21st Century Bike Technology
Info on the Modern Bicycle
If your last bicycle was a 3-speed butcher's
bike or a 10-speed 'racer', you are in for a pleasant surprise. Advances
in materials and technologies mean that bicycles are generally lighter
weight and work much better than they did 10, 20 or 30 years ago.
Here are some of the features of modern bikes that make cycling comfortable and fun!
The Right Bike for You
There is a vast range of styles and sizes of bikes on the market. Bikes are now built for every purpose you could imagine, from competing in the Tour de France to going to the shops. So whether you want a bike for commuting or one for climbing up Ben Nevis, or even a bike that will do both, we'll have a bike for you be it a road bike, a mountain bike or anything in between (i.e. a hybrid).
There is a vast range of styles and sizes of bikes on the market. Bikes are now built for every purpose you could imagine, from competing in the Tour de France to going to the shops. So whether you want a bike for commuting or one for climbing up Ben Nevis, or even a bike that will do both, we'll have a bike for you be it a road bike, a mountain bike or anything in between (i.e. a hybrid).
Light Weight and Safety
Advances in material technology mean that you can now get a lightweight aluminium-framed bike at a fraction of the cost you would have paid twenty years ago. In more recent years, carbon fibre bikes have become more affordable too. That's a good thing because a lighter bike is easier to pedal up hills. The use of better materials can also improve safety. Witness the 4-fold improvement in wet weather braking performance that came about when aluminium alloy rims superseded chromed steel wheels.
Advances in material technology mean that you can now get a lightweight aluminium-framed bike at a fraction of the cost you would have paid twenty years ago. In more recent years, carbon fibre bikes have become more affordable too. That's a good thing because a lighter bike is easier to pedal up hills. The use of better materials can also improve safety. Witness the 4-fold improvement in wet weather braking performance that came about when aluminium alloy rims superseded chromed steel wheels.
Brakes
Bicycle brakes have evolved dramatically over the past few decades. If you bought an everyday bike up till the late 1980s, it would have probably come with long-arm caliper brakes (remember using your feet to stop the bike on wet roads?) When pioneer mountain bikers twinned tandem bike technology (cantilever brakes) with motorcycle levers, they set a new standard in stopping power. The cantilever brake evolved into the more powerful V-brake in the 1990s. A properly adjusted V-brake remains a cool, lightweight design, but for consistent all-weather performance and longer pad life, they have been superceded by mechanical (cable operated) disc brakes which, in turn, have been usurped by hydraulics. Originally designed to work consistently in extreme MTB downhill racing, hydraulic disc braking has now trickled down to mid-range MTBs and hybrids with the result that the ideal of fingertip brake lever control is more accessible than ever before.
Bicycle brakes have evolved dramatically over the past few decades. If you bought an everyday bike up till the late 1980s, it would have probably come with long-arm caliper brakes (remember using your feet to stop the bike on wet roads?) When pioneer mountain bikers twinned tandem bike technology (cantilever brakes) with motorcycle levers, they set a new standard in stopping power. The cantilever brake evolved into the more powerful V-brake in the 1990s. A properly adjusted V-brake remains a cool, lightweight design, but for consistent all-weather performance and longer pad life, they have been superceded by mechanical (cable operated) disc brakes which, in turn, have been usurped by hydraulics. Originally designed to work consistently in extreme MTB downhill racing, hydraulic disc braking has now trickled down to mid-range MTBs and hybrids with the result that the ideal of fingertip brake lever control is more accessible than ever before.
Comfort
Suspension is now ubiquitous on mountain bikes (and some hybrids) because it smooths the bumps, thus enabling you to ride further and/or longer and/or faster over rough terrain. It's a misconception that suspension is just for expert mountain bikers. Quite the opposite. Suspension helps keep the tyres 'planted' while the wheels roll over obstacles that might have otherwise pitched you off the bike. Suspension therefore helps compensate for lack of skills when you start out, and helps build confidence as you climb the MTB learning curve.
Contact PointsSuspension is now ubiquitous on mountain bikes (and some hybrids) because it smooths the bumps, thus enabling you to ride further and/or longer and/or faster over rough terrain. It's a misconception that suspension is just for expert mountain bikers. Quite the opposite. Suspension helps keep the tyres 'planted' while the wheels roll over obstacles that might have otherwise pitched you off the bike. Suspension therefore helps compensate for lack of skills when you start out, and helps build confidence as you climb the MTB learning curve.
Saddles now come in a huge range of shapes and sizes from traditional Brooks leather to women's specific to clinically tested Body Geometry. Choose a saddle that's optimised for your style of riding. If you like to stretch out to the bars, you'll probably be most comfortable on a saddle so skinny, you're barely aware it's there. If you prefer to sit upright, a wider cushioned gel saddle can offer armchair-like comfort.
Handlebar height is crucial
for comfort. It's also down to personal preference so it's difficult to
advise on. Athletic riders usually prefer to ride stretched out and
aero with handlebars below saddle height. For others, comfort means
riding upright so the bars are above saddle height. We find most riders
are 'in the middle' and like their handlebars to be around the same
height as the saddle. Transforming an ill-fitting bike to one you enjoy
can therefore simply be a matter of swapping the original handlebar stem
for a taller or shorter one.
Pedals - again you have a
massive range to choose from because getting the best support for your
feet is important. Some say the first rule for improving trail skills is
to get yourself a pair of flatties AKA platform pedals. Others,
including roadies, mountain bikers, tourers and commuters, prefer to
ride 'clipped in', with the shoes literally connected to the pedals.
This isn't as scary as it sounds. Swinging the heel out 20 degrees to
disconnect the foot swiftly becomes second nature. Riding clipped in,
truly engaged to the pedals, enhances the feeling of being at one with
the bike............................
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/comms/site_info/21st-century-bike-technology.htm?f_Cardinal=10
http://www.incrediblethings.com/lists/cool-concept-bikes/
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