BICYCLE HISTORY

The bicycle, bike, or cycle, is a pedal-driven, human-powered vehicle with two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. First introduced in 19th-century Europe, bicycles now number approximately one billion worldwide, providing the principal means of transportation in many regions. They also provide a popular form of recreation, and have been adapted for use in many other fields of human activity, including children's toys, adult fitness, military and police applications, courier services, and cycle sports. The basic shape and configuration of a typical bicycle has hardly changed since the first chain-driven model was developed around 1885, although many important details have been improved, especially since the advent of modern materials and computer-aided design. These have allowed for a proliferation of specialized designs for particular types of cycling. The bicycle has had a considerable effect on human society, in both the cultural and industrial realms. In its early years, bicycle construction drew on pre-existing technologies; more recently, bicycle technology has, in turn, contributed ideas in both old and new areas.

Bicycle History:
Vehicles for human transport that have two-wheels and require balancing by the rider, dates back to the early 19th century. The term bicycle was coined in France in the 1860s. Knowledge of the bicycle's history has languished during the period of its chief rival, the automobile. One of the relatively recent efforts to improve that historical record is the annual International Cycling History Conference (ICHC), the first of which took place in Glasgow, Scotland in 1990. Its annual proceedings appear under the title "Cycle History". National clubs of collectors and amateur historians are The Veteran Cycle Club (UK) with journal The Boneshaker, The Wheelmen (USA) with journal of same name, and Historische Fahrräder e.V. (Germany) with journal Der Knochenschüttler. Some ICHC members no longer distinguish between a "first true" bicycle with pedals and any precursors. The bicycle developed from the two-wheeler principle which requires balancing and is the basis of cycling. When pedal velocipedes arose there was already a 50-year history of such two-wheeled vehicles. There are several early but unreliable claims for the invention of bicycle-like machines. A Comte de Sivrac was said to have developed a two-wheeler, called a célérifère in 1791, demonstrating it at the Palais-Royal in France. The célérifère supposedly had two wheels set on a rigid wooden frame and no steering, directional control being limited to that attainable by leaning. A rider was said to have to sit astride the machine and pushed it along using alternate feet. We now know that a 2-wheeled célérifère never existed besides the 4-wheeled ones and that it was a misinterpretation by the well known French journalist Louis Baudry de Saunier in 1891. Earlier, and equally unreliable, claims come from an illustration found in a church window in Stoke Poges, installed in the 16th century, showing an angel on a bicycle-like device,and from a scribble said to be from 1493 and attributed to Giacomo Caprotti, a pupil of Leonardo da Vinci. Hans-Erhard Lessing recently showed this last assertion to be a purposeful fraud. However, the authenticity of the bicycle sketch is still vigorously maintained by the Italian cultural bureaucracy still believing the misled Prof. Augusto Marinoni, a lexicographer, who was entrusted by the Commissione Vinciana of Rome with the transcription of da Vinci's Codex Atlanticus. The first reliable claim for a practically-used bicycle belongs to German Baron Karl von Drais, a civil servant to the Grand Duke of Baden in Germany. Drais invented his Laufmaschine (German for "running machine") of 1817 that was called Draisine (English) or draisienne (French) by the press. Karl von Drais patented this design in 1818 which was the first commercially successful two-wheeled, steerable, human-propelled machine commonly called a velocipede, nick-named hobby-horse or dandy horse. It was initially manufactured in Germany and France. It was constructed almost entirely of wood. Hans-Erhard Lessing found from circumstantial evidence that Drais' interest in finding an alternative to the horse was the starvation and death of horses caused by crop failure in 1816 ("eighteen hundred and froze to death," following the volcanic eruption of Tambora). On his first reported ride from Mannheim on June 12, 1817, he covered 13 km (eight miles) in less than an hour. The wooden draisine weighed 22 kg (48 pounds), had brass bushings within the wheel bearings, a rear-wheel brake and 152 mm (6 inches) of trail of the front-wheel for a self-centering castor effect. This design was welcomed by mechanically minded men daring to balance and several thousand copies were built and used, primarily in Western Europe and in North America. Its popularity rapidly faded when, partly due to increasing numbers of accidents some city authorities began to prohibit its use. However in 1866 Paris a Chinese visitor named Bin Chun could still observe foot-pushed velocipedes. Shortly after, the concept was picked up by a number of British cartwrights; the most notable being Denis Johnson of London. We can assume a name change occurred when Johnson patented his vehicle and named it pedestrian curricle or velocipede, but the public preferred nick-names like hobbyhorse, after the children’s toy or, worse still, dandyhorse, after the foppish men who often rode them. Johnson's machine was an improvement on Drais's, being notably more elegant: his wooden frame had a serpentine shape instead of Drais's straight one, which allowed the use of larger wheels without raising the seat higher. During the summer of 1819 the "hobby-horse", thanks in part to Johnson's marketing skills and better patent protection, became the craze and fashion in London society. The dandies, the Corinthians of the Regency, adopted it, therefore the poet John Keats referred to it as "the nothing" of the day. Riders wore out their boots surprisingly rapidly, and the fashion ended within the year, after riders on sideways were fined two pounds. Nevertheless, the velocipede provided the basis for further developments: in fact, it was a French draisine which some historians believe inspired Pierre Lallement in 1863 to add rotary cranks and pedals to the front-wheel hub, to create the first pedal-operated "bicycle" as we today understand the word - according to David Herlihy's book. McCall's first (top) and improved velocipede of 1869 - later predated to 1839 and attributed to MacMillanThough technically not part of 2-wheel "bicycle" history, the intervening decades of the 1820s-1850s witnessed many developments concerning human-powered vehicles often using technologies similar to the draisine, even if the idea of a workable 2-wheel design, requiring the rider to balance, had been dismissed. These new machines had three wheels (tricycles) or four (quadricycles) and came in a very wide variety of designs, using pedals, treadles and hand-cranks, but these designs often suffered from high weight and high rolling resistance. However, Willard Sawyer in Dover successfully manufactured a range of treadle operated 4 wheel vehicles and exported them worldwide in the 1850s. The first mechanically-propelled 2-wheel vehicle was believed to have been built by Kirkpatrick MacMillan, a Scottish blacksmith, in 1839. A nephew later claimed that his uncle developed a rear-wheel drive design using mid mounted treadles connected by rods to a rear crank, similar to the transmission of a steam locomotive. Proponents associate him with the first recorded instance of a bicycling traffic offence, when a Glasgow newspaper reported in 1842 an accident in which an anonymous "gentleman from Dumfries-shire... bestride a velocipede... of ingenious design" knocked over a pedestrian in the Gorbals and was fined five British shillings. However, the evidence connecting this with MacMillan isn't even circumstantial, since the artisan MacMillan wouldn't have been termed a gentleman. A similar machine was said to have been produced by Gavin Dalzell of Lesmahagow . The first documented producer of rod-driven 2-wheelers was Thomas McCall, of Kilmarnock in 1869. The design could not compete with the front-crank velocipede of the Lallement/Michaux type, however, despite McCall's all steel version of 1869. The first really popular and commercially successful design was a French one (an example of the style is held in the Museum of Science and Technology (Ottawa)). Initially developed around 1863, it sparked a fashionable craze briefly during 1868-70. Its design was simpler than the Macmillan bicycle, it used rotary cranks and pedals mounted to the front wheel hub. Pedaling made it easier for riders to propel the machine at speed, but the rotational speed limitation arising from stability and comfort concerns would lead to the large front wheel of the "penny farthing". It was difficult to pedal the wheel that was used for steering. The use of metal frames reduced the weight and provided sleeker, more elegant designs, and also allowed mass-production. Different braking mechanisms were used depending on the manufacturer. In England, the velocipede earned the name of "bone-shaker" because of its rigid frame and iron banded wheels that resulted in a "bone-shaking experience for riders." The velocipede's renaissance began in Paris during the late 1860s. Its early history is complex and has been shrouded in some mystery, not least because of conflicting patent claims: all that has be stated for sure is that a French metalworker attached pedals to the front wheel; at present, the earliest year bicycle historians agree on is 1864. The identity of the person who attached cranks is still an open question at International Cycling History Conferences (ICHC). The claims of Ernest Michaux and of Pierre Lallement, and the lesser claims of rear-pedaling Alexandre Lefebvre, have their supporters within the ICHC community. Lallement's patent drawing shows a machine which looks exactly like Johnson's draisine, but with the pedals and rotary cranks attached to the front wheel hub, and a thin piece of iron over the top of the frame to act as a spring supporting the seat, for a slightly more comfortable ride. The wealthy Olivier brothers Aimé and René were students in Paris at the time of Lallement's invention, and these shrewd young entrepreneurs recognized the potential profitability of producing and selling Lallement's machine. Together with their friend Georges de la Bouglise, they formed a partnership with blacksmith Pierre Michaux, who had been producing parts for the carriage trade: Michaux et Cie ("Michaux and company"), in 1864, avoiding use of the Olivier family name and staying behind the scenes, lest the venture prove to be a failure. This was the first company which mass-produced bicycles, beginning in 1867, replacing Lallement's wooden frame with one made of two pieces of cast iron bolted together -- otherwise, the early Michaux machines look exactly like Lallement's patent drawing. Together with a mechanic named Gabert in his hometown of Lyon, Aimé Olivier created a diagonal single-piece frame made of wrought iron which was much stronger, and as the first bicycle craze took hold, many other blacksmiths began forming companies to make bicycles using the new design. Velocipedes were expensive, and when customers soon began to complain about the Michaux serpentine cast-iron frames breaking, the Oliviers realized by 1868 that they needed to replace that design with the diagonal one which their competitors were already using, and the Michaux company continued to dominate the industry in its first years. On the new macadam paved boulevards of Paris it was easy riding, although initially still using what was essentially horse coach technology. It was still called "velocipede" in France, but in the United States, the machine was commonly called the "bone-shaker," because its ride was so rough. Later improvements included solid rubber tires and ball bearings. Lallement had left Paris in July 1865, crossed the Atlantic, settled in Connecticut and patented the velocipede, and the number of associated inventions and patents soared in the US. The popularity of the machine grew on both sides of the Atlantic and by 1868-69 the velocipede craze was strong in rural areas as well. Even in a realtively small city such as Halifax, Canada, there were five velocipede rinks, and riding schools began to opening throughout many major urban centres. Essentially, the velocipede was a stepping stone that created a market for bicycles that led to the development of more advanced and efficient machines. However, the Franco-Prussian war of 1870 destroyed the velocipede market in France, and the "bone-shaker" enjoyed only a brief period of popularity in the United States, which ended by 1870. There is debate among bicycle historians about why it failed in the United States, but one explanation is that American road surfaces were much worse than European ones, and riding the machine on these roads was simply too difficult. Certainly another factor was that Calvin Witty had purchased Lallement's patent, and his royalty demands soon crippled the industry. The UK was the only place where the bicycle never fell completely out of favor. The high bicycle was the logical extension of the boneshaker design, the front wheel enlarging to enable higher speeds (limited by the inside leg measurement of the rider), the rear wheel shrinking and the frame being made lighter. The Frenchman Eugene Meyer is now regarded as the father of the High Bicycle by the ICHC in place of James Starley. Meyer invented the wire-spoke tension wheel in 1869 and produced a classic high bicycle design until the 1880s. A penny-farthing or ordinary bicycle photographed in the koda museum in the Czech RepublicJames Starley in Coventry added the tangent spokes and the mounting step to his famous bicycle named "Ariel." He is regarded as the father of the British cycling industry. Ball bearings, solid rubber tires and hollow-section steel frames became standard, reducing weight and making the ride much smoother. Depending on the rider's leg length, the front wheel could now have a diameter up to 60 in (1.5 m). This type of bicycle was known as the "ordinary", and was later nicknamed "Penny-farthing" in England (a penny representing the front wheel, and a coin smaller in size and value, the farthing, representing the rear wheel). They were fast, but unsafe. The rider was high up in the air and traveling at a great speed. If he hit a bad spot in the road he could easily be thrown over the front wheel and be seriously injured or even killed. "Taking a header" (also known as "coming a cropper"), which was not at all uncommon, was no laughing matter. The rider's legs were often caught underneath the handlebars, so falling free of the machine was often not possible. The dangerous nature of these bicycles meant that cycling was the preserve of adventurous young men. The American "Star" bicycle was an ordinary high-wheeler turned around to prevent those headers, with the large wheel in the rear, but now there was the danger of being thrown backwards when riding uphill. Elderly gentlemen preferred, and women had to ride, the more stable tricycles or quadricycles. Queen Victoria owned Starley's "Royal Salvo" tricycle, though there is no evidence she actually rode it. Although French and English inventors modified the velocipede into the high-wheel bicycle, the French were still recovering from the Franco-Prussian war, so English entrepreneurs put the high-wheeler on the English market, and the machine became very popular there, Coventry, Oxford, Birmingham and Manchester being the centers of the English bicycle industry. Soon bicycles found their way across the English Channel. By 1875 high-wheel bicycles were becoming popular in France, though ridership expanded slowly. In the United States, Bostonians such as Frank Weston and Albert A. Pope started importing bicycles in 1877 and 1878, and Pope started production of his "Columbia" high-wheelers in 1878, and gained control of nearly all applicable patents, starting with Lallement's 1866 patent. Pope lowered the royalty (licensing fee) previous patent owners charged, and took his competitors to court over the patents. The courts supported him, and competitors either paid royalties ($10 per bicycle), or he forced them out of business. There seems to have been no patent issue in France, but English bicycles still dominated the French market. By 1884 high-wheelers and tricycles were relatively popular among a small group of upper-middle-class people in all three countries, the largest group being in England. Their use also spread to the rest of the world, chiefly because of the extent of the British Empire. The development of the safety bicycle was arguably the most important change in the history of the bicycle. It shifted their use and public perception from being a dangerous toy for sporting young men to being an everyday transport tool for men -- and, crucially, women -- of all ages. Aside from the obvious safety problems, the high-wheeler's direct front wheel drive limited its top speed. Accordingly, inventors tried a rear wheel chain drive. Although a Henry Lawson invented a rear-chain-drive bicycle in 1879 with his "bicyclette", it still had a huge front wheel and a small rear wheel. Detractors called it "The Crocodile", and it failed in the market. Bicycle in Plymouth at the start of the 20th centuryJohn Kemp Starley, James's nephew, produced the first successful "safety bicycle", the "Rover," in 1885, which he never patented. It featured a steerable front wheel that had significant castor, equally sized wheels and a chain drive to the rear wheel. It was widely imitated, and this safety bicycle completely replaced the high-wheeler in North America and Western Europe by 1890. Meanwhile John Boyd Dunlop's reinvention of the pneumatic tire in 1888 had made for a much smoother ride. As with the original velocipede, safety bicycles had been much less comfortable than high-wheelers precisely because of the smaller wheel size, and frames were often buttressed with complicated Bicycle suspension spring assemblies. The pneumatic tire made all of these obsolete, and frame designers found a diamond pattern to be the strongest and most efficient design. The chain drive improved comfort and speed, as the drive was transferred to the non-steering rear wheels and allowed for a much more smooth and relaxed and injury free pedalling. (earlier designs that required pedalling the steering front wheel were difficult to pedal while turning, due to the misalignment between leg and the plane the pedal rotates in ). Because stability was improved, the gyrscopic forces were reduced, and pedalling was easier, the rider did not have so much difficulty to turn a corner. The pneumatic tire, and the diamond frame improved rider comfort but do not form a crucial design or safety feature. A hard rubber tyre on a bicycle is just as ridable but is bone jarring. The frame design allows for a lighter weight, and more simple construction and maintenance, and hence lower price. With four key aspects ( steerability, safety, comfort and speed ) improved over the penny farthing, bicycles become very popular among elites and the middle classes in Europe and North America in the middle and late 1890s. It was the first bicycle that was suitable for women, and as such the "freedom machine" (as American feminist Susan B. Anthony called it) was taken up by women in large numbers. 1890s Hotchkiss Bicycle RailroadBicycle historians often call this period the "golden age" or "bicycle craze." By the start of the 20th century, cycling had become an important means of transportation, and in the United States an increasingly popular form of recreation. Bicycling clubs for men and women spread across the U.S. and across European countries. Chicago's immigrant Adolph Schoeninger with his Western Wheel Works became the "Ford of the Bicycle" (ten years before Henry Ford) and by rigorous use of sheet-metal stamping and mass production made his "Crescent" bicycles affordable for working people, and massive exports from the United States lowered prices in Europe. The Panic of 1893 wiped out most American manufacturers by further lowering prices, further increasing the range of consumers. 1897 ad, showing unskirted garment for women's bicycle ridingThe impact of the bicycle on female emancipation should not be underestimated. The diamond-frame safety bicycle gave women unprecedented mobility, contributing to their larger participation in the lives of Western nations. As bicycles became safer and cheaper, more women had access to the personal freedom they embodied, and so the bicycle came to symbolise the New Woman of the late nineteenth century, especially in Britain and the United States. Feminists and suffragists recognised its transformative power. Susan B. Anthony said: "Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world. It gives women a feeling of freedom and self-reliance. I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a wheel...the picture of free, untrammeled womanhood." In 1895 Frances Willard, the tightly-laced president of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, wrote a book called How I Learned to Ride the Bicycle, in which she praised the bicycle she learned to ride late in life, and which she named "Gladys", for its "gladdening effect" on her health and political optimism. Willard used a cycling metaphor to urge other suffragists to action, proclaiming, "I would not waste my life in friction when it could be turned into momentum." The backlash against the New (bicycling) Woman was demonstrated when the male undergraduates of Cambridge University chose to show their opposition to the admission of women as full members of the university by hanging a woman in effigy in the main town square -- tellingly, a woman on a bicycle. This was as late as 1897. The safety bicycle was only relatively safe, and clearly women could not cycle in the then-current fashions for voluminous and restrictive dress. The bicycle craze fed into a movement for so-called rational dress, which helped liberate women from corsets and ankle-length skirts and other encumbering garments, substituting the then-shocking bloomers. In the Netherlands, bicycles are made available for use in national parks Cycling steadily became more important in Europe over the first half of the twentieth century, but it dropped off dramatically in the United States between 1900 and 1910. Automobiles became the preferred means of transportation. Over the 1920s, bicycles gradually became considered children's toys, and by 1940 most bicycles in the United States were made for children. In Europe cycling remained an adult activity, and bicycle racing, commuting, and "cyclotouring" were all popular activities. Bicycles continued to evolve to suit the varied needs of riders. The derailleur developed in France between 1900 and 1910 among cyclotourists, and was improved over time. Interestingly, only in the 1930s did European racing organizations allow racers to use derailleurs; until then they were forced to use a two-speed bicycle. The rear wheel had a cog on either side of the hub. To change gears, the rider had to stop, remove the wheel, flip it around, and remount the wheel. When racers were allowed to use derailleurs, racing times immediately dropped. See bicycle gearing. At mid-century there were two predominant bicycle styles for recreational cyclists in North America. Heavyweight cruiser bicycles featuring balloon tires, pedal-driven "coaster" brakes and only one gear, were popular for their durability, comfort, streamline appearance, and a significant array of accessories (lights, bells, springer forks, speedometers, etc.). Lighter cycles, with hand brakes, thinner tires, and a three-speed hub gearing system, often imported from England, first became popular in the United States in the late 1950s. These comfortable, practical bicycles usually offered generator-powered headlamps, safety reflectors, kickstands, and frame-mounted tire pumps. In the early 1980s, Swedish company Itera invented a new type of bicycle, called the Itera plastic bicycle, made entirely out of plastics. The plastic bicycle was however a commercial failure.



Bicycle Law:
The 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic of the United Nations considers a bicycle to be a vehicle, and a person controlling a bicycle is considered a driver. The traffic codes of many countries reflect these definitions and demand that a bicycle satisfy certain legal requirements, sometimes even including licensing, before it can be used on public roads. In many jurisdictions it is an offence to use a bicycle that is not in roadworthy condition. In most places when ridden after dark, bicycles must have functioning front and rear lights, or "lamps". As some generator or dynamo-driven lamps only operate while moving, rear reflectors are frequently also mandatory. Since a moving bicycle makes little noise, some countries insist that bicycles have a warning bell for use when approaching pedestrians, equestrians and other bicyclists.

Standards:
A number of formal and industry standards exist for bicycle components, to help make spare parts exchangeable:

ISO 5775 Bicycle tire and rim designations:
ISO 8090 Cycles Terminology (same as BS 6102-4):
ISO 4210 Cycles Safety requirements for bicycles:


Bicycle frame:
Modern upright bicycles feature the diamond frame, a truss, consisting of two triangles: the front triangle and the rear triangle. The front triangle consists of the head tube, top tube, down tube and seat tube. The head tube contains the headset, the set of bearings that allows the fork to turn smoothly for steering and balance. The top tube connects the tube to the seat tube at the top, and the down tube connects the head tube to the bottom bracket. The rear triangle consists of the seat tube and paired chain stays and seat stays. The chain stays run parallel to the chain, connecting the bottom bracket to the rear dropouts. The seat stays connect the top of the seat tube (at or near the same point as the top tube) to the rear dropouts. Historically, women's bicycle frames had a top tube that connected in the middle of the seat tube instead of the top, resulting in a lower standover height at the expense of compromised structural integrity, since this places a strong bending load in the seat tube, and bicycle frame members are typically weak in bending. This design, referred to as a step-through frame, purportedly allows the rider to mount and dismount in a dignified way while wearing a skirt or dress. While some women's bicycles continue to use this frame style, there is also a variation, the mixte, which splits the top tube into two small top tubes that bypass the seat tube and connect to the rear dropouts. The ease of stepping through is also appreciated by those with limited flexibility or other joint problems. Because of its persistent image as a "women's" bicycle, step-through frames are not common for larger builds. Historically, materials used in bicycles have followed a similar pattern as in aircraft, the goal being high strength and low weight. Since the late 1930s alloy steels have been used for frame and fork tubes in higher quality machines. Celluloid found application in mudguards, and aluminium alloys are increasingly used in components such as handlebars, seat post, and brake levers. In the 1980s aluminium alloy frames became popular, and their affordability now makes them common. More expensive carbon fiber and titanium frames are now also available, as well as advanced steel alloys.

Drivetrain:
The drivetrain begins with pedals which rotate the crank arms, which are held in axis by the bottom bracket. Attached to one crank arm may be one or more chainrings or sprockets which drive the chain, which in turn rotates the rear wheel via the rear sprockets (cassette or freewheel). A gearing system is used to vary the number of rear wheel revolutions produced by each turn of the pedals. Since cyclists' legs are most efficient over a narrow range of cadences, a variable gear ratio is helpful to maintain an optimum pedalling speed while covering varied terrain. When the bicycle chain shifts to a larger rear sprocket, or to a smaller front sprocket (a lower gear) every turn of the pedal leads to fewer rotations in the freewheel (and hence the rear wheel). This allows the force required to move the same distance to be distributed over more pedal cycles, reducing fatigue when riding uphill, with a heavy load, or against strong winds. The reverse process allows the cyclist to make fewer pedal cycles to maintain a higher speed, but with more effort per cycle. Road bicycles have close set multi-step gearing, which allows fine control of cadence, while utility bicycles offer fewer, more widely spaced speeds. Mountain bikes, touring bikes and many entry-level racing bicycles offer an extremely low gear to facilitate climbing slowly on steep hills. Single-speed bicycles have only one gear combination.

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 are "dropped", offering the cyclist either an aerodynamic "crouched" position or a more upright posture in which the hands grip the brake lever mounts. Mountain bikes feature a straight handlebar which can provide better low-speed handling due to the wider nature of the bars. Saddles also vary with rider preference, from the cushioned ones favoured 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, and the hips are flexed, and a narrower and harder saddle is more efficient. Differing saddle designs exist for male and female cyclists, accommodating the genders' differing anatomy, although bikes typically are sold with saddles most appropriate for males. A recumbent bicycle has a reclined chair-like seat that some riders find more comfortable than a saddle, especially riders who suffer from certain types of seat, back, neck, shoulder, or wrist pain. Recumbent bicycles may have either under-seat or over-seat steering.

Bicycle brake systems:
Modern bicycle brakes are either rim brakes, in which friction pads are compressed against the wheel rims, internal hub brakes, in which the friction pads are contained within the wheel hubs, or disc brakes. Disc brakes are common on off-road bicycles, tandems and recumbent bicycles, but are considered impractical on road bicycles, which rarely encounter conditions where the advantages of discs are significant. Hub drum brakes do not cope well with extended braking, so rim or disc brakes are favoured in hilly terrain. With hand-operated brakes, force is applied to brake levers mounted on the handlebars and transmitted via Bowden cables or hydraulic lines to the friction pads. A rear hub brake may be either hand-operated or pedal-actuated, as in the back pedal coaster brakes which were popular in North America until the 1960s, and are still common in children's bicycles. Track bicycles do not have brakes. Brakes are not required for riding on a track because all riders ride in the same direction around a track which does not necessitate sharp deceleration. Track riders are still able to slow down because all track bicycles are fixed-gear, meaning that there is no freewheel. Without a freewheel, coasting is impossible, so when the rear wheel is moving, the crank is moving. To slow down one may apply resistance to the pedals. While it is illegal in most jurisdictions to cycle on roads without brakes, a fixed-gear bike without brakes can be slowed by skidding the rear wheel. This involves unweighting the rear wheel and applying a backwards force to the pedals, causing the rear wheel to lock up and slide along the road. Most track bike frames and forks do not have holes for mounting brakes, although with their increasing popularity among some road cyclists, some manufacturers have designed their track frames to enable the fitting of brakes.

Bicycle suspension:
Bicycle suspension refers to the system or systems used to suspend the rider and all or part of the bicycle in order to protect them from the roughness of the terrain over which they travel. Bicycle suspension are used primarily on mountain bicycles, but are also common on hybrid bicycles, and can even be found on some road bicycles as they can help deal with problematic vibration.

Accessories and repairs:
Some components, which are often optional accessories on sports bicycles, are standard features on utility bicycles to enhance their usefulness and comfort. Mudguards (or fenders) protect the cyclist and moving parts from spray when riding through wet areas and chainguards protect clothes from oil on the chain. Kick stands keep a bicycle upright when parked. Front-mounted baskets for carrying goods are often used. Luggage carriers and panniers can be used to carry equipment or cargo. Parents sometimes add rear-mounted child seats and/or an auxiliary saddle fitted to the crossbar to transport children. Touring bicycle equipped with head lamp, pump, rear rack, fenders/mud-guards, and numerous saddle-bags.Toe-clips and toestraps and clipless pedals help to keep the foot planted firmly in the proper position on the pedals, and enable the cyclist to pull as well as push the pedals. Technical accessories include cyclocomputers for measuring speed and distance. Other accessories include lights, reflectors, tire pump, security lock, mirror, and bell. Bicycle helmets may help reduce injury in the event of a collision or accident, and a certified helmet is legally required for some riders in some jurisdictions. Helmets are classified as an accessory or an item of clothing by others. Many cyclists carry tool kits. At the least this will include a tire patch kit (these contain tube-patching material, an adhesive, a block of French chalk and a metal grater to reduce the chalk to powder) and/or a spare tube, tire levers, and hex wrenches. More specialised parts now require more complex tools, including proprietary tools specific for a given manufacturer. Some bicycle parts, particularly hub-based gearing systems, are complex, and many prefer to leave maintenance and repairs to professional bicycle mechanics. Others maintain their own bicycles, enhancing their enjoyment of the hobby of cycling. In some areas it is possible to purchase road-side assistance from companies such as the Better World Club.

Bicycle performance:
In both biological and mechanical terms, the bicycle is extraordinarily efficient. In terms of the amount of energy a person must expend to travel a given distance, investigators have calculated it to be the most efficient self-powered means of transportation. From a mechanical viewpoint, up to 99% of the energy delivered by the rider into the pedals is transmitted to the wheels, although the use of gearing mechanisms may reduce this by 10-15%. In terms of the ratio of cargo weight a bicycle can carry to total weight, it is also a most efficient means of cargo transportation. A human being travelling on a bicycle at low to medium speeds of around 10-15 mph (15-25 km/h), using only the energy required to walk, is the most energy-efficient means of transport generally available. Air drag, which is proportional to the square of speed, requires dramatically higher power outputs as speeds increase. A bicycle which places the rider in a seated position, supine position or, more rarely, prone position, and which may be covered in an aerodynamic fairing to achieve very low air drag, is referred to as a recumbent bicycle or human powered vehicle. On an upright bicycle, the rider's body creates about 75% of the total drag of the bicycle/rider combination. In addition, the carbon dioxide generated in the production and transportation of the food required by the bicyclist, per mile traveled, is less than 1/10th that generated by energy efficient cars.

Bicycle and motorcycle dynamics:
A bicycle stays upright by being steered so as to keep its centre of gravity over its wheels. This steering is usually provided by the rider, but under certain conditions may be provided by the bicycle itself. A bicycle must lean in order to turn. This lean is induced by a method known as countersteering, which can be performed by the rider turning the handlebars directly with the hands or indirectly by leaning the bicycle. Short-wheelbase or tall bicycles, when braking, can generate enough stopping force at the front wheel in order to flip longitudinally. This action, especially if performed on purpose, is known as a stoppie, endo or front wheelie.

Economic implications:
Bicycle manufacturing proved to be a training ground for other industries and led to the development of advanced metalworking techniques, both for the frames themselves and for special components such as ball bearings, washers, and sprockets. These techniques later enabled skilled metalworkers and mechanics to develop the components used in early automobiles and aircraft. J. K. Starley's company became the Rover Cycle Company Ltd. in the late 1890s, and then the Rover auto maker. The Morris Motor Company (in Oxford) and koda also began in the bicycle business, as did the Wright Brothers. In general, U.S. and European cycle manufacturers used to assemble cycles from their own frames and components made by other companies, although very large companies (such as Raleigh) used to make almost every part of a bicycle (including bottom brackets, axles, etc.) In recent years, those bicycle makers have greatly changed their methods of production. Now, almost none of them produce their own frames. Many newer or smaller companies only design and market their products; the actual production is done by Asian companies. For example, some sixty percent of the world's bicycles are now being made in China. Despite this shift in production, as nations such as China and India become more wealthy, their own use of bicycles has declined due to the increasing affordability of cars and motorcycles. One of the major reasons for the proliferation of Chinese-made bicycles in foreign markets is the lower cost of labour in China.

Social implications:
In cities, bicycles helped reduce crowding in inner-city tenements by allowing workers to commute from more spacious dwellings in the suburbs. They also reduced dependence on horses, with all the knock-on effects this brought to society. Bicycles allowed people to travel for leisure into the country, since bicycles were three times as energy efficient as walking, and three to four times as fast. Cycling has many health benefits and does not directly contribute to global warming or environmental pollution

Community bicycles:
Several European cities have implemented successful schemes that use bicycles as a way of public transport. Users can take a bicycle at a parking station, use it for a limited amount of time, and then return it to the same, or a different, station. Examples of such schemes are Bicing in Barcelona, Vélo'v in Lyon and Vélib' in Paris.

Bicycle types:
Bicycles can be categorized in different ways: e.g. by function, by number of riders, by general construction, by gearing or by means of propulsion. The common types include utility bicycles, mountain bicycles, racing bicycles, touring bicycles, cruiser bicycles, and BMX bicycles. Less common types include tandems, recumbents, lowriders, tall bikes, fixed gear, and folding models. Unicycles, tricycles and quadracycles are not strictly bicycles, as they have respectively one, three and four wheels, but are often referred to informally as "bikes".

Bicycle Types
Bicycle Types By function:
Utility bicycles are designed for commuting, shopping and running errands. They employ middle or heavy weight frames and tires, often have internal hub gearing, and a variety of helpful accessories. The riding position is usually upright. Mountain bicycles are designed for off-road cycling, and include other sub-types of off-road bicycles such as Cross Country (i.e."XC"), Downhill , and Freeride bicycles. All mountain bicycles feature sturdy, highly durable frames and wheels, wide-gauge treaded tyres, and cross-wise handlebars to help the rider resist sudden jolts. Some mountain bicycles feature various types of suspension systems (e.g. coiled spring, air or gas shock), and hydraulic or mechanical disc brakes. Mountain bicycle gearing is very wide-ranging, from very low ratios to high ratios, typically with 16 to 30 gears.
Racing bicycles are designed for speed, and include road, time trial, and track bicycles. They have lightweight frames and components with minimal accessories, dropped handlebars to allow for an aerodynamic riding position, narrow high-pressure tires for minimal rolling resistance and multiple gears. Racing bicycles have a relatively narrow gear range, and typically varies from medium to very high ratios, distributed across 18, 20, 27 or 30 gears. The more closely spaced gear ratios allow racers to choose a gear which will enable them to ride at their optimum pedaling cadence for maximum efficiency.
Time trial bicycles are similar to road bicycles but are differentiated by a more aggressive frame geometry that throws the rider into a more compact (i.e "aero") riding position. They also feature aerodynamic frames, wheels, and handlebars.
Track bicycles, intended for indoor or outdoor cycle tracks or velodromes, are exceptionally simple compared with road bikes. They have a single gear ratio, a fixed drivetrain (i.e. no freewheel), no brakes, and are minimally adorned with other components that would otherwise be typical for a racing bicycle. Messenger bikes are typically used for urgent deliveries of letters and small packages between businesses in big cities with heavily congested traffic. While any bike can be used, messenger bikes often resemble track bicycles (especially in the USA), having either a fixed or singlespeed freewheel drivetrain.

Touring bicycle:
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 superior ability to carry 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.

Road tourers:
The classic touring bicycle is the road tourer. Modern 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. Some companies have attempted to popularize the 26" mountain bike wheel size for touring bikes, whether for off-road or on-road use. Others have followed and offer 26"-wheeled touring bikes alongside conventional 700C machines. Claimed advantages of the slightly smaller wheel include additional strength, worldwide tire availability, and lighter weight. Some touring bicycles 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. 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 light narrow tires are available for 26" wheels, which negates any weight advantage from the smaller rim and shorter spokes. Riders leaving areas such as western Europe and North America, where cycle equipment is readily and widely available, nevertheless often prefer 26-inch wheels because mountain-bike sizes are often more easily obtained in the Third World and even in eastern Europe. The difference in rolling resistance between sizes and widths is debated; theoretically a 26" fat tire (say 38mm 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.

Randonneur or Audax bicycles are designed for randonnées or brevet rides, and fall in between racing bicycles and those intended for touring.
Recumbent bicycles, which are sometimes referred to as Bents in the USA, are designed to maximise comfort and minimise wind resistance. Whereas most of the other types of bicycle in this section are designed around a ‘diamond frame’ geometry, where the pedals and chainset are located at the bottom of the bicycle and handlebars are at the front, recumbent bicycles (recumbents) generally use a boom and rear triangle combination with the pedals and chainset located at the front of the boom and the handlebars are located either over seat or nderseat in the centre.
BMX bicycles are designed for stunts and tricks. They are very advanced and may even be made of titanium to make the parts lightweight and strong. BMX is popular worldwide, and there are plenty of paid professionals and stores to go with it.
"Cruiser bicycles" are heavy framed balloon tired bicycles. They are also called beach bikes or boulevardiers and are designed for comfortable travel over a variety of terrain. Cruisers were the bicycle standard from the 30's until the 50's. Recently they have returned to popularity. The traditional cruiser is single-speed with coaster brakes, but modern cruisers come with 3 or seven speeds, the latter with rim brakes. Aluminum frames have recently been used in Cruiser construction, cutting the weight in half.

Bicycle Types By number of riders:
The tandem bicycle or twin is a form of bicycle (occasionally, a tricycle) designed to be ridden by more than one person. The term tandem refers to the seating arrangement (fore to aft, not side-by-side) instead of the number of riders. Patents related to tandem bicycles date from the late 1800s. Modern technology has improved component and frame designs, and many tandems are as well-built as modern high-end road and off-road bikes. While a tandem has double the pedalling power with only slightly more frictional loss in the drivetrain, it has about the same wind resistance as a single bike. High performance tandems may weigh less than twice as much as a single bike, so the power to weight ratio can be slightly better than that of a single bike and rider. Tandems can reach relatively high speeds, especially downhill and on flat to rolling terrain. They are not necessarily slower on climbs, but are perceived as such, in part due the need for a high level of coordination between the riders, especially if the physical abilities of the two riders are very different, requiring a compromise on cadence. On conventional tandems, the front rider steers the bicycle and is known as the captain, pilot, or steersman; the rear rider only pedals and is known as the stoker, navigator, or rear admiral. On most tandems the two sets of cranks are mechanically linked by a timing chain and turn at the same rate.

A triplet has three riders; a quadruplet has four.
The largest multi-bike had 40 riders.
In most of these types the riders ride one behind the other (referred to as tandem seating). Exceptions are "The Companion", or "Sociable," a side-by-side two-person bike (that converted to a single-rider) built by the Punnett Cycle Mfg. Co. in Rochester, N. Y. in the 1890s. Another bicycle, the "Conference Bike", rented to tourists in Berlin carries seven people seated in a circle.

Bicycle Types By general construction:
The ordinary, high wheel or penny-farthing was the first true bicycle with which actual speed and distance could be achieved in a practical manner. Larger and larger wheels, up to 1.5m (60") in diameter, were built to enable higher speeds. The classically oversized penny-farthing wheel refers to the British penny and farthing coins of the time; the former being much larger than the latter so that the side view of the bicycle resembled two such coins placed next to one another. Based on the original French Boneshaker, James Starley and others produced bicycles with front wheel of ever increasing size, starting about 1870. In 1878 Albert Pope began manufacturing the Columbia bicycle just outside of Boston, thus starting their nearly two decade-long heyday in America. Although the trend was relatively short-lived, the penny-farthing bicycle has since become a prominent historical symbol of the late Victorian era. Its brief popularity also coincided with the birth of cycling as a sport.

On an upright bicycle the rider sits astride the saddle. This is the most common type.

A recumbent bicycle is a bicycle which places the rider in a seated or supine position (rarely, in a prone position). Recumbents hold the world speed record for a bicycle and were banned from international racing in 1934. The back of the rider is supported, and the rider's legs extend forward to pedals that are at about the same height as the seat. Steering is either above- or over-seat steering (ASS or OSS) using a handlebar in front of the rider, or under-seat steering (USS) using a handlebar under the seat. The wheels are often smaller and/or farther apart than on an upright bicycle. Records of recumbent designs go back to the early days of cycling, but recumbent use was not widespread until the late 20th century. Recumbent riders hold world speed records for unpaced, human-powered vehicles. Tricycles form a substantial part of the recumbent market (far more so than they do for uprights); the generic term "trike" tends to be applied to these as well.

A Pedersen bicycle has a bridge truss frame.

A folding bicycle or folder is a type of bicycle that incorporates a number of hinges or joints, which may be lockable, that permit it to be folded into a more compact size. Typically this works by folding one or more of the bicycle's components, most often the frame. Folding bicycles are popular in East Asia and the United Kingdom, but are less common in the United States. Their major advantage is that they can be folded up and taken on public transport and into buildings where conventional bicycles cannot. Thus, for mixed-mode commuting they need not be chained in the street or station. Folding also makes transporting a bicycle in an automobile easier. Folding bicycles often cost more than non-folding bicycles with the same performance-related features due to increased manufacturing complexity. As an alternative to folding, some bicycle models achieve similar results by separating into two or more parts for more compact storage or ease in transporting. This type of bicycle is sometimes grouped in the same category as folding bicycles but are also referred to as break-away, disassembleable, or separable bicycles. Bicycle infantry in the late 19th to early 20th century, and paratroopers in mid-century, were often issued folding bicycles. Most but by no means all folders have wheels of 20 inch (51 cm) diameter or less, and many small wheel bicycles do not fold.

Moulton is an English bicycle manufacturer. The company was founded in 1962 by Dr Alex Moulton, who designed the suspension system for the BMC Mini motorcar. Moulton bicyles are noted for unconventional frame design, small wheels, and front and rear suspension. A misconception about Moultons is that they fold in the manner of more recent designs by manufacturers such as Brompton or Dahon. This is not true, though the Moulton design paved the way for such designs and various Moultons over the years have been made in separable versions allowing relatively easy dismantling for transportation or storage. Mass-appeal versions such as the Standard and Deluxe were complemented by Speed versions used in competition. Thus although Moultons are often included in the folding bicycle category along with small wheel folders, small wheel bicycles would be a more technically correct term covering all such bicycles.

An exercise bicycle remains stationary; it is used for exercise rather than propulsion.
An electric bicycle is primarily propelled by the rider; although this is assisted by the use of an electric motor, usually located in the hub of the front or rear wheel. The electric motor is powered by a battery which is secured to the frame. These are available in various technologies including Lead Acid, Nickel Cadmium, Nickel Metal Hydride, Lithium Ion and Lithium Polymer. Many of these are not classed as a motor vehicle, but as a bicycle if they comply with UK and European regulations.
A staircycle has pedals arranged in a stair master fashion instead of circular. There is no seat as it is designed to be used upright much like a stairmaster.

Bicycle Types By gearing:
Internal hub gearing is most common in European utility bicycles, usually ranging from three-speed bicycles to five and seven speed options. But hub gears with eight and fourteen speeds are available as well.
Shaft-driven bicycles (chainless bicycles) use a driveshaft rather than a chain to power the rear wheel. These are often used as commuter bikes because they eliminate inconveniences associated with chains and pant-legs, but they are less efficient than chain-driven bicycles. Shaft-driven bicycles usually employ internal hub gearing.
Derailleur gears, featured on most racing and touring bicycles, offering from 5 to 30 speeds.
Single-speed bicycles and Fixed-gear bicycles have only one gear, and include all BMX bikes, children's bikes, crowded city messenger bikes, and many others. The fixed gear has no freewheel mechanism, so whenever the bike is in motion the pedals continue to spin. An advantage of this is the pedals can also be used to slow down.
Retro-Direct bicycles have two sprockets on the rear wheel. By back-pedalling, the secondary, usually lower, gear is engaged.

Bicycle Types Road racing:
Time trial bicycles are road bicycles with an aerodynamic features that are not permitted when the racers ride as a group, such as triathlon (foward pointing) bars and a disk rear wheel.
Track bicycles are ultra-simple, lightweight fixed-gear bikes with no brakes, designed for track cycling on purpose-built cycle tracks, often in velodromes.
Cyclo-cross bicycles are lightweight enough to be carried over obstacles, and robust enough to be cycled through mud.

Bicycle Types XC mountain bike:
Down-hill racers are a specialized type of mountain bike with a very strong frame, altered geometry, and long travel suspension. They are designed for use only on downhill courses.
BMX (bicycle motocross) bicycles have small wheels and are used for BMX racing, as well as freestyle with tricks such as wheelies. Freestyle BMXers often ride dirt jumps and skatepark ramps, however there is street where a rider rides on obstacles found in many places that aren't supposed to be ridden on, such as stairs and rails.
Triathlon bicycles have seat posts that are closer to vertical than the seat posts on road racing bicycles. This concentrates the effort of cycling in the quadriceps muscles, sparing the other large muscles of the leg for the running segment of the race. Triathlon bicycles also have specialized handlebars known as triathlon bars or aero bars.
Bike trials riding is a form of off-road cycling derived from motorcycle trials where one slowly negotiates man-made and natural obstacles.
Freeride Bicycles in this category usually have very strong frames and dual-suspension with travel of 6 inches and up. They tend to have a shorter wheelbase than downhill bikes but otherwise have very similar geometry and components. Whereas downhill racers tend towards strong and light components, extreme freeriders tend not to worry about weight as much as strength of materials so it can withstand the huge drops and gaps that they typically perform.

By means of propulsion:
A Human-powered transport uses only human power
A pedal cycle, commonly known as a bicycle is driven by pedals.
A hand-cranked bicycle or handcycle is driven by a hand crank.
A rowing bicycle is driven by a rowing action using both arms and legs.
A Treadle bicycle is driven by a reciprocating, not rotary, motion of the feet.
A bucking bike (with one or more eccentric wheels)
A balance bicycle (a kind of velocipede) uses Flintstone power, or feet on the ground.
A motorized bicycle provides motor assistance. (Not to be confused with motorcycles or Electric motorcycles and scooters.)
A moped propels the rider with a motor, but includes bicycle pedals for human propulsion.
A Flywheel uses stored kinetic energy.

By rider position
Recumbent bicycle
Upright bicycle
Sideways bike.

Other Bicycle Types:
Chopper Bicycles are designed to get attention and provide a smooth ride. There are factory made chopper bicycles as well as one of a kind bicycles built by independent chopper bicycle designers.
The 2005 Giant Innova is an example of a hybrid bicycle. It has 27 speeds and disc brakes for wet-weather riding.Hybrid bicycles are a compromise between the mountain and racing style bicycles which replaced European-style utility bikes in North America in the early 1990s. They have a light frame, medium gauge wheels, and derailleur gearing, and feature straight or curved-back, touring handlebars for more upright riding.
Cruiser bicycles are designed for comfort, with curved back handlebars, padded seats, and balloon tires. Cruisers typically have minimal gearing and are often available for rental at beaches and parks which feature flat terrain.
Freight bicycles are designed for transporting large or heavy loads.

The cycle rickshaw, being a small-scale local means of transport, is also known by a variety of other names such as rickshaw, pedicab, bugbug, cyclo, or trishaw. Cycle rickshaws are human-powered, often used on a for hire basis, equipped with one or more seats for carrying passengers in addition to the driver. Cycle rickshaws are widely used in major cities around the world and are usually found in major urban centers, tourist attractions, and events that draw large crowds. Many cycle rickshaws have replaced less-efficient rickshaws that are pulled by a person on foot.

Velomobiles or bicycle cars provide enclosed pedal-powered transportation.
Clown bicycles are designed for comedic effect or stunt riding. Some types of clown bicycles are: bucking bike (with one or more eccentric wheels)
tall bike (often called an upside down bike, constructed so that the pedals, seat and handlebars are all higher than normal) -- other types of tall bikes are made by welding two or more bicycle frames on top of each other, and running additional chains from the pedals to the rear wheel.
Come-apart bike, (essentially a unicycle, plus a set of handlebars attached to forks and a wheel).
Clown bikes are also built that are directly geared, with no freewheeling, so that they may be pedaled backwards. Some are built very small but are otherwise normal.
Art bikes: Some bikes are built so that the frame appears to be made of junk or found objects: Bongo the Clown built several ridable parade bikes which were as much kinetic sculptures as transport.
Plastic bicycles were an attempt in the early 80s to introduce a bicycle made entirely out of plastic materials instead of metal.

A unicycle is not a bicycle, as it has only one wheel, but it is related.
The unicycle's history began before the invention of the bicycle. Comte De Sivrac first developed unicycles during the late 18th century. His device, called a celerifere, was a wooden horse that had a wheel joined by a wooden beam. Germany's Baron von Drais improved the design by adding a steering mechanism, introducing his Draisienne or "Hobby Horse" in 1818. Kirkpatrick Macmillan, a Scottish blacksmith, added cranks and pedals to the rear wheel in 1839, and called it the Velocipede. The first mass-produced riding machine, the Michaux Velocipede, was designed in 1863. In 1866, James Starley developed the penny-farthing, a bicycle with a very large front wheel and a small rear wheel. One theory of the advent of the unicycle is based on the popularity of the penny-farthing (or "Ordinary") during the late 19th century. Since the pedal and cranks were connected directly to the front axle, the rear wheel would go up in the air and the rider would be moved slightly forward. Many penny-farthing owners discovered they could dispense with the frame and just ride the front wheel and handlebars. Evidence for this theory of development can reportedly be found in pictures from the late 19th century showing unicycles with large wheels.
Over the years, unicycle enthusiasts have inspired manufacturers to create new designs, such as seatless ("ultimate wheel") and tall ("giraffe") unicycles. During the late 1980s some extreme sportsmen took an interest in the unicycle and off-road unicycling (MUni) was born.

BICYCLE SLANG
alleycat:
A bicycle race typically organized by bicycle messengers or couriers. Alleycat races seek to replicate some of the duties that a working messenger might encounter during a typical day. The races usually consist of previously undisclosed checkpoints, which are listed on a manifest, that a racer will have to go to; once at the checkpoint the racer will have his/her manifest updated. First racer to return with a completed manifest wins.

Alleycats:
were first formalized in Toronto, Canada in 1989, however messengers have been racing against each other for much longer. Recently, with the boom in urban cycling, many non-messengers have been participating and organizing alleycat races.

all-rounder:
A racing cyclist who excels in both climbing and time trialing, and may also be a decent sprinter. In stage races, an all-rounder seeks a top-10 place in the General Classification. Eddy Merckx and Lance Armstrong were both notable all-rounders; Jan Ullrich, Ivan Basso and Alejandro Valverde are more contemporary examples.

attack:
To quickly accelerate while riding in a pack, or in smaller numbers, with a view to create a gap between yourself and other riders.

autobus:
A group of riders in a stage race (typically non-climbers and suffering domestiques) who ride together as a group on the mountain stages with the sole intention of finishing within the stage's time limit to allow them to start the next day.

BBAR:
Short for British Best All-Rounder, a season-long time trial competition held in the UK.

à bloc:
Riding or going "à bloc" means giving it all you've got, going all out, riding as hard as one possibly can (which can be dangerous for it leaves one in a state where recovery is needed, and therefore vulnerable to being attacked).

bidon:
A water bottle.

blocking:
Riders of one team who set a relatively slow tempo at the front of a group to control the speed, often to the advantage of one of their teammates who may be in a break.

box of spanners:
To totally lose all ability to pedal smoothly after overexertion but still remain on one's bike. Expressive: "He's pedaling like a box of spanners"

boxed in:
To be positioned in a peloton or other pack of riders, regardless of size, such that one is unable to move ahead of the other riders. This usually refers to the sprint where one is unable to improve one's finish placing due to the inability to maneuver around other riders, e.g. "I felt really fast, but the other team had me boxed in the gutter and I couldn't move up."

brain bucket:
A bicycle helmet designed to prevent or lessen damage to the head and face of a rider; this term is considered slightly insulting and is usually used by those advocating not using helmets.

breakaway:
Breakaway, or break in short, is when a small group of riders or an individual have successfully opened a gap ahead of the peloton.

bridge:
When a lone rider or smaller group of riders closes the space between them and the rider or group in front of them. This term is often used to describe when riders catch up with the main pack (or peloton) of riders or those who are leading the race.

broom wagon:
In road bicycle racing, a synonym for SAG wagon. The broom wagon often has an ironic broom actually fixed to the front of it.

cadence (cycling):
The rate at which a cyclist pedals (in revolutions per minute).

caravane:
The team cars following behind the peloton in support of their racers.

chain gang (cycling):
A group of cyclists cycling in a close knit formation akin to a road race, normally for the purposes of training.

chain slap:
Annoying slapping of the bike's chain against the chainstays while riding over rough terrain.

chain suck:
The tendency of a chain to stick to chain rings and be sucked up into the bike instead of coming off the chainring. Primarily caused by worn chainrings and rust on small chain rings, under high loads, and in dirty conditions.

chase:
A group of one or more riders who are ahead of the peloton trying to join the race or stage leader(s). There may be none, one, or many chases at any given point in a race.

chicane:
A sequence of tight turns, often s-shaped, usually most important near the finish of a road-race or during a criterium.

climbing specialist (cycling):
A rider who specialises in riding uphill quickly, usually due to having a high power-to-weight ratio.

clincher:
A type of tire that uses a bead around the edge of the tire to attach to the rim of the wheel when inflated. The inner tube is separate.

commissaire (cycling):
A race judge, in road-racing they are usually based in a car following the event.

counter attack:
An attack that is made when a break has been caught by chasers or the peloton.

crack:
When a cyclist runs out of strength or energy, they are said to have cracked. Compare with Bonk (condition)

criterium:
A race on a closed short distance course with multiple laps. Often but not always a 4-cornered course; often includes primes (short for premiums and rhymes with 'seems') which are points or prizes for intermediate laps. Course length varies from 800 meters to 5 kilometers.

Cyclocross:
A form of bicycle racing that consists of many laps of a short course featuring pavement, wooded trails, grass, steep hills and obstacles requiring the rider to quickly dismount, carry the bike past some obstacles and remount.

danseuse:
(French: danser - to dance) - riding out of the saddle, standing up, usually in a taller gear than normal, and rocking side to side for leverage. The phrase dancing on the pedals is related.

descender:
A cyclist who excels at fast descents, often using them to break away from a group, or bridge a gap.

Drafting (racing):
To ride closely behind another rider to make maximum use of their slipstream, reducing wind resistance and effort required to ride at the same speed.

drop:
To be dropped is to be left behind a breakaway or the peloton for whatever reason (usually because the rider cannot sustain the tempo required to stay with the group).To drop someone is to accelerate strongly with the intent of causing following riders to no longer gain the benefit of drafting.

cycling domestique:
A rider whose job it is to support and work for other riders in their team (literally "servant" in French).

drop-off:
A drop-off is a mountain biking term. Experienced riders who ride on black routes may come across them. A drop-off is a step down in the terrain and can range from 20cm to 20ft. Most drop offs are met either by downhill riders, or freeriders. These riders have long travel bikes above six inches for bigger drops.

echelon:
(French) a line of riders seeking maximum drafting in a crosswind, resulting in a diagonal line across the road.

endo:
To go over the handlebars in a crash. From "end-over-end".

espoir:
(French: hope) Age category for riders between 19 and 22 years of age.

étape:
A stage of a stage race.

fixie:
Slang for a fixed-gear bicycle.

fixed:
Slang for a fixed-gear bicycle.

feed zone:
A location along the course of a long bicycle road race where team personnel hand musettes containing food and beverages to passing riders. Ideally, a feed zone should be along a long, uncongested straight section of road, with a wide shoulder for team personnel and vehicles. A slight uphill is desirable, as it will slow the passing riders and make grabbing the musettes easier; the grade should not be so steep as to cause the riders to struggle. The roadway approaching the feed zone should be straight with a long unobstructed sightline, so riders may easily identify the personnel from their teams and position themselves for a smooth pickup.

follow:
The ability to follow is the ability to match the pace of riders who are setting the tempo. Following is easier than pulling or setting the tempo and the term can be used in a derogatory manner, e.g. "He only ever followed".

food stop:
A location on the course of a long, supported recreational ride from which volunteers dispense foods such as bananas, oranges, bread, and food bars, and beverages such as water and sports drinks, to riders who stop for refreshment. Most cyclists must eat and drink to replenish calories, fluids, and electrolytes lost while completing a long ride. Thus the food stops are important to the success of most participants. On recreational rides, riders typically stop and dismount to obtain refreshment (hence the term food stop). In contrast, long road bicycle races do not typically involve stopping for refreshment; instead, riders grab musettes containing food and beverages from team personnel who stand along the road at designated feed zones. In some events, riders obtain food handups directly from support vehicles.

gap:
A distance between two or more riders large enough for drafting to no longer be effective. Also used as verb (US English), for example: "Armstrong has gapped Ullrich!". It's much easer for a stronger rider to pull ahead of others once a gap has been achieved; without a gap, the others can draft along using significantly less power to sustain the same speed as the rider in front. While gaps are usually achieved through attacks, on mountain climbs, where slower speeds means the advantage of drafting is much less significant, riders are often gapped who simply cannot maintain the tempo of the faster riders. A gap can also refer to the space in between a jump and the landing, which is common in mountain biking.

G.C.:
Abbr.: general classification. the timing splits used to determine who is winning in a stage race. calculated from the first rider over the line each day time is then measured back by gaps from the winner of the day. Time gaps are then calculated back between riders and added to the overall position of riders relative to each other. Riders can attack in stage races for time rather than winning the days stage. They are said to be "riding for G.C.". In such circumstances alliances can form where some riders in a breakaway will work to help others win the days stage despite not contesting the finish as the overall gap the breakaway gains helps them "on G.C."

gutter:
To ride in the gutter is ride close to edge of the road making it hard for others to draft.

granny gear:
The lowest gear ratio on a multi-speed derailleur bicycle; smallest chainring in front and the largest in back.

half-wheel or half-wheeler:
A rider that rides 1/2 wheel in front of you on training rides and group rides. No matter how much you speed up to keep up with them, they stay that distance in front of you. Usually these people are frowned upon and less desirable to ride with.

hammer:
Hammer is used in three different ways in road cycling. Firstly, as a phrase that describes what happens to a rider who suddenly loses the ability to race, as in "The man with the hammer got him" or "He got hit by the man with hammer". This is a reference to the experience boxers have when their legs become powerless and weak just before collapsing (as if they have been hit with a hammer) following a severe blow to the head. The abruptness with which this happens differentiates it from le bonk. Alternative expressions are "'tapped'" short for "he got tapped by the man with hammer". Secondly, "to put the hammer down" which means to pedal hard, often with the purpose of trying eliminating opponents in a road race. As in the phrase "We really put the hammer down and sprinted to the end." Thirdly, and more literally, the verb "hammer" refers to pounding along powerfully on the pedals. e.g. "Leipheimer really hammered hard for the entirety of stage 19".

handicap:
A style of road racing in Australia where riders are given time handicaps in bunches, with scratch being the last riders to leave and limit being the first riders to leave. The time intervals between groups, and the allocation of riders to groups is decided by the race handicapper, based on rider's ability, age and form. Race honours are usually awarded to the first 5 to 10 riders (depending on the size race) and to the fastest time.

head down:
Similar to "on the rivet" but slightly less extreme. A rider making a serious effort.

hill climb (race):
A short distance uphill race, usually an individual time trial over approx 3 - 5 km. See Hillclimbing (cycling).

hold a wheel:
Similar to follow but more dramatic. holding a wheel may infer a rider is riding above his normal performance just to stay with a better rider or indicates he is about to be dropped or crack. Expressive "he can't hold the wheel"

hors catégorie, or HC:
The French term primarily used in French races (most notably, the Tour de France) to designate a climb that is "beyond categorization", an incredibly tough climb. Most climbs are designated from Category 1 (hardest) to Category 4 (easiest), based on both steepness and length. A climb that is harder than Category 1 is designated as hors catégorie.

hunger knock:
Also shortened to "the knock".

individual time trial:
Race where riders set off at fixed intervals and complete the course against the clock; fastest time wins.

jump:
To aggressively increase speed without warning, hopefully creating a substantial advantage over your opponents. Also (more usually) denoting an attempt to bridge a gap from the peloton or gruppetto to a breakaway. For example: "he is trying to jump across".

kick:
Accelerating quickly with a few pedalstrokes in an effort to break away from other riders (e.g. "Contador kicks again to try to rid himself of Rasmussen")

lanterne rouge:
French for "red lantern", as found at the end of a railway train, and the name given to the rider placed last in a race.

laughing group:
Same as autobus. Riders who collect together in a road race just concerned with making it to the finish "in the time" so as not to be disqualified or "swept up". Members of the laughing group are not concerned with contesting the finish.

lead out:
Sprinting technique often used by the leadout man where the rider will accelerate to maximum speed close to the sprint point with a teammate, the sprinter, drafting behind, hoping to create space between the sprinter and the pack. When the leadout man is exhausted he will move to the side to allow his teammate to race in the sprint. Often a line of leadout men will be used to form a leadout train to drive the speed higher and higher (and to reduce the chances of other riders attacking) over the closing stages of a race. The purpose of a leadout is for the sprinter to achieve high speed at the sprint approach using as little of his own energy as possible, so he has as much energy as possible for the final sprint.

limit:
First riders to depart in a handicap race.

madison (cycling):
The madison is a mass-start track event comprising teams of two riders per team. It is similar to a team points race, as points are awarded to the top finishers at the intermediate sprints and for the finishing sprint. Only one of the two team riders is racing on the track at any one time, riding for a number of laps, and then exchanging with his partner by a hand sling. The name originates from Madison Square Gardens, which was originally constructed as a velodrome.

musette:
Small lightweight cotton shoulder bag, used for containing food and drink given to riders in a feed zone during a cycle race. The bag is designed so that it can be easily grabbed by a moving rider. The shoulder strap is placed over the head and one shoulder, the contents are then removed and placed into jersey pockets or bottles (bidons) are placed into bottle cages. The bag is then discarded.

MTB:
The activity of mountain biking. Or a mountain bike itself.

omnium:
An omnium is a multi-stage event that differs from a stage race in that points are assigned for placing in each stage rather than a time. Therefore a rider may win with a slower time than another rider, but more points. Conceivably a rider can win the omnium without finishing each event.

on the rivet:
Describes a rider who is riding at maximum speed. When riding at maximum power output, a road racer often perches on the front tip of the saddle (seat), where the shell of an old-style leather saddle would be attached to the saddle frame with a rivet.

on your wheel:
Phrase describing the condition of being very close to the rear wheel of the rider ahead of you. Used to inform the rider that you have positioned yourself in their slipstream for optimum drafting. For example: "I'm on your wheel."

open road race:
Generally going from point A to point B; can include multi-laps. Can also mean a club event in which non-club members can enter.

paceline:
Group of riders riding at high speed by drafting one another. Riders will take turns at the front to break the wind, then rotate to the back of the line to rest in the draft. Larger group rides will often form double pacelines with two columns of riders.

palmarès:
A list of races a rider has won.

parcours:
The profile of the race or stage route.

pedaling squares:
Riding with considerable fatigue such that the rider is unable to maintain an efficient pedaling form that is strong and smooth.

peloton:
(from French, literally meaning ball and related to the English word platoon) or bunch is the large main group of riders in a cycling road race. Can also be used to describe the body of professional cyclists as a whole, e.g., "he joined the peloton at 24 years of age."

pogo:
Lifting the front wheel of the bicycle in the air and jumping up and down on the rear wheel while in a stationary position.

prime:
Primes (pronounced preems, from French) are intermediate sprints within a race, usually offering a prize and/or points. Primes are a way to encourage more competitive riding, and also an opportunity for companies to gain publicity by sponsoring a prime. In a criterium, a bell is sounded on the lap preceding the prime sprint at the appropriate line for that prime sprint. The line used for prime sprints need not be the same as the start or finish line. Primes may be either predetermined for certain laps or spontaneously designated under the supervision of the Chief Referee. All primes won shall be awarded to riders even if they withdraw from the race. Lapped riders are not eligible for primes except in the following situation: when a breakaway has lapped the main field, riders in the main field and the breakaway riders are then both eligible for primes. When primes are announced for a given group, only riders in that group or behind it at the beginning of the prime lap are eligible. Prizes can be cash, merchandise, or points, depending on the race.

prologue:
A short individual time trial before a stage race, used to determine which rider wears the leader's jersey on the first stage.

pull:
To take the lead on a paceline or echelon.

pull back time:
To pull back time is to make up time on another rider who is ahead on G.C. "he needs to "pull back" two minutes if he wants to get in yellow"

pull it back:
to work too hard and reduce the lead of a breakaway, also used as "he needs to pull him back" or "they need to pull him back."

queen stage:
The most difficult stage of a multi-day road race, typically involving multiple low- or beyond-category climbs.

ride:
A rider who does a ride is one who makes an endeavor to win a race or move up on GC against the odds and pulls it off. "he did a ride"

road race:
a race on a road

rollers:
A type of trainer composed of rolling cylinders under the rear wheel linked to a single rolling cylinder under the front wheel which allow the rider to practice balance while training indoors.

rotating weight:
Weight that is rotating while the bike is moving, particularly referring to the wheels. Weight near the perimeter of a wheel has about twice the stored energy of non-rotating weight on a bicycle when moving. Rotation of cranks, wheel hubs, and other parts are of little significance because the radius and speed of rotation are small. Rotating weight resists acceleration (or deceleration), so lighter wheel rims, spoke nipples, and tires allow slightly quicker acceleration. There is no significant difference between rotating and non-rotating weight when at steady speeds or for hill climbing.

SAG station:
A location along the course of a long mass-participation recreational ride providing mechanical and/or medical assistance to riders in need. Volunteers at the SAG station may also dispatch SAG wagons to assist riders stranded along the course. A SAG station may also function as a food stop. "SAG" (most commonly written in all uppercase) may derive from a rider "sagging" off the back of the group, or it may be an acronym (or a backronym) for "Support And Gear" or "Support Aid Group."

SAG wagon:
Support motor vehicle following long races or recreational rides to pick up riders unable to complete the event. See also: food stop and SAG station. In racing events, typically the main group of riders will ride as a peloton and can be served by one or more SAG wagons trailing behind. In large recreational rides, there may be thousands of riders spread over much of the course, so ride organizers may employ roving SAG wagons to locate and assist stranded riders. In bicycle racing, another term for SAG wagon is broom wagon.

scratch:
Last riders to depart in a handicap race. Also referred to as the "scratch bunch" or "scratchies".

Shapes:
To pull or throw shapes, throwing shapes is a rider whose exertions has caused him to pedal in a ungainly and un-fluid manner. A sign a rider is about to crack or has cracked. Can be used in expressive ways. "He's throwing a whole basket of shapes".

singles:
Australian English for tubular tyres, which have the inner tube permanently stitched inside the casing, and are glued to special rims. Singles take very high pressure (up to 10 bar or 145 psi) and offer the least rolling resistance and lowest weight. However, they are difficult to replace and repair and are very expensive. See also tub.

sit-on and sit-in:
To ride behind another rider without taking a turn on the front (thus tiring the lead rider), often in preparation for an attack or sprint finish. "sitting in the wheels" is to take an easy ride drafted by the peloton or gruppeto. often a strategic decision to save energy in 21 day stage race

soft break:
A breakaway that is allowed to go from the peloton in a stage race because it poses no strategic threat to any of the main contenders on GC.

soigneur:
A non-riding member of a team whose role is to provide support for the riders, possibly including transportation and organization of supplies, preparation of the team's food, post-ride massages and personal encouragement.

cycling sprinter:
Has the ability to generate very high power over short periods (a few seconds to a minute) allowing for great finishing speeds, but is usually unable to sustain sufficiently high power over long periods to be a good time trialist, and is usually too big to have a high enough power-to-weight ratio to be a good climber.

squares:
Similar to shapes. pedaling squares is pedaling without fluid rhythm. Pedaling in a labored fashion

stage (bicycle race):
One part of a multi-day race, such as the Tour de France.

stagiaire:
An amateur rider, who is taken in by a professional team during the season. This lets the rider get some experience at riding a few pro races, and the team gets a chance to assess the abilities of the rider.

cycling team:
A team of professional cyclists. Usually one rider will be the team leader and the others will support him, though the team itself will be comprised of a mix of riders from the various specialisations.

team time trial:
Riders start in groups or teams, usually of a fixed size. The time of the nth rider of a team counts for the classification.

tempo:
Steady pace at the front of a group of riders. A relatively fast tempo can be used by a group or team to control the peloton, often to make up time to a break. The group will ride at the head of the bunch and set a fast enough pace to stretch the peloton out (also known as stringing out) and discourage other riders from attacking. Setting a slower tempo can be done for the purpose of blocking.

tester:
A time-trialist who tends to over-specialize in the discipline. Slightly derogatory

ticket collector:
A rider that sits at the back of a breakaway but doesn't take a pull. Thus the rider gets a free ride similar to a ticket collector on a train who rides for free.

time trial:
A race against the clock where riders are started separately (ranging from 30 seconds to 5 minutes apart). The winner of the race is determined by the fastest person across the course. No drafting may be employed in a time trial as it is a solo race event.

time trialist:
A rider that can generate relatively high power over long periods of time (5 minutes to an hour or more) in a race against the clock.

track:
An oval cycling track for races, banked at up to 42 degrees. Cycling tracks are usually, but not always indoors Bicycling or cycle tracks are also called velodromes.

trainer:
A piece of equipment that a bicycle stands on so that the rear wheel can spin while the bicycle is stationary, allowing stationary riding.These are usually used when the conditioins outside are bad.

tubs:
Short for tubular tyres, a type of tire that is glued onto wheels with tubular (sprint) rims. Also referred to as singles in Australian English.

turbo-trainer:
A trainer that spins a fan assembly at the same time (for pedal resistance and air flow)

turn:
A turn is a rider sharing the workload on a pace line "he took a turn" or "he is doing a lot of turns on the front". Missing turns can be expressed thus "he has missed a few turns now and has stopped working". In a breakaway the riders expect to share the work equally in "turns". A rider who doesn't take his turn is "sitting on the break"

velodrome:
A cycling track for races. See track.

wall:
A steep incline along a race's course. Also used as an expression of a rider reaching the end of his ability to make a contesting effort. "he's hit the wall"

wheelsucker:
A rider who sits on the rear wheel of others in a group, enjoying the draft but not working. This is often a sprinter who is being "protected" for the finish

wheelie:
Lifting the front wheel of the bicycle in the air whilst riding and continuo to ride on only the back wheel. The rider maintains the wheelie by applying pedalstrokes and rear break in order to balance the bicycle on only the rear wheel.

with:
In contexts such as "riding with" and "finished with" used to mean "next to each other or one behind another, close enough to be drafting". Example: "Samuel Dumoulin (Française Des Jeux) and Simon Gerrans (Ag2r-Prevoyance) joined up with the leading four and set about working well together."

WOL:
Abbreviation of wide outside lane. An outside lane on a roadway that is wide enough to be safely shared side-by-side by a bicycle and motor vehicle. The road may be marked with partial lane markings to designate the portion of the lane to be used by bicycles.

work:
To work is to do "turns on the front", aid a group of riders by sharing the workload of working against air resistance by "pulling on the front" of the group. similar to pull. Often used expressively in-combination with other expressions:eg "he is hasn't done any work all day he has just sat on the breakaway" working is used in many contexts in the peloton and road racing

Bicycle Manufacturers
Audi Design
All American BMX (brand: Dan Gurney BMX)
American Machine and Foundry
Basso
Basso bicycles is an Italian manufacturer of hand made road bicycles, founded in 1977 by the three Basso brothers, Marino, Renato and Alcide.

Batavus
Batavus Intercycle Corporation was the leading manufacturer of bicycles and mopeds in the Netherlands during the 1970s. During its most productive years, the company’s 350,000 sq. ft. Heerenveen, the Netherlands plant employed 700 craftsmen to produce 70,000 Batavus mopeds and 250,000 bicycles a year. During this time, Batavus was exporting 55 percent of its production with the remainder going to the Netherlands which had more than two million mopeds on the roads as of 1977.

Bianchi
F.I.V. Edoardo Bianchi S.p.A is a major Italian bicycle manufacturer founded in 1885.

Bickerton (folding bikes)
The Bickerton, also called the Bickerton Portable, was a portable, folding aluminium bicycle designed by Harry Bickerton and manufactured in the UK between 1971 and 1991.

Bike Friday (Green Gear Cycling Co.) (folding bikes)
Bike Friday is a brand of folding bicycle made by Green Gear Cycling, Inc. of Eugene, Oregon. (Cyclists often refer informally to the company itself as "Bike Friday" or the "Bike Friday company.").

BMW (produced by BOSSBi)
Boardman Bikes
Bohemian Bicycles
David Bohm started the business in 1994. The types of bicycles Bohemian built included: road, mountain, track, touring, tandem, and special needs.

Bridgestone
British Eagle
Brompton (folding bikes)
Brompton Bicycle, or simply Brompton, is a British company that specialises in folding bicycles, commonly known as "Bromptons".

Cadillac
Calfee
Calfee Design, headquartered in La Selva, California, is a designer and manufacturer of high-end carbon fiber bicycle frame sets. The company is a world leader in carbon fiber bicycle technology, and its products are used by professional and serious amateur racers, as well as cycling enthusiasts.

Caloi
CALOI is a major Brazilian manufacturer of bicycles and bicycle equipment, based in São Paulo. Caloi was founded in 1898 by Italian immigrant Luigi Caloi and his brother-in-law, Agenor Poletti. In the 1960s, Caloi achieved some popularity producing folding bicycles. In 1972, Caloi introduced the Caloi 10, which became a cultural landmark and established the name Caloi in Brazil.

CCM
Around 1899 many smaller bicycle makers went out of business, and CCM became Canada's industry leader. Established "when the operations of four major Canadian bicycle manufacturers amalgamated: H. A. Lozier, Massey-Harris, Goold, and Welland Vale Manufacturing.

Cannondale
The company was founded in 1971 by Joe Montgomery to manufacture backpacks and bags for camping and later bicycle trailers for bicycle touring. Today, Cannondale produces many different types of high-end bicycles, hand made in USA, specializing in aluminum (rather than steel, titanium or carbon fiber) frames , a technology in which they were pioneers. The name of the company was taken from the Cannondale Metro North train station in Wilton, Connecticut.

Catrike
The company was founded in 1999 by Paulo Camasmie.

Cervélo
Cervélo Cycles is a Canadian manufacturer of racing bicycles which started operations in 1995.

Cinelli
Cinelli was founded in 1948 by Cino Cinelli, a former professional road racer and president of the Italian National Cyclist's Association.

Coker Cycles
At one time, Corker marketed the "Wheelman", a penny-farthing, with a 36-inch wheel in front and a 12-inch wheel behind, and for a short time in the 2000s, a cruiser-style bicycle with 36-inch wheels called the "Monster Cruiser".

Colnago
Colnago is a manufacturer of road-racing bicycles founded by Ernesto Colnago in 1954 in Cambiago, Italy.

Cycle Genius Recumbents
Cycle Genius Recumbents is a Houston, Texas company.

Dahon
David Hon, former physicist, reportedly inspired by the energy crisis of the 1970s, started the company in 1982.

Dave Moulton
Dawes
Dawes is a British bicycle manufacturer, originally known for its high-quality hand-built bicycles and now a significant brand in the UK and elsewhere.

Jonas Øglænd (brand DBS)
Den Beste Sykkel, (lit. The Best Bike), better known as DBS, is a Norwegian bicycle brand, manufactured by Jonas Øglænd AS in Sandnes, Norway. The company was founded by Jonas Øglænd in 1892 in Sandnes, under the name of Øglænd Cyklelager.

Decathlon Cycles (bTwin, Rockrider)
DBS (Jonas Øglænd)
De Rosa
De Rosa is the family brand of Ugo De Rosa. His company became well known during the late 1960s and 70's for making road racing bicycles. The brand continues to achieve success in road racing.

Devinci
Devinci or 'Cycles Devinci' is a Canadian bicycle manufacturer, known for high quality handcrafted bicycles. Founded in Chicoutimi, in the Saguenay region of Quebec in 1987, Devinci was acquired by Félix Gauthier in 1993.

Downtube (folding bikes)
Ellis Briggs
Ellis Briggs Cycles was founded in 1936 by Mr. Leonard Ellis and Mr. Thomas Briggs hence the name Ellis-Briggs.

Ellsworth Handcrafted Bicycles
Elsworth Handcrafted Bicycles Inc. is a high end bicycle manufacturer based in California, United States.

Enigma Titanium
Enigma Titanium Limited is a British bicycle company founded by Jim Walker in 2005.

Falcon Cycles
Falcon Cycles is a British bicycle manufacturer. In addition to producing bikes under its own name, Falcon produces bicycles under several brand names including Falcon, British Eagle, Coventry Eagle, Townsend, Optima, Boss, Shogun, CBR and the flagship brand, Claud Butler.

Felt
Felt is an American bicycle manufacturer, specializing in high-end racing bicycles at a low price.

Flying Pigeon
Flying Pigeon is a Chinese bicycle company based in Tianjin.

Fuji Advanced Sports
Fuji Advanced Sports, Inc., better known as Fuji Bikes, is an American manufacturer of bicycles originally established in Japan in 1899. The company takes its name and logo from Mount Fuji, a Japanese symbol of strength and endurance.

Gazelle
The company was founded 1892 by Willem Kölling and Rudolf Arentsen. Initially they sold bicycles that had been imported from England but they started their own production using the Gazelle name in 1902.

Gianni Motta
Gianni Motta (born March 13, 1943) is an Italian former bicycle racer who won the 1966 Giro d'Italia . Gianni Motta was born at Cassano d'Adda (Lombardy). His main victories include the Giro d'Italia (1966), a Giro di Lombardia (1964), a Tour de Suisse (1967) and two Tour de Romandie (1966, 1971). Like many before him, he turned to manufacture and sales of bicycles after his racing career.

Giant Manufacturing
Established 1972 in Tachia, Taichung, Giant started as an OEM, manufacturing bicycles to be sold under other company brand names. In 1986, Giant, established its own brand of bicycles.

Gitane
Gitane, based in Machecoul (near Nantes, France), is a French manufacturer of bicycles; the name "Gitane" means gypsy woman.

Graflex (originally the bicycle company Folmer & Schwing)
GT Bicycles
GT Bicycles is a large American manufacturer of road, mountain, and bmx bicycles. The company was founded in 1979 by Gary Turner and Richard Long.

Guerciotti
Guerciotti are an Italian company that produce road, time trial, track and mountain bikes. Their top racing bikes "exemplify the Italian racing bicycle paradigm".

Haro
Haro Bicycle Corporation, as it is now known, was founded in 1978 by Bob Haro. Bob got his start by producing numberplates for BMX bikes in his bedroom. Demand for these stylish plates quickly outgrew Bob's one man capacity. Haro Designs, the first name of the company, was formed in 1980 with headquarters in Torrance, California.

Harley-Davidson
Helkama
Is mostly known as a bicycle brand.

Hercules Cycle and Motor Company
The Hercules Cycle and Motor Company Limited was founded on 9 September 1910 in Aston in England. The name Hercules was chosen for its associations of durability and robustness.

Hero Cycles Ltd
Hero group was started by the four Munjal brothers, hailing from a small town called Kamalia, now in Pakistan in the year 1944 by establishing bicycle spare parts business in Amritsar. After independence and partition of India, they moved to Ludhiana and started a bicycle unit called Hero Cycles in 1956. By 1975, Hero cycles became the largest bicycle manufacturer in India.

Huffy
The Huffy Corporation is an American importer and manufacturer of inexpensive mass-market bicycles.

Humber
Made by Humber car manufacturer from the 1880s until 1932 when sold to Raleigh, who continued the brand name into the 1970s.

Husqvarna
Ibis
Ibis Bicycles was founded by Scot Nicol, one of the earliest mountain bikers in northern California.

Ideal Bikes
The company Maniatopoulos Bros S.A. was founded in Patras in 1926, originally as an importer of bicycles and (later) motorbikes. In 1987 it was renamed Nikos Maniatopoulos S.A. The brand Ideal is used since 1977; in 1991 production moved to Agios Vassileios, while an export campaign established the brand in over 20 countries.

IFA
Independent Fabrication
Independent Fabrication was formed by the former employees of Fat City Cycles. They twice won the Bicycling Magazine Dream Bike of the Year for their carbon tubed titanium lugged XS road frameset. Independent Fabrication is an employee-founded and -owned corporation.

Iron Horse Bicycles
The company was founded in 1987. Their logo is that of a prancing horse on a mustard-color crest.

Italvega
The handbuilt Italvega bikes were designed and manufactured within the noted Torresini workshop at the Torpado factory in Padua, Italy. They were built beginning in 1970 and continuing through the mid- to late-70's before the operation was moved to Japan under the name Univega.

Itera
The Itera Plastic Bicycle was an attempt in the early 1980’s in Sweden to reform and modernize the conventional bicycle design and production technology. Its basic idea was to replace metal by plastic fiber composite materials and take advantage of the modern production technology, based on automatized injection moulding technique. The project, however, was terminated 3 years after its introduction and was considered as a commercial failure.

J. K. Starley & Co. Ltd
John Kemp Starley (1854 - 1901) was an English inventor and industrialist who is widely considered to be the inventor of the modern bicycle. In 1885 Starley made history when he produced the Rover Safety Bicycle - a rear-wheel-drive, chain-driven cycle with two similar-sized wheels, making it more stable than the previous high wheeler designs. Cycling magazine said the Rover had 'set the pattern to the world' and the phrase was used in their advertising for many years. Starley's Rover is usually described by historians as the first recognisably modern bicycle. This new "safety bicycle" was an immediate success and was exported across the world.

Jeep
JMC Bicycles
JMC, or Jim Melton Cyclery was a popular bicycle company in the late 1970s and early 1980s. JMC started out as a bicycle shop in 1969. It began manufacturing its own bicycle components in 1974. In 1977 JMC began manufacturing true BMX bicycles, becoming a factory as well as a bicycle shop.

K2 Sports
K2 Inc. (NYSE: KTO) was founded in 1961 by brothers Bill and Don Kirschner in Vashon Island, near Seattle, Washington.

Kappa
Kappa Bicycle Company, LLC was founded in 1999 by Scott Hice. Kappa manufactures old school style BMX bikes.

Kawasaki
Kestrel USA
Kestrel is an American bicycle manufacturer specializing in high-end bikes for triathlon, road bicycle racing and mountain biking.

KHS Bicycles
KHS Bicycles is a bicycle manufacturer founded in 1974 with main operations in the United States and Taiwan.

Kia
Kinesis Industry
Kinesis Industry Co. Ltd. is a manufacturer of aluminum and carbon fiber bicycle frames, forks, and components.

Kogswell Cycles
Kogswell Cycles, Inc. is a small manufacturer of bicycle frames.

Kona Bicycle Company
The company name comes from the owners' love of Kailua-Kona in Hawaii. Names of the bicycles started out with Hawaiian and volcanic-based names like the Caldera, Cinder cone, Kula, Hei Hei (Hawaiian for "race") and Lana'i. As the company established itself, Kona started to use more tongue-in-cheek humor in their bike names.

Kronan
The Swedish military bicycle (Swedish: militärcykel), or Swedish army bicycle, has been used in the Swedish military for over a century.

Land Rover (by Ultimate Cycles)
LeMond Racing Cycles
LeMond Racing Cycles is a bicycle manufacturer originally founded by Greg LeMond.

Alexander Leutner & Co. pioneering manufacturer in Russia, founded 1886.

Litespeed
Primarily known as a maker of high-end titanium framed racing bicycles and mountain bikes.

LOOK
LOOK, established in Nevers, France in 1951, was originally a ski equipment manufacturer. In the 1980s LOOK pioneered the use of "clipless pedals" for cycling applications, based on the equipment originally developed for ski bindings.

LotusSport (not related to Lotus Bicycles)
Louis Garneau
Marin
Marin is a bicycle manufacturer based in Marin County, California that was established in 1986. It specializes in mountain bikes but also has a variety of other types of bicycles.

Maserati
Masi
A brand of road and track bicycles founded by Faliero Masi.

Medici
Medici Bicycle Company is the name of an American bicycle manufacturer established by Gian Simonetti and Michael Howard.

Mercian
Mercian are a small, high-end English bicycle manufacturer based in Derby, England and operating since 1946. They are named after the ancient kingdom of Mercia.

Merlin
The company was founded by Gwyn Jones, Gary Helfrich, and Mike Augspurger in Cambridge, Massachussetts in 1986.

Merckx
Mercedes-Benz
Mercier Cycles
Merida Bicycle Company
Miele
Miyata
Miyata is a bicycle manufacturer founded in Japan by Eisuke Miyata. Mr Miyata, a gunsmith employed by the Hitachi Kuni Kasama Clan, built Japan's first conventional, so called modern, bicycle at the Miyata Gun Factory in 1892.

Monark
Monark, also known as Cykelfabriken Monark AB and Monark AB, is a Swedish bicycle, moped and motorcycle manufacturer, established in Varberg, Sweden 1908 by the industrialist Birger Svensson.

Mongoose
The company was founded in southern California in 1974, with a single product, their famous cast magnesium wheels called MotoMags. It has since expanded to developing a wide range of bikes and performance parts, as well as skateboards, and electric scooters. It is heavily involved in professional bicycle events, and sponsors many riders.

Montague
Montague is a bicycle manufacturer that makes folding bicycles for civilian and military customers.

Moots Cycles
Founded in 1981 by Kent Erikson, who is now a member of the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, Moots has been identified as a source for innovation in the bicycle industry since its inception.

Moser Cicli
Francesco Moser began building racing bicycles after his retirement, in a small workshop in Trento, Italy. With a production of 2-3,000 frames annually, Moser's frames are relatively unique among Italian racing bicycles for being fillet brazed using silver solder rather than using lugs with brass brazing.

Motobécane
Motobécane was a French manufacturer of bicycles, mopeds, motorcycles, and other small vehicles, established in 1923.

Moulton
Moulton is an English bicycle manufacturer. The company was founded in 1962 by Dr Alex Moulton, who designed the suspension system for the BMC Mini motorcar. Moulton bicyles are noted for unconventional frame design, small wheels, and front and rear suspension.

Murray
Murray was a well-known American manufacturer of low-cost bicycles. Murray bicycles featured one-piece steel cranksets and welded steel tubing characteristic of low priced American utility bicycles, and were commonly sold in department stores and discount chains.

National
National bicycles were imported into the United States under the Panasonic label. The brand was known for producing high quality cycles at a relatively low price.

Niner Bikes
Niner Bikes was founded by Chris Sugai and Steve Domahidy. The company manufactures 29er bicycle frames from steel, aluminum, and Scandium.

Olmo
As with many Italian bicycle racers, after his retirement in the 1930s he began building bicycles, and founded Olmo (also known as Olmo Biciclette).

Orange
Orange is a bicycle manufacturer, based in Halifax, West Yorkshire in the UK.

Orbea
Orbea is a bicycle manufacturer based in Mallabia in the Basque Country of Spain. Originally a rifle and gun maker, the company shifted its business after the Spanish Civil War. Orbea produce a range of racing bicycle and mountain bikes.

Orient Bikes
Orient Bikes is a Greek manufacturer of bicycle founded in 1987.

Panasonic
Pashley Cycles
Pashley Cycles was formed by William 'Rath' Pashley in 1926. Previously, he had ridden as a dispatch rider in the First World War and gained engineering experience as an apprentice with Austin Motors. Initially the small company called Pashley and Barber (his wife's maiden name) manufactured all manner of bikes, but it was in carrier cycles that Pashley made their name.

Peugeot
Phillips
Phillips Cycles Ltd. was a British bicycle manufacturer based in Smethwick near Birmingham, England. Its history began early in the 20th century and ended in the 1980s by which time it had become part of Raleigh Industries.

Pinarello
Pinarello founded in 1952, is an Italian bicycle manufacturing company based in Treviso, Italy. The company supplies mostly hand-made, high end bicycles. The company makes bicycles for road racing, track racing and cyclo-cross.

Pocket Bicycles
Pocket Bicycles was the name of a manufacturer of portable bicycles located in Massachusetts in the 1970s.

Pogliaghi
Founded by Sante Pogliaghi in 1947, his company became one of the most sought-after bicycle frame builders. Pogliaghi himself did much of the work, but had up to six staff by the late 1970s, when production increased from 300 frames a year to around 800. Pogliaghi frames were used in Olympic and professional track racing.

Pope Manufacturing Company
Pope Manufacturing Company is a manufacturing company started by Albert Augustus Pope in Hartford, CT. The company began with the introduction of the "Columbia" High Wheeler in 1878. Pope bought Pierre Lallement's original patent for the bicycle, and aggressively bought all other bicycle patents he could find, amassing a fortune by restricting the types of bicycles other American manufacturers could make and charging them royalties.

Porsche Design

Renault
Ridgeback
Ridley
Ridley is a Belgium manufacturer of racing bicycles.

Riese und Müller
Riese and Müller was founded in 1993 to sell Hot Ears, earmuffs to keep the ears warm while wearing a helmet. The first bicycle, the folding bicycle known as the Birdy, started out in the garage of Heiko Müller's parents as a university project.

Rivendell Bicycle Works
Grant Petersen, who, while in charge of American marketing and bicycle design at Bridgestone, was responsible for the development of the famous Bridgestone XO-series, founded Rivendell in 1994.

Roberts Cycles
Beginning soon after World War II, Charlie Roberts started working as a frame-builder for some of the great names in British bicycles - Holdsworth, Claude Butler and Freddie Grubb. In the early 1960s, Charlie finally branched out on his own and started up Roberts Cycles in Croydon.

Robin Hood
Ross
Ross was a U.S. built line of bikes between 1950 and 1989.

Rover Company
Rowbike (maker of rowed bicycles or rowbikes)
Saab
Samchuly
Samchuly is a leading bicycle company in South Korea. The company, founded in 1944, produces the popular Lespo models.

Saracen Cycles
Saracen Cycles are a popular brand of bicycle made and sold in the United Kingdom.

Schwinn Bicycle Company
The Schwinn Bicycle Company was founded by Ignaz Schwinn in Chicago in 1895, and grew to become the dominant manufacturer of American bicycles through most of the 20th century.

Scott USA
Serotta
Named for founder Ben Serotta, the company has been making custom road and competition bicycles since the 1970s.

Shimano
Shimano, Inc. is a Japanese multinational manufacturer of cycling components.

Shogun (bicycle)
Sinclair Research
Skoda
Somec
The Societa Mechanica was organized by Giro d'Italia mechanic Oliviero Gallegati in the 1960s, in order to set a group of working standards. When he opened his bicycle shop in Lugo, Italy, rather than following the almost universal custom in the Italian cycle industry of naming the company after himself, he instead named it Somec, for Societa Mechanica. A very small artisanal shop, Somec makes only a few bikes a year, out of steel or aluminum.

Sparta
Specialized Bicycle Components
St. Etienne
St. Etienne was a French bicycle manufacturer, located in the Loire valley, many of whose products were imported into the United States in the bicycle boom of the 1970s.

Sterling Bicycle Co.
Sterling Bicycle Co. (also known as Sterling Cycle Works) was a 19th century American bicycle company first based based in Chicago, Illinois before relocating to Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Strida
The Strida is a portable folding bicycle with a distinctive 'A'-shaped collapsible frame, designed by UK engineer and designer Mark A Sanders. The first model, Strida 1, was released in 1987.

Subaru
Surly Bikes
Surly Bikes is a manufacturer of bicycles, frames, parts, and accessories in Bloomington, Minnesota, established circa 1998.

Suzuki
Takara
Time
TIME Sport International is a French manufacturer of cycling equipment, including bicycle frames, cycling shoes, clipless bicycle pedals, cranksets, and gloves.

Torker
The Torker name was created by Johnson Engineering in Fullerton, CA in 1977 for a BMX bike frame. The first Haro bikes where made by Torker.

Trek
The Trek Bicycle Corporation is a major American bicycle and bicycle component manufacturer.

Triumph Cycle Co. Ltd.
Triumph begain selling bicycles in 1894. The company was originally registered as "New Triumph Co. Ltd." in 1887.

Tunturi
Tunturi is a Finnish manufacturer of bicycles and fitness equipment. The company was founded in Turku in 1922 by Aarne and Eero Harkke. Between the 1950s and 1990s the company also manufactured mopeds.

Turner Bikes
Turner Bikes was founded in 1993 by David Turner, a successful pro mountain bike rider.

Univega
Univega is a brand of bicycles that was subsumed under the Raleigh brand when Univega was acquired by Raleigh's parent company Derby International Corporation in 1997.

VéloSoleX
Founded at the turn of the last century, the company manufactured centrifugal radiators, carburetors, and micrometers, before branching into assist motors and bicycles.

Waterford Precision Cycles
Waterford produces high-end, custom, hand-built, steel-alloy frame bicycles, particularly road, criterium, stage, track, and cyclocross racing bicyles.

WeThePeople
Wethepeople is a manufacturer of BMX bicycles from Cologne, Germany. They sell complete bicycles as well as frames and parts.

Windsor America
Witcomb Cycles
The company was founded in 1949 by Ernie Witcomb and his wife Lily.



Raleigh Bicycle History
The Raleigh Bicycle Company is one of the oldest bicycle companies in the world with a long history. Raleigh are a British bicycle manufacturer originally based in Nottingham. From 1929 to 1935 Raleigh produced a line of three-wheel motorcycles and cars, leading to the formation of the Reliant Company. Raleigh notably produced popular three-speed bicycles. These were utility bicycles featuring hub gearing provided by Sturmey-Archer. These bicycles are particularly popular in the Netherlands. During the 1970s, Raleigh produced the iconic Raleigh Chopper bicycle, the "must-have" bike for children at the time. It was a massive success, and led to a significant revival in the company's fortunes. Raleigh Bicycle History
Raleigh was founded by Frank Bowden in 1887 in a small cycle manufacturing shop on Raleigh Street, producing roughly three high-wheel bicycles each week. In 1899 Raleigh started to build motorcycles and in 1903 introduced the "Raleighette", a belt-driven three-wheel motorcycle with the driver in the back and a wicker seat for the passenger, placed between the two front wheels. Due to financial losses the production only lasted until 1908. In the 1930s Raleigh made another attempt in the department of motorized three-wheelers, this time with the single wheel at the front. In 1930 the company acquired the rights to the "Ivy Karryall", basically a motorcycle fitted with a cabin for cargo and a hood for the driver. Raleigh's version was called "Light Delivery Van" and had a chain drive. 1933 saw a two passenger version of it and also the invention of the first three-wheel automobile by Raleigh, the "Safety Seven", a four seated convertible with a drive shaft and a maximum speed of 55 mph. A saloon version was also in the making, but Raleigh shut down its motor department to concentrate on bicycles again. Chief Designer T. L. Williams took the equipment as well as the remaining parts and moved to Tamworth, where his company went on to produce three-wheelers for over 65 years. As his first vehicles were built with the leftover parts from Raleigh that carried an "R" on them, Williams had to opt for a matching name and called his company Reliant. Raleigh Industries bought BSA Cycles Ltd from the parent group in 1956. Raleigh Industries became TI/Raleigh after becoming part of the Tube Investments Group in 1960 . Raleigh produced millions of bicycles in its Nottingham factory and were, at one time, the largest bicycle manufacturer in the world. The company acquired several other British bicycle manufacturers, notably Carlton Cycles, Phillips Cycles, and Hercules. Several mopeds were also made in the late fifties and sixties. By 1984, all Raleighs for the American market, save for the high-end Team USA and Prestige roadbikes, were being produced in the Far East for Raleigh. Bridgestone bicycles produced most of these machines. Derby International Corporation purchased Raleigh in 1988. Raleigh Bicycle Sport:
Raleigh have had a long association with cycle sport. Most notable is the Ti-Raleigh team of the 1970s and 1980s. In 1980 Joop Zoetemelk won the Tour de France on a Raleigh cycle. The company also supplied cycles to the French Système U team in the late 1980s. While riding for Système U, Laurent Fignon lost the 1989 Tour de France by 8 seconds to American cyclist Greg LeMond. Raleigh have also supported small British teams including the Raleigh Banana in the 1980s. Raleigh also sponsored a mainly mountain bike team in the early 1990s that also took part in road racing. The bird on the head badge represents a heron.

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