AMBROSIO WHEELS


2010 Ambrosio Complete Handbuilt Tubular Wheelset

quantity

It's foolhardy for us to tout these wheels when there's already such fine eloquence on the record courtesy of the (now-defunct-or-nearly-so) blog Belgium Knee Warmers.

Their heart and soul is their rims -- hard-anodized 32 hole Ambrosio Nemesis tubular rims. If you're a student of authentic PRO componentry, you know that no rim is tougher to track down, and none is more sought after. Ambrosio has no distributor to speak of in North America. And it's only due to a friend-of-a-friend that we got a sit-down with the right Italian Bike Mafia foot soldier who could deliver a grand total of 60 rims to us.

Our goal here is to supply you with a wheelset identical to what you'll find on many PRO bikes during the cobbled classics (and on the minds of the bummed-out PROs who don't get to race on them.) We're building them up in two options: The first option is Campagnolo Record hubs, compatible with any Campagnolo 10 or 11 speed drivetrain. The second option is Shimano Dura Ace 7900 hubs, suitable for any Shimano 9 or 10 speed drivetrain, and with any SRAM drivetrain as well.

Other than the hubs, we are not offering customization here because our goal is to provide the ultimate in PRO authenticity. The wheels are 32 hole front and rear with 3x spoke lacing. The spokes will be silver DT Competition (14/15 gauge) matched to silver brass nipples. We will use Vittoria Mastik One to glue on a set of handmade FMB Paris-Roubaix tubulars. The wheels include skewers.

We're making strictly 15 sets of Campy and 15 sets of Shimano wheels. While we'd love to make more, Ambrosio was only interested in selling us 60 rims. Please do not ask for any substitutions in how we're building them. While our day-in/day-out existence here at Competitive Cyclist involves the joy of customizing our customer's dream bikes and dream wheels, these wheels are a manifestation of a different dream: The PRO dream, that of dung-moistened cobbles and fat & drunken roadside Belgians accusing you of being too fat as you die ten thousand deaths trying not to lose contact with the grupetto you find yourself in. To put it another way, we will not build these with black spokes or non-FMB tires or in any other fashion other than what's stated above. We're taking a stand. It's PRO or it's NO.

One other thing: We'd like to make a formal request to the pricing police to spare us any slings and arrows of criticism about the cost of these wheels. The time involved in procuring the rims alone should make them cost twice as much. These rims are rare icons of PRO cycling as performed in its most intense and romantic circumstances. If you're lacking in the appropriate cultural sensitivity we won't hold it against you. But, likewise, this fact deprives you of standing to bitch about the cost. Also keep in mind that you're getting tires and glue here -- items ordinarily not included with the cost of wheels. All you'll need to do is slap on a cassette and you'll be ready to race for glory.

Actual weight is 2475g, including tires, glue, and skewers.

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