Spoked wheels

Good morning all,
My recently acquired C800 has spoke wheels and I am sure there is no inner tube because the inflation valve is steel. Can any one tell me if this is standard, if so how on earth does it not loose pressure through the spoke tension holes on the rime ?

There are innertubes.

Lowey,
Many thanks for that it is very re assuring.

Yup...tubes in with steel valves over here too.

Talking about spokes ...whats the best way to clean them up when they have got tarnished  ?

Now that'll be interesting to hear.

I'll have to do that at some point as well.
I'll probably use dremel on mine as I will be re-painting it all.
Can't wait...whitewalls + custom colour rims and spokes. Yum!

You will see steel valves with steel wheels,but never put steel valves with alloy wheels as they do not like each other,always use rubber valves on alloy.Best way to clean them,give yourself a day to spare.

Made a start on the spoke cleaning.

First I picked up a sheet of emery cloth then thought no ...tooo abrasive.

Tried the dremel with a fibre pad which I put cleaning paste on...fairly good but very fiddly and time consuming.

Tried the wifes aluminium pan scourer...pretty good and faster but tough on the fingers.

See what you mean Alfie.. the hours went by.

yorky wrote:

Made a start on the spoke cleaning.

Tried the wifes aluminium pan scourer...pretty good and faster but tough on the fingers.

See what you mean Alfie.. the hours went by.

You should have let her wear some gloves Alan    A job for a lousy day then.

Hehe ..nice one Sim !!

Need to do mine some time & I like the Dremel Idea, I can really see that working because of the speed.  

Dave you may be able to help...excuse my ignorance ...I am wondering what the spokes are made from.

I can see that the wheel rim is chrome but the spokes appear to me to be a coated or plated steel.

Whatever it is ...it looks as if with only slight corrosion the coating is gone and you are down to steel....have I got that right do you think.

If thats the case maybe best to rub down and respray ?

A note to Sim ..we yorkshire lads have to be careful what we say to the wife..
A Scotsman told his new bride he was not impressed with her cooking and house keeping and the next day he saw a big improvement.
An Welshman likewise had the same problem, mentioned it and next day saw a big improvement.
A Yorkshireman in the same position told his wife that things had to improve and the next day he could see a little out of his eye and the doctor said his sight should slowly improve as the swelling goes down.

:fpost: 
I had a go at mine tonight Alan, I used a bit of rag wrapped round the spoke with a bit of Solvol Autosol on it, They come up pretty good and shiny! A job for a rainy day I'm thinking, Might try a bit of rubbing compound next.