Whether you’re shopping for a bike or just admiring them, the first
part you notice is probably the bicycle frame. The frame is the heart
of a bicycle, as well as its art. Including the basically triangular
core structure that supports both seat and handlebars and the
extensions that attach to the wheels, the color and the geometry of the
bicycle frame not only affects the beauty of the bike, but its strength
and speed as well. The pleasure and success you derive from bicycle
riding will be strongly impacted by having the right frame for your
physique and your purposes.
The Two Most Important Aspects of Bicycle Frames Are Their Materials and Their Configuration
Naturally, your bicycle frame will take into dramatic account
whether you ride primarily on roads or off-road. Not only are so-called
mountain bike frames made of noticeably bigger “tubes,” they are made
of more shock resistant materials, with stronger weldings. Road bike
frames have a smaller triangular geometry and the main consideration in
their material is its weight. Everything on a road bike is designed to
keep the rider’s resistance to a minimum in order to promote fluency
and speed, while a mountain bike is designed with the primary goal of
shock absorption and maneuverability in mind alongside
speed-influencing factors.
Even among these two main divisions, you will find major
differences in bicycle frames. Road bikes used primarily for touring or
recreational riding will have frames with a more relaxed geometry and
more total horizontal spread front to back, while racing bikes will
tighten that structure for a shorter front to back bike length. A
tighter triangle and less distance between the bicycle frame and the
tires acts to decrease the resistance of wind and road for a racer, as
well as to increase the bike’s ability to respond to the quick, minute
maneuverings road racing requires.
There are several basic considerations to keep in mind when
choosing the correct bicycle frame for your individual physique and
your riding purposes. In addition, your unique body shape and weight
will also affect what kind of bicycle frame is best for your comfort
and accomplishment. Standard frame measurements, made along the seat
tube of a frame, take into account the length of your legs, but the
relationship of your torso length and arm length to the length of your
legs is also extremely important to comfort on a bicycle, and the
length of the top tube of the bicycle frame must also be examined. Two
riders of identical height may need completely different bicycle
frames. The best thing you can do is to shop at a bicycle store where
knowledgeable riders earn their living and where you are allowed to try
out a bicycle before buying it.
