After more than a decade of experience building the world's fastest wheels by hand, Rolf Prima has earned its place as a leader in high performance wheel design. Being different has defined us, but the proof is in our extraordinary performance over time.
After more than a decade of experience building the world’s fastest wheels by hand, Rolf Prima has earned its place as a leader in high performance wheel design. Being different has defined us, but the proof is in our extraordinary performance over time.
Better Built:
Most bicycle wheels sold today are built using machines. For run-of-the-mill wheels this can work, but to build a truly light wheel with uniform tensions, you just can't match the skill of human hands. Every Rolf Prima wheel is carefully hand-built using a painstaking build process that enables our wheels to run true longer - without the need for constant attention or a "break-in period."
Paired Spokes:
This is what we are known for. Paired spoking is when the spokes meet at the rim in pairs. In conventional wheels the spokes are evenly spaced. Tensioned spokes pull not only down toward the hub, but also outward toward the flanges. When spokes are paired at the rim, these left and right pulling forces are neutralized. If using conventional lacing, these lateral forces try to pull low spoke count wheels out of true. Pairing the spokes allows us to use fewer spokes on lighter rims than anyone. Anyone.
- Imagine a very flexible rim using 10 evenly spaced spokes. It is easy to see how the rim will not run true because the rim is too flexible to resist the unbalanced left and right pulling forces under the tensioned spokes. With conventional lacing, the rim needs to be stiffer (heavier), more spokes need to used or the spoke tensions need to be lowered. All have negative consequences.
- Imagine that same rim with 10 paired spokes. The paired spokes balance the left and right forces so the wheel runs true. As spoke counts go down, everyone else has to use heavier rims. Not us.
Fewer spokes and lighter rims = lighter wheels. It also means better aerodynamic performance. Another bonus? Rolf Prima wheels can be built with higher spoke tension because we don't have problems truing our wheels as others do when using lighter rims.
Lighter Rims:
Our Paired Spoke Design enables the use of lighter weight rims which significantly lowers rotational weight, enhances climbing and sprinting speed and increases braking performance.
The hidden Technology:
Weight is only part of the equation. Durability aerodynamics, stiffness and strength are also big factors in choosing a wheel. Below is a sample of the other patented design technologies that combine to give Rolf Prima wheel systems their superior performance.
- Differential Flange Diameter - Transmits drive torque in the rear wheel across both flanges to increase the number of pulling spokes.
- Dish Reducing Design - Reduces the dish of the drive side spokes, increasing stiffness.
- Jacketed Nipple Design - Moves the spoke bend away from the high stress areas, increasing spoke life.
- Self-Aligning Nipple - Allows the nipple to rotate in a ball and socket configuration to minimize bending in the spoke, increases spoke life.
The Result:
With all of these technologies combined, Rolf Prima builds wheels with qualities once considered mutually exclusive: paired spokes, fewer spokes, lighter rims, higher spoke tensions, and great stiffness.
All Rolf Prima wheel systems are protected by one or more of the following US Patents: 5,931,544; 5,938,293; 6,024,414; 5,947,565; 6,244,667 and 6,497,042. Rolf Prima wheel systems are also protected by several foreign patents including Canadian Patent 2,136,053 and 2,187,695 44444444