What Is a Bicycle?
Frame
The frame is the bicycle. You can change everything else: wheels, handlebars, saddle – but if you change the frame it's a different bike.
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Size: Made to measure
People come in all different sizes, and so do bicycles.
What's important is the size of the frame, not the size of the wheels.
Frame size may be measured in:
- Inches (typically 15-22")
- Centimeters (usually 47-61 cm)
- Or simply XS, S, M, L and XL
How do you know if a bike is the right fit?
- You should be able to stand over the bike without compromising soft tissue
- When you're in the saddle, you should be able to reach the handlebars comfortably. You should not feel cramped or overextended.
NOTE: You can adjust the height of the seat, as well as its position fore and aft. On most bikes you can adjust the height the handlbars.
↴back - Gender: Vive la Difference!
While any gender can ride any type of bike, there are significant anatomical differences that affect proper bicycle fit:
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Men have proportionally longer arms and legs, and shorter torsos Women have proportionally shorter limbs, and longer torsos Men have broader shoulders, and more upper body strength Women have broader hips and more core strength WSD more↴
WSD: Woman Specific Design ♀
'Woman Specific Design' used to mean a step-through frame and a pink paint job. Today WSD refers to frame geometry (and other features) designed for the female physique:
- Shorter top tube (may or may not be step-through)
- A shorter, wider saddle
- Narrower handlebars
WSD: It's the difference between comfort and compromise.
↴back - Material: Strength, Weight & Price
What's the difference between a $10 bicycle and a $10,000 bicycle?
One fundamental difference is the composition of the frame. Bike frames can be made of many different materials – including bamboo and cardboard!
compare materialsYou Get What You Pay For × Material Pros Cons Price Steel Strong, weldable
Absorbs shockRelatively heavy $ Chromium Molybdenum ("Cro-Mo") Same as steel (it's an alloy), but a little lighter Hard to find $$ Aluminum Lighter than steel or Cro-Mo Not quite as strong as steel.
Known to fail in some instances.
More rigid ride quality$$ Titanium Light and strong Hard to find
Creaky$$$ Carbon Fiber (CF, "Carbon") Extremely light, frames may weigh less than 2 lbs.
Very strong for its weightKnown to fail catastrophically.
Only bikes with rider weight limits$$$$
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