| The bicycle, bike or cycle is a human-powered | | | | step-through frame. This defines that the top |
| vehicle that is driven by foot pedals. It has a basic | | | | tube is absent as it allows the rider (usually a |
| frame with two wheels attached to it, one after | | | | woman) to mount and dismount in a dignified way |
| the other. Almost 1.4 billion people in the world use | | | | while wearing a skirt or dress. |
| this vehicle, and is obviously one of the most | | | | Drivetrain - The pedals which rotate the arms of |
| popular and cost-effective vehicles in use today. | | | | the mechanical crank and chain rings and the |
| Not only is it an important and popular means of | | | | brackets, all are elements of the drivetrain. They |
| transport, but also an effective recreational tool. It | | | | are used for gears and other related functions in |
| has several uses such as police and military | | | | the bicycle. |
| applications, courier services and cycling sports as | | | | Handlebars - The handlebars are one of the most |
| well as adult fitness equipment. | | | | important parts of a bicycle. Upright handlebars |
| Introduced in the 19th century in Europe, bicycle | | | | are used in normal bicycles while dropped |
| has a host of innovators and inventors credited to | | | | handlebars are used in racing and mountaineering |
| its name. The bicycle is supposed to originate | | | | bicycles. The latter are used because they give |
| from the human-powered vehicle called Draisines. | | | | aerodynamic steering and speed to the biker. |
| This was introduced to the people in Paris in 1818 | | | | Saddles - The saddles are varying depending on |
| by German Baron Karl von Drais. Kirkpatrick | | | | the journey and preference of the rider. |
| MacMillan made an upgrade to this vehicle by | | | | Cushioned ones are usually used for short |
| adding a mechanical crank drive that as used to | | | | journeys while narrower ones are meant to give |
| drive the vehicle. Thus, the modern `bicycle` came | | | | more space for leg swings. |
| into being. | | | | Brakes - Modern bicycle brakes are usually rim |
| The French inventors Pierre Michaux and Pierre | | | | brakes that use friction pads to de-intensify |
| Lallement designed a high-seated and big | | | | speed. There are also internal hub brakes that |
| front-wheeled bicycle (ordinary bicycle, as it was | | | | have friction pads within the hubs that halt a |
| formally called) that wasn`t much preferred as of | | | | speeding bicycle. Disc brakes are used on |
| its bad weight distribution. The dwarf ordinary | | | | mountain, racing etc bicycles that need braking to |
| bicycle mended these faults but the front | | | | be immediate and accurate. |
| oversized wheel remained a problem to be solved. | | | | Suspension - A bicycle has suspension to guard |
| J.K. Starley`s 1885 Rover was the first modern | | | | itself from the hard roads and also provide |
| bicycle in its true sense with even wheels and a | | | | comfort to the rider who has to face the rough |
| proper seat. | | | | road. |
| The modern bicycle has many parts. They may | | | | Wheels - Wheels are necessary for a bicycle to |
| be jotted down as follows. | | | | run and reach its destination. Sizes, shapes and |
| Frame - Every bicycle today has a `diamond` | | | | powerful wheels vary as per the rider`s needs |
| frame, where the front triangle consists of the | | | | and choice. |
| head tube, top tube, down tube and seat tube. | | | | Cities such as Lyon, Barcelona and Paris have |
| The rear triangle consists of the seat tube and | | | | used bicycling schemes to good effect. The |
| chain stays as well as seat stays. The basic of | | | | journey of the bicycle with the human race has |
| bicycle frames is to have high strength yet low | | | | been long and important, and will continue to |
| weight so as to optimize the energy of the rider | | | | lengthen as long as the human race still exists! |
| to the fullest. Women`s bicycles generally have a | | | | |