A wheel includes a hub and a rim portion surrounding the hub. An outer surface of the rim portion defines a circumference of the wheel. The outer surface of the rim portion has a plurality of bead locks that are spaced from one another.

An adapter, for a rolling assembly having an axis of rotation and comprising a tyre (P) having two beads (B), and a rim (J), provides the connection between one of the beads (B) and the rim (J), the said rim having two rim seats (7), the said adapter having an axially inner end (10) intended to be mounted on the rim seat (7) and comprising an inner reinforcing element (16), the said reinforcing element (16) having a centre C.sub.2, an axially outer end (9) comprising an outer reinforcing element (15), the said reinforcing element (15) having a centre C.sub.1, a body (11) that connects the said outer end (9) to the said inner end (10) so as to form a single piece and comprises at least one main reinforcement that provides the connection between the said outer reinforcer and the said inner reinforcer, and comprises a first end (17A) and a second end (17B), a substantially cylindrical adapter seat (18) intended to receive one of the said beads (B), the said seat (18) being situated at the axially outer end (9) of the said body (11), an adapter bearing face (21) substantially contained in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation, the said bearing face being situated on the axially inner face of the axially outer end (9), and an overall length L and a length LT measured between the centres C.sub.1 and C.sub.2. The first end (17A) and the second end (17B) of the reinforcement are arranged one upon the other so as to form an overlap.

A wheel includes a hub and a rim portion surrounding the hub. An outer surface of the rim portion defines a circumference of the wheel. The outer surface of the rim portion has a plurality of bead locks that are spaced from one another.

An adapter, for a rolling assembly having an axis of rotation and comprising a tyre (P) having two beads (B), and a rim (J), provides the connection between one of the beads (B) and the rim (J), the said rim having two rim seats (7), the said adapter having an axially inner end (10) intended to be mounted on the rim seat (7) and comprising an inner reinforcing element (16), the said reinforcing element (16) having a centre C.sub.2, an axially outer end (9) comprising an outer reinforcing element (15), the said reinforcing element (15) having a centre C.sub.1, a body (11) that connects the said outer end (9) to the said inner end (10) so as to form a single piece and comprises at least one main reinforcement that provides the connection between the said outer reinforcer and the said inner reinforcer, and comprises a first end (17A) and a second end (17B), a substantially cylindrical adapter seat (18) intended to receive one of the said beads (B), the said seat (18) being situated at the axially outer end (9) of the said body (11), an adapter bearing face (21) substantially contained in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation, the said bearing face being situated on the axially inner face of the axially outer end (9), and an overall length L and a length LT measured between the centres C.sub.1 and C.sub.2. The first end (17A) and the second end (17B) of the reinforcement are arranged one upon the other so as to form an overlap.

The present invention provides a bicycle rim assembly adapted to be coupled to a hub to create a bicycle wheel. The rim assembly includes a rim and a cover coupled to the rim. The rim defines a central plane and comprises an annular inner wall and an annular outer wall cooperating with the inner wall to define a cavity. The rim further includes annular projections spaced laterally relative to the central plane and extending substantially radially outwardly from the outer annular wall. The cover includes sidewalls disposed on lateral sides of the rim adjacent the projections, each sidewall including a lateral inner portion having a lateral thickness. The cover further includes an annular ring portion interconnecting the sidewalls, the annular ring portion including a radial thickness less than the lateral thickness of the lateral inner portion of the sidewalls. Preferably, the rim comprises a metallic material and the cover comprises a non-metallic material. For example, the rim can comprise aluminum or an epoxy matrix composite, and the cover can comprises a polymeric material, such as ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. In addition, a radial thickness of the entire cover is preferably substantially less than a radial thickness of the entire rim. In one embodiment, the projections include a laterally inwardly facing surface, a laterally outwardly facing surface, and a radially outwardly facing surface. In this embodiment, the cover engages at least a portion of each of the laterally inwardly facing surface, the laterally outwardly facing surface, and the radially outwardly facing surface. Preferably, each annular projection has a smoothly radiused radially outwardly facing surface, and each laterally outwardly facing surface that lies in a radial plane substantially parallel to the central plane.

The present invention provides a bicycle rim assembly adapted to be coupled to a hub to create a bicycle wheel. The rim assembly includes a rim and a cover coupled to the rim. The rim defines a central plane and comprises an annular inner wall and an annular outer wall cooperating with the inner wall to define a cavity. The rim further includes annular projections spaced laterally relative to the central plane and extending substantially radially outwardly from the outer annular wall. The cover includes sidewalls disposed on lateral sides of the rim adjacent the projections, each sidewall including a lateral inner portion having a lateral thickness. The cover further includes an annular ring portion interconnecting the sidewalls, the annular ring portion including a radial thickness less than the lateral thickness of the lateral inner portion of the sidewalls. Preferably, the rim comprises a metallic material and the cover comprises a non-metallic material. For example, the rim can comprise aluminum or an epoxy matrix composite, and the cover can comprises a polymeric material, such as ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. In addition, a radial thickness of the entire cover is preferably substantially less than a radial thickness of the entire rim.

In one embodiment, the projections include a laterally inwardly facing surface, a laterally outwardly facing surface, and a radially outwardly facing surface. In this embodiment, the cover engages at least a portion of each of the laterally inwardly facing surface, the laterally outwardly facing surface, and the radially outwardly facing surface. Preferably, each annular projection has a smoothly radiused radially outwardly facing surface, and each laterally outwardly facing surface that lies in a radial plane substantially parallel to the central plane.