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Bicycle

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Bicycle



 
 
The bicycle, bike, or cycle is a pedal-driven, human-powered vehicle
Human-powered transport

Human-powered transport is the transport of person and/or goods using human muscle power. Like animal-powered transport, human-powered transport has existed since time immemorial in the form of walking, running and swimming....
 with two wheels
Bicycle wheel

A bicycle wheel is a wheel, most commonly a Wire wheels, designed for a bicycle. A pair is often called a wheelset, especially in the context of ready built "off the shelf" performance-oriented wheels....
 attached to a frame
Bicycle frame

A bicycle frame is the main component of a bicycle, onto which bicycle wheels and list of bicycle parts are fitted. The modern and most common frame design for an upright bicycle is based on the safety bicycle, and consists of two triangles, a main triangle and a paired rear triangle....
, one behind the other.

Bicycles were introduced in the 19th century and now number about one billion worldwide. They are the principal means of transportation in many regions.






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Brosen City Bicycle
The bicycle, bike, or cycle is a pedal-driven, human-powered vehicle
Human-powered transport

Human-powered transport is the transport of person and/or goods using human muscle power. Like animal-powered transport, human-powered transport has existed since time immemorial in the form of walking, running and swimming....
 with two wheels
Bicycle wheel

A bicycle wheel is a wheel, most commonly a Wire wheels, designed for a bicycle. A pair is often called a wheelset, especially in the context of ready built "off the shelf" performance-oriented wheels....
 attached to a frame
Bicycle frame

A bicycle frame is the main component of a bicycle, onto which bicycle wheels and list of bicycle parts are fitted. The modern and most common frame design for an upright bicycle is based on the safety bicycle, and consists of two triangles, a main triangle and a paired rear triangle....
, one behind the other.

Bicycles were introduced in the 19th century and now number about one billion worldwide. They are the principal means of transportation in many regions. They also provide a popular form of recreation
Recreation

Recreation or fun is the expenditure of time in a manner designed for therapeutic refreshment of one's body or mind. While leisure is more likely a form of entertainment or rest, recreation is active for the participant but in a refreshing and diverting manner....
, and have been adapted for such uses as children's toy
Toy

A toy is an object used in Play . Toys are usually associated with children and pets, but it is not unusual for adult humans and some non-Domesticationated animals to play with toys....
s, adult fitness
Physical fitness

Physical fitness is used in two close meanings: general fitness and specific fitness .Physical fitness is the functioning of the heart, blood vessels, lungs, and muscles at optimum efficiency....
, military
Military

A military is an organization authorized by its nation to use force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or Threat of force ....
 and police
Police

Police are agents or agencies, usually of the executive , empowered to enforce the law and to ensure public and social order through the legitimized use of force....
 applications, courier
Courier

A courier is a person or company employed to deliver messages, Parcel and mail. Couriers are distinguished from ordinary mail services by features such as speed, security, tracking, signature, specialization and individualization of services, and committed delivery times, which are optional for most everyday mail services....
 services, and competitive sports
Bicycle racing

Bicycle racing encompasses many forms in which bicycles are used for competition. Bicycle racing includes road bicycle racing, cyclo-cross, mountain bike racing, track cycling, BMX racing and bike trials and cycle speedway....
.

The basic shape and configuration of a typical bicycle has changed little since the first chain-driven model was developed around 1885. Many details have been improved, especially since the advent of modern materials and computer-aided design
Computer-aided design

Computer-Aided Design is the use of computer technology to aid in the design and particularly the drafting of a part or product, including entire buildings....
. These have allowed for a proliferation of specialized designs for particular types of cycling
Cycling

Cycling is the use of bicycles, or - less commonly - unicycles, tricycles, Quadracycle s and other similar wheeled human powered vehicles as a means of transport, a form of recreation or a sport....
.

The bicycle has had a considerable effect on human society, in both the cultural and industrial realms. In its early years, bicycle construction drew on pre-existing technologies; more recently, bicycle technology has, in turn, contributed both to old and new areas.

History

Multiple innovators contributed to the history of the bicycle by developing precursor human-powered vehicles. The documented ancestors of today's modern bicycle were known as push bikes (still called push bikes outside of North America), draisines
Dandy horse

The dandy horse was invented by Baron Karl Drais in Mannheim, Germany, patented in January 1818. Being the first means of transport to make use of the two-wheeler principle, the Laufmaschine is regarded as the forerunner of the bicycle....
, or hobby horses. Being the first human means of transport to make use of the two-wheeler principle, the draisine (or mistmashine, "running machine"), invented by the German
Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands....
 Baron
Freiherr

The German language titles Freiherr and Freifrau or Freiin are titles of nobility, used preceding the names of people, or later , before family names....
 Karl von Drais
Karl Drais

Karl Drais was a Germany inventor and invented the Laufmaschine , also later called the velocipede, draisine or "draisienne" , or nick-named, dandy horse....
, is regarded as the archetype of the bicycle. It was introduced by Drais to the public in Mannheim
Mannheim

Mannheim is a city in Germany. With 327,318 inhabitants it is the second-largest city in the state of Baden-W?rttemberg after the capital Stuttgart....
 in summer 1817 and in Paris
Paris

Paris is the Capital of France and the country's largest city. It is situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the ?le-de-France Regions of France ....
 in 1818. Its rider sat astride a wooden frame supported by two in-line wheels and pushed the vehicle along with his/her feet while steering the front wheel.

Ordinary Bicycle01
In the early 1860s, Frenchmen Pierre Michaux
Pierre Michaux

Pierre Michaux was a blacksmith who furnished parts for the carriage trade in Paris during the 1850s and 1860s. He started building bicycles with pedals in the early 1860s....
 and Pierre Lallement
Pierre Lallement

Pierre Lallement , is considered by some to be the inventor of the history of the bicycle.As a 19-year-old maker of baby carriages in Nancy, France in 1862, Lallement saw someone ride by on a dandy horse....
 took bicycle design in a new direction by adding a mechanical crank
Crank (mechanism)

A crank is an arm at right angles to a shaft , by which motion is imparted to or received from the shaft; it is also used to change circular into reciprocating motion, or reciprocating into circular motion....
 drive with pedals on an enlarged front wheel. Another French inventor by the name of Douglas Grasso had a failed prototype of Pierre Lallement's bicycle several years earlier. Several why-not-the-rear-wheel inventions followed, the best known being the rod-driven velocipede by Scotsman Thomas McCall
Thomas McCall

Thomas McCall was a Scottish cartwright.He built, in 1869, two versions of a two-wheeled velocipede with levers and rods tossing a crank on the rear wheel ....
 in 1869. The French creation, made of iron and wood, developed into the "penny-farthing
Penny-farthing

Penny-farthing, high wheel, high wheeler, and ordinary are all terms used to describe a type of bicycle with a large front wheel and a much smaller rear wheel that was popular after the velocipede, or boneshaker, until the development of the safety bicycle....
" (more formally an "ordinary bicycle", a retronym
Retronym

A retronym is the modification of the original name of an object or concept to differentiate it from a more recent version of the object, which acquired a modifier or adjective through later developments of the object or concept itself....
, since there were then no other kind). It featured a tubular steel
Steel

Steel is an alloy consisting mostly of iron, with a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.14% by weight , depending on grade. Carbon is the most cost-effective alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten....
 frame on which were mounted wire spoke
Spoke

A spoke is one of some number of rods radiating from the center of a wheel , connecting the hub with the round traction surface.The term originally referred to portions of a log which had been split lengthwise into four or six sections....
d wheels with solid rubber
Rubber

Natural rubber is an elastomer?an Elasticity_ hydrocarbon polymer?that was originally derived from a milky colloidal suspension, or latex , found in the sap of some plants....
 tires. These bicycles were difficult to ride due to their very high seat and poor weight distribution.

Bicycleplymouth
The dwarf ordinary addressed some of these faults by reducing the front wheel diameter and setting the seat further back. This necessitated the addition of gearing, effected in a variety of ways, to attain sufficient speed. Having to both pedal and steer via the front wheel remained a problem. J. K. Starley
John Kemp Starley

John Kemp Starley was an England inventor and industrialist who is widely considered to be the inventor of the modern bicycle, and also originator of the name Rover ....
, J. H. Lawson, and Shergold solved this problem by introducing the chain drive
Chain drive

Chain drive is a way of transmitting mechanical power from one place to another. It is often used to convey power to the wheels of a vehicle, particularly bicycles and motorcycles....
 (originated by Henry Lawson
Henry Lawson

Henry Lawson was an Australian writer and poet . Along with his contemporary Banjo Paterson, Lawson is among the best-known Australian poets and fiction writers of the colonial period, and is often called Australia's "greatest writer"....
's unsuccessful "bicyclette"), connecting the frame-mounted pedals to the rear wheel. These models were known as dwarf safeties, or safety bicycles, for their lower seat height and better weight distribution. Starley's 1885 Rover is usually described as the first recognizably modern bicycle. Soon, the seat tube was added, creating the double-triangle diamond frame of the modern bike.

Further innovations increased comfort and ushered in a second bicycle craze, the 1890s' Golden Age of Bicycles. In 1888, Scotsman John Boyd Dunlop
John Boyd Dunlop

John Boyd Dunlop , born in Scotland, was the inventor who was one of the founders of the rubber company that bore his name, Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Company....
 introduced the pneumatic tire, which soon became universal. Soon after, the rear freewheel
Freewheel

In mechanical engineering or automotive engineering, a freewheel or overrunning clutch is a device in a transmission that disengages the driveshaft from the driven shaft when the driven shaft rotates faster than the driveshaft....
 was developed, enabling the rider to coast. This refinement led to the 1898 invention of coaster brakes
Bicycle brake systems

Bicycle brake systems are used to slow down,or brake a bicycle. There have been various types through history, and several are still in use today....
. Derailleur gears
Derailleur gears

Derailleur gears are a variable-ratio transmission system commonly used on bicycles, consisting of a bicycle chain, multiple sprockets and a mechanism to move the chain from one sprocket to another....
 and hand-operated cable-pull brakes
Bicycle brake systems

Bicycle brake systems are used to slow down,or brake a bicycle. There have been various types through history, and several are still in use today....
 were also developed during these years, but were only slowly adopted by casual riders. By the turn of the century, cycling club
Cycling club

A cycling club is a society for cyclings. It can be local or national, general or specialised. The Cyclists' Touring Club, CTC) in the United Kingdom is a national association; i-Team and are internet clubs; the Tricycle Association, Tandem bicycle Club and the Veterans Time Trial Association, for those over 40, are specialist clubs....
s flourished on both sides of the Atlantic, and touring and racing became widely popular.

Bicycles and horse buggies were the two mainstays of private transportation just prior to the automobile, and the grading of smooth roads in the late 19th century was stimulated by the widespread advertising, production, and use of these devices.

Uses


Bicycles have been and are employed for many uses:
  • Utility: bicycle commuting
    Bicycle commuting

    Bicycle commuting is the act of commuting to a place of work or education by bicycle, a common form of utility cycling. Bicycling is the dominant mode of commuting in countries such as India and China and is also common in many European countries ....
     and utility cycling
    Utility cycling

    Utility cycling encompasses any cycling not done primarily for physical fitness, recreation such as bicycle touring, or sport such as bicycle racing, but simply as a means of transport....
  • Work: mail delivery
    Mail

    Mail, or post, is a method for transmitting information and tangible objects, wherein written documents, typically enclosed in envelopes, and also small packages, are delivered to destinations around the world....
    , paramedic
    Paramedic

    A paramedic is a medical professional, usually a member of the emergency medical services, who primarily provides pre-hospital advanced Medical emergency and Physical trauma care....
    s, police
    Police bicycle

    A Police bicycle is a land vehicle used by police departments, most commonly in the form of a mountain bicycle. They are designed to meet the requirements unique to each department....
    , and general delivery
    Delivery (commerce)

    Delivery is the process of transporting goods. Most goods are delivered through a transport network. Cargo are primarily delivered via roads and Rail transport on land, shipping lanes on the sea and airline networks in the air....
    .
  • Recreation: bicycle touring
    Bicycle touring

    Bicycle touring is a leisure travel activity which involves travelling by bicycle for the pleasure of the journey rather than through need or to race....
    , mountain biking
    Mountain biking

    Mountain biking entails the sport of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, whether riding specially equipped mountain bikes or hybrid road bikes....
    , BMX
    BMX

    Bicycle Motocross or BMX is a name of a cycling sport in which the main goal is extreme racing on bicycles in Motocross style on tracks with inline start and expressive obstacles....
     and physical fitness
    Physical fitness

    Physical fitness is used in two close meanings: general fitness and specific fitness .Physical fitness is the functioning of the heart, blood vessels, lungs, and muscles at optimum efficiency....
    .
  • Racing
    Bicycle racing

    Bicycle racing encompasses many forms in which bicycles are used for competition. Bicycle racing includes road bicycle racing, cyclo-cross, mountain bike racing, track cycling, BMX racing and bike trials and cycle speedway....
    : track racing
    Track cycling

    Track cycling is a bicycle racing sport usually held on specially-built banked tracks or velodromes using track bicycles.Track racing is also done on grass tracks marked out on flat sportsfields....
    , criterium
    Criterium

    A criterium, or crit, is a Road bicycle racing held on a short course , often run on closed-off city centre streets.Race length can be determined by a total time or a number of laps, in which case the number of remaining laps is calculated as the race progresses....
    , roller racing
    Bicycle rollers

    Bicycle rollers are a type of bicycle trainer which makes it possible to ride a bicycle indoors without moving forward. However, unlike other types of bicycle trainers, rollers do not attach to the bicycle frame, and the rider must balance him or herself on the rollers while training....
     and time trial
    Time trial

    In many racing sports an sportsperson will compete in a time trial against the clock to secure the fastest time. In cycling, for example, a time trial  can be a single track cycling event, or an individual time trial or team time trial on the road, and either or both of the latter may form components of multi-day stage races....
     to multi-stage events like the Tour of California, Giro d'Italia
    Giro d'Italia

    The Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy....
    , the Tour de France
    Tour de France

    The Tour de France is a bicycle racing over more than . It is held every year. It is held in France and visits a bordering country every year. It usually lasts 23 days....
    , the Vuelta a España
    Vuelta a España

    The Vuelta a Espa?a is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tour " of Europe and part of the UCI ProTour circuit....
    , the Volta a Portugal
    Volta a Portugal

    The Volta a Portugal is a long distance road bicycle race for professionals held in Portugal.The competition takes place annually during two weeks....
    , among others.
  • Military: scouting
    Reconnaissance

    Reconnaissance is a military and medical term denoting exploration conducted to gain information. Militarily, its shorthand Australian, Canadian, and British form is recce , its American usage form is recon ....
    , troop movement, supply of provisions, and patrol. See bicycle infantry
    Bicycle infantry

    Bicycle infantry are infantry soldiers who maneuver on the battlefield using bicycles. The term dates from the late 19th century, when the "safety bicycle" became popular in Europe, the United States and Australia....
    .
  • Show: entertainment and performance, e.g. circus clowns. Used as instrument by Frank Zappa
    Frank Zappa

    Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, electric guitarist, record producer, and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock music, jazz, electronic music, orchestral, and musique concr?te works....
    .


Technical aspects

The bicycle has undergone continual adaptation and improvement since its inception. These innovations have continued with the advent of modern materials and computer-aided design, allowing for a proliferation of specialized bicycle types.

Types


Bicycles can be categorized in different ways: e.g. by function, by number of riders, by general construction, by gearing or by means of propulsion. The more common types include utility bicycle
Utility bicycle

A utility bicycle is a bicycle designed for utility cycling, as opposed to "sport bicycles" which are primarily designed for recreation and competition, such as touring bicycles, racing bicycles, racing bicycle, and mountain bicycles....
s, mountain bicycles, racing bicycle
Racing bicycle

A racing bicycle is a bicycle designed for Road bicycle racing according to the rules of the Union Cycliste Internationale . The UCI rules were altered in 1934 to exclude recumbent bicycles....
s, touring bicycle
Touring bicycle

A touring bicycle is a bicycle either specially designed for, or modified to handle bicycle touring. Unlike other bicycles, it is able to carry more luggage on racks mounted to the front and rear of the bicycle frame....
s, hybrid bicycle
Hybrid bicycle

For motorized-pedal hybrids, see motorized bicycleA hybrid bicycle is a bicycle designed for general-purpose utility or commuter cycling on paved and unpaved roads, paths, and trails....
s, cruiser bicycle
Cruiser bicycle

Cruiser bicycles combine balloon-tires, upright seating posture, Single-speed bicycle, straightforward Bicycle frame#Frame materials — with expressive styling....
s, and BMX
BMX

Bicycle Motocross or BMX is a name of a cycling sport in which the main goal is extreme racing on bicycles in Motocross style on tracks with inline start and expressive obstacles....
 bicycles. Less common are tandems
Tandem bicycle

The tandem bicycle or twin is a form of bicycle designed to be ridden by more than one person. The term tandem refers to the seating arrangement instead of the number of riders....
, lowriders
Lowrider bicycle

A lowrider bicycle is a highly customized bike with stylings inspired by lowrider cars. These bikes often feature a long, curved banana seat with a sissy bar and very tall upward-swept handlebars known as apehangers....
, tall bike
Tall bike

A tall bike is an unusually tall bicycle, typically built for the purpose of fun and recreation, though with occasional practical use.Modern tall bikes are most commonly constructed by individuals from spare parts....
s, fixed gear
Fixed-gear bicycle

A fixed-gear bicycle or fixed wheel bicycle is a bicycle without the ability to coast. The sprocket is screwed directly on to the hub and there is no freewheel mechanism....
 (fixed-wheel), folding models
Folding bicycle

A folding bicycle or folder is a type of bicycle that incorporates hinges or joints in the bicycle frame and handlebar stem that permit it to be broken down into a more compact size....
 and recumbents
Recumbent bicycle

A recumbent bicycle places the rider in a reclined position. For most enthusiasts the advantage is ergonomic; the rider?s weight is comfortably distributed over several square feet of the back and buttocks....
 (one of which was used to set the IHPVA Hour record
Hour record

The hour record for bicycles is the record for the longest distance cycled in one hour on a bicycle. There are several records. The most famous is for upright bicycles meeting the requirements of the Union Cycliste Internationale ....
).

Unicycle
Unicycle

A unicycle is a one-wheeled human-powered vehicle. Unicycles are similar to, but less complex than, bicycles....
s, tricycle
Tricycle

A tricycle is a three-wheeled vehicle. The term may or may not include Three_wheeled_vehicle, depending on the law or local preference....
s and quadracycles are not strictly bicycles, as they have respectively one, three and four wheels, but are often referred to informally as "bikes".

Dynamics

A bicycle stays upright while moving forward by being steered so as to keep its center of gravity over the wheels. This steering is usually provided by the rider, but under certain conditions may be provided by the bicycle itself.

The combined center of mass of a bicycle and its rider must lean into a turn in order successfully navigate it. This lean is induced by a method known as countersteering
Countersteering

Countersteering is the technique used by Cycling and Motorcycling to initiate turning toward a given direction by first steering counter to the desired direction ....
, which can be performed by the rider turning the handlebars directly with the hands or indirectly by leaning the bicycle.

Short-wheelbase or tall bicycles
Tall bike

A tall bike is an unusually tall bicycle, typically built for the purpose of fun and recreation, though with occasional practical use.Modern tall bikes are most commonly constructed by individuals from spare parts....
, when braking, can generate enough stopping force at the front wheel in order to flip longitudinally. The act of purposefully using this force to lift the rear wheel and balance on the front without tipping over is a trick known as a stoppie
Stoppie

The stoppie, also incorrectly called endo, is a motorcycle and bicycle trick in which the back wheel is lifted and the bike is ridden on the front wheel by carefully applying brake pressure....
, endo or front wheelie.

Performance

Racingbicycle Non
The bicycle is extraordinarily efficient in both biological and mechanical terms. The bicycle is the most efficient self-powered means of transportation in terms of energy a person must expend to travel a given distance. From a mechanical viewpoint, up to 99% of the energy delivered by the rider into the pedals is transmitted to the wheels, although the use of gearing mechanisms may reduce this by 10-15%. In terms of the ratio of cargo weight a bicycle can carry to total weight, it is also a most efficient means of cargo transportation.

A human traveling on a bicycle at low to medium speeds of around 10-15 mph (15-25 km/h), uses only the energy required to walk, is the most energy-efficient means of transport generally available. Air drag, which is proportional to the square of speed, requires dramatically higher power outputs as speeds increase. If the rider is sitting upright, the rider's body creates about 75% of the total drag of the bicycle/rider combination. Drag can be reduced by seating the rider in a supine position
Supine position

The supine position is a position of the human body; lying down with the face up, as opposed to the prone position, which is face down. When used in surgical procedures, it allows access to the peritoneal, thoracic and pericardium regions; as well as the head, neck and extremities....
 or a prone position
Prone position

Sorry, no overview for this topic
, thus creating a recumbent bicycle
Recumbent bicycle

A recumbent bicycle places the rider in a reclined position. For most enthusiasts the advantage is ergonomic; the rider?s weight is comfortably distributed over several square feet of the back and buttocks....
 or human powered vehicle. Drag can also be reduced by covering the bicycle with an aerodynamic fairing
Fairing

A fairing is a structure whose primary function is to produce a smooth outline and reduce Drag .These structures are generally light-weight shapes and covers for gaps and spaces between parts of an aircraft to reduce form drag and interference drag, and to improve appearance....
.

In addition, the carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalent bond to a single carbon atom. It is a gas at standard temperature and pressure and exists in Earth's atmosphere in this state....
 generated in the production and transportation of the food required by the bicyclist, per mile traveled, is less than 1/10th that generated by energy efficient cars.

Construction and parts

In its early years, bicycle construction drew on pre-existing technologies. More recently, bicycle technology has in turn contributed ideas in both old and new areas.

Frame

The great majority of today's bicycles have a frame with upright seating which looks much like the first chain-driven bike. Such upright bicycle
Upright bicycle

An upright bicycle is a bicycle on which the rider sits astride the Bicycle saddle and stands on the Bicycle pedals; this is the most common type of bicycle....
s almost always feature the diamond frame, a truss
Truss

In architecture and structural engineering, a truss is a architectural structure comprising one or more triangular units constructed with straight slender members whose ends are connected at joints referred to as Vertex ....
 consisting of two triangle
Triangle

A triangle is one of the basic shapes of geometry: a polygon with three corners or wikt:vertex and three sides or edges which are line segments....
s: the front triangle and the rear triangle. The front triangle consists of the head tube, top tube, down tube and seat tube. The head tube contains the headset
Headset (bicycle part)

The headset is the set of components on a bicycle which provide a rotatable interface between the bicycle fork and the bicycle frame itself. The short tube through which the steerer of the fork passes is called the head tube....
, the set of bearings that allows the fork
Bicycle fork

A bicycle fork is the portion of a bicycle that holds the front wheel and allows the rider to steer and balance the bicycle. A fork consists of two Dropout s which hold the front wheel axle, two blades which join at a fork crown, and a steerer or steering tube to which the handlebars attach allowing the user to steer the bi...
 to turn smoothly for steering and balance. The top tube connects the head tube to the seat tube at the top, and the down tube connects the head tube to the bottom bracket
Bottom bracket

The bottom bracket on a bicycle connects the crankset to the bicycle and allows the crankset to rotate freely. It contains a axle to which the crankset is attached and the bearing that allow the spindle and cranks to rotate....
. The rear triangle consists of the seat tube and paired chain stays and seat stays. The chain stays run parallel to the chain
Bicycle chain

A bicycle chain is a roller chain that transfers power from the Bicycle pedals to the drive-Bicycle wheel of a bicycle, thus propelling it. Most bicycle chains are made from steel or alloy steel, but some are chrome-plated or stainless steel to prevent rust, or simply for aesthetics....
, connecting the bottom bracket to the rear dropouts
Dropout (bicycle part)

A bicycle dropout , is a slot in a bicycle frame or bicycle fork where the axle of the bicycle wheel is attached.On bicycles that do not have a derailleur or other chain tensioning device, rear horizontal dropouts allow adjustment of chain tension, and can accommodate a range of chain lengths or cog sizes....
. The seat stays connect the top of the seat tube (at or near the same point as the top tube) to the rear dropouts.

Historically, women's bicycle frames had a top tube that connected in the middle of the seat tube instead of the top, resulting in a lower standover height at the expense of compromised structural integrity, since this places a strong bending load in the seat tube, and bicycle frame members are typically weak in bending. This design, referred to as a step-through frame
Step-through frame

A step-through frame is a type of safety bicycle frame with a low bicycle frame#Top tube , in comparison to a diamond frame, or no top tube at all....
, allows the rider to mount and dismount in a dignified way while wearing a skirt or dress. While some women's bicycles continue to use this frame style, there is also a variation, the mixte
Step-through frame

A step-through frame is a type of safety bicycle frame with a low bicycle frame#Top tube , in comparison to a diamond frame, or no top tube at all....
, which splits the top tube into two small top tubes that bypass the seat tube and connect to the rear dropouts. The ease of stepping through is also appreciated by those with limited flexibility or other joint problems. Because of its persistent image as a "women's" bicycle, step-through frames are not common for larger frames.

Another style is the recumbent bicycle
Recumbent bicycle

A recumbent bicycle places the rider in a reclined position. For most enthusiasts the advantage is ergonomic; the rider?s weight is comfortably distributed over several square feet of the back and buttocks....
. These are inherently more aerodynamic than upright versions, as the rider may lean back onto a support and operate pedals that are on about the same level as the seat. The world's fastest bicycle is a recumbent bicycle
Recumbent bicycle

A recumbent bicycle places the rider in a reclined position. For most enthusiasts the advantage is ergonomic; the rider?s weight is comfortably distributed over several square feet of the back and buttocks....
 but this type was banned from competition in 1934 by the Union Cycliste Internationale
Union Cycliste Internationale

Union Cycliste Internationale is a cycling association that oversees competitive cycling events internationally. It is the world governing body for jurisdiction in the sport of cycling....
.

Historically, materials used in bicycles have followed a similar pattern as in aircraft, the goal being high strength and low weight. Since the late 1930s alloy steels have been used for frame and fork tubes in higher quality machines. Celluloid
Celluloid

Celluloid is the name of a class of Chemical compound created from nitrocellulose and camphor, plus dyes and other agents. Generally regarded to be the first thermoplastic, it was first created as Parkesine in 1856 and as Xylonite in 1869 before being registered as Celluloid in 1870....
 found application in mudguards, and aluminum alloys are increasingly used in components such as handlebars, seat post, and brake levers. In the 1980s aluminum alloy frames became popular, and their affordability now makes them common. More expensive carbon fiber
Carbon fiber

Carbon fiber or is a material consisting of extremely thin fibers about 0.005?0.010 mm in diameter and composed mostly of carbon atoms. The carbon atoms are bonded together in microscopic crystals that are more or less aligned parallel to the long axis of the fiber....
 and titanium
Titanium

Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. Sometimes called the ?space age metal?, it has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant transition metal with a silver colour....
 frames are now also available, as well as advanced steel alloys and even bamboo
Bamboo

The bamboos are a group of woody perennial plant evergreen plants in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae....
.

Drivetrain and gearing
Shimano Xt Rear Derailleur


Since cyclists' legs are most efficient over a narrow range of pedaling speeds (cadence
Cadence (cycling)

Cadence in cycling is the number of revolutions of the crankset per minute; roughly speaking, this is the speed at which a cyclist is pedalling/turning the pedals....
), a variable gear ratio
Gear ratio

The gear ratio is the relationship between the number of teeth on two gears that are meshed or two sprockets connected with a common roller chain, or the circumferences of two pulleys connected with a drive belt ....
 helps a cyclist to maintain an optimum pedalling speed while covering varied terrain. As a first approximation, utility bicycle
Utility bicycle

A utility bicycle is a bicycle designed for utility cycling, as opposed to "sport bicycles" which are primarily designed for recreation and competition, such as touring bicycles, racing bicycles, racing bicycle, and mountain bicycles....
s often use a hub gear
Hub gear

Hub gears or internal-gear hubs are a type of gear system used on bicycles.Hub gears are used mostly on utility bicycle and various types of small wheeled bicycle, such as folding bicycle....
 with a small number (3 to 5) of widely-spaced gears, road bicycle
Road bicycle

Not to be confused with Roadster A road bicycle is a synonym for the term racing bicycle. In general road bicycles have drop Bicycle handlebar and multiple gears, although there are single and Fixed-gear bicycle varieties....
s and racing bicycle
Racing bicycle

A racing bicycle is a bicycle designed for Road bicycle racing according to the rules of the Union Cycliste Internationale . The UCI rules were altered in 1934 to exclude recumbent bicycles....
s use derailleur gears
Derailleur gears

Derailleur gears are a variable-ratio transmission system commonly used on bicycles, consisting of a bicycle chain, multiple sprockets and a mechanism to move the chain from one sprocket to another....
 with a moderate number (10 to 22) of closely-spaced gears, while mountain bicycles
Mountain bike

A mountain bike or mountain bicycle is a bicycle designed for off-road cycling, including jumps, and traversing of rocks and washouts, and steep declines,...
, hybrid bicycle
Hybrid bicycle

For motorized-pedal hybrids, see motorized bicycleA hybrid bicycle is a bicycle designed for general-purpose utility or commuter cycling on paved and unpaved roads, paths, and trails....
s, and touring bicycle
Touring bicycle

A touring bicycle is a bicycle either specially designed for, or modified to handle bicycle touring. Unlike other bicycles, it is able to carry more luggage on racks mounted to the front and rear of the bicycle frame....
s use dérailleur gears with a larger number (15 to 30) of moderately-spaced gears, often including an extremely low gear (granny gear) for climbing steep hills.

Different gears and ranges of gears are appropriate for different people and styles of cycling. Multi-speed bicycles allow gear selection to suit the circumstances, e.g. it may be comfortable to use a high gear when cycling downhill, a medium gear when cycling on a flat road, and a low gear when cycling uphill. In a lower gear every turn of the pedals leads to fewer rotations of the rear wheel. This allows the energy required to move the same distance to be distributed over more pedal turns, reducing fatigue when riding uphill, with a heavy load, or against strong winds. A higher gear allows a cyclist to make fewer pedal cycles to maintain a given speed, but with more effort per turn of the pedals.

The drivetrain begins with pedals
Bicycle pedal

A bicycle pedal is the part of a bicycle that the rider pushes with his or her foot to propel the bicycle. It provides the connection between the cyclist's foot or Cycling shoe and the crank allowing the leg to turn the bottom bracket axle....
 which rotate the cranks, which are held in axis by the bottom bracket
Bottom bracket

The bottom bracket on a bicycle connects the crankset to the bicycle and allows the crankset to rotate freely. It contains a axle to which the crankset is attached and the bearing that allow the spindle and cranks to rotate....
. Most bicycles use a chain to transmit power to the rear wheel. A relatively small number of bicycles use a shaft drive to transmit power. A very small number of bicycles (mainly single-speed bicycle
Single-speed bicycle

A single-speed bicycle is a type of bicycle with a single gear ratio. These bicycles are without derailleur gears, hub gearing or other methods for varying the gear ratio of the bicycle....
s intended for short-distance commuting) use a belt drive as an oil-free way of transmitting power.

With a chain drive transmission, a chainring attached to a crank drives the chain
Bicycle chain

A bicycle chain is a roller chain that transfers power from the Bicycle pedals to the drive-Bicycle wheel of a bicycle, thus propelling it. Most bicycle chains are made from steel or alloy steel, but some are chrome-plated or stainless steel to prevent rust, or simply for aesthetics....
, which in turn rotates the rear wheel via the rear sprocket
Sprocket

A sprocket is a profiled wheel with teeth that meshes with a roller chain, Caterpillar track or other perforated or indented material. It is distinguished from a gear in that sprockets are never meshed together directly, and from a pulley by not usually having a flange at each side....
(s) (cassette
Cassette (bicycle part)

On a bicycle, the cogset is the set of rear sprockets that attaches to the hub on the rear bicycle wheel. A cogset works with a rear derailleur to give multiple gear ratios to the rider....
 or freewheel). There are four gearing options: two-speed hub gear integrated with chain ring, up to 3 chain rings, up to 11 sprockets, hub gear built in to rear wheel (3-speed to 14-speed). The most common options are either a rear hub or multiple chain rings combined with multiple sprockets (other combinations of options are possible but less common).

With a shaft drive transmission, a gear set at the bottom bracket turns the shaft, which then turns the rear wheel via a gear set connected to the wheel's hub. There is some small loss of efficiency due to the two gear sets needed. The only gearing option with a shaft drive is to use a hub gear
Hub gear

Hub gears or internal-gear hubs are a type of gear system used on bicycles.Hub gears are used mostly on utility bicycle and various types of small wheeled bicycle, such as folding bicycle....
.

Steering and seating
The handlebars
Bicycle handlebar

Bicycle handlebar or often bicycle handlebars refers to the steering mechanism for bicycles; the equivalent of a steering wheel. Besides steering, handlebars also often support a portion of the rider's weight, depending on their riding position, and provide a convenient mounting place for Bicycle brake systems, Shifter , cyclocompu...
 turn the fork
Bicycle fork

A bicycle fork is the portion of a bicycle that holds the front wheel and allows the rider to steer and balance the bicycle. A fork consists of two Dropout s which hold the front wheel axle, two blades which join at a fork crown, and a steerer or steering tube to which the handlebars attach allowing the user to steer the bi...
 and the front wheel via the stem, which rotates within the headset
Headset (bicycle part)

The headset is the set of components on a bicycle which provide a rotatable interface between the bicycle fork and the bicycle frame itself. The short tube through which the steerer of the fork passes is called the head tube....
. Three styles of handlebar are common. Upright handlebars, the norm in Europe and elsewhere until the 1970s, curve gently back toward the rider, offering a natural grip and comfortable upright position. Drop handlebars "drop" as they curve forward and down, offering the cyclist best braking power from a more aerodynamic "crouched" position, as well as more upright positions in which the hands grip the brake lever mounts, the forward curves, or the upper flat sections for increasingly upright postures. Mountain bikes generally feature a 'straight handlebar' or 'riser bar' with varying degrees of sweep backwards and centimeters rise upwards, as well as wider widths which can provide better handling due to increased leverage against the wheel.

Saddles
Bicycle saddle

A bicycle saddle is one of three contact points on an upright bicycle, the others being the Bicycle pedal and the Bicycle handlebar.The bicycle saddle has been known as such since the bicycle evolved from a device which looked like a wooden horse on wheels....
 also vary with rider preference, from the cushioned ones favored by short-distance riders to narrower saddles which allow more room for leg swings. Comfort depends on riding position. With comfort bikes and hybrids the cyclist sits high over the seat, their weight directed down onto the saddle, such that a wider and more cushioned saddle is preferable. For racing bikes where the rider is bent over, weight is more evenly distributed between the handlebars and saddle, the hips are flexed, and a narrower and harder saddle is more efficient. Differing saddle designs exist for male and female cyclists, accommodating the genders' differing anatomies, although bikes typically are sold with saddles most appropriate for men.

A recumbent bicycle
Recumbent bicycle

A recumbent bicycle places the rider in a reclined position. For most enthusiasts the advantage is ergonomic; the rider?s weight is comfortably distributed over several square feet of the back and buttocks....
 has a reclined chair-like seat
Bicycle seat

A bicycle seat, unlike a bicycle saddle is designed to support 100% of the riders weight and is found attached to a recumbent bicycle. Arthur Garford is credited as the inventor of the padded bicycle seat in 1892....
 that some riders find more comfortable than a saddle, especially riders who suffer from certain types of seat, back, neck, shoulder, or wrist pain. Recumbent bicycles may have either under-seat or over-seat steering
Recumbent bicycle

A recumbent bicycle places the rider in a reclined position. For most enthusiasts the advantage is ergonomic; the rider?s weight is comfortably distributed over several square feet of the back and buttocks....
.

Brakes
Modern bicycle brakes may be rim brakes, in which friction pads are compressed against the wheel rims, internal hub brakes, in which the friction pads are contained within the wheel hubs, disc brakes, with a separate rotor for braking. Disc brakes are more common on off-road bicycles, tandem
Tandem bicycle

The tandem bicycle or twin is a form of bicycle designed to be ridden by more than one person. The term tandem refers to the seating arrangement instead of the number of riders....
s and recumbent bicycle
Recumbent bicycle

A recumbent bicycle places the rider in a reclined position. For most enthusiasts the advantage is ergonomic; the rider?s weight is comfortably distributed over several square feet of the back and buttocks....
s than on road-specific bicycles.

Scheibenbremse Magura
With hand-operated brakes, force is applied to brake levers mounted on the handlebars and transmitted via Bowden cable
Bowden cable

A bowden cable is a type of flexible cable used to transmit mechanics force or energy by the movement of an inner cable relative to a hollow outer cable housing....
s or hydraulic lines to the friction pads. A rear hub brake may be either hand-operated or pedal-actuated, as in the back pedal coaster brakes which were popular in North America until the 1960s, and are still common in children's bicycles.

Track bicycle
Track bicycle

A track bicycle or track bike is a bicycle optimized for racing at a velodrome or outdoor track. Unlike road bicycles, the track bike is a fixed-gear bicycle and so has a single gear and neither freewheel nor brakes....
s do not have dedicated brakes. Brakes are not required for riding on a track because all riders ride in the same direction around a track which does not necessitate sharp deceleration. Track riders are still able to slow down because all track bicycles are fixed-gear
Fixed-gear bicycle

A fixed-gear bicycle or fixed wheel bicycle is a bicycle without the ability to coast. The sprocket is screwed directly on to the hub and there is no freewheel mechanism....
, meaning that there is no freewheel
Freewheel

In mechanical engineering or automotive engineering, a freewheel or overrunning clutch is a device in a transmission that disengages the driveshaft from the driven shaft when the driven shaft rotates faster than the driveshaft....
. Without a freewheel, coasting is impossible, so when the rear wheel is moving, the crank is moving. To slow down, the rider applies resistance to the pedals – this acts as a braking system which can be as effective as a friction-based rear wheel brake, but not as effective as a front wheel brake.

Suspension

Bicycle suspension refers to the system or systems used to suspend the rider and all or part of the bicycle. This serves two purposes:

  • To keep the wheels in continuous contact with rough surfaces in order to improve control.


  • To isolate the rider and luggage from jarring due to rough surfaces.


Bicycle suspensions are used primarily on mountain bicycles, but are also common on hybrid bicycle
Hybrid bicycle

For motorized-pedal hybrids, see motorized bicycleA hybrid bicycle is a bicycle designed for general-purpose utility or commuter cycling on paved and unpaved roads, paths, and trails....
s, and can even be found on some road bicycle
Road bicycle

Not to be confused with Roadster A road bicycle is a synonym for the term racing bicycle. In general road bicycles have drop Bicycle handlebar and multiple gears, although there are single and Fixed-gear bicycle varieties....
s, as they can help deal with problematic vibration. Suspension is especially important on recumbent bicycle
Recumbent bicycle

A recumbent bicycle places the rider in a reclined position. For most enthusiasts the advantage is ergonomic; the rider?s weight is comfortably distributed over several square feet of the back and buttocks....
s, since while an upright bicycle rider can stand on the pedals to achieve some of the benefits of suspension, a recumbent rider cannot.

Wheels

The wheel axle fits into dropouts
Dropout (bicycle part)

A bicycle dropout , is a slot in a bicycle frame or bicycle fork where the axle of the bicycle wheel is attached.On bicycles that do not have a derailleur or other chain tensioning device, rear horizontal dropouts allow adjustment of chain tension, and can accommodate a range of chain lengths or cog sizes....
 in the frame
Bicycle frame

A bicycle frame is the main component of a bicycle, onto which bicycle wheels and list of bicycle parts are fitted. The modern and most common frame design for an upright bicycle is based on the safety bicycle, and consists of two triangles, a main triangle and a paired rear triangle....
 and forks
Bicycle fork

A bicycle fork is the portion of a bicycle that holds the front wheel and allows the rider to steer and balance the bicycle. A fork consists of two Dropout s which hold the front wheel axle, two blades which join at a fork crown, and a steerer or steering tube to which the handlebars attach allowing the user to steer the bi...
. A pair of wheels may be called a wheelset
Wheelset

Wheelset may refer to:* bicycle wheel* wheelset ...
, especially in the context of ready-built "off the shelf", performance-oriented wheels.

Tires vary enormously. Skinny, road-racing tires may be completely smooth, or (slick
Slick tire

A slick tyre is a type of Tire that has no tread pattern, used mostly in auto racing. The first production "slick tyre" was developed by a company called in the early 1950s....
). On the opposite extreme, off-road tires are much wider and thicker, and usually have a deep tread for gripping in muddy conditions.

Accessories, repairs, and tools
Reiserad Beladen
Some components, which are often optional accessories on sports bicycles, are standard features on utility bicycles to enhance their usefulness and comfort. Mudguards, or fenders, protect the cyclist and moving parts from spray when riding through wet areas and chainguards protect clothes from oil on the chain while preventing clothing from being caught between the chain and crankset
Crankset

The crankset, or chainset, is the component of a bicycle drivetrain that converts the reciprocating motion of the rider's legs into rotational motion used to drive the bicycle chain, which in turn drives the rear bicycle wheel....
 teeth. Kick stands keep a bicycle upright when parked. Front-mounted baskets
Bicycle basket

A bicycle basket allows a bicycle rider to carry cargo or objects without using their hands. Baskets on children's bicycles and some utility bicycles are often mounted to the front Bicycle handlebar and are made of wire mesh, wicker, or woven plastic....
 for carrying goods are often used. Luggage carrier
Luggage carrier

A luggage carrier, also commonly called a rack, is a device attached to a bicycle to which cargo or panniers can be attached. This is popular with utility bicycles and touring bicycles....
s and pannier
Pannier

A pannier is a basket, bag, or similar container, carried in pairs either slung over the back of a working animal, or attached to a bicycle or motorcycle....
s mounted above the rear tire can be used to carry equipment or cargo. Parents sometimes add rear-mounted child seats and/or an auxiliary saddle fitted to the crossbar to transport children.

Toe-clips and toestraps and clipless pedals
Bicycle pedal

A bicycle pedal is the part of a bicycle that the rider pushes with his or her foot to propel the bicycle. It provides the connection between the cyclist's foot or Cycling shoe and the crank allowing the leg to turn the bottom bracket axle....
 help keep the foot locked in the proper position on the pedals, and enable the cyclist to pull as well as push the pedals—although not without their hazards, eg. may lock foot in when needed to prevent a fall. Technical accessories include cyclocomputer
Cyclocomputer

A cyclocomputer is a device mounted on a bicycle that calculates and displays trip information, similar to the instruments in the dashboard of a car....
s for measuring speed, distance, etc. Other accessories include lights
Bicycle lighting

Bicycle lighting serves to enhance the ability of the rider to see in dark conditions and at the same time to increase the visibility of the rider to others, i.e....
, reflectors, security locks
Bicycle lock

File:Antivolv?lo6.jpgA bicycle lock is a physical security device used on a bicycle to prevent theft. It is generally used to fasten the bicycle to a bicycle stand or other immovable object....
, mirror, water bottles and cages
Bottle cage

A bottle cage is device used to affix a water bottle to a bicycle. Composed of plastic, aluminum, stainless steel, titanium or carbon fiber, it is attached to the main bicycle frame of a bicycle, the handlebars, or behind the Bicycle saddle....
, and bell.

Bicycle helmet
Bicycle helmet

A bicycle helmet is a helmet intended to be worn while riding a bicycle. They are designed to attenuate impacts to the cranium of a cyclist in falls while minimizing side effects such as interference with peripheral vision....
s may help reduce injury in the event of a collision or accident, and a certified helmet is legally required for some riders in some jurisdictions. Helmets are classified as an accessory or an item of clothing by others.

Many cyclists carry tool kits. These may include a tire patch kit (which, in turn, may contain any combination of a hand pump
Bicycle pump

A bicycle pump is a type of positive-displacement pump specifically designed for inflating bicycle tires. It has a connection or adapter for use with one or both of the two most common types of valves used on bicycles, Schrader valve or Presta valve....
 or CO2 Pump
Bicycle pump

A bicycle pump is a type of positive-displacement pump specifically designed for inflating bicycle tires. It has a connection or adapter for use with one or both of the two most common types of valves used on bicycles, Schrader valve or Presta valve....
, tire levers, spare tubes
Tire

Tires, or tyres , are ring-shaped parts, either pneumatic or solid , that fit around wheels to protect them and enhance their function....
, self-adhesive patches, or tube-patching material, an adhesive, a piece of sandpaper or a metal grater (to roughing the tube surface to be patched), and sometimes even a block of French chalk
French chalk

French Chalk is a term used by Max Doerner is his book "The Materials of the Artist" which describes a calcium carbonate used to make traditional gesso grounds....
.), wrench
Wrench

A wrench or spanner is a tool used to provide a mechanical advantage in applying torque to turn screw, Nut or other items designed to interface with a wrench....
es, hex key
Hex key

A hex key, also known as an Allen, zeta, or Unbrako key or wrench, is a tool of hexagonal cross-section used to drive Screw#Fasteners with a non-tapered shafts and screw#Fasteners with a tapered shaft s that have a hexagonal socket in the head ....
s, screwdriver
Screwdriver

The screwdriver is a device specifically designed to insert and tighten, or to loosen and remove, screws. The screwdriver is made up of a head or tip, which engages with a screw, a mechanism to apply torque by rotating the tip, and some way to position and support the screwdriver....
s, and a chain tool
Chain tool

A chain tool is a small mechanical device used to "break" a bicycle chain in such a way that it can be mended with the same tool. A bicycle chain has links and plates that are pinned together; these pins can be pushed partway out with the chain tool....
. There are also cycling specific multi-tool
Multi-tool

A multi-tool is a portable, versatile hand tool that combines several individual tool functions in a single hilt or in the shape of a credit card....
s that combine many of these implements into a single compact device. More specialized bicycle components may require more complex tools, including proprietary tools specific for a given manufacturer.

Some bicycle parts, particularly hub-based gearing systems, are complex, and many cyclists prefer to leave maintenance and repairs to professional bicycle mechanic
Bicycle mechanic

A bicycle mechanic is a mechanic who can perform a wide range of repairs on bicycles. A person who works in a cycling store is usually only considered a bike mechanic if that person has experience repairing bikes....
s. In some areas it is possible to purchase road-side assistance from companies such as the Better World Club
Better World Club

The Better World Club provides services to motorists in the USA, and supports organizations seeking to reduce the environmental damage done by automobiles....
. Other cyclists maintain their own bicycles, perhaps as part of their enjoyment of the hobby
Hobby

A hobby is a leisure recreational pursuit....
 of cycling or simply for economic reasons. The ability to repair and maintain your own bicycle is also celebrated within the DIY movement.

Standards
A number of formal and industry standards exist for bicycle components to help make spare parts exchangeable and to maintain a minimum product safety.

The International Organization for Standardization
International Organization for Standardization

The International Organization for Standardization , widely known as ISO , is an international standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organizations....
, ISO, has a special technical committee for cycles, TC149, that has the following scope: "Standardization in the field of cycles, their components and accessories with particular reference to terminology, testing methods and requirements for performance and safety, and interchangeability."

CEN
Cen

CEN can stand for:*Centaurus - the constellation Centaurus*Cen, or sen, is the currency of the fictional nation of Amestris of the anime/manga "Fullmetal Alchemist"...
, European Committee for Standardisation, also has a specific Technical Committee, TC333, that defines European standards for cycles. Their mandate states that EN cycle standards shall harmonize with ISO standards. Some CEN cycle standards were developed before ISO published their standards, leading to strong European influences in this area. European cycle standards tend to describe minimum safety requirements, while ISO standards have historically harmonized parts geometry.

Parts

For details on specific bicycle parts, see list of bicycle parts
List of bicycle parts

This is a list of bicycle parts.*Axle*Ball bearing*Bar ends - extensions at the end of straight handlebars to allow for multiple hand possitions....
 and :category:bicycle parts.

Social and historical aspects

The bicycle has had a considerable effect on human society, in both the cultural and industrial realms.

In daily life

Bikesinamsterdam 2004 Seanmcclean
Around the turn of the 20th century, bicycles reduced crowding in inner-city tenements by allowing workers to commute
Bicycle commuting

Bicycle commuting is the act of commuting to a place of work or education by bicycle, a common form of utility cycling. Bicycling is the dominant mode of commuting in countries such as India and China and is also common in many European countries ....
 from more spacious dwellings in the suburbs. They also reduced dependence on horses. Bicycles allowed people to travel for leisure into the country, since bicycles were three times as energy efficient as walking and three to four times as fast. Recently, several European cities have implemented successful schemes known as community bicycle program
Community bicycle program

A bicycle sharing system is an increasingly popular system whereby bicycles are made available on a large scale in a city allowing people to have ready access to these public bikes rather than rely on their own bikes....
s or bike-sharing. These initiatives complement a city's public transport system and offer an alternative to motorized traffic to help reduce congestion and pollution. Users take a bicycle at a parking station, use it for a limited amount of time, and then return it to the same or different station. Examples include Bicing
Bicing

Bicing is the name of a community bicycle program in Barcelona inaugurated in March 2007, similar to the V?l? service in Toulouse, V?lo'v in Lyon and V?lib' in Paris, and apparently uses the same system and bicycles with Stockholm City Bikes....
 in Barcelona
Barcelona

Barcelona is the capital and most populous city of the Autonomous communities of Spain of Catalonia and the second largest city in Spain, with a population of 1,615,908 in 2008, while the population of the Metropolitan Area was 3,161,081....
, Vélo'v
Vélo'v

V?lo'v is bicycle rental service run by the city of Lyon, France, in conjunction with the advertising company JCDecaux. The relationship with JCDecaux allows the city to provide the service on a cost neutral basis for the city, and at very low cost to users, in return for providing exclusive advertising access on bus shelters and the like....
 in Lyon
Lyon

||-||}Lyon, also known as Lyons in English, is a city in east-central France. Its name is pronounced in French language and Franco-Proven?al language, and or in English language....
 and Vélib'
Vélib'

is a community bicycle program in Paris, France. The initiative was pushed by Paris mayor Bertrand Delano? from the Socialist Party . The system was launched on 15 July 2007, following Lyon success....
 in Paris
Paris

Paris is the Capital of France and the country's largest city. It is situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the ?le-de-France Regions of France ....
. In cities where the bicycle is not an integral part of the planned transportation system, commuters often use bicycles as elements of a mixed-mode commute
Mixed-mode commuting

Mixed-mode commuting refers to the practice of using two or more modes of transportation. The goal of mixed-mode commuting is often to combine the strengths of various transportation options....
, where the bike is used to travel to and from train stations or other forms of rapid transit
Rapid transit

A rapid transit, subway, underground, elevated railway or metro system is an railway electrification system public transport rail transport in an urban area with high capacity and frequency, and which is grade separation from other traffic....
. Folding bicycles are useful in these scenarios, as they are less cumbersome when carried aboard. Los Angeles
Los Ángeles

Los ?ngeles is the Capital of the Biob?o Province, in the municipality of the same name, in Regions of Chile VIII , in the center-south of Chile....
 removed a small amount of seating on some trains to make more room for bicycles and wheel chairs .

Bicycles offer an important mode of transport in many developing countries. Until recently, bicycles have been a staple of everyday life throughout Asian countries. They are the most frequently used method of transport for commuting
Bicycle commuting

Bicycle commuting is the act of commuting to a place of work or education by bicycle, a common form of utility cycling. Bicycling is the dominant mode of commuting in countries such as India and China and is also common in many European countries ....
 to work, school, shopping, and life in general. As a result, bicycles there are almost always equipped with baskets.




Female emancipation


Woman With Bicycle 1890s
The diamond-frame safety bicycle gave women unprecedented mobility, contributing to their emancipation in Western nations. As bicycles became safer and cheaper, more women had access to the personal freedom they embodied, and so the bicycle came to symbolize the New Woman
New Woman

The New Woman was a feminism ideal that emerged in the final decades of the 19th century in Europe and North America....
 of the late 19th century, especially in Britain and the United States.

The bicycle was recognized by 19th-century feminists and suffragists as a "freedom machine" for women. American Susan B. Anthony
Susan B. Anthony

Susan Brownell Anthony was a prominent United States civil rights leader who played a pivotal role in the 19th century women's rights movement to introduce History of women's suffrage in the United States....
 said in a New York World
New York World

The New York World was a newspaper published in New York from 1860 until 1931. It played a major role in the history of American newspapers....
 interview on February 2 1896: "Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world. It gives women a feeling of freedom and self-reliance. I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a wheel...the picture of free, untrammeled womanhood." In 1895 Frances Willard, the tightly-laced president of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, wrote a book called How I Learned to Ride the Bicycle, in which she praised the bicycle she learned to ride late in life, and which she named "Gladys", for its "gladdening effect" on her health and political optimism. Willard used a cycling metaphor to urge other suffragists to action, proclaiming, "I would not waste my life in friction when it could be turned into momentum."

Male anger at the freedom symbolized by the New (bicycling) Woman was demonstrated when the male undergraduates of Cambridge University
University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge , located in Cambridge, England, is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation university in the Anglosphere....
 showed their opposition to the admission of women as full members of the university by hanging a woman bicyclist in effigy in the main town square. This was as late as 1897. The bicycle craze in the 1890s also led to a movement for so-called rational dress, which helped liberate women from corsets and ankle-length skirts and other restrictive garments, substituting the then-shocking bloomers
Bloomers (clothing)

Bloomers is a word which has been applied to several types of divided women's garments for the lower body at various times....
.

Economic implications

Bicycle manufacturing proved to be a training ground for other industries and led to the development of advanced metalworking techniques, both for the frames themselves and for special components such as ball bearings
Bearing (mechanical)

A bearing is a device to allow constrained relative motion between two parts, typically rotation or linear movement. Bearings may be classified broadly according to the motions they allow and according to their principle of operation as well as by the directions of applied loads they can handle....
, washer
Washer (mechanical)

A washer is a thin plate with a hole that is normally used to distribute the load of a screw. Other uses are as a spacer, spring , wear pad, preload indicating device, and locking device....
s, and sprocket
Sprocket

A sprocket is a profiled wheel with teeth that meshes with a roller chain, Caterpillar track or other perforated or indented material. It is distinguished from a gear in that sprockets are never meshed together directly, and from a pulley by not usually having a flange at each side....
s. These techniques later enabled skilled metalworkers and mechanics to develop the components used in early automobile
Automobile

An automobile or motor car is a wheeled motor vehicle for transportation passengers, which also carries its own car engine or motor. Most definitions of the term specify that automobiles are designed to run primarily on roads, to have seating for one to eight people, to typically have four wheels, and to be constructed principally f...
s and aircraft
Aircraft

An aircraft is a vehicle which is able to flight by being supported by the air, or in general, the atmosphere, of a planet. Examples include balloons, airplanes and helicopters....
.

They also served to teach the industrial models later adopted, including mechanization and mass production
Mass production

Mass production is the production of large amounts of standardized products, including and especially on assembly lines. The concepts of mass production are applied to various kinds of products, from fluids and particulates handled in bulk to discrete solid parts to assemblies of such parts ....
 (later copied and adopted by Ford
Ford Motor Company

The Ford Motor Company is an United States multinational corporation and the world's List of automobile manufacturers#World Motor Vehicle Production by Manufacturer based on worldwide vehicle sales, following Toyota, General Motors, and Volkswagen Group....
 and General Motors
General Motors

General Motors Corporation , founded in 1908, is the world's second-largest automaker after Toyota, ranked by 2008 global unit sales. GM was the global sales leader for 77 consecutive calendar years from 1931 to 2008....
), vertical integration (also later copied and adopted by Ford), aggressive advertising (as much as 10% of all advertising in U.S. periodicals in 1898 was by bicycle makers), lobbying for better roads (which had the side benefit of acting as advertising, and of improving sales by providing more places to ride), all first practised by Pope. In addition, bicycle makers adopted the annual model change (later derided as planned obsolescence
Planned obsolescence

Planned obsolescence or built-in obsolescence is the process of a good becoming obsolete and/or non-functional after a certain period or amount of use in a way that is planned or designed by the manufacturer....
, and usually credited to General Motors), which proved very successful.

Furthermore, bicycles were an early example of conspicuous consumption
Conspicuous consumption

Conspicuous consumption is a term used to describe the lavish spending on goods and services acquired mainly for the purpose of displaying income or wealth....
, being adopted by the fashionable elites. In addition, by serving as a platform for accessories, which could ultimately cost more than the bicycle itself, it paved the way for the likes of the Barbie doll.

Moreover, they helped create, or enhance, new kinds of businesses, such as bicycle messengers, travelling seamstresses, riding academies, and racing rinks (Their board tracks were later adapted to early motorcycle
Motorcycle racing

Motorcycle sport is a broad field that encompasses all sporting aspects of motorcycling. The disciplines are not all "races" or timed-speed events, as several disciplines test a competitor's various riding skills....
 and automobile racing.) Also, there were a variety of new inventions, such as spoke tighteners, and specialized lights, socks and shoes, and even cameras (such as the Eastman Company
Eastman Kodak

Eastman Kodak Company is a multinational corporation public company which produces imaging and photography materials and equipment. Long known for its wide range of photographic film products, Kodak is re-focusing on two major markets: digital photography and digital printing....
's Poco). Probably the best known and most widely used of these inventions, adopted well beyond cycling, is Charles Bennett's Bike Web, which came to be called the "jock strap".

They also presaged a move away from public transit that would explode with the introduction of the automobile. This liberation would be repeated again with the appearance of the snowmobile
Snowmobile

A snowmobile, also known in some places as a snowmachine, is a land vehicle for travel on snow that is commonly propelled by a continuous track or tracks at the rear and steered by skis at the front....
.

J. K. Starley's company became the Rover Cycle Company Ltd. in the late 1890s, and then simply the Rover Company when it started making cars. The Morris Motor Company
Morris Motor Company

The Morris Motor Company was a United Kingdom automobile manufacturing company. After the incorporation of the company into larger corporations, the Morris name remained in use as a marque until 1984 when British Leyland's Austin Rover Group decided to concentrate on the more popular Austin Motor Company marque....
 (in Oxford
Oxford

Oxford is a City status in the United Kingdom, and the county town of Oxfordshire, in South East England. It has a population of 151,000. The rivers River Cherwell and River Thames run through Oxford and meet south of the city centre....
) and Škoda
Škoda Auto

?koda Auto is an automotive industry in the Czech Republic. In 1991, it became a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group....
 also began in the bicycle business, as did the Wright brothers
Wright brothers

The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur , were two United States who are generally credited with inventing and building the world's first successful fixed-wing aircraft and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air Flight#Mechanical flight, on December 17, 1903....
. Alistair Craig, whose company eventually emerged to become the engine manufacturers Ailsa Craig
Ailsa Craig Engines

Alisa Craig Engines was a manufacturer of marine and specialist made to order engines from 1891 to 1972. Named after the island Ailsa Craig the company began as a bicycle manufacturer in Glasgow in 1891, later moving to Putney, in London where the then owner went into partnership and set about building early vehicles going on to produce the w...
, also started from manufacturing bicycles, in Glasgow in March 1885.

In general, U.S. and European cycle manufacturers used to assemble cycles from their own frames and components made by other companies, although very large companies (such as Raleigh) used to make almost every part of a bicycle (including bottom brackets, axles, etc.) In recent years, those bicycle makers have greatly changed their methods of production. Now, almost none of them produce their own frames.

Many newer or smaller companies only design and market their products; the actual production is done by Asian companies. For example, some 60% of the world's bicycles are now being made in China. Despite this shift in production, as nations such as China
China

China is a Culture of China, an ancient civilization, and, depending on perspective, a national or multinational entity extending over a large area in East Asia....
 and India
India

India, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, the List of countries by population country, and the most populous liberal democracy in the world....
 become more wealthy, their own use of bicycles has declined due to the increasing affordability of cars and motorcycles. One of the major reasons for the proliferation of Chinese-made bicycles in foreign markets is the lower cost of labor in China.

One of the profound economic implications of bicycle use is that it liberates the user from oil consumption (Ballantine, 1972). H.G. Wells said: “Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race.” (Quotegarden.com). The bicycle is a inexpensive, fast, healthy and environmentally friendly mode of transport (Illich, 1974)

Legal requirements

Bicycle
Early in its development, like in the case of automobile
Automobile

An automobile or motor car is a wheeled motor vehicle for transportation passengers, which also carries its own car engine or motor. Most definitions of the term specify that automobiles are designed to run primarily on roads, to have seating for one to eight people, to typically have four wheels, and to be constructed principally f...
s, there were restrictions on the operation of bicycles. Along with advertising, and to gain free publicity, Albert A. Pope litigated on behalf of cyclists

The 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic
Vienna Convention on Road Traffic

The Vienna Convention on Road Traffic is an international treaty designed to facilitate international road traffic and to increase road safety by standardising the Rules of the road among the contracting parties....
 of the United Nations
United Nations

The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, Social change, human rights and achieving world peace....
 considers a bicycle to be a vehicle, and a person controlling a bicycle (whether actually riding or not) is considered an operator. The traffic codes of many countries reflect these definitions and demand that a bicycle satisfy certain legal requirements, sometimes even including licensing, before it can be used on public roads. In many jurisdiction
Jurisdiction

In law, jurisdiction is the practical authority granted to a formally constituted legal body or to a political leader to deal with and make pronouncements on legal matters and, by implication, to administer justice within a defined area of responsibility....
s, it is an offense to use a bicycle that is not in roadworthy condition.

In most jurisdictions, bicycles must have functioning front and rear lights
Bicycle lighting

Bicycle lighting serves to enhance the ability of the rider to see in dark conditions and at the same time to increase the visibility of the rider to others, i.e....
 when ridden after dark. As some generator or dynamo
Dynamo

Dynamo or Dinamo may refer to:...
-driven lamps only operate while moving, rear reflectors are frequently also mandatory. Since a moving bicycle makes little noise, some countries insist that bicycles have a warning bell for use when approaching pedestrians, equestrians, and other cyclists.

See also


  • Cycling
    Cycling

    Cycling is the use of bicycles, or - less commonly - unicycles, tricycles, Quadracycle s and other similar wheeled human powered vehicles as a means of transport, a form of recreation or a sport....
     - use of bicycles


General
  • Bicycle safety
    Bicycle safety

    Bicycle safety is the use of practices designed to reduce risk associated with cycling. Some of this subject matter is hotly debated: for example, the discussions as to whether bicycle helmets or cyclepaths really deliver improved safety....
  • Bicycle commuting
    Bicycle commuting

    Bicycle commuting is the act of commuting to a place of work or education by bicycle, a common form of utility cycling. Bicycling is the dominant mode of commuting in countries such as India and China and is also common in many European countries ....
  • Bicycle industry
    Bicycle Industry

    The Bicycle Industry or Cycling Industry can broadly be defined as the industry concerned with bicycles and cycling. It includes at least List of bicycle manufacturers, part or component manufacturers, and accessory manufacturers....
     and List of bicycle manufacturing companies
  • Bicycle and human powered vehicle museums, list of
    List of bicycle and human powered vehicle museums

    Bicycle and human powered vehicle museums by country....
  • Bicycle lighting
    Bicycle lighting

    Bicycle lighting serves to enhance the ability of the rider to see in dark conditions and at the same time to increase the visibility of the rider to others, i.e....
  • Bicycle lock
    Bicycle lock

    File:Antivolv?lo6.jpgA bicycle lock is a physical security device used on a bicycle to prevent theft. It is generally used to fasten the bicycle to a bicycle stand or other immovable object....
  • Bicycle locker
    Bicycle locker

    A bicycle locker or bike box is a Locker / box in which a single bicycle can be placed and locked in. They are usually provided at places where numerous cyclists need bike parking for extended times , yet where the bikes might otherwise get damaged or stolen ....
  • Bicycle parts
    List of bicycle parts

    This is a list of bicycle parts.*Axle*Ball bearing*Bar ends - extensions at the end of straight handlebars to allow for multiple hand possitions....
  • Bicycle tools
    Bicycle tools

    Various bicycle tools have evolved over the years into specialized tools for working on a bicycle. Modern bicycle shops will stock a large number of tools for working on different bicycle parts....
  • Trampe bicycle lift
    Trampe bicycle lift

    The Trampe bicycle lift is the first, and currently only, bicycle Elevator in the world. The prototype was built in 1993 in Trondheim, and it is still in service as of 2005....


Special uses and related vehicle types
  • Balance bicycle
    Balance bicycle

    A balance bicycle is a training bicycle that helps the rider learn Equilibrioception and Bicycle and motorcycle dynamics. It has no Bicycle pedal, no crankset, and no training wheels....
  • Beach cruiser
    Beach cruiser

    A beach cruiser is typically a single geared bicycle that you reverse pedal to brake. Made popular in the 1950s by Schwinn, they have since greatly increased in popularity relative to other bicycles on the market....
  • Bicycle trailer
    Bicycle trailer

    A bicycle trailer is a motorless wheeled frame with a hitch system designed for transporting cargo by bicycle. A bicycle trailer expands the cargo-carrying capacity of a bicycle greatly, allowing point-to-point transport of objects up to 4 cubic yards in volume and weighing as much as half a ton #Notes....
  • Boda-boda
    Boda-boda

    Boda-boda - originally a bicycle taxi in East Africa . The bicycle rider can also be called boda-boda....
  • Cycle rickshaw
    Cycle rickshaw

    The cycle rickshaw, being a small-scale local means of transport, is also known by a variety of other names such as rickshaw, pedicab, bugbug, cyclo, or trishaw....
  • Faired bicycle
  • Folding bicycle
    Folding bicycle

    A folding bicycle or folder is a type of bicycle that incorporates hinges or joints in the bicycle frame and handlebar stem that permit it to be broken down into a more compact size....
  • Freight bicycle
    Freight bicycle

    Freight bicycles, carrier cycles, freight tricycles, cargo bikes or work bikes are human powered vehicles designed and constructed specifically for transporting large loads....
  • Infantry bicycle
    Bicycle infantry

    Bicycle infantry are infantry soldiers who maneuver on the battlefield using bicycles. The term dates from the late 19th century, when the "safety bicycle" became popular in Europe, the United States and Australia....
  • Monowheel
    Monowheel

    A monowheel is a one-wheeled vehicle similar to a unicycle. However, instead of sitting above the wheel, the rider sits either within it or next to it....
  • Quadricycle
    Quadracycle (Human powered)

    A Quadracycle is a four-wheeled Human-powered transport. It is also referred to as a quadricycle, quadcycle, quadrocycle or as a four-wheel bicycle....
  • Shaft-driven bicycle
    Shaft-driven bicycle

    A shaft-driven bicycle is a chainless bicycle that uses a driveshaft instead of a Bicycle chain to transmit power from the pedals to the wheel....
  • Tandem bicycle
    Tandem bicycle

    The tandem bicycle or twin is a form of bicycle designed to be ridden by more than one person. The term tandem refers to the seating arrangement instead of the number of riders....
  • Trailer bike
    Trailer bike

    Trailer bike is a one-wheeled bicycle trailer designed to carry one or more small riders in positions that closely resemble that of a bicycle rider....
  • Tricycle
    Tricycle

    A tricycle is a three-wheeled vehicle. The term may or may not include Three_wheeled_vehicle, depending on the law or local preference....
  • Utility cycling
    Utility cycling

    Utility cycling encompasses any cycling not done primarily for physical fitness, recreation such as bicycle touring, or sport such as bicycle racing, but simply as a means of transport....
  • Unicycle
    Unicycle

    A unicycle is a one-wheeled human-powered vehicle. Unicycles are similar to, but less complex than, bicycles....
  • Velocipede
    Velocipede

    The velocipede was a series of human-powered vehicles created in the Victorian age. There were designs with two, three and four wheels. Some two-wheeled designs had pedals mounted on the front wheel, while three- and four-wheeled designs used treadles and levers to drive the rear wheels....
  • Workbike
    Workbike

    #REDIRECT Freight bicycle...


Other
  • Human-powered transport
    Human-powered transport

    Human-powered transport is the transport of person and/or goods using human muscle power. Like animal-powered transport, human-powered transport has existed since time immemorial in the form of walking, running and swimming....
  • Environment topics, list of
  • Safety standards
    Safety standards

    Safety standards are standards designed to ensure the safety of products, activities or processes, etc. They may be advisory or compulsory and are normally laid down by an advisory or regulatory body that may be either voluntary or statutory....
  • Transportation technology, timeline of
    Timeline of transportation technology

    Timeline of Transport technology...


External links

  • The world's largest bicycle museum
  • ?he official site of Cycling Association of Veteran Athletes of Greece
  • A range of produced by the UK Department for Transport
    Department for Transport

    In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the Departments of the United Kingdom Government responsible for the English transport network and transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are not devolved....
     covering cycling.
  • - Databases of antique bicycle photos, features, price guide and research tools. Very large archives.
  • Discussion of the Bicycle and its advantages over motor vehicles
  • (2005). Extensive Online
  • Hudson, William (2003). . Retrieved March 30 2005.
  • at the Canada Science and Technology Museum
    Canada Science and Technology Museum

    The Canada Science and Technology Museum is located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on St. Laurent Boulevard, to the south of the Queensway ....
  • Jones, David E. H. (1970). . Scanned in copy for download for personal use.
  • , a wiki site intended to document everything bike.
  • Learn how to fix your own bike with step-by-step video tutorials.
  • - How to Not Get Hit by Cars