H Plus Sons Hard Anodized

[upside]

Does anyone have any experience with these rims. My biggest concern is how hard is the anodizing on the brake surface and will it last for awhile. I do know they have discontinued making them.

[bikerjulio]

I have a set bought when BHS had a special on a few months back. I think the answer depends entirely on how clean and dry the ride is. After a few rides I've worn some thin lines through the hard ano. I don't really think they are that much different than the regular ano in that respect.

[Marin]

If you want the sidewalls to stay black you need carbon rims or disc brakes. Or maybe the ceramic coated rims Mavic used to do in the 90's, but there's a reason they discontinued them...

[upside]

Thanks.. I thought the surface would be much harder, but it sure doesn't sound like it. Again, thanks for your incite.

[bm0p700f]

It's not hard anodied, it is just anodised it will wear off.

[Marin]

Or just get them anyway and take enough pics of the bike while they're still black. After a while, the ride becomes more important than the looks anyway!

[r_mutt]

The hard anodized version are a grayish green, not black.

[Stefano]

I have the hard ano rims. I believe people on here are talking about the 'regular' anodization, which does indeed wear off rather quickly. In contrast, my hard-ano rims lasted me for about 1.5 years before they started to wear-- and honestly, that's on me for being a bad bike owner and leaving shit in the brake pads (it's my training/beater bike). The front brake track still looks like new, it's just the rear that's damaged-- probably because the rear brake just seems to get more crap in it.

Anyhow, I can almost guarantee you'll be shopping for the n+1 wheelset by the time the brake tracks wear through. Happy wheelbuilding!

[bikerjulio]

Mine are the hard ano. Part of the last batch being sold off by BHS. Unless they misled us.

There's more discussion here on the first page http://forums.roadbikereview.com/hot-deals/archetype-complete-build-kit-%24279-bhs-329091.html

[bm0p700f]

The hard ano rims in the U.K have not been available for a long time so for us it is moot.