A bicycle wheel rim 1 includes a wall with two opposite radially outwardly extending annular sidewall parts 2a, b in which a plurality of slit shaped spoke mounting apertures are provided. Spokes 10 are provided which include a shaft 11 with a thickened head 12. Each slit extends both in a sideward and radial outward direction and includes a first slit part 15 and a second slit part 16, where the first slit part has cross sectional dimensions lying between the cross sectional dimensions of the shaft and the head, and the second slit part has cross sectional dimensions larger than the cross sectional dimensions of the head. The second slit part lies further radially outward than the first slit part, and the slit parts are both open in the direction of the central axis of the rim and in the direction of at least one of the sidewall parts of the rim.