A triangular bicycle frame distributes your weight evenly between the two wheels. The saddle sits close to the back wheel, and the angled bars in the frame distribute your weight evenly between the front and back wheels. If all your weight were on the front wheel, your bicycle would tip backwards and cause you to go head over heels. Inverting this design helps you balance yourself and pedal efficiently. But it is not without its disadvantages. Here are some things to consider before purchasing a bicycle.
A bicycle does not use fossil fuels. Bicycles are powered by kinetic energy and do not produce pollution. It uses your muscles instead of fossil fuels. In fact, more than ninety percent of the energy you put into pedaling a bicycle is converted into usable energy. Bicycles are also very efficient: they can cover greater distances in less time than a car. And, as long as they are maintained properly, bicycles can save you money on gas.
When buying a bicycle, you should know what components are used. First, there is the bicycle frame, which is the most important structural part of the bicycle. It is made of steel, aluminum, titanium, or carbon fiber, and is composed of the top tube, down tube, seat tube, and seat stays. A bicycle frame is sold in sets called framesets. A frameset is a bike frame plus fork. The bicycle frame houses the wheel hub, which transfers power to the rear wheel as you pedal forward. Another important component is the cassette, which is connected to the freehub body.
Another important consideration is bicycle safety. While biking on a roadway, make sure you ride with traffic. Bicycle crashes occur most often when cyclists ride against traffic. Riding with traffic also makes you more visible to drivers and improves your visibility. Also, if possible, use the shoulder. A smart bicycle rider plots a line in the roadway approximately three to four feet from the curb or parked car. That way, they can avoid any unwanted collisions.
A bicycle tire is made of a rubber compound that is not solid. It is inflated with air. This makes it lighter and springier than a conventional bicycle tire. Scottish inventor John Boyd Dunlop patented this technique in 1888. Different bicycles use different kinds of tires. A racing bicycle, for example, has thin tires because they are thinner. A mountain bike, on the other hand, has a more substantial tread and more rubber in contact with the road.
A typical bicycle has three to thirty gears. A chain connects the gears, making the bicycle easier to pedal. While larger wheels are easier to maneuver on straights, they are less desirable on hills. For this reason, mountain bikes and BMX bicycles feature smaller wheels. The gears in a mountain bike and BMX bicycle are usually smaller than the wheels in a racing bicycle. And the cranks of the bike are meant to magnify the power you exert when pedaling.