Part of the Week: Raleigh Spoke Rim Nipple Washers PMW399

Nipple washers are something we rarely see in the cycling industry these days. They are a wheel building product of from the past, but are making a return with some carbon rims. These little washers are curved and sit on the inside of the rim so the nipple pulls against it instead of the rim. They disperse pressure from the spoke tension and prevent that spoke from pulling through or damaging the rim. If you've ever seen non-eyelet style rim fail at the spoke hole with cracks or deformation, then you understand how that can be the demise of a wheel.