| The first bicycle wheels were from a horse drawn | | | | steel is cheaper than all the other materials. Alloy is |
| cart, made of wood with a metal band round the | | | | probably the most popular rim, it can be made in any |
| bicycle rim, very hard and very uncomfortable to ride. | | | | shape and profile, flat or aero, but not too deep as it |
| Then a man called Dunlop (Scottish) invented the | | | | would then weigh too much, most deep section rims |
| pneumatic tire, this along with Macadam (another Scot) | | | | are of a alloy braking section nearest the tire which is |
| inventing the tar road surface made cycling a lot more | | | | then mounted to a carbon deep section for lightness |
| comfortable. | | | | and aerodynamics and a very beautiful looking bicycle |
| The bicycle rim, like the bicycle frame hasn't changed | | | | rim. As with most things if money is no problem you |
| much in design, it does still round and always will be. | | | | can go for the best, this would be an all carbon rim, |
| From the first wooden rims the next were made of | | | | strong and very light, but there are a few problems |
| steel, then alloy and now if you can afford it, carbon. | | | | with these rims, first they don't brake so well in wet |
| Of all bicycle parts the bicycle rim can make a big | | | | conditions and you must use special brake blocks for |
| difference to how your bike handles. First the weight | | | | carbon and they can be expensive, also the rim has to |
| of your rim affects your sprinting and climbing as the | | | | be perfectly round and not have any bulges in the rim |
| weight will slow you down, for a long, flat effort the | | | | wall as this will make braking quite erratic, carbon is a |
| weight isn't as important as when you get the wheels | | | | difficult material to work with and must be well looked |
| rolling the weight can help to keep them going. The | | | | after. |
| shape of the rim can be important also, a flat rim is | | | | Types Of Rim To Consider |
| best for climbing as aerodynamics are not so | | | | There are also two types of rim to consider and this |
| important on a hill, a deep section, aero, rim will help you | | | | depends on which kind of tire you want to use, first |
| cut through the air, but in a cross wind could cause you | | | | there are tubular tires these are glued on to the bicycle |
| handling problems. | | | | rim, cost more and are difficult to repair after a |
| Bicycle Rims Materials | | | | puncture, but for racing they feel and ride wonderfully. |
| The different materials used for rims are very | | | | Clincher tires have improved a lot recently and are |
| important also, steel is heavy and if damaged can be | | | | nearly as good as tubular for performance and are |
| difficult to pull back into shape, but because it's so | | | | easily repairable and more reasonably priced. Most |
| strong it is quite difficult to bend in the first place and | | | | manufacturers make all styles in both systems. |