Mavic vintage road bike wheel

Vintage road bike wheel: timeless elegance with a Wolber TX rim and first-generation Shimano Dura-Ace high-flange hub

In the world of classic cycling, certain wheel builds perfectly embody the style and performance of a bygone era. Among them, the vintage road bike wheel featuring a Wolber TX clincher rim and a first-generation Shimano Dura-Ace high-flange hub stands out as an iconic combination, cherished by collectors and enthusiasts of vintage bicycles.

Wolber TX clincher rim: french-made strength and finesse

Produced during the 1970s and 80s by the renowned French manufacturer Wolber, the TX rim is a must-have for fans of high-quality clincher wheels. Made from anodized aluminum, it offers a winning combination of light weight and stiffness, with a low-profile design characteristic of road racing wheels of the time. The Wolber TX is built to fit clincher tires, making it more practical than tubular setups, while still delivering excellent road performance.

Its traditional drilling pattern allows for 32 or 36 spokes, typically laced in a three-cross pattern, ensuring even spoke tension and long-lasting durability, even over long rides.

Shimano Dura-Ace high-flange hub: prestige from the first Dura-Ace generation

Released in the mid-1970s, the high-flange Dura-Ace hub belongs to the very first generation of Shimano’s top-tier racing components. Designed with performance in mind, the hub’s large flanges enable a tighter, stiffer spoke pattern, enhancing lateral stiffness and overall wheel stability.

Crafted from polished aluminum, it features a chromed steel axle, precision cup-and-cone bearings, and superb finish quality. This hub isn’t just beautiful to look at—it’s also reliable and smooth, offering quiet, efficient rolling even after decades of use.

A perfect match for a hand-built wheelset

Pairing a Wolber TX rim with a Dura-Ace high-flange hub results in a vintage road bike wheel with character—both elegant and efficient. This build, typical of 1970s–80s racing bikes, echoes the golden age of road cycling, when bikes were designed for speed but also built to last.

These wheels were often assembled with stainless steel spokes, either straight-pull or J-bend, and hand-laced with care to ensure perfect trueness and spoke tension. The final result: a well-balanced wheel, ready to hit the road again or add authenticity to a beautifully restored vintage frame.

A wheel that stands the test of time

Owning or rebuilding a vintage road bike wheel like this one is a tribute to an era when every part was made with longevity in mind—where craftsmanship met early innovation. Whether you're completing a classic Peugeot, Gitane, Mercier, or any steel-frame bike built from Reynolds or Columbus tubing, this wheel will add unmistakable flair and functionality.

In short, this wheel setup embodies the very soul of classic cycling: Wolber TX rim, Shimano Dura-Ace high-flange hub,… everything needed to relive the elegance and performance of vintage road racing.