Why is American Classic innovating Magnesium rims?
It’s about the rims. Lighter rims means reduced rotational weight resulting in overall higher performance for the cyclist. Bike companies constantly strive to reduce rim weight, a feat difficult to achieve because there must be a balance between lightness and strength. With the use of engineering, research, testing and creativity, Bill Shook, American Classic’s engineer and company president, successfully brought the lightest aluminum clincher rims to the marketplace. Always forging ahead with new ideas, Bill is making strides with magnesium as a new rim material. Magnesium is treasured in the automotive and aerospace industries for its lightness, strength and ductility. Magnesium is lighter than aluminum and withstands impact damage better than carbon fiber. Companies have tried to use magnesium for bicycle applications but could not figure out how to work with the material. After studying the metallurgy of magnesium and using his engineering know-how, Bill successfully developed the
