Time to start hoarding rim brake wheelsets?

[AJS914]

I used to see people riding high end rim brake frames when road bikes were pretty much rim brakes only. Now I don't see them any more, all bikes have disc brakes, I wonder what happened to them? Crashed or sold to a less frequent rider?

I think we are in the period where these bikes are the N+1 for those riders. They are sitting on a trainer or in garages collecting dust for now.

I've been looking for a deal on a rim brake 56cm Tarmac SL6. Most SL6es I see on ebay are disc brake and the few rim brake models that get offered are often over priced (for me) or an ugly color.

[Kjetil]

Must hoard a set Shamal C17 2WF. Thanks for the reminder.

[usr]

The inability to change tyres (swiftly)
The added hassle of potential flats - with clinchers I can stuff a tube in (also on TL), and if all evil aligns and things get really bad I can patch tubes and put in a wrapper/tyre boot (if cutting the sidewall) to limp home. And I'm not really keen on lugging a complete spare tub around effectively offsetting any weight savings in addition to the fiddly nature of it

I keep wondering if there might be a tubular renaissance built on innovations from the tubeless sector like improved sealants and dynaplugs. Perhaps even some sewn-in emergency foam donuts for those who'd prefer to have them. Rims that need to withstand neither the expansion forces of clincher/tubeless nor the tweezing of a brake caliper should be able to be built far more radical than rims that can only ignore one of those requirements.

[Singular]

Challenge is the last real holdout for tubulars (along with Dugast and FMB, but they're not as vocal) and make a case for its value in a modern setting (with things like a tubeless-ish tubular). Will that keep the technology alive?

To be honest...nopes, I don't think so. Like rim brakes, high-end mechanical shifting and titanium it is moving into boutique, connoisseur, custom and enthusiast territory.

Even now, getting hold of a (new) wheel is tricky enough with practically all major players leaving tubs behind for tubeless/clinchers. The performance oriented customer is more focused on rollling resistance and aerodynamics than weight now, meaning that those 200ish grams one used to save with a pair of tubs (which meant the world once) is quickly overshadowed by a slightly higher RR (and a lack of contemporary shaped rims/wheels).

[choochoo46]

Thanks for all the good insights. I will monitor the pricing for rim-brake WTOs as they seem like the bees knees.

If I can't find a good deal for the WTOs in the next 12 months I think I'll get the Lightbicycle 55mm deep Falcon Pros. At 1334g (with Carbon Ti hubs) and 21mm internal and 28mm external they'll be a good aero fit for 25mm tires (as a road racing wheelset). They seem to hit the price / performance sweet spot to me.

https://www.lightbicycle.com/700C-road- ... elset.html

[UpFromOne]

One thing I could never part with are my 700g rim wheels.
Always a delight to ride, that no disc wheel will ever be able to duplicate.

[tiz92]

I would say quality chinese manufacturers like farsports or lightbycicle will produce rim wheels for sure for the next 5 years.