A Few Good Reasons To Upgrade Your Wheels
Whether you are talking about road, cross-country, downhill, commuter, or BMX bikes, the reason for a good pair of wheels remains the same.
Stock wheels are often there to "get you by" and are far too often left inadequate even on higher-end
bikes when all the other components are absolutely top-notch! Don't get me wrong, many bikes come equipped with wheelsets that work well enough that you may never find a need to change them. This article is simply to point out a few reasons to consider an upgrade.
Let's look at a few of the more common issues with stock and inexpensive wheels. First, even if the wheelset itself is strong, the likely downside is the weight of the components that make up the wheel itself. A wheel is made up of 3 main parts:
Wheel technology is ever changing and much faster than we can keep up with. We often think of wheels in 3 ways: cost, strength, and weight. There are far too many reasons as to the how's and why's of wheel components in terms of weight, strength, etc.; but to keep it short we'll just say that it is all through design and materials.
- Hub: Center component that holds your cassette which is held center by one end of the spokes.
- Spokes: Spoke and spoke nipples are the interface between the hub and rim. They also give the wheel most of its strength (through tension).
- Rim: Outer most part of the wheel that is connected via spokes. This part of the wheel is often where the "integrity" of the wheel comes from and makes up a majority of the weight.
Wheel technology is ever changing and much faster than we can keep up with. We often think of wheels in 3 ways: cost, strength, and weight. There are far too many reasons as to the how's and why's of wheel components in terms of weight, strength, etc.; but to keep it short we'll just say that it is all through design and materials.
Most folks look at a wheel and see a round object, but wheels really are a marvel of engineering. Even if they are only made with "fair" or "mediocre" components, they can be remarkably strong and exceptionally well suited to cycling.
One of the cost cutting areas where manufacturers save money is building a wheel via machine instead of a good hand-build. While machines can do many things well, none can build a wheel like a person with the know-how. Truing and tensioning a wheel is a delicate process and could be compared to tuning a string instrument.
One of the cost cutting areas where manufacturers save money is building a wheel via machine instead of a good hand-build. While machines can do many things well, none can build a wheel like a person with the know-how. Truing and tensioning a wheel is a delicate process and could be compared to tuning a string instrument.
So what should you look for in a wheel and how can new wheels benefit you?
- Ride Quality: Wheels are the primary contact point to the ground; they have a lot to do with how the ride feels as it moves over terrain, during braking, and acceleration. For example, a BMX wheel is made to withstand the short and stout with usually 2x as many spokes as a road or mountain bike wheel. This is to help it resist flex and withstand large impacts. Typically, ride quality is measured in compliance and comfort.
- Reliability: As touched on above, wheel reliability will stem from various parts that come together to form a system that works in harmony; the wheel. There are no silver bullets for wheels, meaning no one wheel will work 100% in all circumstances. Choosing a wheel that fits your needs is usually more important then the cost. A wheel for commuting, for example, should not only be strong, but should be picked with the mindset of low maintenance, and while you may want a light wheel set for commuting, it is not a "must" have as it would be if you were racing.
- Reliability: As touched on above, wheel reliability will stem from various parts that come together to form a system that works in harmony; the wheel. There are no silver bullets for wheels, meaning no one wheel will work 100% in all circumstances. Choosing a wheel that fits your needs is usually more important then the cost. A wheel for commuting, for example, should not only be strong, but should be picked with the mindset of low maintenance, and while you may want a light wheel set for commuting, it is not a "must" have as it would be if you were racing.
- Pedaling: Best place to begin is with inertia; not familiar with it? It's easy: Inertia is the resistance of any physical object to a change in its state of motion or rest. In other words, a wheel ability to accelerate or stop is directly related to it's weight. On a bike, inertia also effects the way a bike reacts to steering. Typically speaking, less weight means more efficient use of energy, but usually at the loss of strength or much higher costs.
Wheels are argueably the hardest working components on your bike! They absorb the forces that your tires don't, they flex when your frame doesn't and they take all the stresses from your acceleration and braking. It's precisely these reasons why it's so important to spend the time and money on finding the proper wheels for your bike. Spending your money wisely on a pair of quality "purpose" built wheels will help to ensure they'll keep your world spinning for years to come.
Tip: Create a checklist before you look for that next wheelset:
- Rider Weight
- Purpose:
- Discipline: Mountain, Road, Commuting, BMX, etc.
- Racing, Stunts, Jumping, Light Weight, Maintenance
- Type of Brakes
- Rim, Disc, or both?
- Type of Rim
- Clincher (Tubed), Tubeless, Tubular (Glue-on)
- Material: Carbon, Aluminum, etc.
- Write down a paragraph or two about your intent and goals for the new wheels.
- Budget
- List of Quality known wheel builders
Don't be shy to call bike shops, ask friends, even someone you meet in public that might have a wheel that catches your eye. How do they like it? Who build it? Cost? What has the maintenance been like? Cost of broken or replacement parts? How long have you owned them? Miles on them?
