wheelset

Wheelset is the pair of bicycle wheels installed on a bicycle, typically consisting of a front wheel and a rear wheel. A wheelset includes the rims, hubs, spokes, and nipples that connect the components; tires and tubes, while commonly grouped with wheelsets when sold as a package, are usually installed separately on the rims. The wheelset represents a major portion of a bicycle’s rotating mass and influences ride quality, stiffness, weight, and braking or drivetrain performance.

Rims are available in clincher, tubeless, or tubular configurations and vary in width, diameter, and braking surface. Hubs provide the axle interface, bearings, and, on the rear wheel, the freehub body that accepts cassettes. Spokes and nipples attach the rim to the hub; their count, pattern, and tension contribute to the wheel’s stiffness and ride feel.

Wheels are built for durability and performance in various disciplines: road, mountain, gravel, and cyclocross. Common sizes include road wheels designed for 700c rims and mountain wheels in 29-inch or 27.5-inch diameters; disc-brake wheels use through-axles or quick-release hubs, and may require compatible freehub bodies and rotors. Tubeless-ready rims and tires eliminate inner tubes, reducing pinch flats and allowing lower pressures.

Materials range from aluminum alloy to carbon fiber, with carbon rims offering lower weight and stiffness at higher cost and different braking behavior, particularly in heat management for rim brakes. Wheel construction can be factory-built or hand-built, with higher-quality builds using precise spoke tensioning and trueing.

Maintenance involves regular truing, spoke tension checks, bearing service, and proper cleaning. Compatibility considerations include tire type, width, inner rim width, brake type, and hub standards such as through-axle sizing and freehub body interfaces.