Bicycle Sealing Solutions for the rise of pedal power

Bicycle – A brief history of pedal power

There are several unverified claims for the invention of the Bicycle. The earliest claim is a sketch attributed to Gian Giacomo Caprotti. A a pupil of Leonardo da Vinci, the sketch dates back to 1534. Widly dismissed as a fraud the authenticity of the sketch is vigorously maintained by followers of Caprotti and da Vinci alike.

The first verifiable bicycle claim belongs to Baron Karl von Drais. In 1817 he invented his Laufmaschine, otherwise known as Running machine. Patented in 1818 it became the first commercially successful two-wheeled, steerable, human-propelled machine. In 1863 a French metal worker added rotary cranks and pedals to the front wheel hub. As a result the pedal operated bicycle was born. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Where do Sealing Solutions come in?

First of all a modern Bicycle contains a lot more seals than you would think. A major part is the suspension system. It includes an air spring and damping system. The goal of the sealing within the front fork is prevent the leakage of lubricant and maximise the life of the suspension system. The spring allows the suspension to move up when the wheel encounters a bump, and to quickly move back down after the wheel passes the bump. The damper is the device that dissipates the energy and keeps the suspension from bouncing out of control. For the airspring we recommend Quad Rings to provide reliable and long life solution for front forks.

Bicycle Suspension

A bumper and static seal with high compressive strength prevent the upper tube from hitting the base of the lower leg of the front fork. We can supply O Rings and bonded seals for this. Moving to the crown, It has a static seal which seals against it. Pressure in te front fork is adjustable due to the Rotary Seal in the remote lock out system. The lock out and rebound system gives a comfortable ride when the rider is sprinting or climbing. dynamic seals ensure a quick and efficient response. Consequently we can recommend Quad Rings, O Rings and Piston rings for this.

Most noteworthy, all the sealing solutions we offer retain lubricating oil and operate in extreme weather. They also offer outstanding reliability and, in addition, give low frictional power loss without compromising seal integrity.

The rear Shock absorber also contains many seals. Minimized leakage of the damping system is ensured with a configuration of seals that retain air/oil in the shaft. See our range of Scraper Seals. Quad Rings and Slydrings can be found in the airspring and the result of these is maximum service life and effective leakage control. In addition, for the shaft housing we can supply Zurcon U-Cups and L-Cups, slydrings and Quad Rings.

The suspension system is just one part, there are many more seals to be found all over your bicycle. For help and further information drop us a line or give us a call. if you’re lucky enough to be in our beautiful City of Chichester then pop in and see us.