Rim, rim component and rim assembly for a bicycle wheel and methods of manufacture thereof

A method of manufacturing a rim assembly for a bicycle wheel, the method comprising:

• arranging rim material in a mould shaped for a rim comprising generally opposing first and second wall sections configured for mounting a bicycle tire, each of said first and second wall sections comprising an outwardly facing external surface, and wherein each of said first and second wall sections comprises a recess forming part of the outwardly facing external surface of the rim;
• arranging material for forming a rim component into each said recess such that the material conforms with the external surface of the rim surrounding the material;
• curing the rim material and material for forming the rim components within the mould such that the rim components are bonded to the rim material within the mould,
• wherein the rim components do not form part of a braking section of the bicycle wheel;
• and
• applying a layer of protective material to the external surface of the material for forming the rim component.

A rim assembly for a bicycle wheel, comprising:

• a rim configured to receive a rim component in an external surface thereof;
• a rim component located in the external surface of the rim, wherein the rim component forms part of the external surface of the rim,
• wherein the rim component has a lower density than the rim, and
• wherein the rim components do not form part of a braking section of the bicycle wheel;
• and
• a layer of protective material applied to an external surface of the rim components.