Haaksman, J. (Jesse)
Reinventing the wheel, the design of a gravel specific wheelset
At: Fast Forward Wheels
Gravel riding is a new discipline within the sport of cycling. It combines mountain biking and road cycling. The new discipline created a demand for gravel specific components. This thesis worked on the design of a gravel wheelset. The goal is to design it lightweight and stiff.
A 3d model of a wheel was built, its dimensions can be altered to revaluate the stiffness-, weight- and strength properties. Once sufficient properties were found the iteration was completed.
The final design is a 24 spoke wheelset spoked with twice as many spokes on the gear side on the wheel. It is wider than road wheelsets so that bigger tires can be used. The wheelset weighs 1430 gram, has a high stiffness and is strong enough for off-road use.
Exam date: 05-04-2020