An aerodynamic bicycle rim, the bicycle rim comprising a circumferential clincher portion adapted to seat a clincher bicycle tire, a nose a set of sidewalls, each sidewall extending radially from the nose to a respective circumferential outer edge to form a rim body having a maximum rim body width that is greater than a maximum width of the clincher bicycle tire and spaced radially inward of the clincher portion and radially outward from a centerline of the rim body. The aerodynamic bicycle rim seats the clincher bicycle tire to form an asymmetrical cross-sectional shape in which the widest part of the rim body is spaced from a centerline of the asymmetrical cross-sectional shape and there is a tangent line tangent to the clincher bicycle tire and a sidewall of the set of sidewalls, the tangent line tangent to the sidewall radially inward from the respective circumferential outer edge.

Disclosed herein are systems and techniques for producing complex components using a reinforced thermoplastic material. The complex components can include contoured or curved outer surfaces, and in some cases define a cavity. In certain examples, one or more thermoplastic materials are arranged to form a wheel component, such as that adapted to define a rim of the bicycle. Thermal bonding can be used to join multiple reinforced thermoplastic materials to one another in order to form a cavity of the wheel component or other complex shape. In certain examples, a portion of a tooling assembly can be pressurized to maintain a shape of the cavity during thermal bonding and cooling. This can remove the need for a sacrificial bladder or other structure that would maintain the shape of the cavity, allowing for a seamless final component, optionally absent indicia of bladder exit or other seams.

A rim assembly for a bicycle wheel is disclosed. The rim assembly comprises: a rim configured to receive a rim component in an external surface thereof, and; a rim component located in the external surface of the rim, wherein the rim component forms part of the external surface of the rim, and wherein; the rim component has a lower density than the rim. A rim, insertable rim component and methods of manufacturing such a rim assembly are also disclosed.

A vehicle wheel rim including: a tire bed surface having laterally spaced first and second bead seats that are configured to support respective first and second beads of a mating tire; and a rim well laterally positioned between the first and said second bead seats and including a circumferential first step edge; and a first lateral offset region laterally positioned between the first bead seat and the first step edge, with the first step edge extending radially inwardly from the first lateral offset region and configured to provide for lateral alignment registration and/or visual alignment and placement of a first edge of a mating rim strip. The rim strip is a circumferential element that radially outwardly overlaps the rim well and extends laterally inwardly from the first step edge. The first step edge is radially inboard of the first bead seat.

Disclosed herein are systems and techniques for producing complex components using a reinforced thermoplastic material. The complex components can include contoured or curved outer surfaces, and in some cases define a cavity. In certain examples, one or more thermoplastic materials are arranged to form a wheel component, such as that adapted to define a rim of the bicycle. Thermal bonding can be used to join multiple reinforced thermoplastic materials to one another in order to form a cavity of the wheel component or other complex shape. In certain examples, a portion of a tooling assembly can be pressurized to maintain a shape of the cavity during thermal bonding and cooling. This can remove the need for a sacrificial bladder or other structure that would maintain the shape of the cavity, allowing for a seamless final component, optionally absent indicia of bladder exit or other seams.

An aerodynamic bicycle rim comprising: a circumferential outer portion comprising a circumferential outer surface, the circumferential outer portion adapted to seat a bicycle tire; a nose; and a set of sidewalls, each sidewall extending radially from the nose of the aerodynamic bicycle rim to a corresponding transition to the circumferential outer surface to form a rim body having a maximum rim body width that is greater than a maximum width of the bicycle tire. The aerodynamic bicycle rim is operable to seat the bicycle tire so that the aerodynamic bicycle rim and the bicycle tire form an asymmetrical cross-sectional shape.

A sub-air chamber member includes: a lower surface portion disposed proximate to the outer circumferential surface of the well portion; an upper surface portion disposed radially outside of the lower surface portion; a pair of edge portions engaging with the well portion. A space portion is positioned above the upper surface portion, the space portion being formed by a part of the upper surface portion and an inner wall surface of the well portion. A strong axis of principal axes of a section of the sub-air chamber member perpendicular to an axis of the sub-air chamber member is inclined by a first predetermined angle relative to a wheel width direction Y.

The present invention provides a single-point reinforcing structure for spoke of bicycle rim which includes a left side wall and a right side wall continuously extending along a circumferential direction of the bicycle rim. The left side wall and right side wall are formed at the left side and the right side of the bicycle rim respectively and are symmetrical to each other. A surface of the left side wall and a surface of the right side wall opposite to each other are connected through a connecting wall. The upper ends of the left side wall and the right side wall extend upward toward a direction close to a symmetry axis and are connected. The left side wall, the right side wall, and the connecting wall are surrounded to form an upper cavity of the bicycle rim. A plurality of connecting holes are arranged on the upper cavity.

A bicycle wheel comprises a rim and a valve assembly. The rim includes a radially inner wall having an inner opening and a radially outer wall having an outer opening. A first portion of the rim includes a first securing feature (e.g., inner threads). The valve assembly is positioned in the inner opening and outer opening and includes a second securing feature (e.g., outer threads) engaging the first securing feature. The rim can include a plate that defines the first engaging feature. The valve assembly preferably includes a valve stem and a resilient bumper coupled to the valve stem and aligned with a second portion of the rim. The valve assembly can further include a seal member compressed between the valve stem and the rim. Preferably, the seal member is positioned in an annular groove in an underside of an enlarged head of the valve stem.

Embodiments described herein provide aerodynamic bicycle rims and wheels. Embodiments can include a bicycle rim that is wider than the width of the tire proximate to the outer edge of the rim and is shaped so that there is a tangent line tangent to the rim and the tire. The tangent line can be tangent to the rim on the sidewall or elsewhere on the rim. The widest part of the rim can be radially inward from the outer edge of the rim or elsewhere on the rim and the tangent line can be tangent at the widest part of the rim or elsewhere on the rim.