The bicycle is a two-wheeled vehicle powered by human pedaling that relies on kinetic energy to move forward. It is used by millions of people worldwide for transportation, recreation and exercise. It is an efficient, economical and environmentally friendly mode of transport. Bicycles are available in many styles and sizes and can be modified to suit the needs of different riders.

The earliest bicycles were velocipedes, which were developed in the 1860s. The name comes from the French words buf (bi) and clé (wheel). It was around this time that the term ‘bicycle’ first appeared in print, as well.

Historically, steel was the preferred material for bicycle frames and forks, because of its strength and light weight. By the 1930s alloy steels were introduced, with the goal of increasing strength while reducing weight. By the 1980s aluminum welding techniques had improved to the point that bicycles could be built with an aluminum frame and fork. Aluminum is lighter, stronger and more durable than steel. It is also rust resistant.

Today, the bicycle is one of the most common vehicles in use and is a symbol of freedom and independence. It is used by commuters, athletes, families, and children. Some bicycles are designed for racing, while others are designed for utility and comfort. There are also electric and hybrid bicycles, as well as tandem bicycles, which allow two people to ride together.

Bicycles can be fitted with accessories to help the rider perform tricks or to carry additional cargo. For example, a basket can be attached to the front or rear of a bicycle for carrying items. Parents sometimes use rear-mounted child seats or auxiliary saddles fitted to the crossbar, which can carry children or additional riders.

In addition to making cycling more accessible, the modern bicycle has allowed cyclists to explore new territory with greater speed and efficiency. This is partly due to the availability of off-road and mountain bikes, which can handle rugged terrain and steep climbs.

The most important aspect of a bicycle is the frame, which sets the stage for the riding experience. Whether the bike is designed for race, casual riding, or heavy duty hauling, the frame’s geometry and construction will determine how the rest of the components work together to get the rider from point A to point B.

When choosing a bicycle, it is important to consider how the author of the review intends to use the bike, and what types of rides they have previously been on. The bicycle market is a lot like dating: you need to spend a long time with it before you know if it’s right for you. Reading reviews and blogs is a great way to find out about bikes, but be careful not to take everything at face value. Bike media can be like a bag of Kirkland trail mix, and it’s hard to know what is healthy from what isn’t.

The GOES satellites have been a critical part of NOAA’s mission to provide continuous imagery and weather data about atmospheric conditions and solar activity (space weather) since 1975. GOES satellites are owned and operated by NOAA, while NASA manages the design, build and launch of the spacecraft, and NOAA distributes the data to users.

GOES-T is the fourth satellite in the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) R Series, which is being built by Lockheed Martin for NOAA. GOES-T will be renamed GOES-19 when it enters geostationary orbit, where it will sit 22,236 miles above Earth’s equator, and provides observations of the United States West Coast, Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, Central America and parts of South America and the Pacific Ocean.

In addition to the traditional GOES sensors, GOES-T will have the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI), which will deliver unprecedented views of Earth, including cloud cover, water vapor, fog, volcanic ash and sunspots. ABI can scan the whole planet every five minutes, versus 26 minutes on current GOES satellites, giving meteorologists more timely information about hazardous events like storms and hurricanes.

ABI also can capture images with twice the spatial resolution, and it can detect a wider range of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation. This allows GOES-T to better observe the effects of solar flares, which can interfere with communications, reduce navigational accuracy for high altitude airplanes and lower the efficiency of power grids on Earth.

As GOES-T moves closer to launch, it is undergoing a variety of environmental testing to simulate the extreme environment it will experience in space. The satellite recently completed reverberant acoustics and sine vibration tests, designed to expose the satellite to the sound and vibrations it will experience during its voyage through outer space.

Once in orbit, GOES-T will undergo an extensive system checkout and calibration. Once all of its systems are verified, the satellite will be ready to start producing real-time weather images.

GOES-T’s first full disk imagery will be produced in April, when its Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) will begin operating in a new 10-minute flex mode. The ten-minute mode will allow the satellite to produce full disk images of Contiguous US and Pacific hemisphere domains every 15 minutes, with two mesoscale images per scan, in place of the existing six-minute images of each polar region. ABI can detect and track rapidly evolving features such as smoke from fires and the movements of ice and clouds, which is critical for improving aviation safety by providing timely warnings to pilots of regions of possible turbulence. It will also provide more frequent observations of volcanic ash plumes, which can be hazardous to aircraft. The faster temporal cadence will also improve monitoring of mountainous areas where ash can accumulate and disperse. For NOAA’s National Weather Service forecast offices and Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers, this increased imagery will help them respond to and mitigate hazards for their customers.