXP22's over 105 hubs, as my Ultegra bike was stolen,
and insurance would only cover a 105 bike... Thus far, I have no complaints,
and have put down about 1000 km on them without them coming out of true at
all...

If I had my time and money again, I'd probably go the OP's...
"Dave Stallard" wrote in message
...
OK, I'm getting a new bike built up and have to decide on rims pronto.
I'm not going to bother with the ridiculously expensive Kyrisiums. I
weigh probably 170, and ride for distance and exercise. I do encounter
lots of potholes and choppy pavement. Durability is my first priority.

The CXP-33s are supposedly more durable, but are slightly heavier than
the Open Pros. They also require tubes with a long valve, though
they're not truly aero enough to matter. Although the CXP-33s are
heavier, the guy I'm working with tells me that that does make them tend
to keep speed up once they are going. Has anybody found this to be
true?

Also, does either of these ride harsher than the other?

Dave