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There’s one big problem with using a bicycle to run errands and go to work; it can be dangerous. Car drivers are often not that careful and you have minimal protection. Take these steps to protect yourself as you ride.

1. Keep your bicycle in good condition.

Regular tuneups aren’t just for cars. They do bikes a lot of good too. Keep your tires inflated and your brakes in good condition. Bicycles are simple enough that you may be inclined to learn how to do a tuneup on your own, or you can take it a couple times a year to the bike shop. How often you go will depend on how much you ride your bike.

2. Use appropriate safety gear.

Never, ever forget your helmet, and remember that other safety gear can help too. But that helmet is vital! Bicycle helmets have saved many lives.

If you ride after dark or even just at dawn, dusk or cloudy days, have appropriate lights and reflectors on your bicycle. These can make you more visible to cars even when conditions aren’t perfect.

3. Remember that car drivers often don’t think about bike riders.

Sure, they’re supposed to. But too many don’t. It can help to avoid busy roads as much as possible, and to be particularly alert around driveways, corners and parked cars.

It’s particularly easy for a bicycle rider to hit an opening car door. It’s best if you approach a parked car from far enough out that they have a good chance to see you, you have to dodge only a little if a door does open, yet close enough in that you aren’t at risk from cars driving by. Not everyone checks when they open a car door along a street, and even if they do, a rider coming up from right behind the car may not have been visible in time.

Cars that are turning can be particularly dangerous. If they turn right, they may use the bike lane to get past other cars. If you’re passing in front of a driveway there may be cars pulling out and turning that aren’t aware of you. If you don’t think a car sees you, do your best to keep it from hitting you.

4. Remember the laws you need to follow too.

People driving in cars aren’t the only ones who fail to follow the rules of the road. Bicyclists can too. Try to not be in such a rush that you do unsafe things. You’re in more danger from cars than they are from you.

5. Don’t hug the curb.

It feels safer, but it’s not. Riding too close to the curb makes you less visible to many drivers.

Stephanie Foster runs http://www.findbicyclesonline.com/ for people who are looking to save on gas and take a bike to work, or just ride a bike for leisure. Find bicycle helmets and more at her site.

Mountain biking can be both a sport and a hobby. It brings us closer to Mother Nature as well as can serve an exercise of the lungs. This is because it requires how well you breathe under those circumstances. It is not only swimming of singing that will require breathing techniques also in mountain biking. Having the right breathing technique will result into good performance.

Of course the breathing is only a minor attribute of every biker for that matter. Along with this one must have endurance to cope with difficulty. It is never easy doing mountain biking. During first stages, your muscles will be sore and your body may ache all over enough for you to say “I’d quit.’ That is the reason why you need endurance.

Since it is an individual sport and hobby, you will also need self reliance and control. You need to rely on yourself to succeed and you need a lot of control not only to your bike but also of every situation that comes your way. It is because mountain biking is all about overcoming all obstacles.

Given the subject, mountain biking has four major categories and it should be noteworthy to mention them here. The four categories would be downhill, cross country, free ride (joyride) and street biking. Whatever category you fall under, you will need specific gears and particular mountain bikes suited for each category.

Advantages of mountain biking would include that it can be done anywhere whether it is your own lawn and to most rough terrain, although we can always assume when we say mountain biking that it would mean almost always off-road terrain.

As part of this individual sport and like every sport there is, you will need equipments ready. It is part and parcel of the whole thing. To list down a few you will need of course first your bike. Depending to your taste and build you should be able to choose the most suitable bike for you. You will just have to make sure that mountain bikes should have shock absorbers since they are off road.

Having helmet is a must because like any other sport, mountain biking is prone to injuries like falls. You will also need gloves to protect your hands. You will also need glasses to prevent debris in the air to enter the eyes. Your shoes should be comfortable enough and durable enough to withstand long hours of pedaling. With regards to clothing, it is necessary to add appropriateness along with comfort. Usually clothes that are stretchable are used. It is also important that you should have bottled water with you to relieve your thirst. It can be put into tote bag or light weight back packs. To be ready, you should add pumps to the list just in case you go on flat tires along with other bike tools that will come in handy during emergency.

Mountain biking is a great sport. It can be done almost by everyone as long as physical fitness is assured. Consider it leisure, exercise and hobby all at the same time.

James Brown writes about Hydrapak deals, The Sports Authority deals and Jenson USA deals

Having nothing in common with your children when it comes to the things we consider as fun activities is not too uncommon. However, if we as parents can make a good effort to try to compromise a little bit, perhaps you can have fun with your kids doing certain outdoor activities. In this case specifically, we will be talking about motor sports ideas for families.

If you live in a more rural or country area, your kids may long to do some outdoor activities. Many older kids in my area love motor sports.

Dirt Biking

Riding dirt bikes off road can be extremely fun. However, this activity can also be extremely dangerous if you try to do stunts or ride in dangerous areas. However, with the proper protective gear and the knowledge and skills to operate a dirt bike safely, dirt biking can be awesome for the whole family.

I have even seen some mothers get on dirt bikes and ride around the open fields joining their husbands and children. This may seem like such an unconventional activity for families to do, but it is not too uncommon out in the country.

Four Wheeling

Four-wheeled ATVs are also popular to ride. Whether you are in the mountains or at the beach, four-wheelers are a hit with the kids and it is much safer to ride around than dirt bikes. I have seen, although it is not entirely recommended, children as young as eight years old operating four-wheelers and toting around a few kids with them.

As long as no stunts or tricks are attempted with the children, four-wheelers are fairly safe with proper use and the right protective gear.

Pocket Bikes

Have you ever seen kids riding around those miniature-sized motor bikes all over the place? Well, pocket bikes have become popular among teenagers and younger adults in these past few years. Pocket bikes are made both for the road and for off-road also. It is a trip to watch and an even bigger trip to ride!

Well, these are some of the motor sports the kids are interested in these days. If you do not feel like you would want to do any of these, maybe you can plan a picnic day where you can supervise the riding of one of these vehicles. It is always a good idea to get involved with the activities your kids are doing instead of letting them go off on their own.

You can check out the latest Pocket Bikes at Jays site Pocket Bikes Outlet dot com. Find great equipment and different bikes such as the Super Pocket Bike. You will find the latest and hottest trends in motor sports at Jays site.

Riding a bicycle is a great way to contribute to the preservation of our eco system and environment here on our great planet earth. Many people are concerned with pollution and many other things that damage and dissolve the ozone and cause the atmosphere to be dirty. If we all contributed with one small thing that we can change in our daily living routines to help with the protection of the earth, perhaps we could, as a collective, make a substantial impact for the better.

One way to go green and contribute to the preservation of our environment is sometimes riding a bicycle instead of starting up the car or motorcycle. Driving and operating vehicles is one thing that many countless people do on a daily basis that harms the environment.

Exhaust from cars damages the ozone in a irreparable manner. What we do to the ozone negatively can not be repaired, which is why it is very important to do all that we can within our means to protect it. In addition to damaging the ozone, pollutants released by vehicles that run on combustion engines affects the health of human beings rather adversely.

Air pollutants damage not just the ozone layer, but also the lungs and respiratory systems of people. It can contribute to causing, or worsen, certain respiratory illnesses and diseases such as asthma, emphysema, COPD, and even pneumonia.

Do not get me wrong because I do believe that driving, in most cases, is a necessity of life in this modern age. However, if we just dedicated one day or one short route to the use of bicycles and cycling as a method of transportation, it can, in a small way, make a big difference to the health of humans and other living beings, and also the health of the our home, the earth.

Not only do we contribute to the well-being of the environment and the respiratory health of people, but also we can greatly increase our overall physical health.

Cycling takes a measure, big or small depending on the length that we travel while cycling, of physical strength and endurance. It also takes a measure of determination and discipline. By trading a vehicle for a bicycle, even if it is just once or twice every so often, we are able to get some exercise. This gives us the opportunity to build stamina, strengthen our muscular structure, get an aerobic workout, and experience the mental clarity you are able to get while enjoying the great bicycle ride.

Although there are many ways to go green, cycling is more than worthy of consideration. Besides helping with saving what is left our healthy earth, there are more great perks and benefits to make adding cycling into our routines look very appealing.

If you are interested in cycling and bicycles, check out Jays site Bicycle Stockpile. Bicycle Stockpile is all about Schwinn bicycles. Schwinn is an established name in the cycling world. Visit Jays site Bicycle Stockpile and find out more about great Schwinn classics such as the Schwinn Stingray.

One of my favourite past times is to go mountain biking down countryside trails and travel long distances from one town to another. For me this is an enjoyable form of keeping fit and you have the added benefit of appreciating the scenery. Mountain biking does not necessarily have to be enjoyed in your own home territory and one can be involved with mountain biking abroad. Places like France, Italy, Spain, Africa and Australia.

Mountain biking in France is more popular than any other destination because of the smooth and challenging trails that make biking here more fun. The French Alps is famous for holding the popular Tour de France biking event, whereby thousands of spectators come from all over the world and support the contenders. The Alps is also popular with skiing holidays and professional skiing competitions, which has placed the French Alps as one of the top destinations for activity holidays.

The Tour de France has helped to keep the Alps to maintain its reputation for being one of the best experience mountain biking in France as a whole. The first Tour de France event began in 1903 and is structured so it is partaken in stages rather than one long marathon. History will reveal that the Tour de France was largely influenced and inspired by the popular sporting magazine in France, called Le Velo. Like most sporting magazines, this focussed on sporting events but also included politic and current affairs in France.

Le Velo was produced and published to symbolise the innocence of Alfred Dreyfus, who was accused and found guilty of selling secrets to the Germans. There was a large division between the people of France, with one side favouring his innocence and the other believing he was guilty. Some of the advertisers were against what Le Velo stood and were very much against the support of Dreyfus’s innocence. Those that withdrew their advertising later published their own rival magazine.

L’Auto was established and to promote it the Tour de France began. This was also a publicity spectacle to rival Le Velo and their event, Paris-Brest et retour organised by editor Pierre Gifford. Originally, the race was discussed to be a five weeklong tour, however with only 15 entrants this was then reduced down to just 19 days. Cycling journalist Geo Lefevre and Editor Henri Desgrange announced the event on January 19th of 1903 - thus born a new trend of mountain biking in France.

The public were caught and drawn in by the event, from the growing number of entrants (who were offered a daily allowance) and the entertainment attractions (some amateur and unemployed entertainers). The tour was split into stages of riding 400km, this saw the riders riding into the night, which captured the spectators attention. After the event, the magazine sales went from 25,000 copies sold to 65,000. By 1933 when the Tour had finished Desgrange had received a record of 854,000.

L’Auto magazine was not a direct predecessor to the now popular magazine L’Equipe, but was a spiritual figure and influence to the current organisers of the Tour. This is not directly organised by L’Equipe but is run by its owners called Societe du Tour de France. To this day this is an event which has grown on a massive scale over the years. This has influenced much of France to see many holidaymakers take part in mountain biking in places like the French Alps, but also open up other events like the Tour such as Giro d’Italia based in Italy and Vuelta a Espana based in Spain.

Anna Stenning loves to go mountain biking in France as this is her favourite form of exercise to stay fit and healthy.

Bicycles have been around for a very long time. In fact, bicycles have been around for so long that it is a very common tradition, especially in the United States of America, that one of the first thing that a young child is taught along with his or hers abcs and 123s is how to ride a bicycle.

As we get older, most people often lose interest in cycling. The thought of riding a bike becomes mere nostalgia of times when we were younger. However, if you stop to think about it, there are many benefits to riding a bicycle.

Health Benefits

The health benefits of riding a bicycle are tremendous. A daily or weekly regular exercise regime is hard to maintain because the lifestyles that we may have. Most of us have at least one full time job and many have families to take care of and spend time with in addition to secular work. Because we all have these type of mundane tasks, this makes it harder and harder to keep up with a regular exercise schedule.

Now, if you were to travel via bicycle, this can double as exercise. Depending on how fast you go, you may be able to get a great cardio aerobic workout. If you cycle uphill and off-road, you may also be able to squeeze in some fitness training and strengthen your leg muscles.

Riding a bicycle in lieu of an automobile sometimes can afford you the time to get a work out. If you can set aside some time to cycle strictly for exercise, that can prove to be even more beneficial.

Financial Benefits

There are also financial benefits to riding bicycles. In this day and age, gas prices are on the rise and they continue to be priced higher and higher seemingly every single week. Some times the price of gas can be so financially taxing to people who are on a budget, that they have no other choice but to seek a cheaper alternative. Well, one great alternative is cycling.

Regular, manual bicycles require absolutely no gas at all. All that is required is a little bit of leg muscle and elbow grease. If you live near your workplace or school, why not travel the gas-free way and cycle to your destination?

Eco Benefits

Go green by cycling! Because bicycles require no gas, they are eco-friendly. They do not cause pollution to be blown into the air nor do they release harmful toxins that may potentially cause health problems.

So, there you have it. Riding bicycles have physical, financial, and eco benefits. These reasons for cycling are great, and the benefits can make you happier and healthier.

For more information on great bicycles, check out Jays site Schwinn Bicycles. Find great Schwinn Bikes here such as the Schwinn Paramount.

Evolution of bicycle commenced in 1818 with push bikes or hobby horses which were like a wooden frame supported by two in-line wheels and the rider used to push it with his feet while navigating the front wheel. Then in 1839 it was refined, as a mechanical crank drive was added to the rear wheel.

A new design of bicycle marked its beginning in 1850s and 1860s when Frenchmen Pierre Michaux and Pierre Lallement placed pedals on an enlarged front wheel. It was made of wrought iron and wood with mounted wire spiked wheels with solid rubber tires on a tubular steel frame. But this designed faced problem of very high seat and uneven distribution of weight.

Subsequently, these problems were solved to some extent by reducing the front wheel diameter, adding gears to attain enough speed, setting the seat in the middle, etc. But it faced major problem with the front wheel, as both pedal and steer were attached to it. Then J.K. Starley, J.H. Lawson and Shergold connected the pedals with the back wheel with chain drive system to reduce the problem. Those bicycles were given a name of safety bicycles or dwarf safeties, as they had lower seats with equal distribution of weight.

Golden age of bicycles began in 1890s, since new innovations made these bicycles more comfortable. Pneumatic tire was an invention of Scotsman John Boyd Dunlop in 1888 and then only freewheel was developed. Subsequently, coastal brakes were invented in 1898. This period also marked the introduction of derailleur gears and hand operated cable-pull brakes. Soon it became world wide famous due to its high utility in alsmost every field. It was used in India to distribute milk in houses, used by postman for mail delivery, used by military for troup movement, and it also became a source of recreation.

With an advent of technology and modern materials, various types of bicycles are launched in the market. There is a range of utility bicycles, racing bicycles, mountain bicycles, BMX bicycles and many more. One can select the type of bicycle according to his requirement in terme of functions, number of riders, etc.

A rider rides the bicycle by keeping it upright so that the centre of gravity remain on its wheels. He leans while taking a turn by turning the handlebars with his hands. He uses brakes in order to stop, as the brakes applies stopping force to the front wheels. It is the most energy-efficient means of transportation, as it requires very low energy to ride in a slow speed and transmits 99% of energy of a rider to the wheels.

With an influx of technology and innovatios, the designing of bicycles has remarkably changed. There are different models for men and women, racing and ordinary rides, cargo carriers and circus use. Each model has its own unique features in order to meet the exclusive requirements of the rider like gears for racing riders, cushioned saddles for short distance riders, disc brakes for off-road riders, etc.

The use of bicycle has not only improved man`s day to day life, but also contributed for better environment because cycling doesn`t cause polllution. Moreover, it has positive effects on one`s health. Manufacturing of bicycles has led to the deveopment of other industries also like composition of ball bearings, sprockets, washers, etc., as many companies make frames of bicycles and buy other parts from other companies.

This article can be accessed in portuguese from the Article section of page www.polomercantil.com.br/bicicleta.php
Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for www.PoloMercantil.com.br

Bicycles can be used for a number of purposes, including recreation, fitness, transportation and sports. If you are planning on purchasing a new bike, consider the terrain you will be riding on as well as your body weight. Are you finding it difficult to choose a new cycle? Go through this buying guide for exhaustive information on bicycles and make the right choice.

What types of bicycles are available?

Different types of bicycles, such as BMX, road, racing, touring, comfort, kids, womens, tandem and more, are available for sale. Here is an in-depth look at some popular models.

Road Bikes:

Road bikes are built for paved roads. They have thin tires, dropped handlebars and lightweight frames made of aluminum or carbon. The majority of these cycles have 21 speeds. Sport bikes, touring bikes, racing bikes, triathlon bikes, cruisers and choppers also fall under this category.

Mountain Bikes:

Mountain bikes are durable enough to withstand serious off-road racing. Sturdy frames, strong brakes, flat handlebars and 26-inch wheels make these bikes highly popular. Their low gears assist you in off-road racing, especially when going uphill and riding through mud. These cycles are heavy and can withstand rough handling. In a few models, the front suspension and rear suspension offer comfort, even while riding over uneven ground.

Comfort Bikes:

These bikes are good for beginners. Comfort bikes come with adjustable vertical handlebars, comfy seats, 26 inch wide and low pressure tires and suspension forks. They are made for short rides on well-maintained bike paths.

Hybrid/Cross Bikes:

These all-purpose bicycles combine the features of road and mountain bikes. They have a wide gear ratio, upright handlebars and narrow tires. Their frames are lightweight, making these perfect for pavement riding and minor off-road racing. Hybrid/cross bikes usually come with mudguards.

Recumbent Bikes:

If you cannot handle the physical strain associated with traditional bicycles, consider recumbent cycles. These bikes can go fast and provide comfortable seating. However, they do have some pitfalls. They are expensive compared to most standard bikes and their transportation by car may prove to be more difficult as well, especially long wheelbase models.

BMX Bikes:

BMX (Bicycle Motocross) bikes owe their invention to the popularity of motocross dirt bike racing. These bikes can be ridden through woods or around dirt-tracks. Though BMX cycles resemble mountain bikes, their wheels and frames are comparatively smaller. These bikes are suitable for kids and young riders. BMX racing bikes are built for racing on dirt tracks. BMX freestyle bikes are designed for doing tricks whereas BMX dirt jumping bikes are made for getting airborne on dirt tracks.

Chopper Bikes:

These bikes are based on chopper motorcycles. Chopper bikes feature wide rear tires, large cushioned seats and extended handlebars. These bikes are not recommended for off-road racing.

Womens Bikes:

Womens bicycles are smaller, designed to suit the build of the average woman. They have narrow handlebars, short top tubes and wide saddles.

Kids Bikes:

Is your child pining for a bicycle? Compact bikes with small frames are ideal for children. These bikes are easy to ride and durable. Many kids bicycles come with training wheels attached. Other cycles give you the option to attach separately sold training wheels. Go for kids bikes with spoke guards and coaster brakes that allow children to stop when pedaling backwards.

Tandem Bikes:

Do you want to make cycling more fun? Get a tandem bike that accommodates two or more people at one time.

What are other factors to consider when purchasing a bike and getting into the rewarding sport cycling

Frame Materials:

Frames are made of different materials depending on the type of bicycle.

Steel

The most commonly used frame material is steel. Chromoly (chromium-molybdenum steel) is lighter than carbon steel, but both are strong and durable.

Carbon Fiber

These strong and lightweight frames offer a good ride.

Titanium

Titanium is one of the most rugged, durable and costliest frame materials you can get.

Aluminum

Aluminum is a stiff and strong material. Aluminum frames are good for riders looking for lightweight bikes.

Suspension:

Hybrid, comfort and mountain bikes feature suspension forks. Forks assist you in riding over rough tracks more easily and comfortably.

Wheels:

Wheels play a vital role in bikes. Single-alloy hubs with rubber axle seals, few spokes and sealed bearings are recommended. Stainless steel spokes and aluminum rims are lightweight and rust free.

Gears:

Gears are crucial to ride on uneven surfaces. On flat surfaces, only 3 or 4 gears are needed. When it comes to hills and challenging terrain, a bike with a 21, 24 or 27 speed drivetrain is necessary. Go for bikes with gears that are easy to shift.

Brakes:

Most bikes are equipped with either rim brakes (V-brakes), linear brakes or hub brakes. Disc brakes, the latest brake type, provide brilliant braking and low maintenance, but are expensive.

Seats:

Look for anatomical shapes, flexible frames, gel padding and cushioning springs in your seats.

What accessories are available for bicycles?

If you are getting a new bicycle, you should check out the following accessories. Some accessories are absolutely necessary, while others are strictly for your own convenience.

Helmets:

Helmets are vital accessories to avoid head injuries. They come in kid and adult sizes as well as many colors.

Locks:

Protect your bicycle from theft with a bike lock. Locks are highly recommended if you plan on leaving your bicycle in any public area unattended.

Flat Kits:

For long rides, it is wise to carry a flat kit and a small frame-mounted pump to fill your tires with air. The kit should include a new tube, basic patch kit, tire iron, wrench, rag and small seat bag.

Pumps:

To fill your tires with air whenever you need, buy bicycle pumps.

Computers and Monitors:

A cyclocomputer is a digital speedometer that shows speed, distance and time traveled during your bicycle ride. High-end models come with GPS functions and can measure your heart rate and power output.

Mudguards:

Keep yourself and your bike clean with mudguards.

Baskets and Panniers:

Attach baskets and panniers to your bike to carry heavier loads.

Covers/Storage:

Protect your bicycles with cycle covers and storage solutions, such as lightweight aluminum storage stands.

Carriers:

For small cars, carriers (also referred to as bike racks) that attach to the roof are ideal. For big cars, like vans an SUVs, use carriers that attach to the rear of your vehicle.

Bob Shanty has been researching and writing articles that help shoppers make more
educated buying decisions on cycling for online shopping
mega store BIGshop for years. For more articles by Bob please visit http://www.bigshop.com.au.

Signifying the International Olympic Committee’s growing efforts to appeal to a younger generation by showcasing competitions and athletes they are familiar with, the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing will feature BMX racing. It’s true, BMX is now an official Olympic sport; joining the ranks of snowboarding half pipe competitions and snowboarding races now as official Olympic sports. The IOC is appealing to the youth in an attempt to reverse the trend of seeing the Olympics as boring or for older people only.

BMX, short for bicycle motorcross, has been around since the 1960s and the International BMX Federation was formed in 1981. In the last decade the sport has exponentially grown in popularity due in large part to televised competitions such as the X Games. BMX bikes are designed differently from other types of bicycles, typically with very small wheels and in freestyle competitions, mechanisms that allow the handlebars to be spun completely around. At the X Games, BMX is an all encompassing discipline that includes BMX racing and freestyle BMX competitions.

Included in the freestyle disciples of BMX are half pipe (vert) competitions in which competitors ride the half pipe performing complex tricks, spins and flips at each side and street competitions in which a series of ramps, boxes, rails and other obstacles are incorporated into a park course and competitors can choose where and how they want to perform their tricks. The goal in the street competition is usually to perform as wide a variety of tricks off of as wide a variety of obstacles as possible. In the half pipe competitions, factors such as getting the biggest air (how high you soar above the half pipe on your jumps) and trick variety are important.

The IOC is taking BMX one step at a time however. As this is the first Olympic Games featuring BMX as an Olympic sport, the only BMX discipline will be racing. The IOC is officially calling these races Cycling BMX. The races will feature eight riders on a course of 350 meters that includes jumps and banked turns. Considering the popularity of the snowboarding competitions in the Winter Olympics and particularly of the trick-based competitions - it is likely that the IOC will continue to expand it’s inclusion of BMX as an Olympic sport. If BMX as an Olympic sport can gain only a fraction of the popularity and exposure that snowboarding gained from its inclusion in the Olympic Games, than the sport will truly be reaching new heights, as their riders continually do so on a daily basis.

James Johnson, reviewing the latest and the best BMX Bikes on the market. At Ramp It Up the large range of bikes can be seen including mountain bikes.

The bicycle, bike or cycle is a human-powered vehicle that is driven by foot pedals. It has a basic frame with two wheels attached to it, one after the other. Almost 1.4 billion people in the world use this vehicle, and is obviously one of the most popular and cost-effective vehicles in use today. Not only is it an important and popular means of transport, but also an effective recreational tool. It has several uses such as police and military applications, courier services and cycling sports as well as adult fitness equipment.

Introduced in the 19th century in Europe, bicycle has a host of innovators and inventors credited to its name. The bicycle is supposed to originate from the human-powered vehicle called Draisines. This was introduced to the people in Paris in 1818 by German Baron Karl von Drais. Kirkpatrick MacMillan made an upgrade to this vehicle by adding a mechanical crank drive that as used to drive the vehicle. Thus, the modern `bicycle` came into being.

The French inventors Pierre Michaux and Pierre Lallement designed a high-seated and big front-wheeled bicycle (ordinary bicycle, as it was formally called) that wasn`t much preferred as of its bad weight distribution. The dwarf ordinary bicycle mended these faults but the front oversized wheel remained a problem to be solved. J.K. Starley`s 1885 Rover was the first modern bicycle in its true sense with even wheels and a proper seat.

The modern bicycle has many parts. They may be jotted down as follows.

Frame - Every bicycle today has a `diamond` frame, where the front triangle consists of the head tube, top tube, down tube and seat tube. The rear triangle consists of the seat tube and chain stays as well as seat stays. The basic of bicycle frames is to have high strength yet low weight so as to optimize the energy of the rider to the fullest. Women`s bicycles generally have a step-through frame. This defines that the top tube is absent as it allows the rider (usually a woman) to mount and dismount in a dignified way while wearing a skirt or dress.

Drivetrain - The pedals which rotate the arms of the mechanical crank and chain rings and the brackets, all are elements of the drivetrain. They are used for gears and other related functions in the bicycle.

Handlebars - The handlebars are one of the most important parts of a bicycle. Upright handlebars are used in normal bicycles while dropped handlebars are used in racing and mountaineering bicycles. The latter are used because they give aerodynamic steering and speed to the biker.

Saddles - The saddles are varying depending on the journey and preference of the rider. Cushioned ones are usually used for short journeys while narrower ones are meant to give more space for leg swings.

Brakes - Modern bicycle brakes are usually rim brakes that use friction pads to de-intensify speed. There are also internal hub brakes that have friction pads within the hubs that halt a speeding bicycle. Disc brakes are used on mountain, racing etc bicycles that need braking to be immediate and accurate.

Suspension - A bicycle has suspension to guard itself from the hard roads and also provide comfort to the rider who has to face the rough road.

Wheels - Wheels are necessary for a bicycle to run and reach its destination. Sizes, shapes and powerful wheels vary as per the rider`s needs and choice.

Cities such as Lyon, Barcelona and Paris have used bicycling schemes to good effect. The journey of the bicycle with the human race has been long and important, and will continue to lengthen as long as the human race still exists!

This article can be accessed in portuguese from the Article section of page www.polomercantil.com.br/bicicleta.php
Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for www.PoloMercantil.com.br