| Bike frames have not changed very much since | | | | safer in a crash for a ride. It is also less expensive |
| their invention. By learning about the different | | | | and easy to find, which is a benefit for many |
| materials available, you will be able to find the right | | | | riders. Steel is easy to work with and can be |
| bike frames for you and your riding style. | | | | made into a variety of different sized bike |
| The year that the first bicycle was built was 1817. | | | | frames, including different tube widths to help |
| This first bicycle was invented by German, Karl | | | | make the bike lighter or heavier, depending upon |
| von Drais, and was called the “swift | | | | your preferences. |
| walker.” This name was given to this | | | | A lighter weight option would be aluminum. This |
| bicycle due to the fact that it did not have any | | | | material is very light, but it also has a big deficit. |
| pedals and people “walked” rather | | | | Due to the lightness of this material, it is also very |
| than rode on them. The first bicycles were | | | | easy to bend and this can be very bad. The high |
| constructed of a wood bike frame that had two | | | | yield strength of aluminum is why a larger |
| wheels to support this frame. The bike frame | | | | diameter tube is used to help decrease the |
| was covered by leather for comfort. These first | | | | chance of the bike frame bending. |
| bike frames and the materials that they were | | | | The most popular material for bike frames is |
| constructed of have undergone many changes in | | | | titanium. Titanium has a natural shine and it will |
| the years since this first bicycle was invented. | | | | take you very little effort to keep it looking |
| Tubular steel bike frames began to replace the | | | | beautiful. It is on the high end of the price range, |
| wooden frame during the latter part of the 1800s. | | | | though, and this is why it is not readily available to |
| These bicycles were very strong, but they were | | | | everyone. The strength of titanium is amazing and |
| also very heavy, which made them difficult to | | | | it will keep its frame even after a wreck. |
| control and ride. Steel is still a widely used material | | | | Carbon fiber is one more material that is used for |
| for bike frames, but there are other materials | | | | bike frames. This material has been widely used |
| that are very popular as well, including titanium, | | | | to build boats for a long time and it is a strong |
| carbon fiber, and aluminum. These lighter materials | | | | material that holds up well to weight. It is even |
| are mainly used in manufacturing the more | | | | more expensive than titanium, though, which |
| expensive, high-end bike frames. | | | | means that it is only purchased by the rich or a |
| Material properties are important to keep in mind | | | | professional racer. |
| when designing your bike. Each material has its | | | | Bike frames come in several different designs, |
| own unique properties and knowing their elasticity, | | | | but the most popular design is the double triangle |
| ultimate strength, and yield strength is essential in | | | | or diamond frame. Designers of bike frames have |
| create the perfect bike for you. These properties | | | | tweaked the design a little since the invention of |
| need to be in the proper ratio for you to have a | | | | the 1880s, especially with different materials. This |
| bike that will withstand the type of riding that you | | | | has helped make the bike lighter and more |
| do. | | | | aerodynamic. Changes may have been made to |
| Steel is the strongest material that you can get | | | | make it more comfortable, but for the most part, |
| for bike frames. The strength of steel makes it | | | | it is the same design as the very first bike. |