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Wheels:
World's first nano-enhanced carbon fiber downhill bike rim is a winner

Greg Minnaar riding the new nano-enhanced DH rim at the 2012 World Cup Opener in South Africa. [Image: Zyvex Technologies]

 

 

Top-level teams in the ultra-demanding sport of downhill mountain bike racing will often need to change rims more than 180 times during a season. The combination of difficult and changing terrains, jumps and bumps, wood and rocks, and breakneck speeds is especially brutal. Traditional aluminum rims usually last one to three runs per rider. But World Cup downhill racing champion Steve Peat from England raced on a single pair of wheels during the entire 2011 season. The entire season. One pair.

How'd that happen?

Well, Peat was sporting ENVE DH rims, which use the latest advanced materials comprised of nano-enhanced carbon fiber. The rims, which are the result of a partnership between "molecular nanotechnology company" Zyvex Technologies (Columbus, OH) and ENVE Composites (Ogden, UT), feature an unprecedented increase in durability, strength, and stiffness over traditional alloy offerings on the market.

The ENVE DH rim can definitely provide performance benefits to downhill racers who use it, including those that compete at the highest levels of World Cup racing. The advantage potential does come at a cost, though, but what's $2,500 or so a pair to become a champion?

ENVE uses Zyvex Technologies' nano-enhanced carbon fiber technology called Arovex, which is a carbon nanotube and graphene engineered composite material (prepreg) that uses the proprietary Kentera technology, to create chemical bonds on the carbon nanotubes. It provides an advantage in toughness without compromising strength. It also protects from fracture damage. ENVE has an exclusive license for this advanced technology for cycling applications. ENVE says that its rims "have no paint, coating, or finishing. The rim you hold in your hand comes out of the mold that way." Learn more about the technology and testing behind the ENVE rim here.

According to its developer, "Kentera chemistry creates a customized bridge between carbon nanomaterials and the customer-desired host matrix material. We have developed over 350 different Kentera molecules, each specialized for different applications - from resins to rubber."

ENVE developed the first nano-enhanced carbon fiber downhill bike rim with the intention of its riders winning a World Cup. After being in development for over a year, the rim carried ENVE-sponsored rider Greg Minnaar (see video) to victory at the 2012 World Cup opener in South Africa.

"During development and testing, the wheels have won over 50 podiums in competitions around the world," says Jason Schiers, founder of ENVE Composites. "These results validate ENVE's success using Zyvex's Arovex. Downhill racing is extreme in nature. The fact that these new rims have survived the most challenging tracks in the world make them truly one of a kind."

"Nano-enhanced carbon fiber wheels are changing what people expect from a bike's ride quality," Schiers continues. "Being the first nano-enhanced carbon fiber downhill clincher to win a World Cup is difficult. We are changing the game. The new DH rims are the best-riding and the most-durable rims on the market today."

Some scientists believe the ability to move and combine individual atoms and molecules will revolutionize the production of every human-made object, leading to a potential new technology revolution.

"The use of carbon atoms in the 21st century will be as significant as the use of silicon in the 20th century," says Lance Criscuolo, president of Zyvex Technologies. "Zyvex Technologies is the first company to globally commercialize nano-enhanced products from carbon atoms. Our advanced materials weigh less and have increased strength. We are changing the way products are manufactured and perform."

Zyvex materials are also used in racing car and marine applications.

Source: Zyvex Technologies

Published June 2012

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