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Learn More About
Topolino
Wheel Technology Here |
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 The bicycle
wheel is a beautifully efficient structure…
It is a relatively lightweight component, yet it can support tremendous
loads. Although the basic design has not changed much over the past century,
we decided to use our knowledge of the latest composite materials and
rethink the design, using these materials in a whole new way.
Taking advantage
of today’s materials...
For the spokes, we use a hybrid construction with Kevlar fibers alongside
carbon fibers, all within a thermoplastic resin matrix. The carbon fibers
provide superior stiffness, while the Kevlar adds tremendous toughness.
This unique material is incredibly strong and fantastically light. Topolino’s
composite spoke material is stronger than a 14g stainless steel spoke
and is only one-fifth the weight.
And light weight is only part of the story: the thermoplastic resin and
Kevlar/carbon fibers work together to significantly dampen road vibration,
for a difference you can feel.
We also use a special thermoplastic carbon fiber composite material for
the hub shell. It has strength matching that of aerospace aluminum, but
is 45% lighter.
But materials are only part of the story - getting the true performance
out of these incredible materials required a whole new approach to wheel
construction.
We go all the
way…
Rather than interrupting the Kevlar and carbon fibers, each spoke spans
diametrically across the whole wheel. This reduces spoke stress at the
hub and allows the continuous unbroken fibers in the spoke to span clear
across the wheel. 
With conventional steel spokes, the spokes are not well matched to the
hub flange. As any wheelbuilder knows, steel spokes must be manually bent
near the flange and forced into alignment to direct the spoke toward the
rim.
This creates a flex point in the spoke and it is this flex and squirm
of that is one of the main causes of spoke breakage due to fatigue.
In contrast, the Topolino hub is molded around the spokes to fully support
and align each spoke within the hub flange. The spokes are held in pure
tension, with none of the fatigue-inducing movement or flex that is characteristic
of conventional steel spokes.
Balanced construction…
Because the current nine and ten speed cassettes take up even more real
estate on the rear axle, the rear hub flanges have an unbalanced offset
as compared to the rim centerline. The result of this offset is a significant
difference in spoke tension between the drive-side and non drive-side
spokes that is the Achilles heel of rear wheels. Some designers have attempted
to balance the tension by moving the flanges closer together. While this
may balance the tension to some degree, the narrower flange spacing does
nothing to help the lateral strength and stiffness of the wheel.
At Topolino, we have chosen a different route. Our rear wheel utilizes
50% more spokes on the drive-side flange. This creates a far more balanced
spoke tension and also significantly improves the lateral strength of
the wheel.
Sensible spoke
count…
Since our spokes are so light, there is virtually no weight penalty for
adding a few more. This allows us to use what we call a "sensible
spoke count". We lace our front wheels with 24 spokes and the rear
with 30 spokes. As compared to the current trend in low spoke-count wheels,
adding a few more spokes results in far better stress distribution around
the rim. We are able to use a much lighter rim for lower rotating inertia
while, at the same time, building a stronger wheel.
Aerodynamics…
While our focus was to create the lightest, strongest wheels on the planet,
we paid close attention to aerodynamics as well. So, we formed those special
Kevlar spokes into a bladed aero profile and we also use a semi-aero rim
section.
Not only are these wheels light, but they slice through the wind as well.
Modular
construction…
Even though we packed a whole bunch of technology and innovation into
these wheels, they were designed to be repairable and to exist in the
real world.The spokes and hub are built as modular "wheel halves"
that are laced to the rim in a conventional fashion. This means that,
if a wheel does become damaged (in a crash, for instance), the individual
parts are all replaceable using conventional tools and the wheel may be
easily rebuilt to live again.
Still interested
to learn more? Click here for
more Technical Info. |
Copyright
© 2006 Topolino Technology. All rights reserved.
spokes: