Outline of bicycles

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to bicycles:

This article is an outline about bicycles themselves. For an outline about cycling, the associated activity, see outline of cycling.
This mountain bicycle features oversized tires, a full-suspension frame, two disc brakes and handlebars oriented perpendicular to the bike's axis.
A time trial racing bicycle.
A Half Wheeler trailer bike at the Golden Gate Bridge.
Working bicycle in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
A BMX bike, an example of a bicycle designed for sport.
A racing upright bicycle.
A recumbent bicycle.
Diagram of a bicycle.
A Triumph with a step-through frame.
A set of rear sprockets (also known as a cassette) and a derailleur.
Bicycles leaning in a turn.
A bicycle with shaft drive instead of a chain.
A Selle San Marco saddle designed for women.
Linear-pull brake, also known by the Shimano trademark: V-Brake, on rear wheel of a mountain bike.
A front disc brake, mounted to the fork and hub
Touring bicycle equipped with head lamp, pump, rear rack, fenders/mud-guards, water bottles and cages, and numerous pannier bags.
Puncture repair kit with tire levers, sandpaper to clean off an area of the inner tube around the puncture, a tube of rubber solution (vulcanizing fluid), round and oval patches, a metal grater and piece of chalk to make chalk powder (to dust over excess rubber solution). Kits often also include a wax crayon to mark the puncture location.
A bike-sharing station in Barcelona.
Woman with bicycle, 1890s
A man uses a bicycle to carry goods in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Bicycle – pedal-driven, human-powered, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist or a bicyclist, and the activity is called cycling. Also known as a bike, push bike or cycle.

What type of thing is a bicycle?

Bicycles can be described as all of the following:

Types of bicycles
Main article: List of bicycle types

History of bicycles

History of the bicycle

Key developments

Early developers

Other developers

Mountain bike developers

Other notable cyclists

Racing authors

Other authors

Organizations

Technical aspects

The bicycle has undergone continual adaptation and improvement since its inception. These innovations have continued with the advent of modern materials and computer-aided design, allowing for a proliferation of specialized bicycle types.

Uses

Bicycles have been and are employed for many uses:

Types of bicycles

List of 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 more common types include utility bicycles, mountain bicycles, racing bicycles, touring bicycles, hybrid bicycles, cruiser bicycles, and BMX Bikes. Less common are tandems, lowriders, tall bikes, fixed gear, folding models and recumbents (one of which was used to set the IHPVA Hour record).

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".

Dynamics

Bicycle and motorcycle dynamics

Performance

Bicycle performance

Geometry

Bicycle and motorcycle geometry

Construction and parts

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.

For details on specific bicycle parts, see list of bicycle parts and category:bicycle parts.

Frame

Bicycle frame - The great majority of today's bicycles have a frame with upright seating which looks much like the first chain-driven bike.

By design:

By frame material:

Brands and makers of unusual frames:

Suspension

Drivetrain and gearing
Power collection
Power transmission
Power modification
Power application

Steering and seating

Brakes

Wheels and tires

Tracks

Some bicycles are built for specific tracks:

Or special tracks are built specifically for bicycles:

(Also see Cycling infrastructure)

Bicycle accessories

Bicycle accessories

Bicycle tools

Bicycle tools

Standards

A number of formal and industry standards exist for bicycle components to help make spare parts exchangeable and to maintain a minimum product safety.

The International Organization for Standardization, ISO, has a special technical committee for cycles, TC149, that has the following scope: "Standardization in the field of cycles, their components and accessories with particular reference to terminology, testing methods and requirements for performance and safety, and interchangeability."

CEN, European Committee for Standardisation, also has a specific Technical Committee, TC333, that defines European standards for cycles. Their mandate states that EN cycle standards shall harmonize with ISO standards. Some CEN cycle standards were developed before ISO published their standards, leading to strong European influences in this area. European cycle standards tend to describe minimum safety requirements, while ISO standards have historically harmonized parts geometry. The TC149 ISO bicycle committee, including the TC149/SC1 ("Cycles and major sub-assemblies") subcommittee, has published the following standards:

  • ISO 4210 Cycles—Safety requirements for bicycles
  • ISO 6692 Cycles—Marking of cycle components
  • ISO 6695 Cycles—Pedal axle and crank assembly with square end fitting—Assembly dimensions
  • ISO 6696 Cycles—Screw threads used in bottom bracket assemblies
  • ISO 6697 Cycles—Hubs and freewheels—Assembly dimensions
  • ISO 6698 Cycles—Screw threads used to assemble freewheels on bicycle hubs
  • ISO 6699 Cycles—Stem and handlebar bend—Assembly dimensions
  • ISO 6701 Cycles—External dimensions of spoke nipples
  • ISO 6742 Cycles—Lighting and retro-reflective devices—Photometric and physical requirements
  • ISO 8090 Cycles—Terminology (same as BS 6102-4)
  • ISO 8098 Cycles—Safety requirements for bicycles for young children
  • ISO 8488 Cycles—Screw threads used to assemble head fittings on bicycle forks
  • ISO 8562 Cycles—Stem wedge angle
  • ISO 10230 Cycles—Splined hub and sprocket—Mating dimensions
  • ISO 11243 Cycles—Luggage carriers for bicycles—Concepts, classification and testing

Other ISO Technical Committees have published various cycle relevant standards, for example:

  • ISO 5775 Bicycle tire and rim designations
  • ISO 9633 Cycle chains—Characteristics and test methods

Published cycle standards from CEN TC333 include:

  • EN 14764 City and trekking bicycles – Safety requirements and test methods
  • EN 14765 Bicycles for young children – Safety requirements and test methods
  • EN 14766 Mountain-bicycles – Safety requirements and test methods
  • EN 14781 Racing bicycles – Safety requirements and test methods
  • EN 14872 Bicycles – Accessories for bicycles – Luggage carriers
  • EN 15496 Cycles – Requirements and test methods for cycle locks

Yet to be approved cycle standards from CEN TC333:

  • EN 15194 Cycles—Electrically power assisted cycles (EPAC bicycle)
  • EN 15532 Cycles—Terminology
  • 00333011 Cycles – Bicycles trailers – safety requirements and test methods

Social and historical aspects
Bicycle repair facility in China, 1987

The bicycle has had a considerable effect on human society, in both the cultural and industrial realms.

Economic implications

In daily life

In poverty reduction

Bicycle poverty reduction

The Vienna Convention on Road Traffic of the United Nations considers a bicycle to be a vehicle, and a person controlling a bicycle (whether actually riding or not) is considered an operator.

See also

General

Related vehicle types

Other

References
  1. Oxford English Dictionary (Second ed.). Oxford University Press. 1989. cycling: The action or activity of riding a bicycle etc.


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