Those slender steel wires are one of many deceptively simple pieces of bike tech we take for granted, but they're vital. The twunk of one breaking spoke can set off a domino effect, successive snaps warping a wheel into half Pringle, half Picasso. It's one of cycling's less welcome sounds; but, more melodiously, bike wheels have been played like a chaotically tuned harp by experimental musicians. (There's a quaint b&w video of US rock legend Frank Zappa, pre-moustache, doing just that.)
Wooden wheels first appeared in various places around 6,000 years ago, notably modern-day Iraq, no doubt quickly followed by arguments about whether narrower ones had less rolling resistance. Wooden spokes - hence the first broken spokes and tooth-sucking wheel-builders - arose about 4,000 years ago.
Denne historien er fra October 2023-utgaven av Cycling Plus UK.
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Denne historien er fra October 2023-utgaven av Cycling Plus UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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No limits
Not every adventure needs to be that epic, says bikepacking Scotland founder Markus Stitz
UNBOUND UNLEASHED
Josh Patterson was one of 34 starters for the inaugural edition of Unbound in 2006. Now, with more than 5,000 riders taking part in today's event, he charts the rise of the most important race in gravel
FOREST COMMISSION
Looking for a goal race in 2025 that'll stimulate the synapses and live long in the memory? You'd struggle to do better than ENID CRV in Finland
15 OF THE BEST ADVENTURES
Featuring Yorkshire, the USA, Sri Lanka and more, here are our picks of the world's greatest gravel races and routes
The stuff of dreams
Ned sings the praises of the Paris Olympics road-race course
"I rode 3,000 miles around Britain on a bamboo bike to highlight our climate crisis"
Recordbreaking cyclist and triathlete Kate Strong, 45, took to the road to raise awareness of environmental issues
FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE
We venture into the hidden gem of the glorious Creuse, one of France's least populated regions
STAR TREK
New tube shapes and carbon lay-up makes the eighth generation of Trek's legendary Madone an aero and climbing bike all rolled into one
GOLD RUSH
With conflict around the world, Paris 2024 was a ray of light. Here are our highs of a mighty Olympics
HIGHER CALLING
Pro cycling commentary is a formidable skill that Ned Boulting and Matt Stephens make look easy. Andy McGrath drops in on their booth at this year's Giro d'Italia to learn their secrets
