Bicycling terminology - 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 Bicycling terminology - 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 ...

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Bicycling terminology, Bicycling terminology - A, Bicycling terminology - all-rounder, Bicycling terminology - attack, Bicycling terminology - autobus, Bicycling terminology - B, Bicycling terminology - à bloc, Bicycling terminology - bidon, Bicycling terminology - blocking, Bicycling terminology - bonk, Bicycling terminology - brain bucket, Bicycling terminology - breakaway, Bicycling terminology - bridge, Bicycling terminology - C, Bicycling terminology - cadence, Bicycling terminology - caravane, Bicycling terminology - chain slap, Bicycling terminology - chain suck, Bicycling terminology - chase, Bicycling terminology - climber, Bicycling terminology - commissaire, Bicycling terminology - criterium, Bicycling terminology - D, Bicycling terminology - danseuse, Bicycling terminology - drafting, Bicycling terminology - drop, Bicycling terminology - domestique, Bicycling terminology - E, Bicycling terminology - echelon, Bicycling terminology - endo, Bicycling terminology - étape, Bicycling terminology - F, Bicycling terminology - fixie, Bicycling terminology - G, Bicycling terminology - gap, Bicycling terminology - H, Bicycling terminology - honking, Bicycling terminology - I, Bicycling terminology - individual time trial, Bicycling terminology - J, Bicycling terminology - jump, Bicycling terminology - K, Bicycling terminology - L, Bicycling terminology - lead out, Bicycling terminology - M, Bicycling terminology - Monkey Butt, Bicycling terminology - musette, Bicycling terminology - N, Bicycling terminology - O, Bicycling terminology - open road race, Bicycling terminology - P, Bicycling terminology - paceline, Bicycling terminology - parcours, Bicycling terminology - peloton, Bicycling terminology - prologue, Bicycling terminology - pull, Bicycling terminology - Q, Bicycling terminology - R, Bicycling terminology - S, Bicycling terminology - sag wagon, Bicycling terminology - sit on, Bicycling terminology - soigneur, Bicycling terminology - sprinter, Bicycling terminology - stage, Bicycling terminology - stagiaire, Bicycling terminology - T, Bicycling terminology - team, Bicycling terminology - team time trial, Bicycling terminology - tempo, Bicycling terminology - time trialist, Bicycling terminology - U, Bicycling terminology - V, Bicycling terminology - W, Bicycling terminology - wheelsucker, Bicycling terminology - with, Bicycling terminology - X, Bicycling terminology - Y, Bicycling terminology - Z

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Disc brakes consist of a metal disc attached to the wheel hub that rotates with the wheel. Calipers are attached to the frame or fork along with pads that squeeze together on the disc. Although these brake types have been used on motorbikes for decades, only recently have they been added to bicycles. They are most suitable for and used mainly on mountain bikes ridden off-road. They also are used on hybrid bicycles and some road bicycles, although this is less common. Many tandem bicycles have a disc brake fitted on the rear wheel in a ...

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Bicycle brake systems, Bicycle brake systems - History, Bicycle brake systems - Rim brakes, Bicycle brake systems - Disc brakes, Bicycle brake systems - Hub brakes, Bicycle brake systems - Braking technique, Bicycle brake systems - Sources

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Obsolete chain designs previously used on bicycles included the block chain, the skip-link chain, and the Simpson lever chain. Virtually all modern chains are of the "Sedis" bushingless design, which is cheaper to make, promotes better lubricant flow inside the rollers, and has more lateral flexibility for multi-geared bicycles. Before the safety bicycle, bicycles did not have chains and the pedals were attached directly to the drive-wheel, thus limiting top speed by the diameter of the wheel and resulting in very dangerous designs wi ...

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Bicycle chain, Bicycle chain - History, Bicycle chain - Maintenance

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Recumbent bicycles may be classified according to their wheelbase: long wheelbase (LWB) models have the pedals located between the front and rear wheel; short wheelbase (SWB) models have the pedals in front of the front wheel; compact long wheelbase (CLWB) models have the pedals either very close to the front wheel or above it. Within the categories there are variations and intermediate types - there is no such thing as a "standard" recumbent. The rear wheel of a recumbent is usually behind the back of the rider and might be any size ...

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Recumbent bicycle, Recumbent bicycle - General description, Recumbent bicycle - Recumbent tricycles, Recumbent bicycle - Handcycles, Recumbent bicycle - Fairings, Recumbent bicycle - Advantages and disadvantages, Recumbent bicycle - Safety, Recumbent bicycle - Advantages, Recumbent bicycle - Disadvantages, Recumbent bicycle - History, Recumbent bicycle - Early recumbents, Recumbent bicycle - Modern recumbents, Recumbent bicycle - Performance, Recumbent bicycle - Recumbent culture

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Early bicycles such as the high wheeled penny-farthing bikes had no brakes as we would recognize them. As the machines were fixed gear bicycles a rider could reduce speed by reversing the thrust on the pedals. Otherwise a rider who wanted to stop quickly had to jump off the bike as it was moving. Unsurprisingly there were many accidents, many of them fatal, which limited the appeal of cycling, mostly to young and adventurous men. The 1870s saw the development of the "safety bicycle" which was roughly the bicycle we would recognize tod ...

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Bicycle brake systems, Bicycle brake systems - History, Bicycle brake systems - Rim brakes, Bicycle brake systems - Disc brakes, Bicycle brake systems - Hub brakes, Bicycle brake systems - Braking technique, Bicycle brake systems - Sources

Read more here: » Bicycle brake systems: Encyclopedia II - Bicycle brake systems - History

Single-speed bicycle - Advantages. A single-speed is generally lighter and mechanically simpler than a geared bicycle. Without derailleurs or other gearing systems, there are fewer parts on the bicycle. The fewer parts allow the bicycle to be much lighter and require less maintenance. Additionally, some parts common to both types of bicycles, such as the drive wheel, can be made somewhat stronger without a corresponding increase in weight. For this reason some cylcists who ordinarily ride geared bikes prefer to r ...

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Single-speed bicycle, Single-speed bicycle - Advantages and disadvantages versus multi-speed bicycles, Single-speed bicycle - Advantages, Single-speed bicycle - Disadvantages, Single-speed bicycle - Types of single speeds discussed here

Read more here: » Single-speed bicycle: Encyclopedia II - Single-speed bicycle - Advantages and disadvantages versus multi-speed bicycles

The origins of the motorized bicycle can be traced back to the latter part of the 19th Century. Experimenters began by attaching engines to stock bicycles.[citation needed] Development diverged early on into two distinct streams: motorcycles, which are powered solely by their engines, and motorized bicycles. The closeness of the two forms in early years is demonstrated by Félix Millet's machines of 1892/93 and on. These had both pedals and an ingenious fixed crankshaft rotary engine built into the back wheel. Within ...

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Motorized bicycle, Motorized bicycle - History, Motorized bicycle - Power sources, Motorized bicycle - Internal Combustion, Motorized bicycle - Electric, Motorized bicycle - Other power sources, Motorized bicycle - Naming and Legal status, Motorized bicycle - Environmental effects, Motorized bicycle - Bibliography

Read more here: » Motorized bicycle: Encyclopedia II - Motorized bicycle - History

Spokes can be made of wood or metal. Some types of wheel have removable spokes which can be replaced individually if they break or bend. These include bicycle and wheelchair wheels. High quality bicycles with conventional wheels use spokes of stainless steel, while cheaper bicycles may use galvanized (also called "rustless") or chrome plated spokes. The original type of spoked wheel with wooden, fixed spokes was used for horse drawn carriages. For use in bicycles, such wheels proved too heavy, so wheels with spokes made of tensioned, ...

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Spoke, Spoke - Construction, Spoke - Spoke Length, Spoke - Derivation

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With a derailleur-based multi-speed bicycle, the gears can be denoted by the number of teeth on the front chainring and rear sprocket, for example the highest gear on a racing bicycle might be 53x11. For a road-racing cyclist, this is useful because of the standard size of the wheel. However, this measure is limited because it does not specify other aspects of the system. Gear inches and metres of development are related measures that include the diameter of the rear wheel. Gain ratio is a measure which also takes the length of the crankarms into account. ...

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Bicycle gearing, Bicycle gearing - General considerations, Bicycle gearing - History, Bicycle gearing - Measuring gears, Bicycle gearing - Key Considerations, Bicycle gearing - Some examples, Bicycle gearing - Short local rides, Bicycle gearing - Regular commuting, Bicycle gearing - Touring, Bicycle gearing - Racing, Bicycle gearing - Off-road

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Official speed records for recumbents are governed by the rules of the International Human Powered Vehicle Association. A number of records are recognised, the fastest of which is the "flying 200m", a distance of 200m on level ground from a flying start with a maximum allowable tailwind of 1.66 m/s. The current record is 130.36 km/h (81.00 mph), set by Sam Whittingham of Canada on a fully-faired Varna Diablo front wheel drive recumbent lowracer bicycle designed by George Georgiev. The official record for an upright bicycle under somewhat similar conditions is 72.98&# ...

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Recumbent bicycle, Recumbent bicycle - General description, Recumbent bicycle - Recumbent tricycles, Recumbent bicycle - Handcycles, Recumbent bicycle - Fairings, Recumbent bicycle - Advantages and disadvantages, Recumbent bicycle - Safety, Recumbent bicycle - Advantages, Recumbent bicycle - Disadvantages, Recumbent bicycle - History, Recumbent bicycle - Early recumbents, Recumbent bicycle - Modern recumbents, Recumbent bicycle - Performance, Recumbent bicycle - Recumbent culture

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In the late 1950s. After having become dissilusioned with the design of the "classic" bicycle, Alex Moulton set about creating a new design of bicycle. He believed that the classic "double diamond" frame design was inconvenient to mount, difficult to adjust for size, and not properly unisex. He also noted that classic bicycles were uncomfortable to ride without the use of wide, low-pressure tyres which increased rolling resistance. He also believed that the large wheels m ...

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Moulton Bicycle, Moulton Bicycle - History, Moulton Bicycle - Impact, Moulton Bicycle - Sellout, Moulton Bicycle - Re-birth, Moulton Bicycle - Reference

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Hub brakes are drum brakes that have their mechanism enclosed within the hub of the wheel, and are usually fitted to the back wheel. Because they are enclosed, hub brakes are completely unaffected by the weather. Some types of hub brake are operated by cables and levers, in the same way as rim and disc brakes. Other types are operated by the rider turning the pedals backwards. These are k ...

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Bicycle brake systems, Bicycle brake systems - History, Bicycle brake systems - Rim brakes, Bicycle brake systems - Disc brakes, Bicycle brake systems - Hub brakes, Bicycle brake systems - Braking technique, Bicycle brake systems - Sources

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The following gear ratios were calculated using a 700c rear wheel. Similar ratios can be obtained for any size wheel by adjusting the size of the chainring and/or the rear sprocket. It is possible to get almost any combination of chainwheel sizes and cog sizes, but it is much cheaper to use standard combinations. Bicycle gearing - Short local rides. Scenario: short distances (up to 5 miles/8 Km), fairly flat. Use a single speed bicycle with a gear of around 60. Desired gears: l ...

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Bicycle gearing, Bicycle gearing - General considerations, Bicycle gearing - History, Bicycle gearing - Measuring gears, Bicycle gearing - Key Considerations, Bicycle gearing - Some examples, Bicycle gearing - Short local rides, Bicycle gearing - Regular commuting, Bicycle gearing - Touring, Bicycle gearing - Racing, Bicycle gearing - Off-road

Read more here: » Bicycle gearing: Encyclopedia II - Bicycle gearing - Some examples

There are several types of rim brakes. In all of these designs, the braking force is applied by the rider squeezing a lever mounted on the handlebar; this causes friction pads (usually made of leather or rubber) to contact the rim of the rotating wheel, thus slowing it and the bicycle. Rod brakes use a series of rods and pivots (rather than Bowden cables) to pull the friction pads upwards onto the inner surface (facing the hub) of the wheel rim. They were often called "stirrup brakes" due to their shape. In order to fit ...

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Bicycle brake systems, Bicycle brake systems - History, Bicycle brake systems - Rim brakes, Bicycle brake systems - Disc brakes, Bicycle brake systems - Hub brakes, Bicycle brake systems - Braking technique, Bicycle brake systems - Sources

Read more here: » Bicycle brake systems: Encyclopedia II - Bicycle brake systems - Rim brakes

Fixed gear is the standard term in the US whilst fixed wheel is used in the UK. The confusion comes about because "fixed", "gear" and "wheel" can have more than one meaning in this context. "Fixed" can mean not able to freewheel (coast), it can also mean not variable. "Gear" can refer to the sprocket or to a gear ratio. In the US, "fixed-gear" is used, to mean the gear (sprocket) is attached to the hub without a freewheel. In the UK, "fixed-wheel" is the normal term, meaning the opposite of ...

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Fixed-gear bicycle, Fixed-gear bicycle - Uses, Fixed-gear bicycle - Brakes, Fixed-gear bicycle - US and British English Usage, Fixed-gear bicycle - Conversion

Read more here: » Fixed-gear bicycle: Encyclopedia II - Fixed-gear bicycle - US and British English Usage

The English suffix -cycle indicates a vehicle for transportation, but generally smaller than an automobile or truck. Alternatively, it is used to specify the number and arrangement of wheels in any vehicle. Typical is bicycle, a lightweight two wheel device powered by the rider, or a motorcycle, a two wheeled motor powered device substantially larger than a bicycle and which is not powered by the rider in normal operation. A unicycle is a one wheeled device, somewhat difficult to balance. A tricycle may refer to the wheel configuratio ...

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-cycle, -cycle - Transport, -cycle - Measurement

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Ignaz Schwinn was born in Germany in 1860, and he gravitated early to working on the two-wheeled ancestors of the modern bicycle which appeared late 19th century Europe. Frustrated with the unwillingness of local manufacturers for whom he worked to accept his design suggestions, Schwinn emigrated to the United States in 1891, where he found similar difficulties with American bicycle makers. In 1895, with the financial backing of fellow German-American Adolph Arnold (a successful meat packer), he started the Arnold, Schwinn Bicycle Company ...

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Schwinn Bicycle Company, Schwinn Bicycle Company - The founder, Schwinn Bicycle Company - Surviving the Great Depression, Schwinn Bicycle Company - The Cadillac of American bicycles, Schwinn Bicycle Company - The anti-trust suit and its results, Schwinn Bicycle Company - Bankruptcy and demise, Schwinn Bicycle Company - Sale to Pacific, Schwinn Bicycle Company - External link

Read more here: » Schwinn Bicycle Company: Encyclopedia II - Schwinn Bicycle Company - The founder

Any three of the following four questions determine the desired gears: What is the desired top gear? What is the desired bottom gear? What step is desired between gears? How many gears are desired? Because gear wheels must have a whole number of teeth, it is usually not possible to meet the requirements exactly. In particular, the step between gears may vary by 3% or so. If it turns out that only a smallish number of gears are required (say 3 to 7), then enclosed hub gears are well worth considering: long lasting, reduced maintena ...

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Bicycle gearing, Bicycle gearing - General considerations, Bicycle gearing - History, Bicycle gearing - Measuring gears, Bicycle gearing - Key Considerations, Bicycle gearing - Some examples, Bicycle gearing - Short local rides, Bicycle gearing - Regular commuting, Bicycle gearing - Touring, Bicycle gearing - Racing, Bicycle gearing - Off-road

Read more here: » Bicycle gearing: Encyclopedia II - Bicycle gearing - Key Considerations

Because it is possible to slow down or stop a fixed-gear bike by resisting the turning pedals, some riders think brakes are not strictly necessary. Brakeless fixed riding has an almost cult status in a few parts of the world, based on the perception by some riders of the "Zen" like experience of riding in a state of flow where brakes are not needed. A rider can lock the rear wheel and skid to slow down or completely stop on a fixed-gear bicycle, a manoeuvre sometimes known as a skip stop. It is initiated by unweighting t ...

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Fixed-gear bicycle, Fixed-gear bicycle - Uses, Fixed-gear bicycle - Brakes, Fixed-gear bicycle - US and British English Usage, Fixed-gear bicycle - Conversion

Read more here: » Fixed-gear bicycle: Encyclopedia II - Fixed-gear bicycle - Brakes

Historically internal combustion (IC) engines dominated the motorized bicycle market, but most current models use electric motors. A few still use small two stroke or four stroke IC engines, most notably the Derny still used for pacing of bicycle races. Power can be applied in a number of ways: the front or rear wheel may be powered via a motor built into the hub (e.g. Powabyke, Singer Motor Wheel) a motor mounted in the frame or behind the rider may drive the rear wheel with a chain or rubber belt (e.g. Derny)See also:

Motorized bicycle, Motorized bicycle - History, Motorized bicycle - Power sources, Motorized bicycle - Internal Combustion, Motorized bicycle - Electric, Motorized bicycle - Other power sources, Motorized bicycle - Naming and Legal status, Motorized bicycle - Environmental effects, Motorized bicycle - Bibliography

Read more here: » Motorized bicycle: Encyclopedia II - Motorized bicycle - Power sources

Most mountain bikes use 26 in (559 mm) wheels, though some models offer 24 or 29 in (520 or 622 mm) wheels. Inch-sizes for bicycle wheels are not precise measurements - a 29 inch wheel is actually a 700 mm diameter wheel, which has a 622 mm (24.48 inch) bead seat diameter. 24 Inch wheels are used for dirt jumping bikes and sometimes on freeride bikes, rear wheel only, as this makes the bike more manoeverable ...

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Mountain bike, Mountain bike - Designs, Mountain bike - History, Mountain bike - Modern Bikes, Mountain bike - Tire sizes, Mountain bike - Latest trends, Mountain bike - Future bikes

Read more here: » Mountain bike: Encyclopedia II - Mountain bike - Tire sizes

A new breed of lowrider bicycles and even the occasional motorbike have been inspired by lowrider culture. Excessive chrome, overspoked wheels and fur are common accessories to these low and bizarre custom creations. Often featuring suspension long since rendundant from modern design. ...

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Lowrider, Lowrider - Description of vehicles, Lowrider - Expansion to bicycles and motorcycles, Lowrider - Lowrider Car Clubs

Read more here: » Lowrider: Encyclopedia II - Lowrider - Expansion to bicycles and motorcycles