Sunday, February 14, 2010

Maxi CAR wheelset project



A while back I bought some rare NOS vintage hubs made by Maxi CAR, the renowned French hubmaker that operated from the mid 1930s to 1999. The name Maxi-CAR comes from a consolidation of hubshell designs from Maxi with hubs using annular bearings designed by Charles-Albert Ripet (C.A.R.) of Lyon. These are beautifully made and durable hubs that were standard on many early high-end Randonneur and tandem bicycles.



Today, I tried to build up a rear bike wheel the normal way with the Maxi CAR high-low flange rear hub that has buttonhole eyelets on one side. The buttonholes allow removal and replacement of spokes with the wheel on the bike. Trying to build the wheel up the normal way, all the buttonhole spokes fell out. Next time will build-up the left, the non-button hole side first.