Pale Rider
Legendary Member
Waiting for the Brommie to stop the other day, I reflected on how brake blocks act on wheels.
On my first bike - a Rudge - the brake blocks pulled against the surface of the wheel next to the spokes.
These days, brake blocks squeeze against a flat surface on the wheel which is in the same plane as the sidewall of the tyre.
Older wheels didn't have this surface, the rim profile was more or less flat.
I wonder why the design of wheels changed?
On my first bike - a Rudge - the brake blocks pulled against the surface of the wheel next to the spokes.
These days, brake blocks squeeze against a flat surface on the wheel which is in the same plane as the sidewall of the tyre.
Older wheels didn't have this surface, the rim profile was more or less flat.
I wonder why the design of wheels changed?