Getting to Know the Anatomy of Bicycle Wheels

The most that some people know about bicycles is just hopping on and pedaling to a particular destination. However, true biking aficionados get into the nitty gritty of bike mechanics such as bicycle wheels. At one time, bicycle wheels were made of wood and iron but now, the wheels are all metal which lasts a lot longer. Most wheels consist of a hub, wire tension spokes and a metal rim in which the tire is inflated on.

Getting Down With The Hub

The hub is the center part of bicycle wheels and contains three parts – the axle, bearings and a hub shell. The bicycle frame creates a fork-like shape and this is where the axle is attached to the frame. The bearings are little tiny balls that allow the hub shell to move around independently of the axle.

The hub shell of bicycle wheels is the part of the wheel where the spokes attach and it typically has a flange, which reaches out from the axle itself. Some wheels have an extra flange while others may not have one that you can really see at all. You might also see some hubs that make room for disc brake attachments or even drum brakes.

Rims And Spokes For Bicycle Wheels

The rims are typically made of aluminum or even carbon fiber and are the circular shaped metal pieces of the wheel. There are both single and double wall rims with the double rim version being stronger and longer lasting. Some rims are created with rim brakes in mind although for the most part the brakes stay in the hub.

The spokes are the spiky looking rods that are housed in bicycle wheels and some young boys and girls love putting cards in them to make noises when riding. There are little nuts at the end of each spoke to hold them in place and their basic job description is to adjust the tension of the wheels.

Different Types Of Bicycle Wheels

For every type of bike, there is a different type of wheel to go with it, which makes sense because a mountain bike is surely going to have a different wheel than a BMX or street bike. These bicycle wheels are made for different terrains, weight, usage of the bike and more. For instance, the mountain bike typically has wheels with tires that are larger with a lot of tread whereas a bike you ride on the street will have a skinnier tire with less tread.

The type of brakes on your bike also dictates to an extent what type of bicycle wheels you may have on your bike. There are a number of factors that play into why one bicycle wheel looks much different from another.