EB14: Lightweight Makes SmartWheels to Sense Pressure, Brake Track Temperature & More

Is that a Finn? Getfinn.com

I spent three years running tours in Europe, and I saw three pairs of these wheels ridden in the mountains during that time. Not one of them made it through a single descent in poor weather – either foggy or wet conditions, where some level of additional braking was actually required. One set went on a pretty average, sunny day, but perhaps it was because the rider was overbraking… though that happens too.

I’m not saying they are the only Carbon Clincher I saw fail in the mountains, but I do suspect that there are far, far more useful things Lightweight could be designing into their wheels to ensure their customers are safe… instead of just ensuring they get a phone call right after their crash, to confirm why their wheel just blew out.

I’m tired of ‘smart’ stuff that you need a phone or electronic gadget to monitor. Just make the wheels tough, durable, and reasonably priced. Enough for me!

Well, you could just use disc brakes with your carbon rims instead of adding a smartphone. I thought the whole idea of all this carbon madness was to make your bike lighter and here you have people adding the weight and wind resistance of a smartphone to their bike. And it only costs you $1000 – what a bargain.

If I were a hardcore roadie, I’d build up a nice steel Surly Pacer with no carbon anything and no electronic gadgets and make it my mission to outride all those financiers, doctors, dentists, and lawyers with their $10,000 super fred, power meter, electric shifting, techno-wonder sleds. But I am not, so I’ll just ride for fun instead. (I know, what a weird concept – riding bikes for fun instead of mindless competition).

Intriguing. Where can I sign up for the alert when the price is below 50USD? :_D

Woah Hojo, that sounds harsh. Any idea the tires? I would bet it was an “open tubular” with a floppy bead on a carbon clincher.

Jaja, you are forgetting the time component of heating. Yes the energy required to stop is the same regardless of how you brake, but braking hard dumps that energy in a short time and produces more heat, braking gradually allows heat to dissipate while it is being produced.

Problems usually occur on large hills where people drag their brakes for ages due to the total amount of energy being put into the rim. dispite the heat dissipating over the long time period, they have a huge amount of stored energy due to the size of the hill and eventually their rims cook.

Heavy people braking hard may also cook a rim. Durian is not heavy, but could still cook a rim by dragging brakes down a huge hill. Probably not by simply braking hard though unless he tried an emergency stop with front brake only from 100kph or something.