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 human-powered vehicle wheel unit adapted to be attached to a human-powered vehicle hub. The wheel unit includes an accommodation portion and a first engagement portion. The accommodation portion is configured to accommodate at least part of the human-powered vehicle hub. The first engagement portion is provided on the accommodation portion. The first engagement portion is configured to transmit rotation of the human-powered vehicle hub to the accommodation portion through engagement with a second engagement portion provided on a flange projecting from an outer circumferential portion of a hub shell of the human-powered vehicle hub.

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 low-speed vehicle wheel assembly includes a rim, at least three spokes, connectors, a central bearing seat, and bearings. Outer ends of the spokes are fixedly connected to an inner side wall of the rim through the connectors, respectively. Inner ends of the spokes are fixedly connected to an outer wall of the central bearing seat. The bearings are fitted in bearing holes of the central bearing seat, respectively. Because the rim and the central bearing seat are independent components, each component can be made with an independent mold and assembled according to the diameter of the wheel. The cost of the mold is lower, and the components are more versatile.

A nipple for spokes of spoked wheels includes a rod with an axial development, a threaded hole which is formed axially in the rod, the thread of the hole defining a root diameter and a crest diameter, a head which is widened with respect to the rod and a deformable insert which is inserted in a seat which is axially aligned with the hole and which is constructed in an axially intermediate position thereof. The insert, at least when it is inserted in the seat, has a passage for a threaded spoke end, the internal diameter of which is less than the root diameter of the thread of the hole so as to interfere with the thread of the spoke when it is screwed into the threaded hole.

A bicycle real wheel hub includes pulling spokes and static spokes connected to the disks thereof. The hub includes a tubular portion with two disks respectively connected to two ends of the tubular portion. Multiple protrusions protrude from the inner side of each disk. The head of each pulling spoke is secured to the protrusion corresponding thereto. The head of each static spoke is secured to the disks. The heads of the pulling spokes are located closer to the middle point of the tubular portion than the heads of the static spokes. When the hub rotates, the static spokes provide strength in the axial direction of the hub, and the pulling spokes have strong tension so that the hub bears higher torque.

Methods for wirelessly communicating with vehicle adapted to be at least partially powered by a human are disclosed. An example method may include transmitting data from a device remote from the vehicle and configured to communicate with the vehicle, receiving the data at the vehicle, and configuring a parameter of the vehicle based on the data.

A spoke attachment flange for a bicycle wheel hub is disclosed. The flange has a plurality of seats for housing enlarged spoke heads. Each spoke seat has an access hole that allows the insertion of the enlarged spoke head and an outlet opening that holds the enlarged spoke head when the spoke is tensioned. The access hole and the outlet opening are spaced circumferentially and connected through a connection channel so that an abutment surface abuts the enlarged head and prevents the enlarged head from exiting through the outlet opening. Methods for manufacturing the hub and mounting a spoke on the flange are also disclosed.

A damper assembly for a bicycle wheel assembly may include a first damper configured to be disposed about a hub assembly of the bicycle wheel assembly. The first damper is configured to apply a damping force against a spoke segment of at least one spoke of a plurality of spokes of the bicycle wheel assembly. The first damper includes a first end applying the damping force against the spoke segment.

A braking system is presented that comprises a brake sphere rotor that is mounted to the wheel hub of an axle. The braking system incorporates a caliper arm assembly that comprises at least one caliper arm. Each caliper arm further comprises hemispherical friction material located between the caliper arm and the brake sphere rotor.