Handrim Material
The handrim covering is of great importance since it is this material that the hand strikes during propulsion. If it is too smooth or shiny, the hand will slip when power is applied. For this reason a number of materials have been used for handrim covers. Many athletes have found that a child's bike tire glued over the handrim has the right com- bination of cushioning and surface friction that they are looking for, while others use crépe rubber which is particularly effective under wet weather conditions. Many athletes use tape wrapped around the handrim, since the tape not only has good frictional properties, but the overlapping lay- ers of tape form ridges that help the hand get an instant grip on contact. Lastly, commercial hand rims are often "wet-dipped" in molten plastic so that a thin, uniform film of high-friction plastic is applied