Rims are the contact point with the ground. Choice has to be dependant on application. As the rim and tyre are at the extremity of the wheel they have significant effect on the energy required to accelerate and decelerate. The lighter the mass at this extremity the less energy required to change velocity. Another consideration is the aero-dynamics of the section when travelling at speeds above 20 mph.
Below are some of our favourite rim profiles for different usages:-
Road Rim Brake
Road Traditional, Touring, and Track
Road and Cyclocross Disc
Mountain Bike
For cobbles or off road activity or for the heavier rider the strength of the rim section becomes important. Of course how the wheel looks will also be critical to the discerning cyclist. To enable us to deliver against these varying requirements we have selected a broad range of top quality suppliers.
Hubs form a key part of the wheel, affecting the stiffness, rolling resistance, drive engagement and overall weight. There are 2 common types of bearing that are used, cup and cone and sealed cartridge bearings. The majority of hubs we specify use sealed cartridge bearings, though there are a number of hubs that use cup and cone, both systems are robust and maintainable. The beauty of the sealed cartridge is that they can simply be swapped out when they wear. Cup and cone bearings are easily serviceable and should be regularly maintained to ensure long a long life, failure to update the grease can be costly as once the cups rust or pit the hubs are ruined and would need to be replaced.
Drive activation systems vary from the most common ratchet and pawl, to the more sophisticated American Classic drive and top of the range Chris King ring drive. The activation angle (e.g. how many degrees the hub turns before it engages drive) varies dependent on the number of engagement points and relates to the distance you pedal before drive is translated to forward motion. With the exception of Shimano's lower cost hubs (which require complete replacement rather than maintenance) most are maintainable with regular cleaning and re-application of lubricant or by replacing bearings, pawls or drive rings. Another consideration is the sound, some hubs can be quite noisy when free wheeling, and some are quieter, personal preference is important here.
We can source hubs from the following suppliers, click on the logos to find out more:-