Road bike wheels

Wheels, the first performance lever of a road bike

Wheels are the component that most affects the behaviour of a road bike: their weight, inertia, and aerodynamic profile influence acceleration, climbing, and speed on flat terrain. The weight located at the outer edge, in the rim and tyre, is more important than that of the hub since it has to be spun up again with each acceleration. The standard diameter is 700C, which is six hundred twenty-two millimetres at the rim's bead according to the ETRTO standard, and the internal width of the rim determines the range of tyres that it can accept.

The rest of the wheel

Wheels and tyres also come in various forms:

• Tyres.
• Tubes.
• Inner tubes.
• Pumps and Accessories.

Everything you need is gathered on the wheels and tyres page.

Rim height, braking, and fixing type

Rim height should be chosen based on the terrain: a low rim, lightweight and less affected by crosswinds, is suitable for mountainous rides; a high rim, ranging from forty to sixty millimetres, improves aerodynamics on flat roads. Braking is then crucial: a rim brake wheel has a machined track on the side of the rim, while a disc brake wheel has a rotor on the hub. The fixing follows the same logic: quick release at one hundred millimetres at the front and one hundred thirty at the back on most rim brake bikes, a twelve-millimetre thru-axle at one hundred and one hundred forty-two for disc bikes.

Freehub body, tubeless, and trueness control

The freehub body must match the cassette: Shimano HG for Shimano cassettes and many Sram eleven-speed cassettes, XDR for Sram cassettes with the smallest cog having ten teeth, a format specific to Campagnolo. A tubeless ready wheel can be fitted without an inner tube, using a sealed rim tape, a dedicated valve, and a sealant that plugs small punctures, allowing for lower pressure. Regularly check the trueness by spinning the wheel in front of the brakes, and have a workshop equipped with a tension meter handle any truing adjustments.

Good deals

Good bargains can also be found in the good deals, promotions, clearance, sales, Black Friday. The new arrivals showcase the latest collections, and the items shipped in 24h are prepared and dispatched within 24 hours. The key events of the year follow a stable order: Black Friday at the end of autumn, holiday season, winter sales, spring French Days, then summer sales and back to school.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can you tell if a road bike wheel is out of true?

Flip the bike over or place it on a work stand, then spin the wheel while watching the gap with the brake pads. If the rim gets closer and then further away on one side, or rubs in places, it is out of true and needs adjusting.

What width of tyre should be mounted on a road wheel?

It depends on the internal width of the rim, which is provided by the manufacturer along with the compatible tyre range. Most current road wheels accommodate tyres ranging from twenty-five to twenty-eight millimetres, provided there is enough space within the frame.

Can you fit a ten-speed cassette on a wheel designed for eleven speeds?

Yes, on a Shimano HG freehub for eleven-speed road, by adding a 1.485-millimetre spacer behind the cassette designed for that purpose. The reverse is usually impossible since the ten-speed freehub body is too short.

Does a tubeless ready wheel accept an inner tube?

Yes, a tubeless ready rim can also accommodate a regular tyre with an inner tube. This is handy in emergencies: if there’s a large cut that the sealant can't fix, simply remove the tubeless valve and install a tube.

Why is a rear road wheel asymmetrical?

The cassette occupies part of the hub on the transmission side: however, the rim still needs to be centred in the frame. The build compensates for this offset with different tension on each side, known as dish.