OPTIMAL THERMAL PROPERTIES IN LIGHT WEIGHT AND HIGH PERFORMANCE BRAKING COMPOSITE CLINCHER OR TUBULAR TIRE BICYCLE WHEEL RIM

A fiber reinforced plastic bicycle wheel rim is formed of six segments per side and formed in a section having precisely formed, machinable brake surfaces and preferably combining inner high modulus fiber reinforced plastic lamination as a main structural body and an outer lamination of improved frictional coefficient materials at the braking surfaces. The main structural body with overlapped individual sheets of unidirectional fiber reinforced plastic, having crossing fibers, in segments, and continuous unidirectional fiber bundles in areas of concentrated load, enables strong, light wheels for sew up or clincher tires to be formed. Because of the unique thermodynamic properties of a clincher bicycle wheel rim, an all-composite rim formed with an epoxy matrix with a Tg of 350 or greater is advantageous.