Traveling Bicycles
Construction and parts
Frame
Historically, women's bicycle frames had a top tube that connected in the middle of the seat tube instead
of the top
Drivetrain and gearing
Since
cyclists' legs are most efficient over a narrow range of pedaling speeds (cadence), a variable gear ratio
helps a cyclist to maintain an ptimum pedalling speed while covering varied terrain. As a first
approximation ptimum pedalling speed while covering varied terrain. As a first approximation
Steering and seating
The handlebars turn the fork and the front wheel via the stem, which rotates within the headset. Three
styles of handlebar are common. Upright handlebars, the norm in Europe and elsewhere until the 1970s,
curve gently back toward the rider, offering a natural grip and comfortable upright position.
Drop handlebars "drop" as they curve forward and down, offering the cyclist best braking power from a
more aerodynamic "crouched" position, as well as more upright positions in which the hands grip the
brake lever mounts, the forward curves, or the upper flat sections for increasingly upright postures.
Mountain bikes generally feature a 'straight handlebar' or 'riser bar' with varying degrees of sweep
backwards and centimeters rise upwards, as well as wider widths which can provide better handling due to
increased leverage against the wheel.
Seat
Saddles also vary with rider preference,
from the cushioned ones favored by short-distance riders to narrower saddles which allow more room for
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, the hips are flexed, and a narrower and harder saddle is more efficient. Differing
saddle desig