Impact Testing



THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT

Our impact tester is designed to simulate the extremes of riding in the real world, using a weight calibrated steel anvil to impact the wheel. Using adjustable height and weight, we can develop different impact energies to evaluate the impact resistance of the wheel at different points. We then measure at spokes, in between spokes and at the valve hole to ensure all parts of the wheel meets expectation.

One of the benefits of the paired spoke design is evident in this impact test. Since the spokes meet at the rim in pairs, the wheel stays true when the wheel is impacted. Spokes momentarily de-tension under the load of the impact but not cause the wheel to go out of true. In a conventionally laced wheel where the spokes alternate side to side where they meet the rim, the impact de-tensions only one spoke pulling from one side of the hub. This makes the wheel go momentarily out of true. In a single impact, this is less important but on a bumpy road of thousands of smaller impacts, the handling of the paired spoke design excels where other wheels feel less stable.

Whether it is in a paceline or a rock underneath the leaves, we know you are going to hit something.  Our impact testing is multi-faceted. We perform the standard required tests including the UCI test but we also test to a higher, harder standard. This is to make sure our rims can take the abuse we (and you) put into them.

Impacts also do not happen in a vacuum. What happens if you’ve been braking a lot on your carbon clinchers and then you drill the pothole? We cover that too. We heat our rims up and then impact them to ensure we have covered all the bases.

TEST BUT VERIFY

As has been said by politicians in the past and holds true for product development. Trust but verify. This is at the heart of our testing program. Good design begets good wheels and good testing helps confirm it was indeed good design.