Wheelset - 03

HUBSET:
O.M.A.S. Titanio (modified) - quick release hubs - small flange design - annular sealed bearings - titanium axles - 32h model 101T/A front hub (100 mm spacing) - 32h model 101T/P rear hub (128 mm spacing) - 1.370" x 24 TPI English freewheel thread - model 101T "Big Sliding" Titanio ... [Rather than deconstruct or reconstruct the Pino built wheelset which came with this bicycle, I have elected for now to set it aside in an unaltered state pending further cogitation on the whole matter. Mind you, I was sorely tempted to simply go about replacing the somewhat pedestrian Gipiemme Sprint model 400SA small flange 32 hole hubs with the O.M.A.S. titanium versions seen here, reusing all of the other original individual wheel components including the 19 mm Ambrosio Elite clincher rims as well as those nifty custom alloy spoke nipples which were jamb-nutted onto both sides of the rim, and then mounting the resulting amalgamation back onto this bike. But in the end, I chose to forego acting upon that impulse at this time taking comfort in the knowledge that I could always exercise that option at a later date should I ultimately decide it to be a truly appropriate course of action. In any event, the O.M.A.S. "Big Sliding" Titanio series 101T hubs selected for use are arguably one of the most elegant and certainly one of smoothest hubs dating from the late 1970’s through early 1980’s - their lightweight aluminum alloy / titanium construction along with annular sealed cartridge bearing design being rather exotic for that era. I did opt to change the rear hub spacing from its O.M.A.S. standard 125 mm measurement to an ever so slightly wider 128 mm OLD sizing (...that is as wide as I could go without having to otherwise replace the hollow titanium center axle itself) in order to better accommodate a narrow 7 speed freewheel and the oddball 130 mm rear dropout spacing found on the Pino Morroni frameset.]

RIMS:
MAVIC MA 2 - double wall construction - Clear anodized aluminum alloy with stainless steel double eyelets - 20.5 mm section - hooked bead rim profile - smooth / non-milled braking surfaces - 700c clincher - drilled for Presta valves - 32h front / 32h rear - original late vintage MAVIC MA 2 rim labels removed and reproduction labels apropos first edition MA 2 rims applied - rectangular two part foil rim label consisting of a stylized diamond shaped "MAVIC" logo in Red and Gold above the words "MADE IN FRANCE" juxtaposed to the left of a Green field reading "MA 2" over "700 C" located at the seam - model MA 2 ... [This Pino Morroni bicycle originally came with 19 mm Ambrosio Elite clincher rims as standard equippe, however, I have opted to place that complete and unaltered wheelset in abeyance pending further contemplation on just what is to be its ultimate fate and built up instead an entirely different set more suitable to this bike in its revamped state. To that end, I took a pair of Yellow / Green label MAVIC MA 2 rims circa 1988 through 1999 having a highly polished and then Clear anodized finish, although without the UB Control braking surface found on the final examples of this long running model, removed their previously existing rim labels, and then replaced those with MAVIC labels as would have been found on 1986 first edition versions (...said reproductions being the handiwork of Greg Softley of Coffs Harbor, Australia). Of course, the MA 2 has a well deserved reputation for being one of the finest classic clincher rims ever produced - remarkably rugged and durable while being able to accommodate tire widths ranging from 19 mm to 25 mm.]

SPOKES:
DT Swiss - CFT butted X12 CrNi 18/10 stainless steel - double cold forged - 14 / 15 gauge or 2.0 / 1.8 / 2.0 mm - rolled threads - model DT Competition : DT nickel plated brass nipples - 2.0 x 14 mm - model DT Pro Head ... [Decidedly modern and unoriginal components.]

TIRES:
Veloflex Pave - 700c x 22 mm - 300 TPI core spun cotton casing - Black with Gum sidewalls - open tubular (i.e. clincher) design - natural rubber compound - dual tread pattern (diamond figured center section with herringbone flanks to optimize cornering traction) - Kevlar anti puncture belt - Kevlar folding bead - model Pave ... [While these may be nice, lightweight, handmade Italian tires, they are obviously modern replacements for those which were originally fitted from new, which is to say Clement CF2001T clincher tires in a 700c x 21 mm sizing.]