TECHNICAL INTRO

THE FRAME AS BACKBONE

Except for a few carbon road bikes, the frames of most Wheeler bikes are being manually welded by specialists from precious 6000-series aluminum and heat-treated after welding. The result: Wheeler's aluminum frames are significantly superior to those made of the common 7005-aluminum in terms of strength and weight. All the more as the latest generation of frames features hydratube-tubes with intricately shaped diameters and integrated reinforcements. Thanks to details like internally routed shifting cables or the new, curved main tubes on the commuter bikes, the frames have a simple, coherent look.

But there's much more to discover with the frames: For example the cunningly crafted «5 in 1»-dropouts that offer mounting points not only for a disc brake, but also for mudguards, a carrier and two different kind of kickstands - no adapters needed, no hassle to fear. Thanks to this, all the «Premium Activity»-, «Urban Chic»-, «Classic Performance»- and «Crossover Comfort»-bikes that already come fully equipped for everyday life's use shine with tidy looks. The more sporty «Sport Light»-models allow you to mount the necessary accessories for commuting if need be, as all the mounting points are ready for use.

Concerning the new, modern frame shapes with their hydraforming aluminum tubes, Wheeler follows the maxim that the bike should adapt to you and not the other way round. So apart from a classic gentlemen's diamond frame and a sporty women's frame with a low-slung top tube, Wheeler also offers selected models with a unisex frame offering an extremely low and wide entry: Rather than straddling your bike, you sit down on it as if it was a bar chair - no dynamic contorsions needed to get in the saddle and enjoy the benefits of a fully developed everyday life's bike.

«WHITE CARBON»

Carbon frames are the way to go with road bikes recently: Frames made of the black glimmering material are lightweight, incredibly stiff and yet comfortable to ride when processed correctly. These are exactly the characteristics of Wheeler's new carbon road bike frame where you can feel the extra bit of comfort it offers thanks to the purposeful saving of material in the frame's rear triangle. In Fact, there's only one problem with carbon and that's the fact that its easily scratched od damaged on impacts. After all, the fibers offer enormous tensile strength, but only in one exact direction.

To make sure the carbon frames will last, Wheeler wraps the whole carbon frame of the «Route 1.7» top model in a bullet-proof vest. The precious carbon is protected from the elements by a layer of bidirectionally woven glass fibres. Wheeler calls the result «White Carbon» - and this finish is more than just an eye-catcher, but also extremely durable.

COMPONENTS FRAME DEVELOPMENT THE FRAME AS BACKBONE FINDING THE RIGHT BIKE GEOMETRIES