Riding is fun.
On the road or on the trails, the quest for pleasure is what motivates us to go faster and further!
With the advent of disc brakes and large-section tubeless tires, the limits of cornering grip are constantly being pushed back.
These technological breakthroughs are not without impact on safety and the pursuit of performance must not be at the expense of safety.
In recent years, several major crashes have made the news.
Miche is a brand that skillfully blends tradition and modernity.
On the subject of safety, for the San Vendemiano company, nothing has been left to chance.
In this slightly nerdy article, I will explain why we consider that :
Miche wheels are among the safest wheels on the market .
Hook ?
Sure captain!
The rim and the tire are like two peas in a pod. They are closely linked.
Since the early days of cycling, the sides of rims have been equipped with small hooks under which the tire beads lock in place. Once the tire is inflated, its retention is maximal.
In mountain biking, for several years now, due to relatively low inflation pressures and wide tire widths, most manufacturers have done away with hooks. After all, your car’s tires are hookless too.
The main advantage for users of hookless rims is lower weight. Another, more marginal advantage is the aerodynamic gain. Basically, the transition between the side of your tire and the rim is a bit smoother.
For manufacturers, the big added value is the reduction in production time. Yes, hookless rims are much simpler to produce.
Everyone benefits, right?
The catch is that at "road" pressures and with narrow tire widths, the risk of tire blow-off is not negligible. Because of this, some brands have had to raise the minimum acceptable tire width for their hookless rims, going beyond the ETRTO recommendations.
And what about Miche?
On the subject, no questions, no debate.
All Miche road wheels have hooks, so you're free to run narrow tires if you wish, and with high pressures.
After all, it works for David Gaudu and his pals at Groupama FDJ. It should work for you too.
At Miche, all road wheels (and even the Graff Allroad gravel wheel) are equipped with hooks!
Straight-pull assembly
Is it safe?
Since the dawn of time (or almost), spokes have been inserted into the hub through holes.
The spoke heads are curved in shape and have a widened end, a bit like the head of a nail.
It's sturdy, it doesn't move.
If you want to have a little more stiffness (a little) and look like a pro (a lot), you can opt for wheels with straight-pull spokes.
No curve here. It's straight.
The widened ends of the spokes are inserted, often laterally, into notches provided for this purpose.
Cool, huh?
But what happens if your rim takes a nasty hit and temporarily deforms to the point that the tension in one or more spokes is completely released?
Nothing then prevents the spokes from coming out of their notch, the rim from becoming free and independent and your teeth from kissing the asphalt.
Peak Torque, an engineer with a strong background and who doesn't mince his words, made a video on the subject:
And what about Miche?
Well, as usual, for Miche, it is unthinkable to seek performance without worrying about safety.
So, on the front wheel, small flanges are present to hide the insertion notches on either side to prevent a spoke from running away.
At the rear, a similar cover is present on the disc side.
On the cassette side, it is the latter which ensures the retention of the spokes in the event of a problem.
Close-up of the Miche Kleos RD hubs 😍
In conclusion
We don't joke about security.
Just like us at Massacan who put our Gravel frames through mountain bike-type resistance tests, Miche takes care of its customers!
With Miche, you don't just get wheels that kick ass.
You also have a brand that bends over backwards so you can ride fast and quietly.
Each model is carefully crafted, with real attention to detail.
In short, Miche, it's performance with awareness.
Being incisive is cool.
Arriving in one piece with your incisors still in your mouth is even better!
Bisou.