Bicycle Rims And Wheels, Your Bike Cant Go Anywhere Without Them
by: Alastair Hamilton
The first bicycle wheels were from a horse drawn cart, made of wood with a metal band round the bicycle rim, very hard and very uncomfortable to ride. Then a man called Dunlop (Scottish) invented the pneumatic tire, this along with Macadam (another Scot) inventing the tar road surface made cycling a lot more comfortable.
The bicycle rim, like the bicycle frame hasn?t changed much in design, its still round and always will be. From the first wooden rims the next were made of steel, then alloy and now if you can afford it, carbon. Of all bicycle parts the bicycle rim can make a big difference to how your bike handles. First the weight of your rim affects your sprinting and climbing as the weight will low you down, for a long, flat effort the weight isn?t so important as when you get the wheels rolling the weight can help to keep them going. The shape of the rim can be important also, a flat rim is best for climbing as aerodynamics are not so important on a hill, a deep section, aero, rim will help you cut through the air, but in a cross wind could cause you handling problems.
Bicycle Rims Materials
The different materials used for rims are very important also, steel is heavy and if damaged can be difficult to pull back into shape, but because its so strong it is quite difficult to bend in the first place and steel is cheaper than all the other materials. Alloy is probably the most popular rim, it can be made in any shape and profile, flat or aero, but not too deep as it would then weigh too much, most deep section rims are of a alloy braking section nearest the tire which is then mounted to a carbon deep section for lightness and aerodynamics and a very beautiful looking bicycle rim. As with most things if money is no problem you can go for the best, this would be an all carbon rim, strong and very light, but there are a few problems with these rims, first they don?t brake so well in wet conditions and you must use special brake blocks for carbon and they can be expensive, also the rim has to be perfectly round and not have any bulges in the rim wall as this will make !
braking quite erratic, carbon is a difficult material to work with and must be well looked after.
Types Of Rim To Consider
There are also two types of rim to consider and this depends on which kind of tire you want to use, first there are tubular tires these are glued on to the bicycle rim, cost more and are difficult to repair after a puncture, but for racing they feel and ride wonderfully. Clincher tires have improved a lot recently and are nearly as good as tubulars for performance and are easily repairable and more reasonably priced. Most manufacturers make all styles in both systems.
So which should I buy? Not an easy answer, as there is so much to choose from, years ago you went to your local bike shop, picked out which hubs, spokes and rims you wanted and he would build your wheels, but now most rim makers also manufacture there own wheel sets, Mavic, Shimano and Campagnolo are probably the best known, check out there web-sites for all there new goodies, there are other brands and if you go to your local cycle shop or look in the bike magazines you?ll find them. There is a lot to choose form, but they are all round.
About The Author
Alastair Hamilton writes regularly technical articles on road and mountain bikes to some online bike magazines. Find interesting reviews on bicycle wheels at http://www.bike-cycling-reviews.com/bike-parts/bicycle-wheels.html and about rims, to move the wheels at http://www.bike-cycling-reviews.com/bike-parts/bicycle-rims.html.
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Get Better Gas Mileage This Winter - Simple Tips You Can Use
Get Better Gas Mileage This Winter - Simple Tips You Can Use
by: Scott Babb
Getting the best gas mileage is harder during the winter. Here are a few simple things you can do to improve your winter gas mileage.
Maintain your car. Check your tires to make sure they have plenty of tread. Slipping tires are dangerous and they waste gas. Ask your car dealer or mechanic if you can use a lighter weight oil during the winter to reduce friction and save gas. Consider using a low-friction or synthetic oil to save gas. If it's been awhile since you changed your air filter, check your owners manual to find the recommended changing interval. A new air filter can greatly improve your gas mileage. Consider an after-market low restriction air filter system. Not only can these improve your gas mileage, but they often come with permanent filter media that can be washed or cleaned and reused. The higher cost of the after-market filter can be offset by not having...
Get Better Gas Mileage This Winter - Simple Tips You Can Use
Tires > Get Better Gas Mileage This Winter - Simple Tips You Can Use
A Guide To Saving Gas With Your Vehicle
A Guide To Saving Gas With Your Vehicle
by: Andrew Bernhardt
Super-expensive gas is here to stay. Drivers are in a scramble over how to afford their morning commute. They're resorting to a number of solutions, some the result of fuel economy technology in the form of hybrid vehicles, others steering for quick-fix gadgets carrying a high price tag and dubious claims.
Don't downgrade from your favorite ride into a sub-compact clown car! Stay away from fuel saving gimmicks, too. There are simple ways to save gas, increase gas mileage and stick it back to the greedy barons stealing your spending cash.
Improving Air Flow
A great place to start when looking to increase gas mileage is with your vehicle's air filter. It is by far the easiest performance upgrade around, and the quickest way to increase gas mileage.
If you're still lugging around town with a disposable paper air filter, you must toss it in favor of a performance air...
A Guide To Saving Gas With Your Vehicle
Tires > A Guide To Saving Gas With Your Vehicle
Demystifying The Tire Sidewall Code
Demystifying The Tire Sidewall Code
by: Debbie Pettitt
So, you need new tires for your car or truck, but how do you know what to buy?
What do all those alphanumeric codes printed on the tire sidewalls mean, anyway?
If you're in the market for new tires, you may simply want to replace your worn tires with exactly the same tire it came with.
But you MAY want to consider an upgrade.
If you know how to read the tire sidewalls, chock full of valuable information, you've got an advantage over most people and are prepared to make an informed decision.
So let's get underway!
Tire Size Markings (example: P215/65R15 89H)
Broken down:
P = Passenger
Other designations are
LT = Light Truck
T = Temporary (spare tire)
215 is the width (in millimeters) of the tire from sidewall to sidewall.
A wider tire has more grip but the bad news is that you lose fuel economy,...
Tires > Demystifying The Tire Sidewall Code
Faster Ways to Remove Unwanted Body Hair
Faster Ways to Remove Unwanted Body Hair
by: Chileshe Mwape
Most people are spending a lot of money on the latest techniques to remove unwanted hair on their faces, legs, arms, chests, backs and private areas. Is it possible to remove hair from such large surface areas? And more importantly, is doing so safe? The answer to both questions is, yes. Removing body hair is possible and if done correctly, and in some cases by a licensed professional, it is also safe.
1....
Tires Faster Ways to Remove Unwanted Body Hair
Tires > Faster Ways to Remove Unwanted Body Hair
Tires Bicycle Rims And Wheels, Your Bike Cant Go Anywhere Without Them