On Mon, 20 Oct 2008 05:43:25 -0700 (PDT), Qui si parla Campagnolo wrote:

On Oct 19, 8:01*pm, wrote:
how common is it to have scratched rims, is this a normal occurrence
with road bikes? i am concerned that i am going to be wearing down the
brake pads now that i have these scratches. the scratching is not
major, just a few marks that are about 1/2 cm long and not deep at
all. do all wheels get dinged up in time or is this something that i
need to just shrug off.

-t

get some emery paper and make them smooth-no big deal.

No.

He needs to have them re-machined.

Get the wheel maker to run them trough a sidewall thicknesser - if there is
any discontinuity or variation such that the brake pads do not close
completely and exactly from the first application then braking will not be
safe, and he risks certain death.

All wheels should be re-machined after the wheel-builder finishes with
them, and after every time they are trued.

If you doubt this just ask "jim beam" - he'll confirm it.