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Overview of modern bicycles

Even if a two-wheeled friend has been around for a long time, you may need to rethink your familiar ways of looking at the bike and its maintenance. And the point is this: bicycle manufacturers are constantly working to improve the entire design of bicycles, new materials and the latest technologies have been used for the manufacture of various components and assemblies.

The new generation bicycles have undergone significant changes compared to the two-wheeled vehicles of earlier years. These days, no one is surprised by the on-board computer, shock absorbers, hydraulic brakes, composite frames and wheels. In the manufacture of these components and assemblies, complex technological processes are used and, as a result, new knowledge and fresh views on the modern bicycle are required.

1. Cross-country, mountain bike (mountain bike, MTB)

These bikes have a very strong and generally light enough frame with special geometry. They often have no slack in the carriage, that is, the carriage is located not below the line that connects the axles of the wheels. Accordingly, it follows that mountain bikes have increased ground clearance. For the same purpose, they use a reduced diameter of both driving and driven sprockets. Due to this solution, when driving over rough terrain, the drive sprockets and connecting rods will not touch obstacles. In addition, hardened rims are used, sometimes two- and even three-walled, made of light alloys, often pistonated, as well as powerful tires (usually wheels have a diameter of 26 inches). As a rule, the bike is equipped with front and rear derailleurs, the handlebars are located on the handlebars. Bicycles in this category have 18 to 27 gears. They are designed for driving in especially difficult conditions: on stones, mountains, mud, sand, snow. And such a wide range of gears is designed to be able to choose the right one, depending on the driving conditions, and a smooth transition between gear ratios.

GT Avalanche 2.0 (2009) Matte Red S

Also a distinctive feature of mountain bikes is their braking system. It is cantilever, in contrast to the tick system used on road and road bikes. The difference is that the brake arm consoles are welded to the frame and to the fork. Brake levers and brake pads are directly mounted on them. This “outward-facing” arrangement provides sufficient mud clearance to allow the wheel to rotate freely in the frame and fork in heavily soiled conditions. But on the other hand, the stroke of the pads is not perpendicular to the rim, and this leads to destructive misalignment as the pads wear out. In order to rectify the situation in more expensive models, mechanisms are used that provide parallel pressing of the pads. Shimano, for example, makes parallelogram arms, but Avid uses an arch for the same purpose, the hinge in which is in the middle. Such a system looks like a booster, but naturally it is not. Nowadays, more and more often hydraulic brakes have begun to appear, providing smooth, easily metered, and powerful braking at the same time. For the same purposes, and to reduce the intensity of brake wear and release from the dependence on dirt, disc brakes began to be used. For example, in the Shimano lineup, they are already used on the top four models in the group of eight, although the conventional cantilever brakes have been retained.

There is a special design of the front and rear derailleurs with rather powerful return springs.Moreover, the design of the sprockets, both driving and driven, has a different shape of teeth and various special ledges for chain transitions. And the improved chains make it possible to reliably switch speeds in conditions of very heavy pollution and very high loads, both up and down. The reduced diameter of the driving and small driven gear sprockets contributes to the fact that the gear range is slightly expanded.

Mountain bikes come without shock absorbers in the suspension, they come with a front shock absorber, and with two shock absorbers. There are also bicycles equipped with a "semi-rigid" suspension at the rear.

The most basic mountain bike is not equipped with shock absorbers at all (Rigid). It often has a chrome-molybdenum frame (possibly butted). Less often - aluminum, or steel hi-ten type in cheaper models. This type of bicycle is usually equipped with either entry-level or intermediate-level equipment. They are quite suitable for driving on highways and on unpaved roads, not very brittle. Recently, however, this kind of bicycles are becoming less common. On a mountain bike, it is becoming the norm to have at least some kind of shock absorber in the front fork.

Hardtail (Hardtail) - a subspecies of mountain bikes equipped with a front shock absorber and having a classic frame. The frame of these bicycles is usually made of high alloy steel, butted. But more often it is made of aluminum alloys. A bike of this level can be equipped with equipment, the quality of which varies greatly. Often, bicycles from unknown Chinese manufacturers are equipped with entry-level equipment. But the top models of eminent firms are professional.

Softtail (Softtail) - a subspecies of mountain bicycles equipped with a front shock absorber, but with a special frame in which the upper stays of the rear fork have a special geometry that provides some softness to the suspension of the rear wheel. In some cases, short-travel shock absorbers are installed instead of such feathers. The frames of these bicycles are wholly or partly made of highly flexible materials.

Full-suspension bicycle is a representative of mountain bicycles with a special frame design, which is associated with the shock-absorbing suspension of both the front and rear wheels. For a multi-day hike, such a "beast" is of little use due to the impossibility of installing a normal trunk on it. In addition, this design leads to a fairly large weight. Although sometimes there are products that are priced lower than free-standing machines, their content is usually adequate.

2. City bike (Citybike)

This type is a closed (male) or open (female) frame, with wheels with a diameter of 26 - 28 inches, non-removable mud guards, a sturdy trunk, and a chain, which is usually covered with a special cover. On such a bike, the fit is almost vertical.

Bergamont Alu Monolite N-7 2010

It is not at all designed for long hikes or off-road riding. Previously, these bicycles usually had one gear. But recently, many models have begun to appear that are equipped with gearshift mechanisms, with planetary hubs or conventional mechanisms. There are 3x-4x-7-speed hubs, like the Shimano Nexus, for example (three-speed hubs are almost never found). Although Sachs attempted a 12-speed (Elan), this was later abandoned. These bushings can be combined with brakes, which means braking by pedaling backwards. Gear shifting takes place internally by means of a set of gears, and the gears can be changed while standing still. The main disadvantage of this design is the large weight of the bike, and in the case of 3- and 4-speed hubs, there is also a large step between gears, which can be up to 35%. Although the use of multi-gear significantly expands the possibilities of using this type of bicycle.

3.All Terrain Bike (ATB)

In essence, these are inexpensive mountain bikes with wheels with a diameter of 24 or 26 inches. They usually have 15-21 gears.

4. Hybrid

For domestic cyclists, this is a relatively new type. This includes bicycles with 28-inch wheels, with a sturdy frame that is similar in geometry and layout to a mountain bike, but lighter and with a higher fit. The main components and assemblies - the speed switches and the braking system are also taken from MTB, although some of the equipment can still be specialized. Recently, there has been a clear tendency for these bikes to be fitted with a short-travel suspension fork with a travel of typically around 40mm.

Sometimes there are also models with shock-absorbing rear wheel suspension, the whole Scott Tacoma series, for example. Often these bikes are equipped with a rack, mudguards, handlebar horns and other accessories. Frames are very often made of alloyed chrome-molybdenum steels or aluminum alloys in such bicycles. This type of bike is very well suited for long-distance travel, since the strong frame and rather reliable equipment allows you to easily move on various roads up to bad primers at a decent speed. These bicycles typically have between 18 and 27 speeds. This is something like our "Sputnik" and "Tourist" bicycles, only in terms of operational characteristics, such as strength and running characteristics, of course, they are much better. It is curious that with a lot of advantages, domestic stores are not very willing to sell bicycles of this type, which, apparently, is due to a higher price compared to MTB with the same level of body kit and, most importantly, with a stubborn reluctance to expand their range.

5. Touring bike

This type of bike is a step towards the road bike. He, however, is quite rare and often does not stand out in a separate group. These bicycles are equipped with wheels of 27 or 28 inches, outwardly very similar to road bicycles, with a ram's horn handlebars. They differ from them, however, in a more durable frame and wheels. The frame is usually longer for better handling and a smoother ride. And the main difference is the wide range of gears that came from the mountain bike. The recently mentioned bicycles "Tourist", "Sputnik" could also be called touring.

6. Road bike

They usually have wheels with a diameter of 27 inches (except for special bicycles). Compared to the bicycles of the Soviet period, some components and assemblies have undergone changes: the brake system, the gearshift system, and clincher wheels have appeared. These wheels use the narrowest tubes and tires of a traditional design, relieving the cyclist of the well-known torment of replacing single tubes and leading to more rare cases of punctures. The advantage of the road bike is fully manifested on the highway, where it becomes possible to move much faster and further.

Comanche Tomahawk FS DISC

So on smooth asphalt you can keep the speed 7-10 km / h higher than on a road bike or mountain bike. But on a coarse-grained surface, the advantage will be significantly less. These bikes typically boast a range of speeds from 12 to 27 (usually there are two stars in the front, although three are also not uncommon). For the production of frames, titanium, steel, aluminum alloys and composites are widely used. However, these bikes have very limited applicability for multi-day backpacking trips. It is not recommended to install a rack (except, perhaps, a light one) on such a bike. And even more so to leave the asphalt at the same time.

All bicycles listed above are utility bikes, i.e.on them you can normally ride on public roads, including dirt roads, for quite decent distances. We can say that they are suitable for cycling tourism. However, there are also other types of bicycles that are more specific.

7. Track bike

This is a special subspecies of racing bicycles designed exclusively for track racing. For maximum weight savings, these bicycles are not equipped with a gearshift mechanism or brakes. The wheel in them is rigidly connected with the pedals by a chain, and therefore there is no free wheeling at all. The wheels are usually 27-inch, although it is not uncommon for the front and rear wheels to have different diameters. The steering wheel, of course, is "ram's horns".

8. Freeride, Downhill bikes

Jamis Komodo I (2009) Ano Black

Both types formally belong to mountain bikes. But if freeriding can normally be ridden on public roads (this is a somewhat reinforced double suspension, in fact), then a full suspension bike for downhill is a heavy monster on which riding on flat terrain is incredible work.

9. Folding and children's bicycles

About this species, we can only say that these are, usually, very simple bicycles, as can be judged even from the name itself. Folding bicycles are sometimes even multi-speed, although this, however, does not greatly improve their ride properties.

10. Bicycles for freestyle and trial (BMX)

The BMX is a small bike with 20 "wheels. Small wheels aren't the only difference from other bicycles, however. So, for example, due to the special GYRO system, the handlebars of these bicycles can rotate freely around its axis in such a way that the brake cables do not get tangled. Another distinctive feature is the presence of special brakes and metal tubes (pegs), which are screwed on both sides to the wheel axles. These tubes are the leg support you need to perform tricks.

GT Performer (2009) Matte Brown

Stunts are what BMX is all about. They are specially designed for jumps and high-speed races on specialized areas with slides and trampolines. Due to the small size and design features of the BMX, the rider can jump high above the ground and perform various tricks.

Bicycles of types 7-10 are completely unsuitable for tourism in any of its forms. True, folding bicycles, especially multi-speed ones, can be considered an exception to some extent. Relatively small trips, walks can be made on them.

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