2007-08-15 00:44:53 · 13 answers · asked by cukie 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
A cycling friend told me this doggerel some 50 years ago:
Forty spokes is FAR too many ---
Build a wheel that ain't got ANY.
The rim is kept in place, of course
By tubes of centrifugal force!
Unfortunately, we all know it's scientifically inaccurate --- the tubes are of CENTRIPETAL force.
2007-08-15 07:49:29 · answer #1 · answered by Dr Spock 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's the cheapest way of making them. Until the development of modern materials such carbon fibre it was the ONLY realistic way of making a wheel light enough - a solid wheel capable of taking the necessary stress would have been far too heavy to be practical on a bicycle. Since we have become very good at making them with spokes it's much cheaper and easier to continue to do so, except for special purposes like professional cycling.
2007-08-15 00:58:20 · answer #2 · answered by Graham I 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They serve two purposes. Firstly they keep the tyre at an equal distance from the hub of the wheel, regardless of the amount of force acting on the wheel (i.e. how much the rider weighs and how many bumps they go over.) Secondly they allow the wheel to flex slightly as the go over bumpy surfaces and give a slightly less bumpy ride. A solid wheeled bike gives a very 'hard' ride.
2007-08-15 00:59:20 · answer #3 · answered by Timbo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it's the lightest way to support the wheel. The spokes are always kept under tension, so that they cannot buckle under the weight of bike and rider. A solid wheel would have to be much heavier to prevent such buckling.
2007-08-15 03:16:43 · answer #4 · answered by Dr. R 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
To keep the wheel rim attached to the hub. Wire spokes are the strongest and lightest method of doing this.
2007-08-15 00:48:12 · answer #5 · answered by ? 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
well its a number of reasons.. if it was say a plate .. say u get a gust of wind , it's more likely to knock you over... with spokes the air goes thru them
also a lot cheaper to use spokes instead, and obviously physics are involved to hold them in place.
and yer they have FULL wheels on them indoor track bikes but there is no wind coming from the sides with them.
2007-08-15 00:49:44 · answer #6 · answered by junglejungle 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
not all bikes have spokes but they are used to make up the wheel and are lighter than a solid plate.
2007-08-15 00:58:27 · answer #7 · answered by PETER B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are a lightweight way of contructing the wheel
2007-08-15 00:49:13 · answer #8 · answered by Mark T 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
without them you'd just have a rim and a spindle, with nothing to join the two. Then they wouldn't be a whole wheel.
2007-08-15 00:49:04 · answer #9 · answered by noruleschris 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The spokes are there solely to keep spokesmen in a job making them by the thousands.
2007-08-15 00:53:47 · answer #10 · answered by Driver T 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋