Information AboutBicycle |
|
'' is built using lightweight, shaped Aluminium tubing and Carbon Fiber stays and forks. It sports a drop handlebar and thin tires and wheels for efficiency and aerodynamics.]] -powered lamps and touring handlebars.]] A bicycle or '''bike''', is a Pedal -driven Human-powered Vehicle with two Wheels attached to a Frame , one behind the other. First introduced in 19th-century Europe , bicycles evolved quickly into their familiar, current design. Numbering over 1,000,000,000 in the world today, bicycles provide the principal means of Transportation in many regions and a popular form of recreational transport in others. The bicycle is one of the most notable of human inventions. The basic shape and configuration of the frame, wheels, pedals, saddle and handlebars has hardly changed since the first Chain-driven model was developed around 1885 , although many important detail improvements have been made since, especially in recent years using modern materials and Computer -aided design. A remarkable aspect of the bicycle is its widespread adoption in many different fields of human activity, e.g. as a child's toy, in adult recreation and fitness, as a means of everyday transport, in cyclo-touring, as a basis of the many cycle sports, and for static use in gymnasiums or the home. The bicycle has affected history considerably in both the cultural and industrial realms. In its early years, bicycle construction drew on pre-existing technologies; more recently, bicycle technology has contributed, in turn, to other, newer areas. Beyond recreation and transportation, bicycles have been adapted for use in many occupations, including the military, local policing, courier services, and sports. A recurrent theme in bicycling has been the tension between bicyclists and drivers of Motor Vehicle s, each group arguing for its fair share of the world's roadways. History See Also: History of the bicycle No single time or person can be identified with the invention of the bicycle. However, it can probably be asserted that the two most prominent inventions were the Dandy Horse of Baron Karl Von Drais in 1818 , and the addition of Pedals by either Pierre Lallement or Pierre Michaux in 1863 . The bicycle's earliest known forebears were called '' Velocipede s'', and included many types of human-powered vehicles. One of these, the scooter-like '' Dandy Horse '' of the French Comte De Sivrac , dating to 1790 , was long cited as the earliest bicycle. Most bicycle historians now believe that these hobby-horses with no steering mechanism probably never existed, but were made up by Louis Baudry De Saunier , a 19th-century French bicycle historian. " for two.]] The most likely originator of the bicycle concept is German mechanism, and had by this time come to feel that propulsion by walking or running was more natural. Several other cartwrights also constructed these machines, most notably Denis Johnson Of London who patented a "pedestrian curricle or velocipede" in 1819 which was more elegant than the draisine, but had no brake nor front-wheel trail. Scottish blacksmith Kirkpatrick MacMillan may share creative credit with von Drais for adding a '' Treadle '' drive mechanism, in 1839 , that enabled the rider to lift his feet off the ground while driving the rear wheel. However, some reports describe MacMillan's vehicle as more of a "quadricycle", and no documentary evidence has been furnished to prove that his vehicle had 2 wheels. In the 1850s and 1860s, Frenchman Ernest Michaux and his pupil Pierre Lallement took bicycle design in a different direction, placing pedals on an enlarged front wheel; according to bicycle historian David Herlihy, Lallement was the person responsible for first attaching pedals to a dandy-horse, and in his bicycle patent -- the earliest and only one for the pedal-bike -- the drawings of his machine greatly resemble Johnson's "pedestrian curricle". This creation, which came to be called the " Boneshaker ", featured a heavy Cast Iron Frame on which they mounted wooden wheels with Iron Tires . Lallement emigrated to the United States , where he recorded a patent on his bicycle in 1866 in New Haven, Connecticut . The Olivier Brothers formed a partnership with Michaux in Paris to create the first bicycle manufacturing company. When cast-iron proved to be too weak, the frame was redesigned as a single diagonal piece of Wrought Iron . The first Bicycle Craze swept Europe and the USA in 1868 and 1869 , but then quickly faded due to bans (Herlihy p.120) everywhere except England , which became the site of the next series of improvements to its design. The Boneshaker was further refined by James Starley in the 1870s. His "Ariel" model mounted the seat more squarely over the pedals, so that the rider could push more firmly, and further enlarged the front wheel to increase the potential for speed. With tires of solid Rubber , his machine became known as the ''ordinary''. British cyclists later likened the disparity in size of the two wheels to their coinage, nicknaming it the '' Penny-farthing ''. The primitive bicycles of this generation were difficult to ride, and the high seat and poor weight distribution made for dangerous falls. The "ordinary" continued to increase in popularity in the UK , and became known more and more throughout Europe during the 1870s. In 1878 , Albert Pope introduced his "Columbia" high-wheeler in America , and the bicycle continued to increase in popularity all over the world. '''' The subsequent ''dwarf ordinary'' addressed some of the ordinary's faults, by adding gearing, reducing the front wheel diameter, and setting the seat further back with no loss of speed. Having to both pedal and steer via the front wheel remained a problem. Starley's nephew, J. K. Starley , J. H. Lawson, and Shergold solved this problem by introducing the ''chain'' and producing rear-wheel drive. 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. While the Starley design was much safer, the return to smaller wheels made for a bumpy ride. The next innovations increased comfort and ushered in the 1890s ''Golden Age of Bicycles''. In 1888 Scotsman John Boyd Dunlop introduced the Pneumatic Tire , which soon became universal. Shortly thereafter the rear Freewheel was developed, enabling the rider to coast without the pedals spinning out of control. This refinement led to the 1898 invention of ''coaster brakes''. Derailleur Gears and hand-operated, Cable-pull Brakes were also developed during these years, but were only slowly adopted by casual riders. By the turn of the century, bicycling clubs flourished on both sides of the Atlantic, and touring and racing were soon the rage. '']]'' Successful early bicycle manufacturers included Englishman Frank Bowden and German builder Ignaz Schwinn. Bowden started the Raleigh company in Nottingham in the 1890s, and soon was producing some 30,000 bicycles a year. Schwinn emigrated to the United States, where he founded his similarly successful company in Chicago in 1895. Schwinn bicycles soon featured widened tires and spring-cushioned, padded seats, sacrificing some efficiency for increased comfort. Facilitated by connections between European nations and their overseas colonies, European-style bicycles were soon available worldwide. By the mid-20th century bicycles had become the primary means of transportation for millions of people around the globe. In many western countries the use of bicycles levelled off or declined, as motorized transportation became affordable and car-centred policies led to an increasingly hostile road environment for bicycles. In North America, bicycle sales declined markedly after 1905, to the point where by the 1940s, they had largely been relegated to the role of children's toys. In other parts of the world however, such as China , India , and European countries such as Germany , Denmark , and the Netherlands , the traditional utility bicycle remained a mainstay of transportation, its design only gradually changing to incorporate hand-operated brakes and internal hub gears allowing up to seven speeds. In the Netherlands, such so-called 'granny bikes' have remained popular, and are again in production. Especially in Amsterdam they are often colourfully painted and/or otherwise decorated. '' features oversized tires, a sturdy frame, front shock absorbers, and handlebars oriented perpendicular to the bike's axis]] In North America, increasing consciousness of physical fitness and environmental preservation spawned a renaissance of bicycling in the late 1960s. Bicycle sales in the United States boomed, especially after the 1973 Oil Crisis , largely in the form of the Racing Bicycle s long used in such events as the hugely popular Tour De France . Sales were also helped by a number of technical innovations that were new to the US market, including higher performance steel alloys and gearsets with an increasing number of gears. While 10-speeds were the rage in the 1970s, 12-speed designs were introduced in the 1980s, and today most bikes feature 18 or more speeds. By the 1980s these newer designs had driven the Three-speed Bicycle from the roads. In the late 1980s the Mountain Bike became particularly popular, and in the 1990s something of a major fad. These task-specific designs led many American recreational cyclists to demand a more comfortable and practical product. Manufacturers responded with the Hybrid Bicycle , which restored many of the features long enjoyed by riders of the time-tested European Utility Bikes . Technical aspects Legal requirements The 1968 Vienna Convention On Road Traffic considers a bicycle to be a vehicle, and a person controlling a bicycle is considered a driver. The traffic codes of many countries reflect these definitions and demand that a bicycle satisfy certain legal requirements, including licencing, before it can be used on public roads. In many jurisdictions it is an offence to use a bicycle that is not in roadworthy condition and which does not have functioning front and rear Brakes . In some places, bicycles must have functioning front and rear Lights or ''lamps''. As some generator or Dynamo -driven lamps only operate while moving, rear Reflectors are frequently also mandatory. Since a moving bicycle makes very little noise, in many countries bicycles must have a warning bell for use when approaching pedestrians, Equestrians and other bicyclists (although many cyclists find the voice a more effective tool for communicating especially with equestrians). Construction and parts Frame See Also: Bicycle frame Nearly all modern , the interface with the Fork . 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 . The rear triangle consists of the seat tube and paired chain stays and seat stays. The chain stays run parallel to the Chain , connecting the bottom bracket to the rear dropouts. The seat stays connect the top of the seat tube (often 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. This allowed the rider to dismount while wearing a skirt or dress. Although some women's bicycles continue to use this frame style, there is also a hybrid form, the ''mixte'' or ''step-through frame'', which also allows easier mounting and dismounting for both male and female riders. Historically, materials used in bicycles have followed a similar pattern as in aircraft, the goal being strength and low weight. Since the late 1930s alloy steels have been used for frame and fork tubes in higher quality machines. Celluloid found application in mudguards, and aluminium alloys are increasingly used in components such as handlebars, seat stems (also known as seatposts), and brake levers. In the 1980s Aluminium alloy frames became popular, and their affordability now makes them common. More expensive Carbon Fibre and Titanium frames are now also available, as well as advanced steel alloys. Drivetrain The ''drivetrain'' begins with Pedals which rotate the Crankset , which fit into the Bottom Bracket . Attached to the crank is the ''chainring'' which drives the Chain , which in turn rotates the rear wheel via the rear Sprocket s. For bicycles with multiple sprockets, the set of rear sprockets includes Freewheels And Cassettes . Between the chain and rear wheel may be interspersed various Gearing Systems , described below, which vary the number of rear wheel revolutions produced by each turn of the pedals. Since cyclists' legs produce a limited amount of power most efficiently over a narrow range of '' Cadences '', a variable Gear Ratio is needed to maintain an optimum pedaling speed while covering varied terrain. The gear systems are hand-operated, via cables (or rarely, hydraulics), and are of two types.
Internal hub gears are much less affected by adverse weather conditions than derailleurs, and often last longer and require less maintenance. However, they may be heavier and/or more expensive, and often do not offer the same range or number of gears. Internal hub gearing still predominates in some regions, particularly on utility bikes, whereas in other regions, such as the USA, external derailleur systems predominate. Road bicycles have ''close set'' multi-step gearing, which allows very fine control of cadence, while ''utility cycles'' offer fewer, more widely spaced speeds. ''Mountain bikes'' and most entry-level road racing bikes may offer an extremely low gear to facilitate climbing slowly on steep hills. Fixed-gear track racing bikes have transmission efficiencies of over 99% (nearly all the energy put in at the pedals ends up at the wheel). While generally variable ratio gear mechanisms are essential for human efficiency, they do reduce mechanical efficiency. The efficiency varies considerably with the gear ratio being used. In a typical hub gear mechanism the mechanical efficiency will be between 82% and 92% depending on the ratio selected. Which ratios are ''best'' and ''worst'' depends on the specific model of hub gear. Derailleur type mechanisms fare better, with a typical mid-range product (of the sort used by serious amateurs) achieving between 88% and 99% efficiency at 100 W. In derailleur mechanisms the highest efficiency is achieved by the larger cogs. Efficiency generally decreases with smaller cog sizes because the chain must bend more sharply as it rolls on and off the cog, and it also forms a sharp angle at the chain tensioner 9 . Derailleur efficiency is also compromised with cross-chaining, or running large-ring to large-cog or small-ring to small-cog. This also results in increased wear because of the lateral deflection of the chain. Retro-Direct drivetrains used on some early 20th century bicycles have been resurrected by bicycle hobbyists. Steering and seating The Handlebar s rotate the Fork and the front Wheel via the ''stem'', which articulates with the Headset . Three styles of handlebar are common. ''Touring handlebars'', the norm in Europe and elsewhere until the 1970s, curve gently back toward the rider, offering a natural grip and comfortable upright position. ''Racing handlebars'' are "dropped", offering the cyclist either an aerodynamic "hunched" position or a more upright posture in which the hands grip the brake lever mounts. Mountain bikes feature a crosswise handlebar, which helps prevent the rider from pitching over the front in case of sudden deceleration. Variations on these styles exist. ''Bullhorn'' style handlebars are often seen on modern Time Trial Bicycle s, equipped with two forward-facing extensions, allowing a rider to rest his entire forearm on the bar. These are usually used in conjunction with the ''aero bar'', a pair of forward-facing extensions spaced close together, to promote better aerodynamics. The ''Bullhhorn'' was banned from ordinary road racing because it is considered there is less fine control in bike traffic. ''Seats'', or ''saddles'', also vary with rider preference, from the cushioned ones favoured by short-distance riders to narrower seats which allow more free 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, and the hips are flexed, and a narrower and harder saddle is more efficient. (An aside: It is somewhat misleading to say that a racer's weight is distributed between the saddle and handlebars. A racer's weight is supported mostly by their legs. Although it looks like a racer is supporting themself by their hands, a racer is often actually pulling up on the handlebars because of the enormous force generated by their legs. In this case the handlebars are used more for controlling the bike than supporting weight.) Recumbent Bicycle s have more chair-like seats, and so are much more comfortable to ride, although generally slower up hills due to this positioning. The reclined, low seating position does provide increased aerodynamics over standard seating. Brakes See Also: bicycle brake systems Bicycle ''brakes'' are either ''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, or disc brakes. A rear hub brake may be either hand-operated or pedal-actuated, as in the back pedal ''coaster brakes'' which were the rule in North America until the 1960s. Hub drum brakes do not cope well with extended braking, so rim brakes are favoured in hilly terrain. With hand-operated brakes, force is applied to brake handles mounted on the handle bars and then transmitted via Bowden Cable (or in much of the third world rods and levers) to the friction pads. In the late 1990s, Disc Brakes appeared on some off-road bicycles, Tandems and Recumbent Bicycle s. In 2005 at least one major manufacturer has produced a well reviewed road bike with front and rear disc brakes. Rim brakes remain however the most popular for every category of bicycles with the exception being high end mountain bikes especially downhill racing models. Rim brakes will provide adequate braking for every type of bicyle and cantilever type rim brakes can be used on the narrowest and the widest wheels and tires. It should be noted that rim brakes are in fact a type of disc brake wherein the wheel is the disc. The fundamental disadvantage of using the rim as the disc is that the rim is easily damaged, resulting in uneven braking which is particularly dangerous on wet roads. The fundamental advantage of using the rim as the disc is you eliminate the need for separate discs, a significant weight saving results. The advantages of discs make them well-suited to steep, extended downhills through wet and muddy off-road terrain, which falls under the category of downhill and freeride bicycle riding. Two main disc brake systems exist: hydraulic and mechanical (cable-actuated). Mechanical disc brakes have less modulation than hydraulic disc brake systems, and since the cable is usually open to the outside, mechanical disc brakes tend to pick up small bits of dirt and grit in the cable lines when ridden in harsh terrain. Hydraulic disc brake systems generally keep contaminants out better. However, since hydraulic disc brakes usually require relatively specialized tools to bleed the brake systems, repairs on the trail are difficult to perform, whereas mechanical disc brakes rarely fail. Also, the hydraulic fluid may boil on steep, continuous downhills. This is due to the brake losing its ability to transmit force through incompressible fluids, since some of it has become a gas, which is compressible. For these reasons, one must weigh the advantages and disadvantages of using a hydraulic system versus a mechanical system. It is important for riders to understand that in an emergency stop on a traditional style bike so much weight shifts to the front wheel that the rear brake is doing virtually no work. Accordingly, bicycles with front brakes in disrepair or with no front brake (for instance a tradional coaster brake one speed) will require much much longer stopping distances. Accessories and repairs Utility bicycles have many standard features which enhance their usefulness and comfort that would be considered accessories on sports bicycles. ''Chainguards'' and ''mudguards'', or ''fenders'', protect clothes and moving parts from oil and spray. ''Kick stands'' help with parking. Front-mounted wicker or steel ''baskets'' for carrying goods are often used. Rear racks or carriers can be used to carry items such as school satchels. Parents sometimes add rear-mounted child seats and/or an auxiliary saddle fitted to the crossbar to transport children. Other accessories include lights, pump, lock, and additional (pedal or wheel-mounted) reflectors. Technical accessories include Cyclocomputer s for measuring speed and distance. ''Toe-clips'' help to keep the foot planted firmly on the pedals, and enable the cyclist to pull as well as push the pedals. In most countries where cycling is common, Bicycle Helmet use is negligible. In North America a significant minority, possibly up to 25% of bicyclists, wear helmets. While no U.S. federal law requires helmets, many states require children to wear them, and some municipalities require them for all riders. In Australia and New Zealand , and parts of Canada , helmets are required by law. Outside the West, use of helmets by utility cyclists is practically unknown. No correlation between decreased injury rates and helmet use has been demonstrated in whole populations. Many cyclists carry ''tool kits'', containing at least a tire patch kit, Tire Lever s, and spanners. A single tool once sufficed for most repairs. More specialised parts now require more complex tools, including proprietary tools specific for a given manufacturer. Some bicycle parts, particularly hub-based gearing systems, are complex, and many prefer to leave Maintenance And Repairs to professionals. Others maintain their own bicycles, enhancing their enjoyment of the Hobby of cycling. Performance In both biological and mechanical terms, the bicycle is extraordinarily efficient. In terms of the amount of energy a person must expend to travel a given distance, investigators have calculated it to be the most efficient self-powered means of transportation. 1 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% 2 9 . 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 being travelling on a bicycle at low to medium speeds of around 10–15 mph (16–24 km/h), using only the energy required to walk, is the most energy-efficient means of transport generally available. Air drag, which increases with the square of speed, requires increasingly higher power outputs relative to speed. A bicycle in which the rider lies in a prone position and which may be covered in an aerodynamic fairing to achieve very low air drag is referred to as a Recumbent Bicycle or Human Powered Vehicle . On firm, flat, ground, a 70 kg man requires about 100 watts to walk at 5 km/h. That same man on a bicycle, on the same ground, with the same power output, can average 25 km/h, so energy expenditure in terms of kcal/kg/km is roughly one-fifth as much. Generally used figures are
For many people whose running might be limited by muscle and knee pain, cycling offers comparable outdoor exercise that can be enjoyed by people of a wide range of fitness levels: it is a "no-impact" sport that is easy on the body as long as the bike is properly "fit." In addition, since bicycling can also provide convenient transportation, less self-discipline may be required to keep to the activity, since it has a practical purpose. However, because of its efficiency, cycling requires a longer distance, and often greater time, than running to consume the same amount of energy. The average "in-shape" man can produce about 3 watts/kg for more than an hour (e.g., around 200 watts for a 70 kg rider), with top amateurs producing 5 watts/kg and elite athletes achieving 6 watts/kg for similar lengths of time. Elite track sprinters are able to attain an instantaneous maximum output of around 2000 watts, or in excess of 25 watts/kg; elite road cyclists may produce 1600 to 1700 watts as an instantaneous maximum in their burst to the finish line at the end of a five-hour long road race. Even at moderate speeds, most cycling energy is spent in overcoming aerodynamic Drag , which increases with the square of speed; therefore, power needs increase approximately with the cube of speed. Typical speeds for bicycles are 16 to 32 Km/h (10 to 20 Mph ). On a fast racing bicycle, a reasonably fit rider can ride at 50 km/h (30 mph) on flat ground for short periods. The highest speed ever officially attained on the flat, without using motor pacing and wind-blocks, is by Canadian Sam Whittingham , who in 2002 set a 130.36 km/h (81.00 mph) record on his highly aerodynamic faired recumbent bicycle. This stands as the official record for all human-powered vehicles. There has been major corporate competition to lower the weight of racing bikes through the use of advanced materials and components. Additionally, advanced wheels are available with low-friction bearings and other features to lower road resistance. In measured tests these components have almost no effect on cycling performance compared with components which reduce aerodynamic drag. For example, lowering a bike's weight by 1 kg, a major effort considering they may weigh less than 7 kg to start with, will have the same effect over a flat 40 km Time Trial as removing a protrusion into the air the size of a pencil. For this reason more recent designs have concentrated on lowering wind resistance, using aerodynamically shaped tubing, flat spokes on the wheels, and handlebars that allow the rider to bend over into the wind. These changes can impact performance dramatically, cutting minutes off a time trial. However in professional races these potentially large advantages are almost cancelled out by the fact that riders will all use similar equipment, although anything that offers a real advantages to a particular rider can mean the difference between winning or losing a race. Bicycle physics A rider stays upright on a bicycle by balancing and manipulating the handlebars to counteract gravity which will otherwise topple the bike over. Once underway, this rider effort is largely replaced by physical forces which produce a remarkable "self-steering" effect. 3 These forces are sufficiently strong that a riderless bicycle going down a slope will stay upright by itself. Conversely, a bicycle whose steering fork is locked in a perfectly straight ahead position is virtually impossible to balance. Stability is primarily created by a factor called ''trail,'' produced by the geometry of the front forks. The point of contact that the front wheel makes with the ground is located behind (trails) the location where the steering axis intersects the ground. One can see the effect that trail has by simply holding a bicycle by the seat and leaning it. When the bicycle tilts to the side, front-wheel trail causes the weight of the bicycle to steer the wheel into the direction of the tilt. The forward momentum of a rolling bicycle resists the resultant change in heading, bringing the bicycle upright. The greater the amount of trail, the greater this stabilising reaction. Negative trail (rolling a bicycle backwards) results in immediate steering problems. Zero trail (as in a unicycle) requires constant rider adjustment. Positive trail - found on typical bicycles - creates positive stability by steering the contact patch back under the center of gravity of the bicycle and rider. [http://www.velonews.com/tech/report/articles/7322.0.html Stability is also produced by the Gyroscopic effect of the wheels, although research has shown this to be not particularly significant for bicycles. The Angular Momentum of the wheels and the Torque applied to them by the ground generate a phenomenon called Precession , by which the wheels turn the bike into the direction of whichever side the bicycle is tilted. For motorcycles, with their faster and heavier wheels, this is integral to turning the bike. 4 That gyroscopic effects are unimportant at normal cycling speeds was shown by physicist and researcher into bicycle stability David E. H. Jones , whose series of "URBs" ("unrideable bikes" with various modifications to the front end) included a bike which cancelled the gyroscopic effect of the front wheel by dint of attaching a second wheel to his front forks (alongside the regular wheel) whose lower edge was about an inch (25 mm) above the ground. By gearing this wheel to the regular front wheel so that it spun in the opposite direction at equal speed, the net angular momentum of both wheels together was close to zero. Jones found he could ride this bike with no difficulty, but did discover that without a rider the non-gyroscopic bike fell over much faster than a regular bike. At higher speeds bicycles can also experience Speed Wobble s or shimmies, where the front wheel spontaneously oscillates to the left and right. While the wobbles can be easily remedied by slowing down, adjusting position, or relaxing one's grip on the handlebars, speed wobbles can be fatal . This shimmy is often seen in shopping cart front wheels. Some otherwise minor irregularity accelerates the wheel to one side. The restoring force is applied in phase with the progress of the irregularity, and the wheel turns to the other side where the process is repeated. If there is insufficient damping in the steering the oscillation will increase until system failure. Speed changes, making the bicycle/motorcycle stiffer or lighter, or increasing the stiffness of the steering (of which the rider is the main component) can change the oscillation frequency, though only speed change is applicable in the situation. For more information on the technical aspects of bicycles, see also: Social and historical aspects Economic and social implications Bicycle manufacturing proved to be a training ground for other industries. Building modern bicycle frames led to the development of advanced metalworking techniques, both for the frames themselves and for special components such as Ball Bearings , Washers , and Sprocket s. These techniques later enabled skilled metalworkers and mechanics to develop the components used in early Automobile s and Aircraft . J. K. Starley's company became the ''Rover Cycle Company Ltd.'' in the late 1890s, and then the '' Rover '' auto maker. The Morris Motor Company and Škoda also began in the bicycle business, as did Henry Ford , the Wright Brothers and the Dodge Brothers . Some bicycle clubs and national associations became prominent advocates for improvements to roads and highways. In the United States , the League Of American Wheelmen was a prominent advocate for the improvement of roads in the last part of the 19th century, founding and leading the national Good Roads Movement in the US. The evolution of the bicycle had less tangible effects as well, extending early to areas as diverse as fashion and politics. In the 1890s the cycling craze led to a new set of fashions, including ''bloomers'', which helped liberate women from corsets and other restrictive clothing. A British perfumer marketed ''Cycling Bouquet'', which came in a tiny vial designed to fit into a lady cyclist's purse. The diamond-frame safety bicycle gave women unprecedented mobility, contributing to their emancipation in Western nations. Sociologists suggest that bicycles enlarged the gene pool for rural workers, by enabling them to easily reach the next town and increase their ''courting radius''. In cities, bicycles helped reduce crowding in inner-city tenements by allowing workers to commute from single-family dwellings in the suburbs. They also reduced dependence on horses, and allowed people to travel into the country, since bicycles were three times as energy efficient as walking, and three to four times as fast. In North America, the political organization of bicycle enthusiasts, in such groups as the ''League of American Wheelmen'', led to further changes. Both their model for political organization and the paved roads for which they argued facilitated the growth of the bicycle's rival, the Automobile . In recent years, US and European bicycle makers have moved much of their production to Asia. Some sixty percent of the world's bicycles are now being made in China. Despite this shift in production, as nations such as China and India become more wealthy, their own use of bicycles has declined. One of the major reasons for the proliferation of Chinese-made bicycles in foreign markets is the increasing affordability of cars and motorcycles for its own citizens 5 . Bicycles at work The Postal Services of many countries have long relied on bicycles. The Royal Mail first started using bicycles in 1880. Bicycle delivery fleets include 37,000 in the UK , 25,700 in Germany and 10,500 in Hungary . Police officers adopted the bicycle as well, initially using their own. However, they eventually became a standard issue, particularly for police in rural areas. The Kent police purchased 20 bicycles in 1896, and by 1904 there were 129 police bicycle patrols operating. Some countries retained the police bicycle while others dispensed with them for a time. Bicycle patrols are now enjoying a resurgence in many cities, as the mobility of car-borne officers is becoming increasingly limited by traffic congestion and Pedestrianisation . They also have the advantages that the officers are inherently more open to the public, and the transport is quieter to permit a more stealthy approach toward suspects. The pursuit of suspects can also be assisted by a bicycle. ]] Bicycles have enjoyed substantial use as general delivery vehicles in many cities. In the UK, this use persisted for some purposes with generations of teenagers getting their first jobs delivering newspapers by bicycle. In India , many of Mumbai 's Dabbawala s use bicycles to deliver hot lunches to the city’s workers. In Bogotá , Colombia the city’s largest bakery recently replaced most of its delivery trucks with bicycles. Even the car industry uses bicycles. In New York City pizza and other food is typically delivered by bicycle. At the huge Mercedes-Benz factory in Sindelfingen , Germany workers use bicycles, colour-coded by department, to move around the factory. Bicycle recreation Bicycles are used for recreation at all ages. Bicycle Touring involves touring and exploration or sightseeing with the use of a bicycle for leisure. A Brevet or randonnée is an organized long-distance ride. One major aspect of Dutch popular culture is enjoying relaxed cycling in the Countryside of the Netherlands . The land is very flat and full of special public bicycle trails where cyclist aren't bothered by Cars and other traffic, which makes it ideal for cycling Recreation . Many Dutch People subscribe every Year to an event called '' Fietsvierdaagse '' — four days of organised cycling through the local environment. Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP), which began in 1891, is the oldest bicycling event still run on a regular basis on the open road, covers over 1200 km and imposes a 90-hour time limit. Bicycles and war See Also: bicycle infantry The bicycle is not suited for combat, but it has been used as a method of transporting soldiers and supplies to combat zones. Bicycles were used in the Second Boer War , where both sides used them for scouting. In World War I , France and Germany used bicycles to move troops. In its 1937 invasion of China, Japan employed some 50,000 bicycle troops, and similar forces were instrumental in Japan's march through Malaya in World War II . Germany used bicycles again in World War II, while the British employed airborne ''Cycle-commandos'' with folding bikes. In the Vietnam War , communist forces used bicycles extensively as cargo carriers along the Ho Chi Minh Trail . There are reports of mountain bicycles being used in scouting by U.S. Special Forces in the U.S. Invasion Of Afghanistan and in subsequent battles against the Taliban . The only country to recently maintain a regiment of bicycle troops was Switzerland , who disbanded the last unit in 2003. Bicycle racing See Also: bicycle racing Shortly after the introduction of bicycles, competitions developed independently in many parts of the world. Early races involving boneshaker style bicycles were predictably fraught with injuries. Large races became popular during the 1890's "Golden Age of Cycling", with events across Europe, and in the U.S. and Japan as well. At one point, almost every major city in the US had a Velodrome or two for Track Racing events. However since the middle of the 20th Century cycling has become a minority sport in the US whilst in Continental Europe it continues to be a major sport, particulrly in France, Belgium and Italy. The most famous of all bicycle races is the Tour De France . This began in 1903, and continues to capture the attention of the sporting world. As the bicycle evolved its various forms, different racing formats developed. Road races may involve both team and individual competition, and are contested in various ways. They range from the one-day road race, Criterium , and time trial to multi-stage events like the Tour de France and its sister events which make up cycling's Grand Tours . Recumbent Bicycle s were banned from bike races in 1934 after Marcel Berthet set a new Hour Record in his ''Velodyne streamliner'' (49.992 km on Nov 18, 1933). Track Bicycle s are used for Track Racing in Velodrome s , while Cyclo-cross races are held on rugged outdoor terrain. In the past decade, Mountain Bike Racing has also reached international popularity and is even an Olympic sport. The governing body of international cycle sport, the Union Cycliste International, decided in the late 1990s to create additional rules restricting the design of racing bicycles. These rules met with considerable controversy and to some extent arrested the development of the racing bicycle. Their stated motive was so that developing countries could compete in international competitions without requiring large equipment budgets, and to re-focus attention on the athlete rather than the bicyle. For example. Monocoque frames, such as used by Chris Boardman to win the Gold medal in 1992 Olympic individual pursuit event in Barcelona, were no longer permitted. Modal share: cycle use in modern cities See Also: utility cycling Cyclists and motorists make different demands on road design which may lead to conflicts both in politics and on the streets. Some jurisdictions give priority to motorised traffic, for example setting up extensive one-way street systems, free-right turns, high capacity roundabouts, and slip roads. Other cities may apply active ''traffic restraint'' measures to limit the impact of motorised transport. In the former cases, cycling has tended to decline while in the latter it has tended to be maintained. Occasionally, extreme measures against cycling may occur. In Shanghai , a city where bicycles were once the dominant mode of transportation, bicycle travel on city roads was actually banned temporarily in December 2003. In areas in which cycling is popular and encouraged, cycle-parking facilities using Bicycle Rack s, lockable ''mini-garages'', and patrolled cycle parks are used to reduce theft. Local governments also promote cycling by permitting the carriage of bicycles on public transport or by providing external attachment devices on public transport vehicles. Conversely, an absence of secure cycle-parking is a recurring complaint by cyclists from cities with low modal share of cycling. Extensive Bicycle Path systems may be found in some cities. Such dedicated paths often have to be shared with inline skaters, scooters, skateboarders, and pedestrians. Segregating bicycle and automobile traffic in cities has met with mixed success, both in terms of safety and bicycle promotion. At some point the two streams of traffic inevitably intersect, often in a haphazard and congested fashion. Studies have demonstrated that, due to the high incidence of accidents at these sites, such segregated schemes can actually ''increase'' the number of car-bike collisions. 7 Cycling activism Cyclists form associations, both for specific interests (trails development, road maintenance, urban design, racing clubs, touring clubs, etc.) and for more global goals (; the other drawing on the traditions of the established bicycle lobby. Such groups promote the bicycle as an alternative mode of transport and emphasize the potential for energy and resource conservation and health benefits gained from cycling versus automobile use. Activists in both camps also argue for improved local and inter-city rail services and other methods of mass transportation, and also for greater provision for cycle carriage on such services. Many cities also have Community Bicycle Program s that promote cycling, especially as a means of inner-city transport. Controversially, some bicycle activists (including some traffic management advisors) seek the construction of oppose segregated public facilities, such as on-street Bike Lanes , on principle. Some groups offer Training Courses to help cyclists integrate themselves with other traffic. This is part of the ongoing Cycle Path Debate . A recent focus, especially for European bicycle activists, has been opposition to compulsory Bicycle Helmet legislation. They cite evidence suggesting that compulsory helmet laws and helmet promotion have been associated with significant reductions in bicycle use and with increases in the risk of death or injury to individual cyclists. As a consequence, activists from both sides have put aside their differences in order to fight the helmet lobby. Critical Mass is a worldwide activist movement of mass bicycle protest rides. It incorporates the themes of increasing the road- and mind-share given to bicycle transport, and has drawn support from environmentally minded campaigners and other schools of political thought. According to participants in Critical Mass, "We aren't blocking traffic, we ''are'' traffic!" However, their particular forms of protest has drawn criticism from the broader streams of activism. Bicycling and health There are positive and negative aspects of bicycling and health, including the rare potential for painful and permanent nerve damage. See the Cycling article for more information. Types of bicycle There are many different types of bicycle. See also . By function
By number of riders
In most of these types the riders ride one behind the other. Exceptions are "The Companion", or "sociable," a side-by-side two-person bike (that converted to a single-rider) built by the Punnett Cycle Mfg. Co. in Rochester, N. Y. in the 1890s. Another bicycle rented to tourists in Berlin carries eight people seated in a circle. A remarkable human-powered "bus" built by a group of Dutch students from the Eindhoven University of Technology was built on a lorry chassis and powered by 32 cyclists. By general construction
By gearing
rider on a BMX bike]] By sport
By means of propulsion
Other types
Standards A number of formal and industry standards exist for bicycle components, to help make spare parts exchangeable:
See also
Notes
References
External links
|