How important are machine sidewalls vs non-machined?

[Gman]

I figure I may get ridiculed for this since it's a purely cosmetic question, but I'm interested in getting a wheelset for my single speed/commuter bike. I intend to run both a front and rear brake and have been looking at machined sidewalled rims. I much prefer the look of a nonmachined sidewall as to avoid the circle of silver around the rim. I've googled it a fair amount and it seems the downsides are additional noise, streaks on the paint and decreased braking power. what say you?

[rideit]

I think this question was relevant in 95'....

[Crampedon]

I think this question was relevant in 95'....

I don't think you could even get a rim-brake NOT machined anymore, since '95!

[slampe]

The downfalls you mention are accurate. You're trying to get a rubber brake pad and a glossy, polished surface to create as much friction as possible which isn't as doable with non-machined = less stopping power. Plus, they look even worse than the silver ring after you run brakes on them. The only way to use non machined is brakeless in my opinion.

[joetron]

The downfalls you mention are accurate. You're trying to get a rubber brake pad and a glossy, polished surface to create as much friction as possible which isn't as doable with non-machined = less stopping power. Plus, they look even worse than the silver ring after you run brakes on them. The only way to use non machined is brakeless in my opinion.

Quoted for troof.
In a nutshell, your braking will suck and your braking surface will turn streaky black.
The brake track ends up getting kind of matted looking anyway, it doesn't stay quite so shiny.

[Gman]

Yea I'm leaning towards just biting the bullet and going machined, it's not like I'm going to be able to tell the difference from a cosmetic standpoint when I'm riding....

[ANort]

You wear through alluminum rims one way or another it will never look as good as day one, but atleast with machined surface it can clean up nice but random anodizing isn't so good

[toast2266]

If you're seriously considering non-machined sidewalls just for aesthetics, then you just just ditch the brakes altogether, get some hot pink super deep rims, and go fixed. That way everybody will think your bike looks super cool.

[Gman]

If you're seriously considering non-machined sidewalls just for aesthetics, then you just just ditch the brakes altogether, get some hot pink super deep rims, and go fixed. That way everybody will think your bike looks super cool.

congratulations, you're the first person to make that kind of statement about a popular stereotype