Rigida Chrolux Chromage Superieur Rim PAIR 27×1-1/4 36H Chrome Steel France

Description

Bundle up to 5 more rims $0 Shipping

Will this work?

• 27 x 1-1/4 (H.P.) rim brake clincher pair
• Chrome-plated steel, Made in France
• 36 hole, Schrader valve
• Textured basket-weave brake track pattern
• Period-correct for Peugeot, Motobécane, Raleigh
• Rims only — no tape

Condition: VG+. Chrome shines bright and looks great. Minor rust staining around a few spoke holes from previous spokes — mostly wipes off by hand. Interior has been cleaned. The distinctive basket-weave brake track pattern shows virtually no wear. No dents, no flat spots, rims are true. Condition of rims can only be ascertained visually.

Notes from MyBikeThing: These are the good ones. Rigida’s Chrolux line with “Chromage Superieur” was their premium chrome-plated steel rim — the kind you’d find on a well-spec’d Peugeot PX-10 or UO-8 back in the day. The textured brake track pattern isn’t just decorative — it channels water away from the braking surface for better wet-weather stopping. Made in France, 36 hole, and ready for a period-correct restoration or a vintage touring build.

Workshop Wisdom: Here’s a bit of cycling history for you. Back in the ’60s and ’70s, nearly all bike rims were chrome-plated steel. They looked gorgeous — but they had a serious problem: braking on chrome was terrible, especially in the wet. The smooth, hard chrome surface gave rubber brake pads almost nothing to grip. Riders joked about “suggesting” the bike slow down rather than actually stopping it. Manufacturers tried everything — leather brake pads, special compounds, even filing the chrome off the brake track. Rigida’s answer was clever: the “Chromage Superieur” process laid down a high-quality chrome layer for rust resistance and durability, while that distinctive basket-weave texture stamped into the brake track created channels to displace water and gave brake pads something to bite into. It wasn’t as good as the aluminum rims that eventually replaced steel, but it was a real step forward for its era. These rims represent that transitional moment in cycling — when French manufacturers were engineering real solutions to real problems, not just making things shiny.

Guarantee: Please reach out to us before and after your purchase with any questions — we’re here to help! No returns/no refunds on rims. Rest assured, what you see in the photos is what you get. Condition of rims can only be ascertained visually, so please review all photos carefully before buying.

Keywords: Rigida, Chrolux, Chromage Superieur, 27 inch, 27 x 1-1/4, 36 hole, chrome, steel, Made in France, vintage, French, Peugeot, Motobécane, Raleigh, road bike rim, touring, restoration, pair