Wheel Terminology

Speed
On a bicycle the principle of speed can be explained in a few different ways. There is the obvious traveling speed or linear motion of a bicycle generated from the force of the rider, this measure is produced through the revolution and speed of the wheel. Wheel speed is important on a bicycle as it carries momentum through the effect of centrifugal force, or creates a flywheel effect. This helps increase your average speed on the flat and in disciplines such as time trials or triathlons. Bouwmeester wheelsets have been designed to enhance these elements of speed while also paying critical attention to the overall performance mix.

Aerodynamics
What is aerodynamics? The word comes from two Greek words: aerios, concerning the air, and dynamis, which means force. Aerodynamics is the study of forces and the resulting motion of objects through the air. With all forward motion on a bicycle the greater the speed the more energy needs to be expended to produce it and overcome the airs resistance. In turn, the more aerodynamic a bicycle is, the less energy you need to produce to increase your speed. Our rim profiles offer optimum aerodynamics to minimize wind drag, where every second counts, and at hundreds of revolutions a minute aerodynamics is critical in an elite wheelset.

Acceleration
Acceleration on a bicycle is largely effected by the weight of the wheels. The heavier the wheels the more mass there is to be spun up to speed and inturn more force or energy needed to generate the acceleration. Whether your discipline is road racing, criteriums, time trials or triathlons there will always be corners, breakaways, small hills and finishes where a quick burst of acceleration will make the difference. The lighter the wheel the easier this burst of acceleration can be. Our wheels have been designed with this in mind, from our lightweight hill climbing wheelsets through to deep section time trial and triathlon wheels, all have been designed to produce swift acceleration.

Lightweight
As outlined in acceleration and speed weight plays a critical part in the performance of a wheel. A lightweight wheelset can give a rider big gains in all cycling disciplines, whether it is in the hills or battling for position in the peleton. The lighter the wheelset is, the quicker the acceleration can be produced with less energy expenditure. However there is a balancing act with the gains from lightweight wheels, such disciplines such as time trials and triathlons will benefit from the extra weight a deeper section rim may have. As these cycling disciplines are typically raced on non hilly courses the weight in the wheels can be an advantage, this is due to the momentum the wheel can carry as mentioned in the speed explanation. Our wheels have been designed and developed to meet the needs of the different cycling disciplines and are weighted accordingly.

Strength
Strength is critical in an elite wheelset as every watt of power lost through poorly designed and manufactured wheels will cost you seconds. There are so many factors that contribute to the strength of a wheelset; Rim profile design, choice of material properties and configuration, manufacturing technology, spoke type, lacing pattern and build quality including pre-stressing and controlled tension. These and many other factors play a critical role in transferring the power you produce and putting it on the road. Bouwmeester’s design and development team are able to produce an exceptionally laterally and torsionally stiff wheelset while still maintaining the excellent ride qualities our wheels are renowned for.