A method of making a work piece without the use of an auxiliary anode and a work piece created using the method are provided. The work piece includes a main face being generally planar. The work piece also includes a first area comprising a plateable resin configured to be plated using the plating process without the auxiliary anode and having a first current density during the plating process. Additionally, the work piece includes a second area comprising a non-plateable resin configured to not be plated using the plating process without the auxiliary anode. The first area and the second area are determined by a process referencing a predetermined minimum current density value with the first current density being greater than the predetermined minimum current density value.

Self-locking nipple for attaching wheel spoke to wheel part. The self-locking function of the nipple is created by deforming the nipple body in a rotationally symmetrical way and over a predetermined axial distance, such that such a narrowed part is created in the internal screw-thread of the nipple which is rotationally symmetric with respect to the longitudinal axis of the nipple and extends over only one to two windings of the internal screw-thread.

A bicycle rim includes a radially outer peripheral part, a radially inner peripheral part, at least one first slanting member, and at least one intermediate member. The at least one first slanting member radially extends between the radially outer peripheral part and the radially inner peripheral part in a first direction slanted with respect to a radial direction of the bicycle rim as viewed in an axial direction of the bicycle rim. The at least one intermediate member is disposed between the radially outer peripheral part and the radially inner peripheral part.

A coupling structure for coupling first and second wheel pieces includes (a) a radially-positioning coupling including a radially-positioning protrusion and a radially-positioning recess, (b) a circumferentially-positioning coupling including a circumference protrusion and a circumference protrusion-receiving recess and (c) an axially-positioning coupling including an arm and a claw receiver. As a result, even eliminating welding and coupling by a bolt, it is possible to couple the first and second wheel pieces securely by a physical coupling such as fitting, engaging, inserting and press-fitting.

A bicycle rim comprises a base member, a cover member, and a spoke attachment member. The base member includes a truss structure that defines at least one opening. The cover member at least partly covers the at least one opening of the base member. The spoke attachment member is a separate member from the base member and the cover member. The spoke attachment member is non-rotatably attached to the base member.

A preform for fabricating a wheel rim and a method of making a preform is provided. The preform includes a main section and at least one secondary section, each section being formed from composite materials, such as triaxially braided composite material that includes fibers oriented in at least three directions. The main section forms at least part of a lateral section of the preform and the secondary section forms at least part of a radial portion of the preform, the radial portion of the preform being generally perpendicular to the lateral section of the preform. The preform is fabricated from a plurality of composite layers, at least some being custom composite layers having a plurality of axial fibers interwoven intermittently with substantially consistent first and second sets of biased fibers. In some embodiments, the preform is initially fabricated in an intermediate configuration prior to being moved to a final configuration.

A spoke for an at least partially muscle-powered bicycle and wheel including a spoke where the spoke comprises a spoke body with a hub-side, first end and a rim-side, second end and the first end and the second end are remote from one another. The spoke body is elongated and includes at least one first center region disposed closer to the first end than to the second end, and at least one second center region disposed closer to the second end than to the first end. The first center region and in the second center region of the spoke body each include flattened cross-sections substantially accommodated in a longitudinal plane. In the second center region the spoke body is configured more asymmetric than in the first center region.

A rim portion of a vehicle wheel has an outer flange portion. In a region of the outer flange portion, a space portion between spoke portions is disposed on a radial-direction inner side, a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface are provided. The first inclined surface is provided on an axial-direction outer side of an outer flange outer circumferential portion. The second inclined surface is on an axial-direction outer side of an outer flange inner circumferential portion. The first inclined surface is formed to incline from the axial-direction outer side toward an axial-direction inner side as the first inclined surface extends from a radial-direction outer side end toward the radial-direction inner side. The second inclined surface is a surface formed to incline from the axial-direction inner side toward the axial-direction outer side as the second inclined surface extends from the radial-direction outer side toward the radial-direction inner side.

A carbon fiber wheel rim is disclosed. The carbon fiber wheel rim is corresponding disposed between two braking elements, and includes a rim body and a reinforcing layer. The rim body is made of a carbon fiber composites material. The reinforcing layer is disposed on a surface of the rim body, wherein the reinforcing layer is made of a fibrous veil having an isotropy.

A road wheel for a vehicle includes a central portion and a rim portion. The central portion defines a wheel axis and is formed from a first material. The central portion includes a plurality of spokes extending radially outwardly from a lug member defined by the central portion. Each of the spokes is interconnected to a link disposed at a distal end of the spokes. The rim portion is formed from a second material and defines a tubular wall being coaxial with the wheel axis. The rim portion including an interlock configured to receive the link for interconnecting the central portion with the rim portion.