The road/racing bicycle has been around since the early 1900's. In 1903 the Le Tour de France (literally means "The Tour of France") started as a race around the country side to see who can finish the huge loop the first and fastest. That tradition still continues....106 years on, with the road bike.
The first TdF race with the road bike.
The present pro level racing bike.
The pic above is an upclose and labeled road bike, particular to most races and recreational riders.
1. Headset
2. Stem
3. Handlebar
4. Brake and shifter unit
5. Shifter paddle
6. Top tube
7. Head tube
8. Down tube
9. Seat tube
10. Seat stay
11. Chain stay
12. Fork
13. Chain
14. Crankset
15. Cassette
16. Front deraileur
17. Rear deraileur
18. Tire
19. Rim
20. Spokes
21. Seat clamp
22. Seat post
23. Saddle mount
24. Saddle
25. Front brake caliper
26. Rear brake caliper
27. Bottle cage
28. Wheel lock skewers
29. Clipless pedals
30. Bottom bracket
The main purpose of a road bike is simple : Speed.
For speed to be achieved, especially with the human power involved, there are tons of things to consider. Road bikes have no suspension at all. Its too much weight. Aerodynamics is quite important to cut the wind and go fast, but not as crucial as weight. Anywhere possible to be light, it will be made till so. Parts on road bikes are the lightest in the world. Yet not sacrificing strength and durability. So a rider wont be dragging too much weight up a hill or losing speed and wasting energy while sprinting to the finish line.
A road/racing bike frame nowadays are either aluminium, titanium, magnesium or carbon fiber. These are the ideal lightweight materials. But a popular choice now is carbon fiber. Aluminium is the average and widely used material on lower cost bikes. Titanium is expensive so its rarely used as a material for a frame. Magnesium debuted once as a frame material manufactured by Pinarello on one of their bikes, the Dogma FP back in 2006. Due to high costs it has been discontinued.
The frame is in essence the basic trapezoid shape. Very simple shape, but from this shape, complex designs and curves are often incorporated to suit the handling characteristics of the frame : either stiff or supple frames. Again no suspension. Since its on flat roads, suspension is not needed at all. No disc brakes as it affects weight and aerodynamics. Everything is slim on this bike as possible. The handle bars are called drop bars because it allows the rider to drop to a lower position to go faster aerodynamically.
Wheels used are typical light weight wheels. Each wheel set (thats 2 wheels front and back) usually weigh 2kg or less. The lightest can be at 990grams per pair. These wheels exhibit a high thick rim profile to cut air like a knife. This makes going fast easier. Tires are also very thin. If a mountain bike tire was 2.0inches in width, the road bike will be around 20-23mm in width....thats just 2cm. What this does is it reduces rolling resistance, and makes easier to cycle and maneuver. And also......well.....weight savings and aerodynamic purposes too. Alot of my friends think my roadbike has no tires. It does. Lol.
Gearing on a road bike typically is 18 or 20 speed. With 2 gear selections on the crankset in front, and 9 or 10 at the rear cassette. Older models may be as low as 16 0r 14 for really old models. That means a 2x7 or 2x8 config. The latest ones have 2x10 = 20 speed , and the latest one introduced by Italian company Campagnolo which gives 22 speed, 2x11. Gearings on roadbikes are comparatively less than MTB because riders need only really high or intermediate gear ratios to go fast. And another reason.......guess? Save weight.
So how light is a roadbike? Well, average weights are 9kg to 10kg on standard bikes. The cheaper ones may weigh 12kg. Thats almost as light as a XC mountain bike. But moving to the intermediate level, the weight will go as low as 8.0-8.5kg. And at the pro level, the minimum allowed weight is 6.8kg as determined by the International Cycling Union (UCI). Of course, there are bikes which do go lower, as low as 5.8kg, its illegal to race, but legal for normal road rides.
Prices for road bikes? Well in Malaysia budget ones with basic Shimano 18speed gearings are often at the RM2000 range. Going up from here......depending on model, make, parts included, and material of frames........be ready to dish out RM45000 if your really a hardcore fanatic. Buying a cars worth bicycle? Well......you'll be surprised lots of cyclist in Malaysia do just that. This makes cycling a really expensive sport. So be proud if you like cycling and bicycles. Like me!
Time Trial(TT)/Triathlon(Tri) bikes
To further branch out from road bikes, we have the TT/Tri bike. These are very specific purposed bikes and like the DH bikes earlier, there are not meant for everyday normal riding.
TT bikes are build for the reason they are named : Time. Their purpose is to fight against the clock. With the rider on board, this bike is aimed to be faster than the road bike to challenge the clock times with other riders to see who does a short ride (usually a mile or several miles) in the fastest time ALONE. For a road bike you would be riding in a group or a peloton together. On a TT bike, your on your own. And even if it is a team TT event, your down to just 9 cyclist.
BMC Tine Machine
So what i have shown above is a TT/Tri bike. It is usable for both the Triathlon and Time trial competitions. Whats different about this bike compared to a road bike is :-
A. Arm rest
B. TT/Tri bars with gear shifter at the end
C. Brake lever
D. Wide flat top tube for added stiffness and aerodynamics
E. Big wide front section with integrated steering
F. Near vertical seat tube with a wide flat profile
G. Large wide flat cross section down tube for aerodynamics. Includes internal cable routing
H. One piece carbon fiber crank for aerodynamics
I. Smaller gear ratios for high speed
J. Solid multi panel carbon disc rear wheel for aerodynamics
K. Wide narrow fork blades for aerodynamics
L. High profile front rims for aerodynamics
M.Wide flat seatpost to aid aerodynamics
N. Wide seat and chain stays for added stiffness
So as you can see, the modifications and differences are taylor made for aerodynamics 80% of the time. Whatever that can aid in going fast and cutting the air better, it will be incorporated into the bike.
The TT bars allows the rider to bend down low in a crouched position while his hands rest on the arm rests and holds the bars throughout the ride. This position is no where comfortable but trained riders will get used to it as long they can ride faster.
This is more comfortable of a position on the road bike........
As compared to the TT postition.On the frame, the sections may look big and huge from the side, but from the front, they are as thin as a knife blade, able to slice through air with ease. But like all physics law, big surface area does pose a problem if the wind blows from the side. Plus you have a huge solid piece wheel at the back.
2 problems arise from this :-
i) In windy conditions with crosswinds, the bike will be unstable unless the rider is strong to hold the bike in a straight line. Severe crosswinds can push a normal rider off by a few inches, what more a larger surface area TT bike?
ii) With so big pieces, especially the frame and rear wheel, the bike is extremely stiff. Stiff till you will feel every bit of road vibration, down to the tiniest holes and imperfections. The ride is uncomfortable therefore not suitable as a daily ride in the park.
Gearing is normally very high with a very small gear ratio. Means the difference between one gear and the next is hardly noticeable. To ride this bike, a rider has to be a powerful rider. The energy produced is enough to light a few light bulbs. And the speed in which these riders maintain, not sprint, but maintain over the entire ride is a constant 45-50kmh. On human power alone.
However, these bikes are not light to say the least. A TT bike can weight at about 7.8 to 8.5kg. It doesnt have to be light to go fast since aerodynamics compensates this.
The cost for these fast bike? Think RM10000 to RM30000++.
Track bike
In the Olympics you will see this bike spinning round and round in the velodrome. Riders wearing tight skin suits and alien helmets fighting for gold. The bikes that will carry them there are called track bikes.
The basic frame shape is similar to the TT bike. The main 2 differences is just this :-
i)It has NO brakes
ii) It has only ONE FIXED gear
Yeap no brakes. So how does the rider want to stop incase in an emergency or he has done his round? Here is the logic. You are racing for gold and glory. You have to take a risk to make sure you surpass your opponent on the line, no matter the cost. So stopping is not an option, not needed. So if the rider is going to fall, well, fall fighting for glory then. Right?
The other reason is aerodynamics and weight again. This bike is stripped bare to minimize weight and let the power of the rider push every last ounce of bike to the line. Because the race is in a closed environment, its even more crucial to be faster than your opponent since its on a fair turf, unlike the open road where you have lots of factors and tactics to play with.
So how to stop? This bike comes with a single gear, and in the rear wheel mechanism, it DOEST NOT allow the rider to freewheel and back pedal. Freewheel means when you have pedaled hard and want to rest while letting the bike coast, u just stop pedaling and the bike still moves. Occasionally you back pedal to stretch the legs too.
On a track bike you cannot do that because the mechanism is fixed. Its a one way pedal forward with no stopping. The only way to stop is either u crash and fall, or once the rider has passed the line, he will still continue pedaling but gradually slowing down and apply some resistance to the forward pedal motion as the bike slows. So he will be pedaling for a while before its safe to come to a complete stop. If lets say he stops pedaling suddenly in the middle of his 65kmh effort, 3 things can happen :-
i) His bike will skid and crash
ii) His bike flips forward as the momentum going forward is still being carried
iii) Hurt his legs
So track bikes are strictly competition only unless u want to show off out on the streets. There are recreational riders riding these single gear fixed bikes, but not as high standards as the track bike. These so called Fixies have their own culture in the bicycle and cycling world, but often overlooked.
Cost of one bike : RM-Very High- *Note : The bike of World Champion rider Theo Bos (Netherlands) cost a whopping $1million in research and development. The bike is the Koga bike shown above.
And so ends The Bike Explained part.
Next we will move into more details about the frame, frame material, frame designs & functions and later on components and component designs and functions.
-End Series V-
2 problems arise from this :-
i) In windy conditions with crosswinds, the bike will be unstable unless the rider is strong to hold the bike in a straight line. Severe crosswinds can push a normal rider off by a few inches, what more a larger surface area TT bike?
ii) With so big pieces, especially the frame and rear wheel, the bike is extremely stiff. Stiff till you will feel every bit of road vibration, down to the tiniest holes and imperfections. The ride is uncomfortable therefore not suitable as a daily ride in the park.
Gearing is normally very high with a very small gear ratio. Means the difference between one gear and the next is hardly noticeable. To ride this bike, a rider has to be a powerful rider. The energy produced is enough to light a few light bulbs. And the speed in which these riders maintain, not sprint, but maintain over the entire ride is a constant 45-50kmh. On human power alone.
However, these bikes are not light to say the least. A TT bike can weight at about 7.8 to 8.5kg. It doesnt have to be light to go fast since aerodynamics compensates this.
The cost for these fast bike? Think RM10000 to RM30000++.
Track bike
In the Olympics you will see this bike spinning round and round in the velodrome. Riders wearing tight skin suits and alien helmets fighting for gold. The bikes that will carry them there are called track bikes.
The basic frame shape is similar to the TT bike. The main 2 differences is just this :-
i)It has NO brakes
ii) It has only ONE FIXED gear
Yeap no brakes. So how does the rider want to stop incase in an emergency or he has done his round? Here is the logic. You are racing for gold and glory. You have to take a risk to make sure you surpass your opponent on the line, no matter the cost. So stopping is not an option, not needed. So if the rider is going to fall, well, fall fighting for glory then. Right?
The other reason is aerodynamics and weight again. This bike is stripped bare to minimize weight and let the power of the rider push every last ounce of bike to the line. Because the race is in a closed environment, its even more crucial to be faster than your opponent since its on a fair turf, unlike the open road where you have lots of factors and tactics to play with.
So how to stop? This bike comes with a single gear, and in the rear wheel mechanism, it DOEST NOT allow the rider to freewheel and back pedal. Freewheel means when you have pedaled hard and want to rest while letting the bike coast, u just stop pedaling and the bike still moves. Occasionally you back pedal to stretch the legs too.
On a track bike you cannot do that because the mechanism is fixed. Its a one way pedal forward with no stopping. The only way to stop is either u crash and fall, or once the rider has passed the line, he will still continue pedaling but gradually slowing down and apply some resistance to the forward pedal motion as the bike slows. So he will be pedaling for a while before its safe to come to a complete stop. If lets say he stops pedaling suddenly in the middle of his 65kmh effort, 3 things can happen :-
i) His bike will skid and crash
ii) His bike flips forward as the momentum going forward is still being carried
iii) Hurt his legs
So track bikes are strictly competition only unless u want to show off out on the streets. There are recreational riders riding these single gear fixed bikes, but not as high standards as the track bike. These so called Fixies have their own culture in the bicycle and cycling world, but often overlooked.
Cost of one bike : RM-Very High- *Note : The bike of World Champion rider Theo Bos (Netherlands) cost a whopping $1million in research and development. The bike is the Koga bike shown above.
And so ends The Bike Explained part.
Next we will move into more details about the frame, frame material, frame designs & functions and later on components and component designs and functions.
-End Series V-
2 comments:
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!
Err thanks whoever you are. Lol.
Post a Comment