A bicycle component comprises a first structural member made of a conducting material, an electrical insulation layer provided to the first structural member, and a second structural member configured to be attached to the electrical insulation layer by adhesive.

A lightweight wheel with high strength flexible spokes of the present invention, includes a rim and hub, and a plurality of lightweight, flexible and resilient spokes between the rim and hub made of fibrous material that causes the spokes to be both lighter in weight and stronger than comparable steel spokes. The wheel includes a nipple within the rim that receives the high strength spoke and allows for flexibility in adapting the spoke to wheels having differing shapes and sizes.

A method of manufacturing a rim includes placing at least one braided sleeve on a core dimensioned to define a shape of an internal wall of the rim. The method includes inserting the braided sleeves placed on the core, inside a mold that is dimensioned to define a shape of an external wall shape of the rim. The method further includes injecting a resin inside the mold to contact the mold and impregnate the sleeves and other layers with resin. The method also includes curing the resin to form the internal and external walls of the rim and obtain a cured rim having the core connected thereto. The method further includes removing the cured rim and core from the mold and melting the core to get it out of the rim.

A wheel with flexible spokes, including a rim and hub, and spokes between the rim and hub made of fibrous material that causes the spokes to be both lighter in weight and stronger than comparable steel spokes. The spokes are also flexible and resilient such that they can bend while retaining their integrity and strength.

A spoke attachment assembly configured to couple a rim to the spokes of a spoked bicycle wheel. The spoke attachment assembly comprises a nipple having an enlarged head and a stem provided with a coupling portion for coupling with a spoke, at least one shaped washer associated with the nipple and configured to abut on one side with the enlarged head of the nipple and, on the opposite side, with the rim and holding means configured to hold said at least one shaped washer associated with the nipple. The invention also relates to a spoked bicycle wheel and to a process for manufacturing such a wheel.

A tensile element connection, comprising first and second bracing elements and a tensile element having a first portion connected to the first bracing element and a second portion opposed to the first portion and connected to the second bracing element, and an applied tensile load along the tensile element. The tensile element includes a preformed rod that is comprised of reinforcement fibers in a matrix. At a temporarily elevated temperature greater than the service temperature, a localized region of the matrix is in a softened state of increased deformability such that a localized region of the rod is deformed under pressure to include a laterally outwardly projecting engagement surface. The tensile element is comprised of said rod with the engagement surface formed therein and is connected to one of the first and second bracing elements by means of an overlie engagement at the engagement surface to restrain the tension load.

A method of manufacturing a carbon fiber wheel rim is provided, including flowing steps of: preparing a core ring, including a core material which is disintegrable and annular; continuously obliquely winding at least one first dry carbon yarn around the core ring, to form a first semifinished rim; placing the first semifinished rim in a mold, and performing vacuuming, resin injection and thermoforming, to form a second semifinished rim; removing the second semifinished rim out of the mold, and disintegrating and removing the core material.

A bicycle rim printing apparatus comprises a non-contact printer to print a non-contact printed deposit to an annular rim body, a rim holder to hold the annular rim body, and a rotational actuator to rotate the rim holder relative to the non-contact printer about a rotational axis.

A wheel with high strength flexible spokes of the present invention, including a rim and hub, and spokes between the rim and hub made of fibrous material that causes the spokes to be both lighter in weight and stronger than comparable steel spokes. The spokes are also flexible and resilient such that they can bend while retaining their integrity and strength. The wheel includes a nipple within the rim that receives the high strength spoke and allows for flexibility in adapting the spoke to wheels having differing shapes and sizes.

A wheel with flexible spokes, including a rim and hub, and spokes between the rim and hub made of fibrous material that causes the spokes to be both lighter in weight and stronger than comparable steel spokes. The spokes are also flexible and resilient such that they can bend while retaining their integrity and strength.