A utility bicycle (aka city bicycle) is one which is designed for a practical purpose, as opposed to "sport bicycles" which are designed for recreation and competition, such as touring bicycles, racing bicycles and mountain bicycles.

Utility bicycles are used for short-distance commuting, for running errands, shopping and sometimes promotion.

They have been used for courier service in wars and to get around such large workplaces as large factories, warehouses, airports and movie studio lots. Utility bicycles often feature a step-through frame so they can be easily mounted, hub gears and drum brakes to reduce the need for maintenance, mudguards to keep the rider's clothing clean, a chain guard to prevent skirts or loose trousers from being caught in the chain, a skirt guard to prevent a long skirt catching in the rear brakes, a kickstand so it can be parked anywhere, and a basket or pannier rack to carry personal possessions or shopping bags. Utility bicycles typically are heavier than "sport bicycles", parts such as rims/wheels are chosen for strength and durability and low cost rather than high performance. The handlebars are almost always curved back, and higher than the saddle so that the rider can ride in an upright riding position. Some people add a child seat or a trailer.

spain, legible, find, good, wedding, whats, selecting, hosting, oregon, hale, preservation, secret, orlando, corporate, american, last, why, 7, samsung, buy, where, link

These parts and features mean a good utility bike is functional, durable, comfortable and versatile. These virtues come at the expense of high weight.

The utility bicycle is the most widely used form of bicycle in many parts of the world, but in many industrialized nations motor vehicles have replaced bicycles for personal transport in the 20th century and the reduced availability of utility bicycles in some countries has led people to adopt sport bicycles, particularly "beaters" (old ones that have lost their sporting value) for tasks for which utility bicycles are better suited. A few countries, notably the Netherlands and Denmark, are exceptions to this rule. In addition, the Deutsche Post uses utility bikes in most German cities for delivering mail.

A mountain bike or mountain bicycle (abbreviated MTB or ATB (All Terrain Bicycle)) is a bicycle designed for mountain biking, either on dirt trails or other unpaved environments. In contrast, road bicycles are not designed for such rugged terrain.

Mountain bikes have wide, knobby tires for extra traction and shock absorption. In recent years, front wheel suspension has become the norm and full front and rear suspension is becoming increasingly common. Some mountain bikes are also fitted with bar ends on the handlebars, but with the increase in popularity of riser handlebars (as opposed to a flat straight handlebar) fewer riders use bar end extensions. The bikes normally have 26 in (559 mm) wheels, but since 2002 some models have been available with 29 in (622 mm) wheels, which is the same diameter most commonly used for road bikes (also known as 700c). (The name given to a rim diameter in inches is different from the rim's actual size.) Mountainbiking may be quite spectacular, as the spreading of freeride mountain-biking movies demostrates.t, nokia, learn, your, annual, beach, learn, top, save, costa, prepaid, flowers, be, 6, mobile, naples, discovering, internet, my, living, how, webmasters

Mountain bikes can be classified into four categories based on suspension: Fully Rigid: A frame with a rigid fork and fixed rear, no suspension. Hardtail: A frame with a front suspension fork and no rear suspension. Soft Tail: A frame with small amount of rear suspension, activated by flex of the frame instead of pivots. Dual or Full Suspension: A front suspension fork and rear suspension with a rear shock and linkage that allow the rear wheel to move on pivots.

Discipline oriented designs

There are several different styles of mountain biking, usually defined by the terrain, and therefore bikes employed. All of the bikes in this category fall into one of the above four categories and bikes of each of the above style can be found almost any of the following categories. Cross Country (XC) mountain bikes typically have only a small amount of front and/or rear suspension (usually 65-110 mm) and are relatively light, which is achieved via the use of lightweight materials and construction in both frame and components. As a consequence, XC bikes are often less durable than other types of mountain bikes when used outside of their intended purpose. Suspension, both front and rear, is typically provided by pneumatic (air) shocks and forks, which saves weight. Some XC bike models have no suspension and use a rigid front fork, saving weight but relying more on rider skill to negotiate rough terrain. XC riding is the most popular form of mountain biking, focused on efficient climbing rather than aggressive descending. XC bikes reflect this in their lighter weights and steeper geometries than downhill bikes. However, most XC bikes are poor choices for stunts like jumps. Enduro/All-Mountain (AM) bikes are generally heavier than XC bikes, typically weighing between 30 and 35 pounds (14 to 16 kg). These bikes tend to feature greater suspension travel, frequently as much as 150 mm of front and rear travel, often adjustable on newer mid and high end bikes. They are designed to be able to ascend and descend mountains, integrating the climbing abilities of XC bikes with the suspension technology of freeride bikes.beauty, how, nokia, heaven, wynn, hints, las, website, classy, mothers, chapleau, 3g, peels, advertise, what, florida, florida, is, compaq, catered, tips, debugging

Freeride (FR) mountain bikes are similar to All-Mountain bikes, but with less emphasis on weight and more on strength. Freeride bikes tend to have up ample suspension, typically have at least 6 inches of travel. The components are built from stronger, consequently heavier, materials. They can be ridden uphill, but are inefficient and their moderately slack head tube angles make them difficult to maneuver while angled up a hill or traveling at a low speed. They are effective on technical downhill trails. Frame angles are typically steeper than those found in downhill bikes. This enhances maneuverability over and around small objects. Freeride bikes typically range in weight from 30 to 45 pounds. Freeride trails are built using natural terrain features to create stunts such as dropoffs, also known as "hucks", narrow ladder bridges called "skinnies", as well as large ramps built to launch the rider into the air. The most durable freeride bikes are often too heavy and have too much suspension to be ridden uphill as comfortably as other less-sturdy models, although newer, more expensive bikes come with suspension specifically designed to make them easier to ride uphill. It is, however, quite common for freeriders to frequent lift accessed riding terrain, offered at ski resorts during the off season, or simply walk their bikes uphill, rather than riding them.move, discover, bahamas, create, advertising, online, sedu, lcd, malta, reduce, inns, reduce, 5, display, 5, cause, self, make, self, shopping, alton, parenting Downhill (DH) races are time trials events where riders ride courses separately, racing the clock. They can have technical sections like rockgardens as well jumps and drops. Downhill Bikes typically have 7 or more inches (178 mm) of suspension travel. They are built strong while light. In the past few years, lighter downhill bikes have been getting below the 40lbs mark. Due to their typically large or high gears, long, plush travel and slack geometry angles, Downhill bikes are ideal only for riding down dedicated downhill trails and race courses. Downhill bikes have the most sag of Mountain Bikes to get ample traction to go fast over bumpy trails. Head Angles are often as slack as 64 degrees. At the ski resorts that have mountain biking in the off season, riders can get lots of runs in because of chair lifts. Shuttling up to the top of trails very common as most trails, away from ski resorts do not have lift access. When there is no car or truck access to shuttle, riders usually push and/or ride bikes to the top of the trails. Due to the high speed nature of downhill riding most bikes only have one chain ring in the front, a large bash guard and a chain guide, though many racers are now using chain guides without bash guards to drop weight.winning, darwin, directv, bargain, articles, gun, myths, bargain, power, why, siena, what, visiting, spam, giant, satellite, two, giant, hotel, sony, top, delightful Trials bikes are set up very specifically for the purpose of bicycle trials. Two varieties of trials bike exist, those with 26" wheels (referred to as 'stock') and those with 20" wheels (referred to as 'mod' - because historically they were modified BMX bikes). They typically have no suspension at all, though some still make use of some form of it. Competition rules require stock bikes to have multiple gears for competition, but most riders never use their shifters. Competition rules do not require mod bikes to have any gears. Many non-competitive riders run single-speed, choosing a fairly low-speed, high-torque gear. Most modern trials bikes have no seat at all, as the rider spends all of his time out of the saddle. These bikes are significantly lighter than almost all other mountain bikes, ranging from 15 to 25 pounds. This makes manoeuvring the bike much easier. Dirt Jumping, Urban and Street mountain bikes lie somewhere in between a trials bike, a BMX bike and a freeride bike. They are typically very strong bikes, with 100 mm of front suspension, and rarely any rear suspension (3 to 4 inches if any), with as many as nine gears or as few as one. Tires on these bikes are usually fast-rolling, slick or semi-slicks. Dirt Jumpers usually sport a geometry of 24-26" tires, as well as a "bash ring" replacing the largest ring on the crankset. Dirt jumpers usually have low seat posts and oversized handle bars. Some dirt jumpers also have gyiros which allow the rider to spin the handle bars without tangling the brake cables. Single-speed mountain bikes have one set gear ratio. The gear ratio chosen depends on the terrain being ridden, the strength and skill of the rider, and the size of the bike (a bike with 29" wheels often requires a different gearing than a bike with standard 26" wheels). Often single-speeds are fully rigid, steel-framed bikes. These are typically ridden by very fit individuals on mild to moderate cross country terrain. Mountain Cross or "4-cross racing" (4X) is a relatively new style of riding where four bikers race downhill on a prepared, BMX like, track, simply trying to get down first. These bikes are generally either full suspension with 3 to 4 inches of travel, or hardtails, and have, typically, quite strong frames. They run a chainguide on front and gears on the back. They have slack head angles, short chainstays and low bottom brackets to aid in cornering and acceleration.disney, add, science, internet, olympic, responsible, 3, web, cheap, powerful, reasons, punta, make, sightseers, hardball, securing, freedom, for, part, part, a, classical Dual Slalom (DS) is similar to mountain cross, but instead of four bikers competing together, there are just two. Courses usually have a lane for each rider, though some combine to a single lane in places or even for much of the course. The courses are in general more technical with smaller jumps compared to Mountain Cross courses and have gates. Dual Slalom races originally took place on grass slopes with gates and minimal jumps. The same bikes used in Mountain Cross are used. North Shore mountain biking originated in the steep, wet, rocky, rooty terrain of Vancouver, Canada's north shore, thus it was coined "north shore" riding. Because of the almost, if not completely impassable terrain, riders began building bridges over muddy areas, rocks, stumps and deadfall. These bridges evolved into complex, often extremely challenging, man-made stunts. Because stunts are often narrow and may require the rider to move very slowly regardless of width, north shore riding requires immense balance and bike handling skills. North shore bikes are much like freeride bikes in their geometry and downhill bikes in their component makeup. Because north shore stunts have evolved to not only include simple and complex bridges but also large drops and high speed descents through a series of stunts north shore bikes commonly have as much travel as downhill and freeride bikes, however with much more nimble and maneuverable frame designs, and often lighter-weight.

History

Riding bicycles off-road goes back to the beginning of cycling itself. Road racing cyclists have long used cyclo-cross as a means of keeping fit during the winter, eventually becoming a sport in its own right with the first world championship in 1950. The French Velo Cross Club Parisien (VCCP) comprised about twenty-one young bicyclists from the outskirts of Paris, who between 1951 and 1956 developed a sport that was remarkably akin to present-day mountain biking. The Roughstuff Fellowship was established in 1955 by off-road cyclists in the UKdissertation, phones, car, corporate, seo, a, take, scuba, dish, personal, samsung, manifesting, easy, 7, necessity, online, link, art, a, top, how, an

However the mountain bike has its origins in the modified heavy cruiser bicycles used for freewheeling down mountain trails in California, U.S.A. in the mid-late 1970s. At the time, there was no such thing as a mountain bike. The earliest ancestors of modern mountain bikes were based around frames from cruiser bicycles such as those made by Schwinn. The Schwinn Excelsior was the frame of choice due to its geometry. Riders used balloon tired cruisers and later modified them with gears and motocross style handlebars. They were called Klunkers. The term would also be used as a verb since mountain biking was not yet in use. They would race down mountain fireroads causing the hub brake to burn the grease inside, requiring the riders to repack the bearings. These were called "Repack Races" and triggered the first innovations in mountain bike technology as well as the initial interest of the public. The sport originated in the U.S. state of California, on Marin county's famous mountain, Mount Tamalpais.

It was not until the late 1970s and early 1980s that road bicycle companies started to manufacture mountain bicycles using high-tech lightweight materials. Joe Breeze is normally credited with introducing the first purpose-built mountain bike in 1978. Tom Ritchey then went on to make frames for a company called MountainBikes which was a partnership between Gary Fisher, Charlie Kelley and Tom Ritchey. Tom Ritchey with his skills in frame building also built the original bikes. The company's 3 partners ran into rough times and finally fell apart at the 1983 trade show. The designs were basically road bicycle frames (with heavier tubing and different geometry) with a wider frame and fork to allow for a wider tire. The handlebars were also different in that they were a straight, transverse-mounted handlebar, rather than the dropped, curved handlebars that are typically installed on road racing bicycles. Also, some of the parts on early production mountain bicycles were taken from the BMX bicycle. The first mass-produced mountain bikes were produced by Specialized in 1983 and were copies of Tom Ritchey's frames, but they were not fillet-brazed, and were made in Japan. They were configured with 15 gears.dont, dealing, direct, australia, when, sports, disney, can, group, can, paralinguistic, making, get, nokia, buying, tattoo, pearls, pearls, monaco, wireless, nokia, travel

A racing bicycle is a bicycle designed for road cycling according to the rules of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). The UCI rules were altered in 1934 to exclude recumbent bicycles. Throughout the late 1990s the rules were altered regularly to outlaw innovations.

The two most important things about a racing bicycle are its light weight and the aerodynamic efficiency of the rider's position. The drop handlebars are positioned lower than the saddle in order to put the rider in a more aerodynamic posture. The front and back wheels are close together so the bicycle has quick handling. The derailleur gear ratios are closely-spaced so that the rider can pedal at his or her optimum cadence.

Distinction between road racing bicycles and others

Bicycles for racing on velodromes are track bicycles; bicycles for racing offroad are mountain bicycles, cyclo-cross bicycles or cycle speedway bicycles; bicycles that race according to the rules of the International Human Powered Vehicle Association include recumbent bicycles which, on flat ground, are the fastest bicycles in the world. Recumbents were excluded from the definition of a bicycle on 1 April 1934.

Time trial bicycles are a subset of racing bicycles that are designed for time trial events. The UCI rules for these bikes are slightly less prescriptive than those for "massed start road races". (See rules 1.3.020 to 1.3.023)inspiration, adopting, visiting, persistence, want, how, best, custom, best, mirrors, find, stress, compare, entertainment, get, female, trion, yarra, build, how, womens, youi

Triathlon bicycles are governed by ITU rules, which are more progressive than UCI rules.

Racing wheels and tires

The wheels greatly affect the performance of a racing bike. The wheels rotate at high speeds; consequently their moment of inertia matters a lot. The rim of the wheel can be shaped for greater aerodynamic efficiency making a triangular cross-section to form a teardrop with the tire. For hillclimbs, however, energy losses due to the higher rotating weight of most aerodynamic rims are greater than the aerodynamic drag reduction that they offer, so a traditional lighter box-sectioned rim is often used.demystifying, motorola, free, hello, maid, sony, image, classical, rockland, creating, ftp, cheap, christian, knysna, celebrity, audio, discover, americas, wedding, telephones, what, blessings

For aerodynamics and rotating weight, it is generally better to reduce the number of spokes in the wheel. For high-end wheelsets, the spokes can be shaped to have a bladed cross-section, further reducing wind resistance.

The most common material for a wheel rim is aluminium alloy. Using a molded carbon fiber rim reduces weight compared to a metal rim. Using exotic materials, race-grade wheelsets are very expensive. Riders who race often choose to own at least two pairs of wheels: a heavier, more durable, and cheaper wheelset for training, and a lighter, more aerodynamic wheelset for racing.

To reduce both air resistance and rolling resistance on the road, tires are lightweight, narrow, and have a thin, smooth tread. They are inflated to a high pressure, typically around 8 bar (820kPa/120psi); track racing tires can be inflated up to c.14 bar. Until recently, most racing bikes used "tubular/single/sew-up" tires which have no beads: they are sewn around the tube and glued to the rim. These tires provide an advantage in weight (lacking the relatively heavy wire bead), rolling resistance, grip and pinch flat protection, but their greatest advantage lies in the ability to use a very lightweight simple box-section rim, rather than the U-shaped clincher rim. A U-shaped clincher rim must use relatively heavier gauge to prevent the tire pressure from spreading the inherently weak U shape and allowing the tire to come off the rim. Advances in tire technology, however, have seen the far more practical (due to greater ease of changeability) clincher (beaded) tire close the gap. Some manufacturers create Tubular-Clincher tires, where the tires are sewn around the tubes and have a bead, but there is some debate as to the effectiveness of a tubular-clincher tire. Proponents believe that it has all the advantages of a tubular tire made to fit a clincher rim, but critics argue that the design includes disadvantages inherent to both systems---the rim weight is still high, the tire is more expensive than a standard clincher tire, and repairing a puncture on a tubular clincher is as inconvenient as it is with a standard tubular tire. However, a particular benefit of the tubular-clincher design is that the risk of pinch flats is very low (like the tubular tire), yet it allows the use of the more popular clincher wheel.what, knokke, download, perfect, what, how, analysis, remember, dial, dish, gps, new, can, why, 5, saskatchewan, six, supporting, finally, your, want

Racing components

Race bike components (excluding frame, fork, wheelset, bars, stem, pedals, saddle and seatpost) are collectively referred to as the groupset. The quality of the groupset determines how refined the bike feels, how much maintenance it requires, and contributes to the performance of the bike. The two major groupset manufacturers of complete groupsets for racing bicycles are Shimano and Campagnolo. In 2006 SRAM introduced their Force and Rival racing groupsets . The companies have different design philosophies, and some cyclists have great brand loyalty for one or the other. Another company that produces individual components, but not whole groupsets is Full Speed Ahead (FSA).

In the early 1990s, Shimano introduced dual-control with a system called Shimano Total Integration (STI). STI is characterized by its combined brake and shift levers, or "brifters". Previously, the shifters were mounted on the stem, handlebar ends or the down tube of the frame. Dual control addressed the problem of having to reposition a hand to change gears. STI was followed by the competing Campagnolo/Sachs Ergolever. Other than this, the general design of a racing bicycle has changed little since the development of derailleurs.

The road groupset levels that these companies offer are as follows, from highest to lowest level. The number in the brackets indicates the number of cogs on the freewheel. Shimano: Dura-Ace (10s), Ultegra SL (10s), Ultegra (10s), 105 (10s), Tiagra (9s), SORA (8s), 2200 (8s). Campagnolo: Record (10s), Chorus (10s), Centaur (10s), Veloce (10s), Mirage (10s), Xenon (10s). SRAM: Red (10s), Force (10s), Rival (10s).

In the mid 1990s Mavic, known for their wheelsets, introduced an electronic shifting system which was pioneered in the Tour de France by American Greg LeMond and later on by Briton Chris Boardman, who liked the fact that the system allowed him to shift from his aerobars and his brake levers. The system did not catch on due to technological hurdles, but it has been rumored that Campagnolo has been developing an electronic groupset and has been field tested as recently as the 2005 Giro d'Italia. In early March of 2006, some pro riders were seen riding with Shimano electronic shifting groupsets as well.princeton, treat, earn, welcome, improve, titles, bridal, submit, history, great, djs, why, india, pursuit, nlp, beach, downtown, importance, five, british, one, single

Carbon fiber has also become more popular for components. Campagnolo has introduced carbon fiber for their high-end shifters and brake levers, cranks, and parts of their derailleurs. Carbon fiber stems, handlebars, shoe soles, forks and seatposts are also more commonplace, including integrated stem/handlebar combinations. The advantages of carbon fiber are low weight as well as increased vibration dampening leading to a more comfortable ride.

Other uses

For recreational road cycling, the racing bicycle is less popular than the mountain bike. Mountain bikes, through mass production and popularity, are less expensive. A new entry-level mountain bike starts around half the price of an entry-level racing bike.

Racing bikes are less durable and less strong than mountain bikes as they are designed for different purposes. Unless a rider intends riding on rough tracks, road bicycles including racing bikes are more efficient for road use. Cyclo-cross bicycles, which are used for racing on off-road circuits, are closer to racing bikes than to mountain bikes. They have wider, treaded tires and cantilever brakes instead of caliper brakes but are still less efficient than racing bikes for use on the roads. Cyclo-cross bikes, because of their larger clearances, can make very dependable and durable general use bikes with only limited modification -- usually just a change of tires and gearing.do, top, comcast, china, combine, confined, choosing, lake, italian, things, all, 101, creating, sony, case, great, tips, 10, 10, acupressure, beauty, kenya

A touring bicycle is a bicycle either specially designed for, or modified to handle bicycle touring. What makes a touring bike different from other bicycles is its superiority carrying gear on racks mounted to the front and rear of the bicycle frame. Other commonly found differences are a longer wheel base with sturdier wheels for carrying more weight, mudguard/fender mounting points, triple water bottle mounts and a frameset that allows for wider tires.

Types of touring bicycles

Touring bicycles are available in many different types, such as road, trail, recumbent and tandem.

Road tourers

Road tourers are usually built around 700C (622mm) wheels which have rims the same diameter as a racing bicycle but typically the touring bike will have wider rims and more clearance in the frame for wider tires. This is the classic touring bike. Prior to the 1980s many touring bikes were built with 27" wheels which had rims with a slightly larger diameter (630mm). Note that 27" wheels are still occasionally used, but are generally found on older bikes.

Recently some companies, especially Thorn Cycles of England, have attempted to popularize the 26" mountain bike wheel size for touring bikes, whether intended for off-road or on-road use. Others such as Roberts and Hewitt have followed suit and offer 26" wheeled touring bikes alongside conventional 700c wheeled machines. Claimed advantages of the slightly smaller wheel include additional strength, worldwide tire availability, and lighter weight. Some touring bicycles, such as the Surly Long Haul Trucker are built around 26" (or 650C) wheels in smaller sizes and 700C wheels in larger sizes as the larger wheel can compromise touring geometry in a small frame.mobile, why, identify, ways, nokia, give, what, a, tips, improve, take, email, equipment, discover, become, strategies, websites, breath, an, brzilian, wedding, 36

In practice most 26" tires are made for mountain bikes so are too wide, heavy and deeply treaded to be useful on a road touring bike. Few lightweight, narrow tires are available for 26" wheels, which negates any weight advantage from the smaller rim and shorter spokes. Rolling resistance is hotly debated; theoretically a 26" fat tire (say 38 mm width) has less rolling resistance than a narrow 700c tire if the air pressure is the same, due to lower casing deformation, but the larger 700c tire will roll better on rough roads, is lighter and has less aerodynamic drag, and in practice is run at a higher pressure.

There are numerous variants on the traditional road tourer depending on the weight carried and the type of terrain expected. They vary from very lightweight bikes, little heavier than racing bikes to exceptionally tough and heavy bikes designed for carrying very heavy loads over the roughest roads. The former are often called audax bikes while the latter are sometimes referred to as expedition touring bikes. For expedition touring, mountain bikes are frequently used, these can usually be easily adapted to touring by the addition of panniers and road tires.sweet, christmas, 5, let, lg, get, one, bed, 5, learn, dating, low, six, fairytale, understanding, no, different, critical, dna, a, god, goal

Recumbent tourers

Recumbents are very different in that the rider sits in a seat that is reclined to some degree. The rider's legs are in front of them and these bikes either have above seat or below seat steering. Depending on design, the ability to carry gear on the front wheel may be very limited or absent.

Tandem tourers

Tandems are bikes built for two riders and many couples tour on them. They can make it easier for two riders of different abilities to ride together, but the tandem frame does not allow for any more luggage than a single bike does. This limitation can be overcome by pulling a trailer.

Touring bike specifications

Touring bicycles are usually equipped with luggage racks front and rear, designed to hold panniers or other forms of luggage. Because of the increased weight requirements and reliability demands, touring bicycles typically consist of steel frames and forks, comfortable handlebars and saddles for long-distance riding, combined with durable hubs, double-wall rims and 36-spoke wheels to provide the durability and reliability essential for loaded touring. Sometimes instead of panniers bicycle trailers are towed behind for carrying the gear; these are sometimes preferred as they provide a low center of gravity and can be detached easily, however, they decrease maneuverability which is not preferable on a steep, rugged terrain.wedding, caribbean, in, an, youre, e, ultimate, philadelphia, funfare, wedding, can, why, breath, thought, uk, a, makeup, free, everything, waiting, still, power

Touring bicycle frames typically have a long wheelbase and stable steering geometry, with numerous attachment points for luggage racks, fenders (mudguards), lights, water bottles, tools and spare parts. Chainstays must be long enough to accommodate panniers without interfering with the rider's heels during pedaling, and the entire structure must be stiff enough to safely handle long, fast descents with the machine fully loaded.

For gearing touring bicycles traditionally employ wide-ratio derailleur gears, often with a very low-speed "granny gear" for loaded ascents. However in recent years, because of their robustness and very low-maintenance, internal-geared hubs have become popular, however, derailleur gears are still preferred due to their durability.

Touring bicycles are usually equipped with cantilever brakes or linear-pull brakes, instead of the caliper brakes used on racing bicycles. The need for mudguard (fender) and wide tire clearance precludes the use of caliper road brakes, which would be excessively large and flexible if made to fit a touring bike. Some newer touring bicycles use disc brakes, because of their superior stopping power and improved performance in wet weather. However, tourists are inherently slow to adopt new technology because of the need to repair and source parts a long way from home.

Thus, touring bikes trade off some speed for extra utility and ruggedness. This combination of features is popular with commuters and couriers as well.

Touring bicycles are usually equipped with luggage racks front and rear, designed to hold panniers or other forms of luggage. Because of the increased weight requirements and reliability demands, touring bicycles typically consist of steel frames and forks, comfortable handlebars and saddles for long-distance riding, combined with durable hubs, double-wall rims and 36-spoke wheels to provide the durability and reliability essential for loaded touring. Sometimes instead of panniers bicycle trailers are towed behind for carrying the gear; these are sometimes preferred as they provide a low center of gravity and can be detached easily, however, they decrease maneuverability which is not preferable on a steep, rugged terrain.

Touring bicycle frames typically have a long wheelbase and stable steering geometry, with numerous attachment points for luggage racks, fenders (mudguards), lights, water bottles, tools and spare parts. Chainstays must be long enough to accommodate panniers without interfering with the rider's heels during pedaling, and the entire structure must be stiff enough to safely handle long,some, exploring, motivation, disney, houses, pet, winter, get, 4, walt, who, rule, minnesota, care, 25, magic, article, wedding, preparing, escape, using, online fast descents with the machine fully loaded.

For gearing touring bicycles traditionally employ wide-ratio derailleur gears, often with a very low-speed "granny gear" for loaded ascents. However in recent years, because of their robustness and very low-maintenance, internal-geared hubs have become popular, however, derailleur gears are still preferred due to their durability.

Touring bicycles are usually equipped with cantilever brakes or linear-pull brakes, instead of the caliper brakes used on racing bicycles. The need for mudguard (fender) and wide tire clearance precludes the use of caliper road brakes, which would be excessively large and flexible if made to fit a touring bike. Some newer touring bicycles use disc brakes, because of their superior stopping power and improved performance in wet weather. However, tourists are inherently slow to adopt new technology because of the need to repair and source parts a long way from home.motorola, japanese, jiuzhaigou, new, dream, how, build, when, living, annual, annual, goals, unlock, technology, immune, you, sony, how, growing, nottingham, travel, squelch

Thus, touring bikes trade off some speed for extra utility and ruggedness. This combination of features is popular with commuters and couriers as well.

Recumbents can be categorized by their wheelbase, wheel sizes, steering system, faired or unfaired, and front-wheel or rear-wheel drive.

Wheelbase

Recumbent bicycles may be classified according to their wheelbase: long wheelbase (LWB) models have the pedals located between the front and rear wheels; short wheelbase (SWB) models have the pedals in front of the front wheel; compact long wheelbase (CLWB) models have the pedals either very close to the front wheel or above it. Within these categories are variations, intermediate types, and even convertible designs (LWB to CLWB) - there is no "standard" recumbent.

Wheel sizes

The rear wheel of a recumbent is usually behind the rider and may be any size, from around 16 inches to the 700c of an upright racing cycle. The front wheel is commonly smaller than the rear, although a number of recumbents feature dual 26-inch (ISO 559), ISO 571 (650c), or ISO 622 (700c) wheels. Notable among these are "highracers", such as the Bacchetta Corsa and Strada or Volae Team, or the "LWB-style" RANS Stratus XP. Larger wheels generally have lower rolling resistance but a higher profile leading to higher air resistance. Highracer aficionados also claim that they are more stable, and although bicycle stability increases with the height of the centre of gravity above the ground, the wide variety of recumbent designs makes such generalizations unreliable. Another advantage of both wheels being the same size is that the bike requires only one size of inner tube.

The most common arrangement is probably an ISO 559 rear wheel and an ISO 406 (20-inch) front wheel. The small front wheel and large rear wheel combination is used to keep the pedals and front wheel clear of each other, avoiding the problem called "heel strike" (where the rider's heels catch the wheel in tight turns). A pivoting-boom front-wheel drive (PBFWD) configuration also overcomes heel strike since the pedals and front wheel turn together. PBFWD bikes may have dual 26-inch wheels or larger.driving, cruises, choosing, major, hilton, how, contract, a, important, samsung, samsung, hdtv, film, wedding, guide, amazing, leicester, article, another, newsletter, a, how

Steering

Steering for bikes can be generally categorized as over-seat (OSS) or under-seat (USS). Most tadpole trikes are USS. USS is usually indirect -- the bars link to the headset through a system of rods and bell cranks. OSS is generally direct -- the steerer acts on the front fork like a standard bicycle handlebar -- but the bars themselves may extend well behind the wheel (more like a tiller); alternatively the bars might have long rearward extensions (sometimes known as Superman or Kingcycle bars). Chopper-style bars are sometimes seen on LWB bikes.

Drive

As with upright bicycles, most recumbents are rear wheel drive. However, due to the proximity of the crank to the front wheel, front wheel drive (FWD) can be an option, and it allows for a much shorter chain. One style requires the chain to twist slightly to allow for steering.Another style, Pivoting-boom FWD (PBFWD), has the crankset connected to and moving with the front fork. In addition to the much shorter chain, the advantages to PBFWD are use of a larger front wheel for lower rolling resistance without heel strike (you can pedal while turning) and use of the upper body when sprinting or climbing. The disadvantage to all FWD designs is "wheelspin" when climbing steep hills covered with loose gravel, wet grass, etc. This mainly affects off-road riders, and can be ameliorated somewhat by shifting the weight forward, applying steady pressure to the pedals, and using tires with more aggressive tread.is, rules, take, natural, link, what, handicapped, get, 1080p, affiliate

Fairings Main article: Bicycle fairing

Some riders fit their trikes with aerodynamic devices called fairings to reduce wind drag (fairings are also available for upright bikes, but are much less common).

Seats

The seats themselves are either of mesh stretched tightly over a frame (as in the Gold Rush pictured) or hard shells like the Stinger pictured, which might be moulded (as here) or assembled from sheet materials. Hard-shell seats predominate in Europe, mesh seats in the USA.

Variations

Lowracers

Lowracers are a type of recumbent more common in Europe among racing enthusiasts. The extreme reclined position, and the fact that the rider is sitting in line with the wheels rather than atop them, makes this the fastest type of bicycle that can be used on roads.

Tandem recumbents

Just as with upright bicycles, recumbents are built and marketed with more than one seat, thus combining all the advantages of recumbents with those of tandem bicycles. In order to keep the wheelbase from being any longer than absolutely necessary, tandem recumbents often place the stoker's crankset under the captain's seat.

Recumbent tricycles

Recumbent tricycles (trikes) are closely related to recumbent bicycles, but have three wheels instead of two. Trikes come in two varieties, the delta, with two rear wheels, and the tadpole, with two front wheels. Most recent high-performance trikes are of the tadpole variety.

Three remarkable characteristics of recumbent trikes include that: (1) the rider does not need to disengage from the pedals when stopped; (2) the trike can be geared very low to enable mountain climbing while heavily loaded and at a slow speed, without losing stability; and (3) trikes are capable of turning sharply without leaning, producing lateral "g forces" similar to sports cars. Recumbent trikes may also be more suitable for people with balance or limb disabilities.

The Windcheetah, designed by Mike Burrows and one of the first commercial tadpole designs, is often credited with kicking off the recumbent tricycle boom. In addition to having a long association with Giant (for whom he designed the OCR series), Burrows designs and builds two- and three-wheeled recumbent racers, as well as load bikes. The Windcheetah is still in production and is an iconic design much appreciated by enthusiasts.

At present, the tadpole trike market is represented by companies such as Inspired Cycle Engineering (ICE), Greenspeed and HP Velotechnik, with touring being a strong market but sporting use also being common. ICE has produced a sub-20 lb trike - all the more remarkable for being steel framed and fitted with a hard-shell seat, full mudguards, and luggage rack. As the market expands, costs continue to drop. Stein has launched a range of budget recumbent trikes made in Eastern Europe, the KMX Kart stunt trike, and others.

Handcycles Main article: Handcycles

In order to accommodate paraplegics and other individuals with little or no use of their legs, many manufacturers have designed and released hand-powered recumbent trikes, or handcycles. Handcycles are a regular sight at HPV meetings and are beginning to be seen on the streets. They usually follow a delta design with front wheels driven by standard derailleur gearing powered by hand cranks. Brake levers are usually mounted on the hand holds, which are usually set with no offset rather than the 180 of pedal cranks. The entire crank assembly and the front wheel turn together, allowing the rider to steer and crank simultaneously.

Although arms are less strong than legs, many hand cyclists are able to make use of the power of the whole upper body. A good hand cyclist can still achieve a respectable pace in competitions. Georgiev's Varna bikes have been well represented over the years (see also Records below) and in 1995 Jacob Heilveil achieved 52.47 km/h (32.60 mph) in the flying 200 m.

Handcycles have also been used for touring, though few designers incorporate mudguards or luggage racks. Also, the gear ratios of standard handcycles tend to be less useful for long steep climbs.

Hand-and-foot recumbent tricycles

In one recumbent tricycle design the user makes the two front wheels change direction by shifting his center of weight, and moves forward by rotating the rear wheel. The vehicle can be converted into a manual tricycle designed to be driven with both hands and both feet.

Homebuilts

As with upright bikes, there is a subculture of recumbent builders who design and build home-built recumbents. Often these are assembled of parts from other bikes, particularly mountain bikes. The frame designs may be as simple as a long steel tube bent into the appropriate shape to as elaborate as hand-built carbon fiber frames. For many builders, the engineering and construction of the bikes is as much of a challenge as riding them.

Couplers

It is possible to add couplers either during manufacturing or as a retrofit so that the frame can be disassembled into smaller pieces to facilitate packing and travel.

Compared to uprights

The striking difference in appearance between recumbents and upright bikes begs comparison. Since recumbents vary widely, the advantages and disadvantages listed below may apply to different types to different degrees or not at all. (For example, balance is not an issue on tricycles.)

Riding position

A study by Bussolari and Nadel (1989) led them to pick a recumbent riding position for the Daedalus flight even though the English Channel crossing was accomplished in the Gossamer Albatross with an upright position. Drela in 1998 confirmed "that there was no significant difference in power output between recumbent and conventional bicycling."

Advantages

Recumbents have several advantages over traditional upright bicycles. Variety. A specific recumbent can be purchased that best meets the physical needs and aesthetic preferences of the rider. Models can range from semi-upright to a full reclined position, short wheelbase to long wheelbase, fairings for rain/wind protection, suspension, and many others. (This could be considered a disadvantage; see below). Safety. The recumbent bicycle's low center-of-gravity and low distance from the ground significantly reduce the consequences of a fall for the rider. (A fall is far more critical to a fairing, however.) It is also possible to cycle very close to the curb without risking a pedal-curb collision. A fall from a recumbent may be less harmful than from an upright bike due to the feet-first orientation. The low center of gravity greatly increases braking and stopping capabilities. The rider never goes over the handlebars resulting in fewer head injuries.

Comfort. The recumbent riding position reduces strain on the body, making it particularly suitable for long rides and touring. It is very easy on the neck, wrists, hands, arms, shoulders, lower back, and ischial tuberosities ("sit bones"). Riders who suffer back pain or genito-urinary trouble often find that recumbents allow them to make significant rides without pain. Shorts made for recumbent riders do not have padding or any need for it. View angle. The recumbent riding position enables the rider to face forward, at a comfortable angle, and view the passing scenery. A recumbent rider can even look straight up at a sailplane doing loops. An upright bike, particularly a road bike, on the other hand, has a riding position in which the natural angle is to stare down at the pavement below. In order to see the scenery, the neck must be craned upward. Health. Many riders switch to recumbents to alleviate the chronic back or neck pain from riding upright bikes. On tricycles, the inherent stability of three wheels allows very low gearing to be used, so hills can be climbed without strain on joints. Also, on some recumbents, the rider's legs are nearly at the same height as the heart. This reduces the rider's hydrostatic pressure, thus allowing venous blood to more easily return to the heart. This physiological effect of improved circulation suggests an increase in rider endurance and/or increased power output on long rides. Recumbent riders are not bent over as are conventional bike riders, and this makes breathing easier. Additionally, studies indicate that upright bicycle riding may be a cause of male impotence due to pressure placed on the perineal nerve by the seat; recumbent seats do not present the same issue. Speed. On declines, on the flat, or on shallow inclines, recumbent bicycles are generally faster than upright bicycles for the same level of effort because the aerodynamic profile of the rider reduces wind resistance. It is this feature which led to the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) banning them in the 1930s (see History).

Disadvantages Balance. Balance is easier to effect with a higher centre of gravity, because of the "pendulum effect" (it is easier to minutely change the angle at which ordinary bicycles lean). The two-wheeled recumbent rider cannot shift his weight to steer or help balance the bicycle, as can the riders of conventional bikes. Starting and Stopping Because the body position does not allow the rider to push the recumbent bike forward using his feet against the ground, the bikes can only be propelled forward using the pedals. This makes starting out slow and excellent balance is required. Starting a recumbent does not require a great deal of strength, it is a matter of balance and skill which must be learned. It is best to learn from an experienced rider, who can help with a little push at first. It can take as much as a couple of years before one becomes confident enough of his starting and stopping skills before one is ready to ride alongside automobile traffic. Maneuverability. Recumbents have usually a larger turning radius. Also, it's impossible to jerk the front wheel up curbs. Since the front wheel is usually small, driving up unlowered curbs is very risky even with suspension. Uphills. A perceived disadvantage of the recumbent position is that the rider is unable to stand on ascents. This is most noticeable during the initial period of riding a recumbent when the muscles are not yet trained for the different muscle recruitment. Offset against this, the rider can push against the seat to generate more pedal force than is possible on an upright bike, although on an upright, top pedalling force also derives from a pulling action on the handlebars and not just the legs. As with upright bikes, higher cadence reduces leg strain and fatigue when climbing. Length of the frame. Recumbent bicycles have longer frames than conventional bicycles. This generally results in a weight penalty, and in more flexing of the frame which loses power. The chain is 2-3 times as long as an upright, and usually requires one or more idler pulleys. There is a small amount of friction in such pulleys which also reduces power slightly. The weight gain and power loss is more than made up for by the aerodynamic advantage. The long frames make recumbents more difficult to transport if the bikes are shipped, or put on racks on automobiles. Some manufacturers offer folding or break apart designs, but these tend to be expensive. The longer distance from the handlebars to the wheels can be problematic for speedometers and cyclocomputers, both wireless and hard wired. The distance from the handlebars to the crankset is likewise longer than a conventional bike, and can give problems for cadence sensors. A few designers have attempted to build bikes which convert from recumbent to upright for climbs. In practice the biggest difference is probably the additional weight of the recumbent layout combined with the difficulty of balancing a bike with a low centre of gravity at speeds below about 5 mph (8 km/h); the idea that recumbents inherently cannot climb is regarded by recumbent riders as a myth, as recumbents have won hill-climb challenges and races with substantial ascents against uprights in mixed fields, and have been ridden over the mountain stage routes of the Tour de France. Constant position. While the riding position is comfortable and removes stress from the arms, it cannot easily be varied during a ride (as upright riders might stand for a hill), and some find that bottom brackets at or near hip level produces problems with cold or numb feet. Some riders suffer "recumbent butt", a pain in the gluteal muscles caused by their working harder while being compressed. This can usually be addressed by adjusting the seat angle and pedal position. In a more reclined position, the weight is spread evenly between the back and "butt". The rider of a conventional bike can stand up on the pedals to allow his legs to take up the shock of a severe bump in the road. The recumbent rider cannot. Visibility of the road. The distance from the eyes to the front end is somewhat larger than an upright, and also the rider cannot lean forward. This leads to a bad insight angle at sharp corners. (Car drivers have the same problem, though less acute since they are closer to the middle of the street.) It's also a bit more difficult to glance back. Many recumbent riders address this by adding helmet or handlebar mirrors. Visibility. In urban traffic many recumbent bikes are below the eye level of many automobile drivers but their "silhouette is more noticeable to drivers". Recumbent commuters often add lighting and reflective material to their bikes and gear to enhance visibility, and many refer to being able to see "eye to eye" with the automobile drivers as an advantage. Price. Recumbents are generally more expensive than upright bikes. Most are hand-built in comparatively small runs by independent manufacturers, usually with high specification components. A typical recumbent costs 10% to 15% more than an equivalently specified (i.e. generally high-end) upright bike. Nonstandard design. Recumbents often have radically different shapes from diamond frame bikes, so that conventional bike racks, automobile carriers, accessories and locks don't fit in the usual ways. Safety A type of injury characteristic of recumbents called "leg suck" occurs when a foot touches the ground and the bike runs forward over the contact point, causing ligament damage and in some cases ankle fractures. The use of clipless pedal reduces this possibility by preventing the foot from slipping off of the pedal. But with clipless pedals, remaining clipped in during a front tire or wheel failure at high speeds can result in the recumbent rolling over the rider and taking a clipped in leg or legs with it. This scenario, although very rare, can create severe spiral fractures of the femur rarely seen with upright bicycles. Except for these injury classes, recumbents are generally considered safer than upright bicycles. Many upright bicycle accidents involve the rider going over the handlebars with resultant head injuries. Recumbent riders are less prone to these types of injuries. Overlap of heels with the front wheel known as "heel strike" during tight turns with short wheel base (SWB) and some compact long wheel base (CLWB) designs. This is only evident during tight turns, and can be avoided by lifting the heel. The rider of the conventional bike must stop pedalling when leaning in hard corners to avoid the pedal striking the pavement. This never happens to the high pedals of a recumbent.

History

Recumbent bicycle designs date back to the middle of the 19th century. A couple were patented around 1900 but the early designs were unsuccessful.

Early recumbents

Recumbent designs of both prone and supine varieties can be traced back to the earliest days of the bicycle. Before the shape of the bicycle settled down following Starley's safety bicycle, there was a good deal of experimentation with various arrangements, and this included designs which might be considered recumbent. Although these dated back to the 1860s the first recorded illustration of a recumbent considered as a separate class of bicycle is considered to be in the magazine Fliegende Bl?tter of September 10 1893. This year also saw what is considered the first genuine recumbent, the Fautenil V?lociped. Patent applications for a number of recumbent designs exist in the late years of the 19th century, and there were discussions in the cycling press of the relative merits of different layouts. The Challand designs of 1897 and the American Brown of 1901 are both recognisable as forerunners of today's recumbents.

Mochet's Velocar

A crucial story in the history of recumbent cycling began with the design of a four-wheeled pedal-propelled car called the 'Velocar' (or 'V?lo couch?') built in the early 1930s by French inventor and light car builder Charles Mochet. Velocars sold well to French buyers who could not afford a motor car, possibly because of a poor economy during the Great Depression. The four-wheeled Velocars were fast but didn't corner well at high speed. Mochet then experimented with a three-wheel design and finally settled on a two-wheel design.

To demonstrate the speed of his recumbent bicycle, Mochet convinced cyclist Francis Faure, a Category 2 racer, to ride it in races. Faure was highly successful, defeating many of Europe's top cyclists both on the track and in road races, and setting new world records at short distances. Another cyclist, Paul Morand, won the Paris-Limoges race in 1933 on one of Mochet's recumbents.

Then on 7 July 1933 at a Paris velodrome, Faure rode a Velocar 45.055 km (27.9 miles) in one hour, smashing an almost 20-year-old hour record held by Oscar Egg. Since the one-hour record was one of the most important in all of cycling, that accomplishment attracted a great deal of attention. Less than two months later, on 29 August 1933, Maurice Richard, riding an upright bicycle, also bettered Egg's one-hour record.

When the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) met in February, 1934, manufacturers of upright bicycles lobbied to have Faure's one-hour record declared invalid. On 1 April 1934, the UCI published a new definition of a racing bicycle that specified how high the bottom bracket could be above the ground, how far it could be in front of the seat and how close it could be to the front wheel. The new definition effectively banned recumbents from UCI events and guaranteed that upright bicycles would not have to compete against recumbents. For all intents and purposes, the ban is still in effect.

After the decision, Faure continued to race, and consistently beat, upright bicycles with the 'illegal' (according to the UCI) Velocar.

In 1938 Faure and Mochet's son, Georges, began adding fairings to the Velocar in hopes of bettering the world record of one hour for a bicycle with aerodynamic components. On 5 March 1938, Faure rode a faired Velocar 50.537 kilometers in an hour and became the first cyclist to travel more than 50 kilometers in an hour without the aid of a pace vehicle.

The UCI ban on recumbent bicycles and other aerodynamic improvements virtually stopped development of recumbents for four decades. Although recumbent designs continued to crop up over the years they were mainly the work of lone enthusiasts and numbers remained insignificant until the 1970s.

1970s resurgence

While developments had been made in this fallow period by Paul Rinkowski and others, the fathers of the modern recumbent movement are usually said to be Chester Kyle and particularly David Gordon Wilson of MIT, two engineers working in the USA. Kyle and his students had been experimenting with fairings for upright bicycles, also banned by the UCI, leading in 1974 to the International Human Power speed Championship, from which the IHPVA grew.

The Avatar 2000, a LWB bike very much like the current Easy Racers products, arrived in 1979, and is often considered the first modern production recumbent. It was featured in the 1983 film Brainstorm, ridden by Christopher Walken, and in the popular cycling reference Richard's Bicycle Book by Richard Ballantine. The oil crises of the 1970s sparked a resurgence in cycling coincident with the arrival of these "new" designs. Since competition was not a driving force, the UCI ruling did not hinder the commercial development of recumbent designs. The influence of Kyle and Wilson and their students probably also had a lot to do with the strength of this renaissance. This era also spawned an adaptation of the recumbent called the Rowbike. Created by Rollerblades inventor Scott Olson, the Rowbike is a hybrid of a recumbent bicycle and an indoor rowing machine.

A parallel but somewhat separate scene grew up in Europe, with the first European human power championships being held in 1983. The European scene was more dominated by competition than was the US, with the result that European bikes are more likely to be low SWB machines, while LWB are much more popular in the US (although there have been some notable European LWB bikes, such as the Peer Gynt).

In the 1980s

In 1984 Linear recumbents (of Iowa) began producing what was at the time arguably one of the most comfortable and relaxing bicycles available. Their stability, handling, comfortable seat and natural arm position made them a relaxing form of transportation, recreation and exercise. One rider, returning from their first test ride said, "If my butt had wheels this is what it would be like!"

Linear ownership has changed hands since the 80s. In 2002 Linear Manufacturing's assets were bought by Bicycle Man LLC and moved to New York. Since then owner Peter Stull has been working with senior engineering students at Alfred University, local engineers and machinists utilizing available technology including computer FEA testing to improve their Recumbent Bikes and bring an old favorite into the new century.

In the UK in the 1980s the most publicised recumbent cycle in the UK was the delta configuration, sometime electrically powered Sinclair C5. Although sold as an "electric car", the C5 would be more accurately characterised as a recumbent tricycle with electrical assistance, with all the associated advantages and disadvantages.

In the 2000s

A number of recumbent manufacturers went out of business after the 1990s, including BikeE and Vision.

Performance

Over distances recumbent bicycles outperform upright bicycles as evident by dominace in ultra-distance events like 24 hours at Sebring Official speed records for recumbents are governed by the rules of the International Human Powered Vehicle Association. A number of records are recognised, the fastest of which is the "flying 200 m", a distance of 200 m on level ground from a flying start with a maximum allowable tailwind of 1.66 m/s. The current record is 130.36 km/h (81.00 mph), set by Sam Whittingham of Canada on a fully faired Varna Diablo front-wheel-drive recumbent lowracer bicycle designed by George Georgiev. The official record for an upright bicycle under somewhat similar conditions is 82.53 km/h (51.29 mph) set by Jim Glover in 1986 with an English-made Moulton bicycle with a hardshell fairing around him and the bike.

The IHPVA hour record is 85.991 km (53.432 miles), set by Fred Markham on July 2, 2006. The equivalent record for an upright bicycle is 49.700 km (30.882 miles), set by Ond?ej Sosenka in 2005. The UCI no longer considers the bike Chris Boardman rode for his 1996 record to be in compliance with its definition of an upright bicycle. Boardman's Monocoque bike was designed by Mike Burrows, whose Windcheetah recumbent trike (see above) also holds the record from Land's End to John o' Groats, 861 miles (1,386 km) in 41 h 4 min 22 s with Andy Wilkinson riding.

In 2003, Rob English took on and beat the UK 4-man pursuit champions VC St Raphael in a 4000 m challenge race at Reading, beating them by a margin of 4 min 55.5 s to 5 min 6.87 s - and dropping one of the St Raphael riders along the way.

Stationary recumbents

As well as road-going recumbents bicycles with wheels, stationary versions also exist. These are often found in gyms but are also available for home use. Like a regular stationary exercise bike, these stay in one place and the user pedals against some kind of resistance mechanism such as a fan or alternator but in a recumbent position. These have the same comfort advantages as road-going recumbents. Stationary recumbents almost always have a fairly upright seat and the pedal crank is lower than the level of the seat. The seat is normally adjustable and is adjusted by sliding it along a rail. The heads-up position also makes it easier to watch TV.

BMX (an acronym for Bicycle Motocross) is a form of cycling on specially designed bicycles which usually have 18 to 24-inch wheels (the norm being the 20-inch wheel). The sport includes racing on earthen tracks, known as BMX racing, as well as the performance of tricks on the bikes, called BMX freestyle.

Freestyle BMX has grown to include five distinct disciplines. These are Street, Park, Vert, Dirt, and Flatland. These usually involve technical movements of the bike in different ways over varied terrain. There are also three disciplines which are participated in mainly by riders who are not affiliated with the major BMX organizations or sponsored events. These are High Jump, Leap Of Faith and Drag.

Recently, BMX racing's international governing body, Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), began sponsoring the UCI BMX World Championships. In 2008, BMX racing will enter the Olympics for the first time in Beijing, China.

History

BMX originated in the state of California, United States in the late 1970s, when teenagers imitated their motocross heroes on their bicycles. However, similar movements were gaining momentum in Europe as early as 1958. Children were racing standard road bikes off-road, around purpose-built tracks in the Netherlands. The 1971 motorcycle racing documentary On Any Sunday is generally credited with inspiring the movement nationally in the US. In the opening scene, kids are shown riding their Schwinn Stingrays off-road. It was not until the middle of that decade that the sport achieved critical mass, and manufacturers began creating bicycles designed specially for the sport.

The BMX bike has grown very popular with youth and has been known to be practical as it is rather small and easy to move. There are also BMX Style Helmets which are made especially for the sport.

By 1977, the American Bicycle Association (ABA) was organized as a national sanctioning body for the growing sport. BMX was introduced in Europe in 1978. In April 1981, the International BMX Federation was founded, and the first world championships were held in 1982. Since January 1993 BMX has been integrated into the Union Cycliste Internationale.

Over the last decade, the popularity of BMX has grown immensely. It is now one of the staple events at the annual Summer X Games Extreme Sports competition held largely on the Western seaboard of the United States.

In popular culture As BMX matured from its early roots in the 1970s and 80s, it has become increasingly part of modern popular culture. In the same way that skateboarding entered the mainstream with Tony Hawk lending his name to the immensely popular video game franchise, BMX has produced its own household name Mat Hoffman. Australian band Revolver have a song titled "Dippers" on their 2006 album "In Absinthia". The song is about BMX riding. English band Bat For Lashes uses Freestyle BMX bikers wearing animal masks in their video for "What's a Girl to Do?" In Australia, the profile of BMX was raised in part by the 1983 release of BMX Bandits (film), the film that launched the career of a young Nicole Kidman. Popular indie-rock band Bloc Party was called Superheroes of BMX before changing it into Bloc Party

Cruiser bicycles are balloon-tired bikes with heavy duty frames and were Americas standard bike from the early 1930s right through the 1950s. Their wide tires and simple mechanicals (usually single speed with coaster brake) are ideally suited to riding on flat sandy beaches, which means that they remained popular through the 1960s and 1970s as Beach Cruisers. In the late 70s/early 80s, durable old cruiser frames formed the basis of the newly-developing mountain bike. Cruisers comfort, style, and affordability (compared to mountain and racing bikes) have led to renewed popularity in recent years.

Early development

The original cruiser bicycle was the B-10E Motorbike (which, despite its name, had no motor at allbut did look like a motorcycle), introduced by Schwinn in 1933. The bicycle business was in a terrible slump, due to the Depression, widespread price discounting, and the generally delicate, cheap construction of bikes at the time. Frank W. Schwinn wanted to build a sturdier bike and adapted several features from the Henderson and Excelsior motorcycles his company had built during the 1920s. He gave his new bike design a heavy cantilevered frame with two top tubes and added 2.125 inch wide balloon tires from Germany. The resulting bicycle was tough enough for kids to ride anywhere, banging over curbs, bumps, and potholes without suffering the flat tires and taco wheels of earlier bike designs. Within two years, every major bike manufacturer in the USA had brought out their own balloon tire bikes.

In 1934, Schwinn upped the ante by introducing the Aero Cycle. This bike didnt feature any technical improvements over the original cruiser design, but it had much more style and appeal to young riders. Its streamlined look, decorative tank, and battery-powered headlight would help define the cruiser look. Cruisers still offer these features today.

1950s heyday

Although cruisers were popular throughout the 1930s and 40s, their greatest success definitely came during the postwar Baby Boom. Schwinn sold one out of four bikes bought in 1950.

Schwinn, however, had plenty of competition from firms like Roadmaster, Columbia, Shelby, Monark, and Huffy. Manufacturers vied to come up with new gimmicks and styling features to attract buyers to their balloon tired cruisers. Young riders were wooed with a Donald Duck bike that had a quacking horn or cowboy bikes featuring the names of Gene Autry or Hopalong Cassidy, along with fringed saddlebags and capgun holsters. Slightly older riders were tempted by springer fork suspension, motorcycle-style horn tanks, chrome plating everywhere, and such exotic offerings as the Huffy Radiobike, which featured a giant AM radio in its tank.

During the 1960s, consumer interest shifted to "lightweight" ten speeds and "muscle bikes" featuring banana seats. The muscle bikes eventually gave birth to the modern BMX bike. Cruisers went into a downphase as transportation for broke beach bums and cheap buys at garage sales and flea markets. .

Mountain bike inspiration

During the mid Seventies, a group of enthusiasts in Marin county, California began racing bikes down the fireroads of local Mount Tamalpais, in a race they called Repack because the ride was so grueling that riders had to repack their coaster brakes with grease after each run. The offroad terrain was rocky and the steep mountainside helped riders attain high speeds as they bounced and slammed over rocks and mud. Such harsh treatment caused regular road bikes to crumble, so the racers searched for a more durable and affordable alternative. They soon discovered that old balloon-tired clunkers (as they called them) could be had for $5.00 at a garage sale and would endure tremendous punishment. Soon, riders were snapping up these old cruisers, stripping off the heavy fenders and trim, and souping them up with motorcycle brakes and other gadgets to improve downhill performance. One rider, Gary Fisher, added gears to his old Schwinn Excelsior bike, enabling him to ride up the mountain, as well as down . About the same time, another rider named Joe Breeze began tinkering with his own Schwinn Excelsior, making it more suited to the Repack course. Soon, both of them began to build and sell custom mountain bikes to fellow enthusiasts, launching a worldwide cycling phenomenon.

The late 1970s and early 1980s saw the emergence of interest in collecting old bicycles. Over the course of a few years, prices for old balloon tired classics climbed from the $5.00 garage sale find to thousands for a mint prewar original at collectors swap meets. Over time, a large bicycle collecting community has developed, with newsletters and specialty shops catering to folks who want to restore a Schwinn Black Phantom to its original glory.

Another important 1980s step for cruiser awareness was the release of the film Pee-wee's Big Adventure. This highly popular film concerns Pee Wee Hermans cross-country adventure to rescue his beloved cruiser bike. Many non-riders still refer to cruisers as Pee Wee Herman bikes.

Contemporary renaissance

In the mid-1990s, a series of reproductions of classic cruiser bikes hit the market. Schwinn started it off in 1995, when it reissued the Black Phantom to celebrate the companys 100th birthday. Soon, similar offerings appeared from Columbia and Roadmaster. Harley-Davidson even licensed a cruiser bike with their logo and trademark styling.These helped stir up interest in cruisers, which brought them to the attention of aging Baby Boomers, who remembered the originals from their youth and now were reaching an age where a comfortable bike was more exciting than a fast bike, and who also had the money to buy whatever they wanted. The classic retro looks, reliable mechanical performance, comfortable ride, and relatively low price of cruisers (compared to mountain bikes or road racers) also appealed to young Gen Xers. Soon, new manufacturers appeared, specializing in cruisers, such as Electra, Nirve, Kustom Kruiser, and Aero-Fast. Nearly every major bike manufacturer now offers at least one cruiser model, if not an entire line. Cruiser sales have continued to rise over the past decade and today many towns have clubs sponsoring regular cruiser rides as a way to promote the low-tech, high fun aspect of cycling

Three other contemporary bike trends are related to cruisers. For decades, Latino car enthusiasts have been lowering the suspension on older American cars to build lowriders. Their younger siblings have begun building their own custom lowrider bikes. Lowrider bicycles are usually built on old Schwinn Stingray or other muscle bike frames, but the entire lowrider look of old school accessories such as springer forks and bullet headlights is in the cruiser tradition. Lowrider bike magazines and catalogs also feature cruisers and are a great source of accessories for cruiser owners. A similar trend is the sudden appearance of chopper bicycles over the past couple of years, in response to the surge of interest in custom motorcycles. Several manufacturers, such as Schwinn and Electra, offer chopper style bikes in their cruiser range. These bikes usually feature a lower center of gravity, suspension forks, hot rod paint jobs, and large rear tires. Finally, manufacturers have also introduced the comfort bike category, to combine the soft ride and upright posture of cruisers with a more conventionally styled bike. Comfort bikes have such features as fenders, suspension seatposts and forks, and large padded saddles with giant springs. All of these features are copied from cruisers, but redesigned to look more like regular road or hybrid bikes.

NOTE: BMX racing bikes with 24 inch wheels are also referred to as "cruisers" to distinguish them from 20 inch BMX racers.