HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR BICYCLE WHEEL ACCORDING TO YOUR PRACTICE?

The different practices on the bike

For the road

Always in search of aerodynamics and lightness, the wheels are generally made of aluminum for solidity or carbon (reserved for competition). Standard road bike wheel sizes are 700 and 650.

For the race, double-wall rims provide aerodynamics. A high wheel will provide better inertia and save your forces on flat ground, however it is heavier.

For the fixie (or bike without gear), the rear wheel will be a Fixie-Fixie flip flop hub, i.e. with two fixed gears or a Fixie-singlespeed flip flop hub (one fixed gear and one free gear) .

For a travel bike, the ideal wheel size is usually the 650B, the width of the wheel is larger in order to offer you par wider tires better comfort.

For the seriousl, versatile and tubeless-compatible wheels (to limit the risk of punctures). Depending on the surface of the paths and roads taken, the 700c is suitable for asphalt and the 650B for rocky terrain.

For mountain biking

Robustness and maneuverability seem to be the main criteria. Disc brakes are installed on the wheel hub. Tubeless rims are widely recommended in order to save weight by reducing the risk of punctures. The most common sizes in mountain biking: 26 inches, 27,5 and 29.

For each MTB practice, choose the wheel that suits you best.

For the descent, opt for wide and robust rims, even if they are heavier, they better absorb shocks and reliefs. 26-inch wheels are advocated.

For Enduro and All Mountain, wheels with a versatile profile are preferred with double-walled rims for better resistance. 27,5-inch wheels are advised for nervousness and steering precision.

For the cross-country, choose light rims; indeed it happens that the cyclist is required to carry his bike. 29-diameter rims are best suited for performance and inertia. The rim width will be relatively reduced.

For the city

The rear wheel with coaster allows you to brake at the force legs by pedaling backwards. No need for cables, brake lever, everything happens at the wheel hub.

The VAE: The wheels will be solid. The aluminum rim is a good compromise between rigidity and lightness. With a gear system integrated into the hub, shifting will be easier and derailment impossible. The most common size is 700C. If you ride on flat and paved terrain, choose a rather narrow rim.

BMX: The BMX wheel has a diameter of 20 and is double-walled, to withstand tricks and stunts.

Asking the Right Questions About Bike Wheels

What type of brake should I choose for my bicycle wheel? If the change of wheels is motivated par switching to disc brakes, check that the fork and the frame of your bike have the appropriate mountings. The majority of bicycles are designed for only one type of brake.

Which rim width should I choose for my bike? Wheel manufacturers offer several internal rim widths depending on the practice for which they are intended. The internal width of the rim is directly related to the width of tires it can accommodate. A rim width associated with an unsuitable tire section will disturb the behavior of your bike. If a tire is too wide, it will deform excessively and you risk damaging it on big hits. A tire that is too thin will run the risk of coming off the rim more easily and will absorb the roughness of the terrain less well.

What assembly should I do? In tubeless mounting, the absence of an inner tube promotes tire deformation for enhanced comfort and grip. Widely adopted par wheel manufacturers, it would be a shame to deprive themselves of the benefits of mounting tubeless tires.

Which shelving to choose? Spokes have the most important role in a wheel. It ensures a perfect connection between the hub and the rim to transmit power, braking forces and changes of direction. It supports some deformation for comfort and sturdiness. The shelving is defined par the number of spokes on a wheel and the type of crossing (lacing). The most classic is composed of 32 crossed spokesar 3 (one spoke always crosses 3 others) but to lighten the wheels the number of spokes can decrease as well as the type of lacing.

What is the perfect wheel?

From several adjustment parameters (hubs, spokes, rims), the result obtained is a wheel that meets certain specifications. Its constituent elements are aerodynamics, inertia and rigidity. These 3 elements condition the performance of the wheel on the terrain.

Aero Dynamics : A wheel with good aerodynamic qualities is a wheel that requires the cyclist to develop a minimum of power to move.

Inertia: parameter more difficult to palpate par the user in his comparisons. The more power a wheel requires to reach a certain speed, the higher its inertia.

Rigidity: Rigidity is the least obvious parameter to apprehend for manufacturers as well as for users.

It is the result of many parameters:

• The intrinsic stiffness of the rim

• The number of spokes

• The spacing of the hub flanges (particularly at the rear)

• The type of shelving (crossover)

• The type of rays

At the risk of disappointing some cyclists, it is good to know that the perfect bicycle wheel does not exist. Indeed, a bicycle wheel is a perfect example of balance between different parameters. A quality gained on one criterion may tend to lose on another.

FINDEZ OUR BIKE SPARE PARTS ON 50FACTORY.COM