COMPONENTS

When selecting a bike's components, Wheeler's product managers rely on their own experience as well as our team racers' feedback - and on the best, globally leading brands. Their innovative products are being selected according to the specific needs on every model: This way you can be sure that all of a Wheeler-bike's components work together perfectly - and in accordance with the intended use for the specific model.

In terms of suspension technology, the dynamic of innovation has been restless in recent years. Nowadays you cannot only change the firmness of the spring, but fine-tune the suspension's characteristic exactly to your likings with the help of simple controls. How sensitive do you want the suspension to work, how fast do you want the rebound to be? In order to minimize suspension bobbing when climbing, the producers of shock absorbers have developed various systems called «ProPedal Damping», «Motion Control» or «Power Valve». Wheeler-models offer one of these technology down to the entry-level offerings - or at least the option to lock the suspension out completely with a switch. Of course you only get shock absorbers from proven producers like Marzocchi, RockShox, Fox Shox and DT Swiss.

The same goes for the rest of the components, where Wheeler choses to rely on a few well-known brands. Shifting components are provided mostly by the two big producers SRAM and Shimano, with Magura, Avid and again Shimano delivering the brakesets. All sports-oriented Wheeler mountain bikes are equipped with hydraulic disc brakes - including a larger rotor on the front wheel, of course. When it comes to shift levers, Wheeler's product managers follow a philosophy of their own: On entry-level and full-out race bikes, Shimano's innovative DualControl-levers deliver intuitive and lightning-fast gear changes thanks to its combined brake and shift lever. On bikes that are often used in rough terrain, though, you will find Shimano's radically improved Rapidfire-units or SRAM's triggershifters that are stunningly effortless to operate.

On the top-of-the-line models, you will find a choice of exclusive DT Swiss parts as well, like lightweight dampers or complete wheelsets. Or beautifully crafted, lightweight pedals from crankbrothers. Known for their low weight, reliability and functionality are the parts of producers like Ritchey and FSA, e.g. stems, seatposts and handlebars. The same could be said about the hollow-chamber rims with double eyelets: They are used to build the wheels of all Wheeler bikes and make sure these wheels last longer than just one season. That is something that Wheeler's product managers generally put high on their list of priorities. So you can enjoy your Wheeler bike to the full every single day.

When putting together the specifications of the road and everyday life's bikes, Wheeler's product managers followed three criteria: Functionality, safety and comfort. That's why each model's components are adapted to your demands. To make sure you get the necessary kind of versatility, you will find noble carriers and kickstands from Switzerland's well-known Pletscher brand on all everyday life's models except the «Classic Performance»-models where more affordable, yet functional parts are being used.

COMFORT

Many of Wheeler's bikes for everyday life's use are equipped with suspension forks and suspended seatposts. Depending on the model, comfort saddles, ergonomical grips and adjustable stems make sure that Wheeler's bike adapts to you - and not the other way round. For athletes who consider comfort as something pampering and rather go for maximum efficiency, Wheeler puts featherweight, spartan saddles on the road bikes.

SAFETY

Wheeler does not compromise on the issue of safety. That's why all our commuter bikes come with strong halogen headlights, backlights with parking light function and tires with reflecting sidewalls as standard equipment. The same goes for hub dynamos that serve as a reliable source of electricity under all weather conditions. Thus you are well visible even if you have to wait in the middle of the street to turn to the left. And a frame lock is also included to make sure no one else enjoys the advantages of your Wheeler bike.

DRIVETRAIN

Bikes with a closed chainguard and sealed brakes are not only practical, but also extremely low on maintenance and reliable. That's why Wheeler goes for the combination of an internal transmission and roller brakes, both from Shimano's Nexus-groupset, on the «Urban Chic»-models. Being the serie's top model, the «Server 3.6» even gets the massive «NuVinci» hub as standard equipment: Its continuous-speed internal transmission offers an enormous range of gears - and thus the exactly right gear for every situation. For cities that offer more topographic challenges, both an internal transmission and chain shifting are being combined as with SRAM's «DualDrive»- or Shimano's «Alfine»-groups. If that is still not sporty enough, the bikes of the «Premium Activity»- and «Sport Light»-series come with classic chain-driven drivetrains that offer an wide selection of gears. These allow you to master the steepest climbs or go lightning-fast in the flat as well. Last but not least, Wheeler follows a strategy of its own on the road bikes: Here triple or compact cranksets are being mounted to give non-professional athletes the suitable gears for climbs. Since they offer almost the same range of gears at a lower weight, FSA's compact-cranksets come as standard equipment even on Wheeler's top models.

BRAKES

Depending on a bike's intended use, Wheeler's bicycles for paved roads get the brake system that fits best: On the «Sport Light»-series and the most expensive «Premium Activity»-models, you'll find hydraulic discbrakes that offer the same, enormous stopping power as on a mountain bike. Light V-brakes do their duty on the «Crossover Comfort»- and «Classic Performance»-models: To keep beginners from going over their handlebars, the entry-level bikes come with anti-lockout-devices on the front brake. For the «Urban Chic»-models, Shimano's «Nexus»-rollerbrake has proved to be best-suited: As it's built into the hub, it's completely sealed, as good as maintenance-free and stops reliably in all weather conditions. And since no brake pads are grinding on the rim's surface, neither your hands nor your clothing can get dirty from touching your own bike's wheels.

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