Do you really know your racing bike? Have you ever heard that wheels are one of the components that most influence your performance?
Let's find out together how wheels affect performance and analyze the other components every cyclist should pay attention to before getting on the saddle.
The bike system, a question of balance
Our racing bike is a historic machine, but technically marvelous.
Today, advanced technology, combined with the craftsmanship of builders, delivers increasingly mechanically perfect and high-performance bicycles. The secret to this marvel is the balance between the various components that underpin the mechanism capable of transferring the power of our legs to the asphalt.
This balance is made possible in particular by the components responsible for ensuring effective transmission, namely the gear shifter and wheels. The other fundamental component for cyclist safety is the braking system , which must obviously be responsive and effective.
Transferring energy to the asphalt: the importance of choosing a high-performance pair of wheels
It can be said that the wheel system is the direct link between the power of a cyclist's legs and the asphalt. In practice, this means that if the wheel isn't perfectly set up, it will certainly limit the quality of your performance.
This reason alone is enough to make you understand how important it is to choose the best wheels for your racing bike. Otherwise, it would be of little use to have a lightweight frame that's perfectly tailored to your body, as well as having an excellent gear shifter.
But what is the component that guarantees the perfect smoothness of your wheels?
At Ursus, we know that quality lies within the hubs themselves. The hub is directly responsible for the proper rotation of racing bike wheels: it must be built to minimize friction between its component parts, namely the hub body, central axle, bearings, and caps.
The entire functioning of your bike depends on the quality of the hub. Have you ever thought about it?
This is the main reason why we always recommend choosing your hubs carefully, not just relying on hearsay. Such an important component should definitely be validated before choosing a new set of wheels.
Want to better understand the criteria to use when choosing a new pair of wheels for your road bike? Read this article .
What other components interact with your road bike wheels?
1) TRANSMISSION GROUP
Wheel quality depends on the drivetrain, which consists of the crankset, cassette, chain, rear derailleur, front derailleur, and shifters (which can be mechanical or electronic). In modern racing bikes, the drivetrain components are typically produced by the same company. The best-known manufacturers today are Campagnolo, Shimano, and SRAM.
When choosing a new pair of wheels, an important thing to do is make sure that the rear wheel is compatible with the brand of groupset mounted on your bike.
Ursus wheels, for example, are available with Campagnolo, Shimano and SRAM compatibility. We therefore recommend checking their compatibility with your bike before purchasing.
In our online shop , for example, you will be asked to select the compatibility of the rear wheel before proceeding with the purchase of your new wheelset.
2) BRAKING SYSTEM
The braking system is obviously a fundamental part of the bicycle, because it is the one that guarantees your safety more than any other. Today, there are mainly two types of brakes for racing bikes: the classic cantilever brakes (or their evolution , V-Brakes ) and the more modern disc brakes.
What's the difference between these two systems? Cantilever brakes, or V-Brakes, apply brake pads to the braking surface of the rim, which can be made of carbon or aluminum.
Generally, braking on carbon tracks is considered more delicate , especially in wet conditions, as the layer of water that accumulates on the carbon can make its surface slippery. To overcome this problem, and to prevent the braking track from being compromised by faulty friction, Ursus recommends using only the brake pad model specified in the instruction manual on your wheels.
The alternative to the cantilever brake is the disc brake: with this system derived from the automotive industry, braking occurs directly on the hub, to which the disc is applied.
For this reason, there are hubs specifically designed for bikes with disc brakes. In this case , the braking surface is not stressed and braking is applied immediately even if the rim is dirty or wet. The disc brake can be controlled by cable or hydraulically.
Disc brakes are a little more complex to manage than pads due to their considerable stopping power , but if used correctly they represent an innovation that can certainly bring greater safety on the roads.
Discover all the Ursus disc brake wheels by clicking here.
Conclusion
But what are the most important components for a racing bike?
We've seen that a bike's drivetrain is the most important factor influencing your performance on the road. Wheels are part of this system, so you should choose them carefully after ensuring their quality. Hubs, in particular, are the mechanical heart of road bike wheels and are directly responsible for their smoothness. Then there's the braking system, which can be classic or disc brakes.
Choosing these components consciously is the first step towards a positive cycling experience.
Interested in improving the performance of your road bike?Find out how here!
