Another day with wheels (and so on).
A customer brought me a set of front and rear rim brake wheels
from a Lovéal (vintage French wheel brand) Rapide 60CLX.
They want them rebuilt, so today I'm working on the front wheel.
This customer also has separately
a set of front and rear rim brake wheels from a Campagnolo first-generation Bora WTO
(the current second generation comes only in disc brake spec),
and when I asked which one rides better,
they said the Bora WTO is far superior.
So I suggested why not just use the Bora WTO for racing (triathlons),
but the issue is that the Lovéal uses a tubular rim
while the Bora WTO has a clincher rim.
Considering tire performance and the time needed to get back in the race
after a puncture, they want to race on tubulars,
so if we can make the Lovéal perform any better,
they'd like us to do whatever we can.
The rear wheel has more potential for transformation with a rebuild,
but with a 16-hole front wheel, DT Aerolite spokes
(same spoke weight distribution as CX-RAY at about 65%)
feel a bit light,
so I'm rebuilding with CX Sprint spokes (spoke weight distribution about 78%).
This era Lovéal doesn't have the spoke head
dimple machining to prevent spoke rotation.
The Lovéal nipples have
a 3.2mm hex grip on the inner side using standard spec,
but also have a 6mm hex grip on the outer side,
and for wheel building other than minor true adjustments,
it's easier to grab from the outer side,
so I'll reuse the nipples.
For the CLX model, these are aluminum nipples.
If it were the CL grade, these would be brass nipples with the same spec,
so instead of reusing them, I'll use standard black aluminum nipples.
For the rear wheel rebuild this time, there are separate reasons
why I won't be able to reuse the nipples,
but I'll write about that when I do the rear wheel.
Built.
Lovéal hub, 16-hole
Black CX Sprint straight spokes
Forced radial laced.
A customer brought me a set of front and rear rim brake wheels
from a Lovéal (vintage French wheel brand) Rapide 60CLX.
They want them rebuilt, so today I'm working on the front wheel.
This customer also has separately
a set of front and rear rim brake wheels from a Campagnolo first-generation Bora WTO
(the current second generation comes only in disc brake spec),
and when I asked which one rides better,
they said the Bora WTO is far superior.
So I suggested why not just use the Bora WTO for racing (triathlons),
but the issue is that the Lovéal uses a tubular rim
while the Bora WTO has a clincher rim.
Considering tire performance and the time needed to get back in the race
after a puncture, they want to race on tubulars,
so if we can make the Lovéal perform any better,
they'd like us to do whatever we can.
The rear wheel has more potential for transformation with a rebuild,
but with a 16-hole front wheel, DT Aerolite spokes
(same spoke weight distribution as CX-RAY at about 65%)
feel a bit light,
so I'm rebuilding with CX Sprint spokes (spoke weight distribution about 78%).
This era Lovéal doesn't have the spoke head
dimple machining to prevent spoke rotation.
The Lovéal nipples have
a 3.2mm hex grip on the inner side using standard spec,
but also have a 6mm hex grip on the outer side,
and for wheel building other than minor true adjustments,
it's easier to grab from the outer side,
so I'll reuse the nipples.
For the CLX model, these are aluminum nipples.
If it were the CL grade, these would be brass nipples with the same spec,
so instead of reusing them, I'll use standard black aluminum nipples.
For the rear wheel rebuild this time, there are separate reasons
why I won't be able to reuse the nipples,
but I'll write about that when I do the rear wheel.
Built.
Lovéal hub, 16-hole
Black CX Sprint straight spokes
Forced radial laced.