A wheel rim includes a rim body, two flanges and two reinforcing structures. The rim body surrounds an axis and is made of carbon fiber composite material. The flanges protrude radially and outwardly from an outer peripheral surface of the rim body, spaced apart from each other along the axis, are made of carbon fiber composite material, and define respectively two spaces therein. The reinforcing structures are respectively received in the spaces, and each of the reinforcing structures includes a plurality of fiber bundles fixed in a respective one of the flanges. Each of the fiber bundles includes at least two strands of carbon fibers being twisted.

A wheel including an inner hub portion configured to receive a vehicle axle therethrough and defining an axis of rotation at a center thereof. A plurality of wheel spoke portions extend generally between the inner hub portion and an outer rim portion. A clad spoke overlies each of the wheel spoke portions. Each of the clad spokes includes an outboard surface overlying an outboard side of the wheel spoke portion, a leading side surface overlying a leading side surface of the wheel spoke portion, and a trailing side surface overlying a trailing side surface of the wheel spoke portion. At least a segment of one of the leading side and trailing side surfaces of the clad spoke has a non-planar shape. A foam adhesive is disposed between the wheel spoke and the clad spoke and may overly the inboard surface of each of the wheel spokes.

A composite wheel assembly and method of construction thereof is provided. The composite wheel assembly includes a lightweight annular fiber-reinforced barrel having an inner surface and an outer surface configured to support a tire thereon. A lightweight metal central hub assembly is fixed to the barrel. The metal central hub assembly includes a central hub portion and plurality of support spokes extending outwardly from the metal central hub portion. A wheel cladding contrasting in at least one of material type, color, texture and surface finish to an outwardly facing surface of the central hub assembly is fixed to the outwardly facing surface of the central hub assembly.

A composite wheel assembly and method of construction thereof is provided. The composite wheel assembly includes a lightweight annular aluminum barrel having an inner surface and an outer surface configured to support a tire thereon. A lightweight metal central hub assembly is fixed to the barrel. The metal central hub assembly includes a central hub portion and plurality of support spokes extending outwardly from the central hub portion to free ends, wherein the free ends are fixed to the inner surface of the aluminum barrel. A wheel cladding contrasting in at least one of material type, color, texture and surface finish to an outwardly facing surface the central hub assembly is fixed to the outwardly facing surface of the central hub assembly.

A bicycle rim for carrying a tire. The rim includes a circumferential tire bed including first and second opposing edge regions a circumferential spoke face, and first and second side walls extending from the spoke face to the first and second edge regions, respectively. The first and second side walls include first and second side wall extensions radially extending from the first and second opposing side regions and terminating at first and second outer radial edges, respectively. Each of the first and second outer radial edges defining a maximum width that is at least 3.8 mm. The thickness of the first and second side wall extensions varies with respect to a central radial axis. The thickness of the first and second side wall extensions is greater at the first and second outer radial edges than at a location radially spaced from the first and second outer radial edges and adjacent to the first and second opposing end regions, respectively.

A composite wheel assembly and method of construction thereof is provided. The composite wheel assembly includes a lightweight annular aluminum barrel having an inner surface and an outer surface configured to support a tire thereon. A lightweight metal central hub assembly is fixed to the barrel. The metal central hub assembly includes a central hub portion and plurality of support spokes extending outwardly from the central hub portion to free ends, wherein the free ends are fixed to the inner surface of the aluminum barrel. A wheel cladding contrasting in at least one of material type, color, texture and surface finish to an outwardly facing surface the central hub assembly is fixed to the outwardly facing surface of the central hub assembly.

A composite wheel assembly and method of construction thereof is provided. The composite wheel assembly includes a lightweight annular fiber-reinforced barrel having an inner surface and an outer surface configured to support a tire thereon. A lightweight metal central hub assembly is fixed to the barrel. The metal central hub assembly includes a central hub portion and plurality of support spokes extending outwardly from the metal central hub portion. A wheel cladding contrasting in at least one of material type, color, texture and surface finish to an outwardly facing surface of the central hub assembly is fixed to the outwardly facing surface of the central hub assembly.

A bicycle rim for carrying a tire. The rim includes a circumferential tire bed including first and second opposing edge regions a circumferential spoke face, and first and second side walls extending from the spoke face to the first and second edge regions, respectively. The first and second side walls include first and second side wall extensions radially extending from the first and second opposing side regions and terminating at first and second outer radial edges, respectively. Each of the first and second outer radial edges defining a maximum width that is at least 3.8 mm.

A method for making a carbon fiber wheel rim includes: preparing an outer supporting piece; winding a carbon-fiber yarn around the outer supporting piece to form carbon fiber layers and to constitute an engaging seat preform; connecting an inner supporting piece to the engaging seat preform; connecting a reinforcement piece to the inner supporting piece; winding a carbon-fiber yarn around an assembly of the engaging seat preform, the inner supporting piece and the reinforcement piece to form carbon fiber layers; fixing the assembly with the carbon fiber layers to form an outer frame preform; and cutting the outer frame preform and the engaging seat preform to form a trench and removing the outer supporting piece therefrom.

A connection between a face portion (12) and a hub portion (14) of a composite wheel (10). The hub portion (14) comprises a generally disc shaped hub plate (16), and the face portion (12) comprises a plurality of spokes (18). The connection comprises an annular hub ring (22) surrounding the hub plate (16), the hub ring (22) comprising a plurality of layers of reinforcement fibers extending in an at least generally circumferential direction about the hub ring (22). The connection also comprises a first plurality of layers of reinforcing fibers (24) extending in a generally radial direction R relative to an axis of rotation of the wheel (10), and along a front face of each spoke (18), across a front edge (26) and an inner annular surface (28) of the hub ring (22) and across a front face (30) of the hub plate (16); and a second plurality of layers of reinforcing fibers (32) extending in a generally radial direction R along a rear face (33) of each spoke (18), across a rear edge (34) of the hub ring (22) and across a rear face (36) of the hub plate (6). The connection further comprises a third plurality of layers of reinforcing fibers (36), the third plurality of layers (36) of reinforcing fibers overlaying the first and second (1) layers of reinforcing fibers (24, 32), the third plurality of layers of reinforcing fibers 36 extending in a direction between +30 degrees and +60 degrees to the radial direction R; and a fourth plurality of layers of reinforcing fibers (40), the fourth plurality of layers of reinforcing fibers (40) overlaying the first and second layers of reinforcing fibers (24, (32), the fourth plurality of layers of reinforcing fibers (40) extending in a direction (20) between 30 degrees and 60 degrees to the radial direction R.