Bicycles Stack Exchange
Bicycles Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [wheels]

The big round things your bike rolls on. Rims, spokes, hubs, etc. If it's all about the rubber part, the "tire" tag is better.

1168 questions
15
votes
4 answers

Lateral loading strength of a bicycle wheel

My question is in regard to typical bicycle wheels one might find on a road bicycle. I own an old second hand road bike, and after many spokes started to snap while riding it, decided to replace the all the spokes myself. This was the first time…
Eliot Foss
  • 171
  • 7
15
votes
4 answers

Why do modern bikes generally have two identically sized wheels?

(Basically a follow-up to Why do all road bike sizes use the same wheel size?) Why do most modern bikes have two identically sized wheels? I am aware that penny-farthing bikes have been a thing until the modern "safety" bike came around. And some…
fho
  • 261
  • 2
  • 5
15
votes
2 answers

What is the black plastic circle on wheel axle nut?

I have been seeing a black plastic part on the nuts of the wheels. My bike also has this. I think I have seen this only on old bikes. Does it have a name and purpose? Some close up:
nimcap
  • 337
  • 3
  • 7
14
votes
5 answers

Why do some bicycles have much bigger wheels than most motorcycles?

Let's consider a mountain bike and a motorcycle. Each one has a need to be as usable as possible and overcome obstacles more effectively. Larger wheels usually mean greater cross-country ability. So what is the theory behind bicycles usually having…
Poliakoff
  • 243
  • 2
  • 6
13
votes
3 answers

What are the advantages of flat spoked wheels?

Following on from my earlier question about truing them, I was wondering if anybody could point out the advantages (and perhaps disadvantages) of flat spoked wheels?
Anthony K
  • 6,233
  • 9
  • 42
  • 63
12
votes
3 answers

Why would one put tennis balls in the spokes?

I see this once in a great while around the city: two or more tennis balls stuck inside the spokes, right up against the hub. It usually seems to be on older-looking mountain bike commuter/beater bikes, but I think I saw it on a newer fixie a while…
Brock Boland
  • 1,119
  • 3
  • 11
  • 16
12
votes
2 answers

Why are hand-built wheels considered to be better than machine-built wheels?

Why are hand-built wheels considered to be better than machine-built wheels? I would think that a machine-built wheel would be better and cheaper, since machines generally do a more precise job than humans.
user1049697
  • 4,208
  • 12
  • 35
  • 59
11
votes
3 answers

Two wheel sets, one bike - best approach?

I've got a mountain bike that I occasionally ride on the road, when I do I like to put on slick road tyres but it's a pain changing the tires each time. If I buy a second set of wheels what is the best approach? Do I need to change cassette, and…
Dog Ears
  • 609
  • 3
  • 7
  • 14
10
votes
5 answers

What is the maximum weight that "normal" racing wheels can withstand?

I was recently in a bike-shop where the proprietor told me that the "normal" racing wheels of the more advanced bikes are normally only rated to carry 85kg. For example, he mentioned the Bianchi Maddux RX 5.1 as being unsuitable for a 95+kg person……
Paul Wagland
  • 587
  • 1
  • 4
  • 13
9
votes
6 answers

Making the pedals on my kid's bike rotate when I push so he'll learn to pedal

I bought a 12" bike with support wheels for my kid. He is 2.5 years old. He is not pedaling the bike, so I push the bike from the back. The bike moves forward, the wheels rotate, but the pedals do not move. Since the pedals do not move, my kid just…
anand
  • 91
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
9
votes
2 answers

Does a rear wheel work up front?

Assuming that the wheel will fit in the drops, will a rear wheel (minus the freewheel/cassette) work for a front wheel? What kind of problems could this present? I happen to have a spare back wheel for my bike (without the freewheel on it) and…
BPugh
  • 2,371
  • 2
  • 23
  • 42
7
votes
5 answers

For touring bicycles, how much stronger is a 26'' vs 27.5'' wheel

One reason to pick 26" over 27.5" is that 26" has shorter spokes which "require more external effort/stress to bend." Is it possible to express in numbers (quantify) how much stronger are 26" compared to 27.5"?
AhseemHermanson
  • 425
  • 2
  • 10
7
votes
2 answers

How do I remove the front axle from a sealed bearing hub?

I'm trying to remove the axle from my front wheel to fit it into a box. But the axle doesn't want to come out. I've been able to take all the bits off of one side, but I can't remove the ones from the other side, the axle is just spinning while I…
jhulme
  • 71
  • 1
  • 2
7
votes
2 answers

Can I replace my 650c wheels with a more standard size?

I have a Bianchi eros with 650c wheels. My back wheel was driven into and is now buckled and I am finding it very difficult to replace it without spending hundreds of pounds. Is there another wheel size that I can use instead of the 650c that will…
Maya Amin-Smith
  • 71
  • 1
  • 2
7
votes
2 answers

Quick release wheel is either too tight or not tight enough

My front inner tube popped yesterday so I changed it, but when I put the wheel back on the bike I couldn't seem to tighten it properly without it being too tight, or not tight enough. If it was too tight, the disc brake would be rubbing and I…
Keith
  • 71
  • 1
  • 2
1
2 3
…
9 10