mavic rims suck?

RE/

Quoted message said:

a closer look reveled that the rim was cracked around the spoke and it was pulling out.

I'm about 220# and I've toasted three Mavic 517s. On each the spokes were starting to pull out
around the ferrules and there were cracks around same. Not just some ferrules - all of them.

My take is that the 517 just isn't designed for use by somebody my weight. I've since switched to a
617 (double ferrule) for my rear wheel.
--
PeteCresswell

Steve-<< I had a mavic ma3 rim 36 spoke with good spokes on a campy hub on the rear. >><BR><BR> << I
was tightening the spokes when I saw one that looked like it had a hump around it. a closer look
reveled that the rim was cracked around the spoke and it was pulling out. >><BR><BR>

Not uncommon with MA-3s and we have sent all ours back to Mavic, swapped with OpenPros.
Velocity, either Fusion of Deep Vs are nice rims for you. Cheaper than CXP-33s as well. CXP-22s
are 32 hole only.

Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St. Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535 vecchios.comvecchios.comOpen ↗ "Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

Steve Knight <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I had a mavic ma3 rim 36 spoke with good spokes on a campy hub on the rear. now I am a heavy rider
(right now about 238 with up to 15 or so pounds on my back. I use a 25mm tire with full 120 or
close pressure.

I vary between 200 - 225 and I use Mavic rimmed wheels exclusively. They are good. Your wheel's
build is what was bad. Even tension would not result in a spoke pulling out unless the tension were
overly high and you took a bad hit.

You should apply your obvious patience and attention to detail (as evidenced by your planes) to
learning how to build a good set of wheels. I build my own and ride 36 hole CXP 33's on campy 10
hubs and 32 hole OP's also on campy 10.

Yes, there is a known issue with a the "Mavic Creak" attributed frequently to a loose insert used to
align the ends of the hoop for welding. That can be fixed.

My 33's rock. Go ahead - but get the book (Jobst Brandt's The Bicycle Wheel) or pay for your local
expert to build them up. 14/15 DB spokes, three cross.

App

Are you saying the MA3 is not a good rim overall, or not suited for heavier wieghts. I was going to
call my LBS this am, and order a MA3/Suzue rear wheel. I weigh 165. Thanks

This has been discussed in literally thousands of posts in this newsgroup. Most modern bicycle rims
are junk being passed off as "hi-tech" improvements replete with buzzwords and acronyms, etc. Mavic
is the worst offender of all, IMHO. Look for the Torelli Master in polished aluminum.

Chris said:

Are you saying the MA3 is not a good rim overall, or not suited for heavier wieghts. I was going
to call my LBS this am, and order a
MA3/Suzue rear wheel. I weigh 165. Thanks

The MA3- indeed the entire Mavic line IMHO- is [censored]. The last good Mavic rim was the MA2 in polished
aluminum. There are vocal defenders of Mavic who will rise to this as they always do, but frankly if
you're over about 140 lbs stay away from this company's products. If you can, stay away from
anodized rims as they are prone to early failure by cracking around the spoke holes.

(Appkiller) said:

Steve Knight <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I had a mavic ma3 rim 36 spoke with good spokes on a campy hub on the rear. now I am a heavy
rider (right now about 238 with up to 15 or so pounds on my back. I use a 25mm tire with full 120
or close pressure.

I vary between 200 - 225 and I use Mavic rimmed wheels exclusively. They are good. Your wheel's
build is what was bad. Even tension would not result in a spoke pulling out unless the tension
were overly high and you took a bad hit.

Malarkey. The rim didn't crack because of excessive spoke tension or "taking a bad hit" (which can't
crack a rim in this manner). The rim cracked because it is a badly designed POS. So-called "single
eyelets" and anodizing are a particularly bad combination. If you are a featherweight then you'll
probably not have much trouble.

There's been hundreds of threads on this and thousands of posts. You can read then via Google.

"Tim McNamara" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

This has been discussed in literally thousands of posts in this newsgroup. Most modern bicycle
rims are junk being passed off as "hi-tech" improvements replete with buzzwords and acronyms, etc.
Mavic is the worst offender of all, IMHO. Look for the Torelli Master in polished aluminum.

'scuse me, but exactly how many of these "[censored]" rims do you actually have personal experience with?

...or are you just spouting off stuff you've read on the internet?

Mike

"Tim McNamara" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Chris said:

Are you saying the MA3 is not a good rim overall, or not suited for heavier wieghts. I was going
to call my LBS this am, and order a
MA3/Suzue rear wheel. I weigh 165. Thanks

The MA3- indeed the entire Mavic line IMHO- is [censored]. The last good Mavic rim was the MA2 in
polished aluminum. There are vocal defenders of Mavic who will rise to this as they always do, but
frankly if you're over about 140 lbs stay away from this company's products. If you can, stay away
from anodized rims as they are prone to early failure by cracking around the spoke holes.

<sarcasm on> OH MY GOD THE SKY IS FALLING! That there are probably millions of Mavic's anodized rims
in the world working well is besides the point, huh? I myself have 3 pair of anodized Mavic rims,
are you saying you're going to pay to have them rebuilt with Velocity rims? <Sarcasm off>

Seriously now, eventually everything will fail. If you over-tension your rims, ride them into
potholes, weigh a bunch, etc. you're going to have a shorter rim lifespan than someone that weighs
135 and floats over things.

I'm running between 170 and 185 depending on what part of the racing season I'm in. I have a pair of
MA40 wheels, a pair of GL330 wheels, and a pair of Reflex wheels. All are in fine condition.

I'm of the opinion that more depends on how you build the wheel than the rim itself.

Yes, there are rims that aren't as good for their intended applications, but for the 165# guy
wanting to ride MA3s, I'd say go for it. Personally, I like MA40s better, but hey, MA3s work
too. Alternatives are Torelli Master rims, and several others that someone else is about to
chime in with.

That help?

Mike

Tim McNamara said:

The MA3- indeed the entire Mavic line IMHO- is [censored]. The last good Mavic rim was the MA2 in
polished aluminum. There are vocal defenders of Mavic who will rise to this as they always do, but
frankly if you're over about 140 lbs stay away from this company's products. If you can, stay away
from anodized rims as they are prone to early failure by cracking around the spoke holes.

I have a pair of Open 4CD rims that were built into wheels (by me, probably fairly badly) nearly a
decade ago. I jump potholes, ride off kerbs and weigh 180lb. There is no sign of cracking. Maybe the
problem is Mavic quality control and some bad ones are getting through?

I have no particular love for Mavic and would just as readily use Campag rims...except they've
discontinued my favourite Omegas.

Mike S. said:

'scuse me, but exactly how many of these "[censored]" rims do you actually have personal
experience with?

Personal experience is not necessary. Anyone with half an education in mechanical engineering and/or
materials science can assess the damage and tell what caused it. One would hope Mavic would be doing
this, but apparently they don't care. Imagine that -- a business who doesn't care as long as the
product still sells...

Quoted message said:

...or are you just spouting off stuff you've read on the internet?

Crack a book on the subject, or take an engineering class, and you'll be able to "spout off" too.

Matt O.

O

Quoted message said:

You should apply your obvious patience and attention to detail (as evidenced by your planes) to
learning how to build a good set of wheels. I build my own and ride 36 hole CXP 33's on campy 10
hubs and 32 hole OP's also on campy 10.

I did not build the wheel I had a local shop do it. they guys have been doing it for 20 years and
are really good. but my rides are a bit rough as the streets are not always flat (G)

--
Knight-Toolworks & Custom Planes Custom made wooden planes at reasonable prices See knight-knight-Open ↗
toolworks.com For prices and ordering instructions.

One would hope Mavic would be doing this, but apparently they

Quoted message said:

don't care. Imagine that -- a business who doesn't care as long as the product still sells...

it's sad but corporations show this fact a lot.

--
Knight-Toolworks & Custom Planes Custom made wooden planes at reasonable prices See knight-knight-Open ↗
toolworks.com For prices and ordering instructions.

(Pete Cresswell) said:

RE/

Quoted message said:

a closer look reveled that the rim was cracked around the spoke and it was pulling out.

I'm about 220# and I've toasted three Mavic 517s. On each the spokes were starting to pull out
around the ferrules and there were cracks around same. Not just some ferrules - all of them.

My take is that the 517 just isn't designed for use by somebody my weight. I've since switched to
a 617 (double ferrule) for my rear wheel.

618, I use them, too. My 517 split down the inside of the spoke bed.

Greg

--
"Destroy your safe and happy lives before it is too late, the battles we fought were long and hard,
just not to be consumed by rock n' roll..." - The Mekons

On Sat, 14 Feb 2004 18:15:32 GMT, "Matt O'Toole" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Mike S. said:

'scuse me, but exactly how many of these "[censored]" rims do you actually have personal
experience with?

Personal experience is not necessary. Anyone with half an education in mechanical engineering
and/or materials science can assess the damage and tell what caused it. One would hope Mavic would
be doing this, but apparently they don't care. Imagine that -- a business who doesn't care as long
as the product still sells...

Which lays the blame for the ongoing [censored] of the rims at the blind brand loyalist's feet.
Unfortunately, even companies who are willing to make products which aren't junk are forced to jazz
them up with silly features to stay in the market. It's a sad state of affairs for people who want
equipment that is reasonably durable.

"Tim McNamara" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

The MA3- indeed the entire Mavic line IMHO- is [censored]. The last good Mavic rim was the MA2 in
polished aluminum. There are vocal defenders of Mavic who will rise to this as they always do, but
frankly if you're over about 140 lbs stay away from this company's products. If you can, stay away
from anodized rims as they are prone to early failure by cracking around the spoke holes.

I weigh 205lbs, use Mavic Open Pros, built by myself, a novice. 3000 miles and no problems
whatsoever...

"Zog The Undeniable" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Tim McNamara said:

The MA3- indeed the entire Mavic line IMHO- is [censored]. The last good Mavic rim was the MA2 in
polished aluminum. There are vocal defenders of Mavic who will rise to this as they always do,
but frankly if you're over about 140 lbs stay away from this company's products. If you can,
stay away from anodized rims as they are prone to early failure by cracking around the spoke
holes.

I have a pair of Open 4CD rims that were built into wheels (by me, probably fairly badly) nearly a
decade ago. I jump potholes, ride off kerbs and weigh 180lb. There is no sign of cracking. Maybe
the problem is Mavic quality control and some bad ones are getting through?

I have no particular love for Mavic and would just as readily use Campag rims...except they've
discontinued my favourite Omegas.

Mmmmmm Omega XLs......

I'm STILL trying to find a pair. I found some tubies, but no clinchers.

Oh well.

Mike

"Chris B." <[email protected]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Matt O'Toole said:

Mike S. said:

'scuse me, but exactly how many of these "[censored]" rims do you actually have personal experience
with?

Personal experience is not necessary. Anyone with half an education in mechanical engineering
and/or materials science can assess the damage and

tell

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

what caused it. One would hope Mavic would be doing this, but apparently

they

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

don't care. Imagine that -- a business who doesn't care as long as the

product

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

still sells...

Which lays the blame for the ongoing [censored] of the rims at the blind brand loyalist's feet.
Unfortunately, even companies who are willing to make products which aren't junk are forced to
jazz them up with silly features to stay in the market. It's a sad state of affairs for people who
want equipment that is reasonably durable.

How F#$%-ing reasonably durable do you want? For every person spouting off with "Mavic is [censored]!"
there are hundreds of rims out there with NO PROBLEMS. I know of guys riding new Mavic rims, old
Mavic rims, and even somewhere in the middle. More often than not, the reason they get replaced is
accidents.

I'm not particularly enamored of Mavic rims, but bashing them constantly is getting on my nerves.
I'd suggest that we take a poll of how long we've been riding Mavic rims and the problems we've had.

I've had two Mavic rims in 18 years of riding that failed by cracking at the nipples. The rest of
the wheels I've ever ridden have been fine.

You?

Mike

"Matt O'Toole" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Mike S. said:

'scuse me, but exactly how many of these "[censored]" rims do you actually have personal
experience with?

Personal experience is not necessary. Anyone with half an education in mechanical engineering
and/or materials science can assess the damage and

tell

Quoted message said:

what caused it. One would hope Mavic would be doing this, but apparently

they

Quoted message said:

don't care. Imagine that -- a business who doesn't care as long as the

product

Quoted message said:

still sells...

So you ARE talking out your ass. Gotcha.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

...or are you just spouting off stuff you've read on the internet?

Crack a book on the subject, or take an engineering class, and you'll be

able to

Quoted message said:

"spout off" too.

Matt O.

Maybe I've been "lucky" in the 18 years I've been riding, but somehow I doubt it... See my post
above re: poll.

Mike