A method of manufacturing a spoke, including: reshaping a wire material to obtain a spoke blank by a forging device; wherein the spoke blank includes pre-stages of the central section and the end portions and the transition sections; and wherein the pre-stages of the central section and the end portions are forged cylindrically; the pre-stages of the transition sections are forged conically, so that they show a diameter decreasing in the direction of the central section; wherein the pre-stages of the transition sections are each manufactured in a length which differs by a maximum of one fourth from the pertaining length of the transition section; reshaping the spoke blank by a shaping tool, which reproduces a negative shape of the spoke body, so that the spoke body is generated; wherein at least the transition sections and the central section are each provided with a cross-sectional geometry different from their pre-stages.

A hub and a wheel having such a hub are provided. The hub includes a hub shell and an axle to rotatably receive the hub shell. The hub shell is provided with circumferential hub flanges serving for accommodation and defined orientation of a plurality of spokes. Each of the spokes has a spoke body and a spoke head. The hub flanges include a plurality of accommodation sections receiving a spoke head each. Each of the accommodation sections has one spoke feed-through assigned to it through which an accommodated spoke can be guided out of the accommodation section. The hub flange includes two different types of accommodation sections. A first type includes a circumferentially closed spoke feed-through and a second type, a circumferentially opened spoke feed-through.

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 bicycle spoke has a spoke body having two remote ends, a rim end, and a hub end. The elongated body includes a longitudinally flattened cross-section. The body includes a first end portion thickness at the hub end transverse to a longitudinal plane. The body includes a second end portion thickness at the rim-side end transverse to the longitudinal plane. The body includes in a first center region disposed closer to the first end portion than to the second end portion, a first center region thickness transverse to the longitudinal plane that is less than the first end portion thickness. In a second center region disposed closer to the second end portion than to the first end portion, the body has the flattened cross-section wherein the second center region includes a second center region thickness transverse to the longitudinal plane that is less than the first center region thickness.

A wind-diverting apparatus for minimally shielding only the faster-moving drag-sensitive uppermost wheel surfaces from headwinds reduces overall vehicle drag. The apparatus includes various upper wheel fairings of FIGS. 1-6. Each fairing shields a primary vehicle-drag-inducing upper wheel surface from headwinds otherwise impinging directly thereon.

The invention relates to a stable one piece wheel, which is particularly suitable for cycles having an increased system weight such as electrically powered bicycles or cargo bikes, and a method producing said vehicle wheel. Said vehicle wheel comprises an annular portion (110), a plurality of spokes (120) and a hub portion (130) integrally formed by mould injection of fibre reinforced or carbo nano tubes containing thermoplastic, wherein each of the plurality of spokes (120) comprise a substantially Z-shaped cross section with a middle leg (122) and a pair of outer legs (121, 123), wherein the angle (γ) enclosed by each of the pair of outer legs and the middle leg is greater than a right angle and wherein the length of the middle leg (122) increases from the annular portion (110) toward the hub portion (130).

A streamlined tailfin pivotably attached to a shaft-shaped member disposed on a vehicle provides for reduced drag in winds varying in direction impinging thereon.

An aerodynamically optimized drag-reduction means and method for optimal minimization of the drag-induced resistive forces upon a terrestrial vehicle wheel, where the drag-induced resistive moments on wheel surfaces pivoting about the point of ground contact are reduced, and the vehicle propulsive forces needed to countervail the resistive forces on the wheel are reduced. The drag reduction means includes: a streamlined wheel cover positioned on a vehicle to shield the faster moving upper wheel surfaces from headwinds; a streamlined wind-deflecting fairing positioned on a vehicle to shield the faster moving upper wheel surfaces from headwinds; an engine exhaust pipe disposed on a vehicle whereby exhaust gases deflect headwinds to shield the faster moving upper wheel surfaces of an automotive wheel; an automotive spoked wheel having streamlined oval-shaped wheel spokes arranged in one or more rows for greater axial strength; a streamlined tailfin rotatably attached to a wheel spoke, which thereby may pivot about the spoke in response to varying crosswinds; and a tire having streamlined tread blocks arranged in an aerodynamic pattern.

A vehicle wheel includes a hub portion attached to a vehicle, a substantially cylindrical rim portion, and a plurality of spoke portions connected to the rim portion and the hub portion. The plurality of the spoke portions have a window portion that penetrates in a wheel axial direction. An inclined surface is provided on a wheel back side of each of the spoke portions such that the inclined surface inclines toward a wheel front side from a center in a wheel circumferential direction toward the window portion. The inclined surface is provided at a portion including one end portion or both end portions in the wheel circumferential direction.

The present invention discloses a carbon fiber spoke and a manufacturing method thereof. The carbon fiber spoke includes a spoke body made of carbon fiber, a screw bushing that is fit and connected with rim and a nut cap bushing that is fit and connected with the hub. Two end parts of the spoke body are provided with solid joints. The outside surface of the solid joint is provided with a first tapered section. The screw bushing and the nut cap bushing are provided with penetrable mounting holes. The hole wall surrounding the mounting hole is provided with a second tapered section. The mounting hole of the screw bushing and the mounting hole of the nut cap bushing are respectively fixed to the two solid joints; the second tapered section of the mounting hole and the first tapered section of the solid joint are fit and connected together.