Patent ID: 8882125

Claim:
A bicycle assembly comprising: a frame comprising: a top tube having a first end and a second end; a down tube having a first end and a second end; a head tube connected to the first end of the top tube and first end of the down tube; a bottom bracket shell for receiving a bottom bracket, the bottom bracket shell connected to the second end of the down tube, the bottom bracket shell having a top region and a bottom region, comprising: carbon fiber; a first metal split ring positioned within and integrally formed with the carbon fiber; and a second metal split ring positioned within and integrally formed with the carbon fiber and spaced from the first metal split ring, wherein the bottom bracket shell comprises a first groove and a second groove and wherein the first metal split ring is at least partially embedded into the first groove and the second metal spilt ring is at least partially embedded into the second groove, such that inner surfaces of the first and second metal slit rings are substantially flush with an interior surface of the bottom bracket shell; each of the first and second metal split rings having a discontinuous region with two ends which effectively face each other but do not connect.