the manufacturer has all the answers covered...... they are the cheese they say and their wheels will not rust.... to be believed??????? Why is American Classic innovating magnesium rims? It?s about the rims. Lighter rims means reduced rotational weight resulting in overall higher performance for the cyclist. Bike companies constantly strive to reduce rim weight, a feat difficult to achieve because there must be a balance between lightness and strength. With the use of engineering, research, testing and creativity, Bill Shook, American Classic?s engineer and company president, successfully brought the lightest aluminum clincher rims to the marketplace. Always forging ahead with new ideas, Bill is making strides with magnesium as a new rim material. Magnesium is treasured in the automotive and aerospace industries for its lightness, strength and ductility. Magnesium is lighter than aluminum and withstands impact damage better than carbon fiber. Companies have tried to use magnesium for bicycle applications but could not figure out how to work with the material. After studying the metallurgy of magnesium and using his engineering know-how, Bill successfully developed the bending technology to create the mag rims. The result is 280 gram rims that are stiff, strong, accelerate quickly, corner hard and naturally dampen high frequency road vibration for a smooth ride. <?:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> Are the 2008 mag 300?s available in clincher and tubular? Yes, the mags now come in both clincher and tubular models. What is the difference between the 2006 and 2008 Mag 300 wheels? The 2008 Mag 300 wheels have several improvements and new features. Through product development, Bill Shook was able to design brake tracks into the 2008 Mag 300 rims. Although brake tracks are not a new idea, Magnesium is a new unique material for making rims and each advance is a design breakthrough for the material. Further, the 2008 Mags have a wider rim profile for added stiffness and stability. All 2008 Mags come standard with AC ceramic bearings, titanium quick release skewers and wheel bags. Do I need special brake pads with the Magnesium wheels? Yes. The new 2008 Magnesium wheels include Kool Stop salmon color all weather brake pads. The 2006 Magnesium wheels (without brake tracks) require ceramic brake pads because the 2006 mag?s had a ceramic coating over the brake tracks. How does American Classic prevent corrosion of the Magnesium rims? There are two protective coatings on the Mag 300 rims. Bare magnesium can corrode, so protective coating is necessary. First, the entire rim is ceramic coated, inside and out. The ceramic layer is long lasting. Then, the rim receives a matte black paint coating that soaks into the ceramic layer. I have noticed that on my older 2006 Magnesium wheels the brake surface is wearing through. Are there any corrosion issues and Does this affect the integrity of my wheels? There are two protective coatings on the Mag 300 rims. Bare magnesium can corrode, so protective coating is necessary. First, the entire rim is ceramic coated, inside and out. The ceramic layer is long lasting. Then, the rim receives a matte black paint coating that soaks into the ceramic layer. When you ride the 2006 Mag 300 wheels, your ceramic brake pads will wear through the paint layer, exposing the ceramic layer. This is normal and does not affect the integrity of the wheels. Any discoloration due to braking is cosmetic in the 2006 Mag 300. Are the 2006 Mag 300 and 2008 Mag 300 wheels durable? Do they require special care? Mag 300 rims have proved to be durable. Mag 300 wheels do not require much special care. They do require regular maintenance and service, like any American Classic wheel, to keep them in top working order (please review the previous maintenance and service FAQ's). Our only special suggestions are regarding salt and cleaners. Salt can be the most corrosive factor on the Mag 300 rims and we recommend wiping them off with a towel after rainy or wet rides. Also, if you decide to clean your Mag 300 rims, wash them in mild dish soap such as Ivory liquid and water, rather than using harsh cleaners containing ammonium or caustics.
