Bicycle Wheels Articles & Videos

• How to Build a Bicycle Wheel Cart

  If you've been in a foreign country you may have noticed bicycle ice cream or snow cone carts. Bicycle wheel carts have been around for a long time. Third world countries use them as mobile vending stands and for hauling produce to market.… read more

• What Is a Hub Flange on a Bike Rim?

  Every bicycle rim has has a multitude of parts that each serve a specific function. The hub flange is found on the hub of a bike wheel and provides a place for the spokes. read more

• How to Rebuild a Bicycle Wheel

  Bicycling is a lifetime sport that all ages can enjoy, but because of the nature of the sport, sometimes your wheels are damaged or destroyed. Buying new wheels can be expensive and time-consuming. Rebuilding the wheels yourself is an alter… read more

• The Best Bike Wheels

  Bike wheels do a lot more than support bike tires--they provide shock absorption, rolling efficiency, as well, and they need to do all that while staying as light as possible. While a wheel's emphasis may vary depending on the type bike, th… read more

• Low Spoke Vs. Traditional Bicycle Wheels

  As cyclists have looked for ways to go faster, they've given thought and attention to the wheels of their bikes. Bicycle wheels that are lighter and offer less air resistance allow cyclists to increase their speeds without having to increas… read more

• How to Repair Warped Bicycle Wheels Using the Spokes

  Warped wheels are common on bicycles. The degree of the warp may vary, but all it takes is a jolt from the road or some other object to loosen one or more of your spokes. Tension on the spokes defines the shape and strength of your wheel. W… read more

• Bicycle Wheel Components

  A bicycle wheel is more intricate than it might initially appear. For the bicycle wheel to operate, a series of components must be assembled and properly adjusted. Combined, these components contribute to the speed, feel, durability and ove… read more

• How to Lace a Bike Wheel

  An important step in building a bicycle wheel is lacing. Lacing the spokes means arranging the spokes in the wheel to match up to a certain pattern. Lacing is done in many different patterns, but the most popular is 3-cross. This means each… read more

• How to Troubleshoot a Bicycle Wheel That Does Not Turn

  Planning a bike ride only to discover a frozen wheel puts a damper on your trip. Frozen wheels, or wheels that do not turn, are a common form of internal component damage. Riding your bike introduces it to dust, debris and water, which slow… read more

• How to Attach a Bicycle Wheel

  Frequent cyclists know all too well the dangers that can occur when cycling over rocky or difficult terrain such as gravel roads. If you've ever been cycling and damaged your tires or have driven your bicycle so many miles it's now time to… read more

• How to Replace a Bicycle Wheel

  As the only portion of your bicycle in contact with the ground, the wheel receives more than its share of abuse. Punctured inner tubes, broken spokes, worn hub bearings and damaged rims--these are just a few of the wheel repairs a cyclist m… read more

• The Best Carbon Bicycle Wheels

  For cyclists, sturdy wheels are an essential part of every ride. Wheels need to be lightweight and provide little resistance with maximal efficiency and durability. Carbon wheels are renowned for their low weight and high performance, but f… read more

• How to Replace the Back Wheel of a Bicycle

  Compared with the front wheel, the rear wheel of a bicycle can appear impossibly complex. Unlike the front wheel, the rear wheel is partly obscured by a derailleur, multiple cogs, and a portion of the drive chain. Fortunately in this instan… read more

• How to Straighten a Bike Wheel

  Even the best bike wheels can get crooked over time. This happens when wear and tear on the wheel rim causes loosening in some of the spokes on the rim. You can identify a crooked or misaligned wheel by spinning the wheel on its axle and ob… read more

• How to Balance a Bicycle Wheel

  A balanced wheel is defined as a wheel whose rim is laterally true. Viewing the wheel from above, the rim will be centered over the hub, with an even amount of axle on either side. For this to be possible, spokes have to be tensioned proper… read more

• How to Fix a Rear Bicycle Wheel

  A bicycle wheel's integrity, or strength, is largely dependent on the tension of its spokes. Spoke tension gives the wheel shape. When spokes are tensioned properly, the wheel is "true"; the wheel spins straight and the rim runs evenly past… read more

• How to Fix a Crashed Bicycle Wheel

  A warped wheel from a bicycle crash will never be completely as good as new, but you can bend it back into a functional shape. Severely damaged wheels may never be strong enough for racing, mountain biking or touring trips, but they will st… read more

• How to Lace a Bicycle Wheel

  If you have a good-quality bicycle hub you don't want to throw away, you can custom build a wheel around it. In your finished wheel, half of the spokes go into the right flange--the projecting collar on the hub--and half into the left. On e… read more

• How to Dish a Bicycle Wheel

  Wheel dishing is a method for determining whether the rim of the wheel is centered over its hub. When centered, the rim is known to be laterally (side to side) true. This means that opposing spokes are tensioned to a degree that positions t… read more

• How to Remove a Sprocket From a Bicycle Wheel

  Working in conjunction with the chain rings at the front of the bike, sprockets afford the cyclist a range of gears from which to choose. Shifting rear gears, the chain responds by moving onto the chosen sprocket. Sprocket teeth should perf… read more

• How to Change a Bicycle Wheel Bearing

  Good bearings keep a bicycle wheel spinning smoothly. The bearings are housed on either side of the hub, which occupies the center of the wheel and is the foundation of a properly maintained wheel. Bearings can become damaged when the greas… read more

• Bicycle Wheel Sprocket Removal

  Thanks to your sprockets, you can enjoy multiple gearing options while riding your bicycle. Sprockets come in different sizes, and when used in conjunction with the chain rings at the front of the bike, afford the cyclist a host of options… read more

• How to Adjust the Spokes on a Bike

  Rough pavement, obstacles and even the stresses of normal bicycle riding can warp your wheel's rim and cause unstable handling and rolling resistance. Adjustable spokes are used to take these little wobbles out of your rims. Learning this p… read more

• How to Clean Aluminium Bicycle Wheels

  Most bicycles, whether they're built for the road or the trail, come with aluminum wheels. These wheels are much lighter than the steel wheels that preceded them, and they last longer by resisting the elements and because they are made of a… read more

• How to Rebuild an Old Set of Bicycle Wheels

  Wheel building is a mark of the seasoned bicycle mechanic. Although the increased availability and relatively affordable price of used and replacement wheels has made wheel building less necessary, it is still a coveted skill. Knowing how t… read more

• How to Improve Bicycle Wheels

  Improving your bicycle wheels can directly improve your overall riding experience. Smooth turning, lightweight wheels are the foundation of an efficient bike. You can improve your bicycle wheels by administering regular maintenance and by m… read more

• The Advantages of Small Wheels on a Bicycle

  The wheels on adult bikes are typically between 26 and 28 inches, but some are much smaller. Some adult bicycle wheels are as small as 16 inches in diameter. Smaller wheels change the way a bike handles, providing both advantages and disadv… read more

• How to Repair a Spoke in a Bicycle Wheel

  Keeping your wheels under you is the most important lesson any cyclist knows. They learn it the first time a wheel goes flat and they have to walk five miles home or they slide on ice and land on the hard ground. Keeping your spokes intact… read more

• How do Bicycle Wheels Work?

  Comprised of many different parts, the bicycle wheel is a complex and amazing piece of equipment. Understanding how a bicycle wheel works provides interesting insight into this mechanical wonder. read more

• How to Remove a Shimano Freewheel

  At times, your bicycle will need repair due to wear, and one area often in need is the drivetrain. The rear freewheel is a significant part of your drivetrain and may need to be removed for replacement, lubrication, deep cleaning or even hu… read more

• How to Remove the Back Wheel on a Bicycle

  The rear wheel of any bicycle looks difficult to take off, with all the cogs jutting out; however, it's really not any more difficult than removing the front wheel. Learning to quickly remove the rear wheel will enable you to repair your re… read more

• Bicycle Wheel Rim Repair

  Whether you ride a mountain bike on rough trails or a street bike over asphalt and concrete, it is inevitable that you will suffer the odd bad bump or even crash. One result of these collisions could be a bent or warped bicycle rim. Simple… read more

• How to Build a Bicycle Wheel

  If you ride your bicycle a lot or hit rough patches, chances are your wheels will go out of true or get destroyed. The obvious answer is to buy a new wheel set, but that can be expensive. Often the parts to build the wheels are less expensi… read more

• How to Select & Buy Road Bicycle Wheels

  Bicycle wheels can be confusing pieces of equipment for new riders and seasoned racers alike. The sheer vastness of choices and continuously changing technology makes choosing wheels difficult. But there's no need to cache in your 1976 Rale… read more

• Tips for Building Bicycle Wheels

  Even to experienced cyclists used to doing their own bicycle maintenance, the idea of building a bicycle wheel from scratch out of the component parts of hub, rim, and spokes may seem intimidating. But given the right tools and practical ad… read more

• How to Fix a Warped Bicycle Wheel

  Warped wheels are an inevitable part of bicycle repair. Rough roads, wrecks and even normal riding wear can cause a wheel to bend or lose spoke tension, resulting in increased roll resistance and shaky handling. Learning how to straighten… read more

• Replacing Bearings in the Rear Wheel of a Bicycle

  Bicycle wheels are filled with ball bearings surrounding the spindle or axle shaft. The shaft rotates on the bearings, reducing friction and spinning freely. Over time, the wheel bearings of a rear wheel will become worn and not spin as eas… read more

• How to Replace a Spoke on a Bicycle Wheel

  Stress, strain and accidents can break a spoke on your bicycle wheel. A broken spoke should not be neglected, because it hurts the structural integrity of the wheel. Most bike shops sell a variety of spokes, and replacement is a job that's… read more

• Types of Bicycle Wheels

  Road bikes incorporate an array of technologies to improve performance, but one of the most fundamental on any road bike is the wheels. There are many companies engaged in the manufacture and marketing of bicycle wheels, since it's one of t… read more

• How to True a Bicycle Wheel

  When your bicycle wheel is not true, it's not round. As it rolls unevenly or from side to side, the rim of your wheel may interfere with your brakes, making it difficult and dangerous to ride. To take the wobble out of your wheel, you nee… read more

• How to Straighten a Bicycle Wheel

  It doesn't take much to bend a wheel or knock it out of alignment. As you use your bike, the nuts and bolts holding it together start to settle in, and your bike's wheel can begin to ride crooked. It is a good idea to check your bike wheel'… read more

• The Pros & Cons of Composite Bicycle Wheels

  Years ago, a cyclist didn't have much choice in the materials of their bike's wheels. Metal, particularly aluminum, was the material of choice in the design and build of bicycle wheels. In the last 20 years, composite materials, particularl… read more

• How to Put a New Tire on a Bicycle Wheel

  Replacing the tires on your bike is one of the easier repairs you can perform. This simple procedure should not require the help of a bike shop; most cyclists should be able to complete this task fairly quickly with a few basic tools. This… read more

• What is a Clincher Wheel on a Bicycle?

  Clincher wheels are so ubiquitous among recreational cyclists that even those who know how to change their own tires might not know there is any other bike wheel model. Their low cost and ease of maintenance makes them the standard wheel ty… read more