Patent ID: 7178239

Claim:
A method for use in manufacturing a spoked bicycle wheel, comprising the steps of: a) providing a rim element comprising: i) a tire coupling channel; and ii) at least one spoke attachment chamber with at least one opening, a plurality of spoke attachment seats, an inside area within the chamber, and an outside area outside the chamber; b) inserting a spoke attachment element inside the at least one spoke attachment chamber through the at least one opening, the spoke attachment element comprising: i) a head; ii) a shank suitable for extending through and protruding from the spoke attachment seat; and iii) means for attaching the spoke attachment element to a spoke; c) guiding the spoke attachment element to the spoke attachment seat; d) aligning the shank of the spoke attachment element with the spoke attachment seat; e) holding the spoke attachment element aligned with the spoke attachment seat; f) providing the spoke attachment element with a first magnetic interaction means, step f) being carried out before step b); and wherein said step c) comprises: g) attracting the spoke attachment element using a second magnetic interaction means interacting magnetically with the first magnetic interaction means; wherein step f) comprises attaching an insert to the spoke attachment element and the insert interacts magnetically with the second magnetic interaction means.