Guide to Bicycle Wheel Parts and Bicycle Wheel Types

By Ilse Hagen

        A typical bicycle wheel consist of three major types namely the rim, spokes, and the tire. The rim is the part that secures the tires to the wheel and it is usually made of steel, aluminum alloy, or carbon fiber. Spokes, meanwhile, are the thin and usually cylindrical metal parts that connect the rim to the hub of the wheel. A regular bicycle wheel can have anywhere between 12 to 48 spokes at a time. Finally, the tire is the outermost part of the wheel. It is usually made of rubber and can be either tubular or clincher.

Types of bicycle wheels

In the same manner that there are different kinds of bicycles for different kind of cycling hobbies, there are also different kinds of bicycle wheel types. At the least, there are three basic bicycle wheel types that you can choose from. These are the racing bicycle wheels, mountain bike wheels, and BMX wheels.

Racing wheels, as the name implies, are the bicycle wheels you need if you want to enter a bicycle racing event. These wheels feature aerodynamic, lightweight spokes and tires that would allow you to ride fast through any given race track.

Meanwhile, mountain bike wheels are bicycle wheel types that are specifically designed for mountain biking. These tires usually have clincher tires and around 26-inch rims. They allow for easy biking through mountain trails because they feature lower air pressure tires that provide better shock absorption and traction.

Finally, there are the BMX wheels designed especially for BMX bicycles. They are usually shorter and wider than mountain bike wheels, which make them ideal for dirt tracks and jumps.

Given how the different types of bicycle wheels described above are designed for particular types of bicycles, it goes without saying that you must choose buy bicycle wheels according to what type of bicycle you own. This way, you can get maximum performance from both your bicycle and your bicycle wheels.