September 22, 2019 5 Comments
Nothing beats riding in newly arrived Fall weather. In the north hemisphere, those start now! Zipping through scenery colored with seasonal change, feeling the lingering warmth of Summer, such a magical experience—an invigorating and restorative tonic that reaches the core of our human experience. Frankly, despite my attempt, it’s well beyond words.
Much of cycling is this way and doesn’t get better with analysis. Still, I find it irresistible to consider all the variables from physics to aesthetics, after the ride. Maybe I'm just trying to keep the endorphins coming!
On my list of leisure pursuits are podcasts and essays by well informed bicycle experts who do their best to demystify as well as entertain. We benefit from a fine selection of such voices these days. Near the top of anyone's list...should be Josh Poertner’s “Marginal Gains” podcast. Last month (Aug/2019) #006 included some interesting discussion—“What’s going on when the dish changes the first time a tire is mounted on a new wheel?” Find it about 18:00 in.
This topic does not get the attention it deserves. Thankfully, Ryan Morse poses the question. Josh’s answer only touches lightly on the issue, it’s covered in more detail here.
Summary
Bicycle wheels lose a measurable amount of tension when a tire is mounted and inflated. Historically, this amount was insubstantial and no dedicated counter measures were needed. But today, owing to two recent trends, we have perfect storm that spells trouble and confusion.
Outcome
Some rims shrink way too much with tight tires and can lose 50% or more of their tension and asymmetric ones (all rears and disk fronts) become uncentered in the frame.“Tension drop” is worrisome and there is little consensus about what to do once a bad rim design is in the workshop.
Hats off to Josh’s podcast for hosting the topic. However, it isn't enough to suggest builders finish only with the target tire mounted and inflated. That means:
Yes, for a team mechanic—there is no choice. For the rest of us, this is too much to ask. Rims and tires should never interact this way (30-80% tension drops and associated dishing changes). It is unnecessary, sabotages the tensioned structure, offers no benefit, and will historically look pretty damn stupid. It introduces liability issues that could take decades to heal. If you can think of a similar mechanical nightmare from cycling’s past, please advise.
This is not just a product of unripe, emerging technology with which we must be patient. This is reckless design with inadequate engineering—driven by ignorance and lust for the illusion of innovation. Our industry is not the worst for this sort of issue but it's extremely embarrassing after decades of relative stability and dependability in wheel design. I am certain this would not have been tolerated by many wheel builders of the past. I can name a few who must be rolling eyes (or in their graves) over such nonsense.
Josh concludes the section by praising wheel industry players who have great tools and insight such that they can work miracles. I am seeing quite the opposite; just glad not to daily deal with the issues that Ryan and other contemporary builders must.
Suggestions
So what’s a conscientious builder to do? I see several options:
Our situation is better than it might be and, as ever, a sound examination of the science helps in managing the problem. Please share your own observations and solutions!
February 12, 2024
Thanks for the usual detailed consideration of the complexities and issues surrounding rim tire interface as well as tension changes. Having measured an unusually high number of rims for stiffness in all directions including inflation force simulation I can say it seems a somewhat varied affect. The shape of the rim influences the change in tension from a given inflation pressure. No shapes can eliminate this, but some forms can reduce this considerably. One of the factors we noticed in measurements was the age old habit of making tire well using a single large radius tends to amplify this effect in all rim materials. When tire wells are convoluted or corrugated in form this tension change is reduced. We have some working theories as to why this is, and continue to measure and compare. With carbon rims it is especially difficult because even for a single brand single model of rim the bulk modulus can vary quite a lot. This has shown up in wide scatter in measurement of the changes from rim to rim. As for the bead, the beads do not constrict the rim and cause changes through such a force. As the tire is inflated the brake walls and hooks flex outward essentially lengthening the U form of the rim thereby reducing the ERD through changes in profile shape. I am of the opinion that this is the primary driver of the tension change, not the pressure compressing the circumference of the rim, although this force is a factor it isn’t the dominant factor. Additionally the profile form change is dominant in metallic rims, while in some CFRE rims it can be dominant but depending on the construction constriction becomes a meaningful factor. This is my 2 cents.
October 24, 2022
It’s my understanding that air pressure doesn’t affect the spoke tension drop very much. It’s almost entirely due to the tire bead squeezing down on the bead shelf part of the rim.
November 02, 2021
According to folks at DT, going above 120kgf on a bare wheels, can crack hub flanges when a flat happens and tension increases quickly. Locking nipples, such as Sapim Securlock or DT Prolock seem to help prevent low tension spokes from unwinding.
November 02, 2021
I have read elsewhere that hub manufacturers need to take into account spoke tension so that their bearing races are not pulled too far apart once there is tension on the hub flanges. If they do this and then the wheel is detensioned once a tire is inflated on the wheel, does this again negatively affect the bearing races (causing too much friction)? Are there known hub manufacturers who take both these forces into account? Is there a particular point of inflation where the detensioning becomes acute (80 psi)?
Comments will be approved before showing up.
James S
February 12, 2024
This looks like the trade off of explore vs exploit. It makes sense to explore….who knows what will be discovered, and it could be the next big thing. However, as you point out, it makes sense to err on the side of caution once the stakes are high, such as flying down the side of a mountain at 60mph. Think Boeing 737, or closer to home, carbon steerers.