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[[Image:Orbea Ordu.JPG|250px|thumb|A [[Individual time trial|time trial]] [[racing bicycle]].]]
[[Image:Orbea Ordu.JPG|250px|thumb|A [[Individual time trial|time trial]] [[racing bicycle]].]]
{{Otheruses|Bicycle (disambiguation)}}
{{Otheruses|Bicycle (disambiguation)}}
ride skateboards ya skatists
A '''bicycle''', also known as a '''bike''', '''push bike''' or '''cycle''', is a pedal-driven, [[human-powered transport|human-powered]], [[single-track vehicle]], having two [[bicycle wheel|wheels]] attached to a [[bicycle frame|frame]], one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a '''cyclist''' or a '''bicyclist'''.

Bicycles were introduced in the 19th century and now number about one billion worldwide, twice as many as automobiles.<ref>DidYouKnow.org. [http://www.didyouknow.org/bicycles.htm There are about a billion or more bicycles in the world.] Retrieved 30 July 2006.</ref> They are the principal [[Mode of transport|means of transportation]] in many regions. They also provide a popular form of recreation, and have been adapted for such uses as children's toys, adult fitness, military and police applications, courier services, and [[bicycle racing]].

The basic shape and configuration of a typical [[upright bicycle]] has changed little since the first chain-driven model was developed around 1885.<ref name="herlihy">{{cite book
| title = Bicycle: the history
| last = Herlihy
| first = David V.
| publisher = Yale University Press
| isbn = 0-300-10418-9
| pages = 200–250
| year = 2004}}</ref> Many 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 invention of the bicycle has had an enormous impact on society, both in terms of culture and of advancing modern industrial methods. Several components that eventually played a key role in the development of the automobile were originally invented for the bicycle – e.g., ball bearings, pneumatic tires, chain-driven sprockets, spoke-tensioned wheels, etc.

==History==
{{Main|History of the bicycle}}
[[Image:Draisine or Laufmaschine, around 1820. Archetype of the Bicycle. Pic 01.jpg|thumb|Wooden ''[[Dandy horse|draisine]]'' (around 1820), the first two-wheeler and as such the archetype of the bicycle]]
Multiple innovators contributed to the history of the bicycle by developing precursor human-powered vehicles. The documented ancestors of today's modern bicycle were known as [[Dandy horse|draisines]], hobby horses, or push bikes (and modern bicycles are sometimes still called push bikes outside of North America). Being the first human means of transport to make use of the two-wheeler principle, the draisine (or ''Laufmaschine'', "running machine"), invented by the German [[Freiherr|Baron]] [[Karl Drais|Karl von Drais]], is regarded as the forerunner of the modern bicycle. It was introduced by Drais to the public in [[Mannheim]] in summer 1817 and in Paris in 1818.<ref name="CSTM">{{cite web
| title = Canada Science and Technology Museum: Baron von Drais’ Bicycle
| year = 2006
| url = http://www.sciencetech.technomuses.ca/english/collection/cycles2.cfm| accessdate = 2006-12-23
}}</ref> Its rider sat astride a wooden frame supported by two in-line wheels and pushed the vehicle along with his/her feet while steering the front wheel.
[[Image:Michauxjun.jpg|thumb|left|Michaux' son on velocipede 1868]]
[[Image:McCall1869.jpg|thumb|Thomas McCall in 1869 on his velocipede]]
In the early 1860s, Frenchmen [[Pierre Michaux]] and [[Pierre Lallement]] took bicycle design in a new direction by adding a mechanical [[Crank (mechanism)|crank]] drive with pedals on an enlarged front wheel (the [[velocipede]]). Another French inventor by the name of Douglas Grasso had a failed prototype of Pierre Lallement's bicycle several years earlier. Several inventions followed using rear wheel drive , the best known being the rod-driven velocipede by Scotsman [[Thomas McCall]] in 1869. The French creation, made of iron and wood, developed into the "[[penny-farthing]]" (historically known as an "ordinary bicycle", a [[retronym]], since there were then no other kind).<ref>Norcliffe, Glen. ''The Ride to Modernity: The Bicycle in Canada, 1869-1900'' (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2001), p.50, citing Derek Roberts.</ref> It featured a tubular steel frame on which were mounted wire-spoked wheels with solid rubber tires. These bicycles were difficult to ride due to their very high seat and poor [[weight distribution]].
[[Image:Ordinary bicycle01.jpg|thumb|A ''[[penny-farthing]]'' or ''ordinary bicycle'' photographed in the [[Škoda Auto]] museum in the [[Czech Republic]]]]

[[Image:BicyclePlymouth.jpg|thumb|left|Bicycle in [[Plymouth, England|Plymouth]], England at the start of the 20th century]]
The ''dwarf ordinary'' addressed some of these faults by reducing the front wheel diameter and setting the seat further back. This necessitated the addition of gearing, effected in a variety of ways, to attain sufficient speed. Having to both pedal and steer via the front wheel remained a problem. [[John Kemp Starley|J. K. Starley]], J. H. Lawson, and Shergold solved this problem by introducing the [[chain drive]] (originated by the unsuccessful "bicyclette" of Englishman Henry Lawson),<ref>Norcliffe, p.47.</ref> connecting the frame-mounted pedals to the rear wheel. These models were known as ''dwarf safeties'', or ''safety bicycles'', for their lower seat height and better weight distribution. (Although without pneumatic tires the ride of the smaller wheeled bicycle would be much rougher than that of the larger wheeled variety.) Starley's 1885 Rover is usually described as the first recognizably modern bicycle. Soon, the ''seat tube'' was added, creating the double-triangle ''diamond frame'' of the modern bike.

Further innovations increased comfort and ushered in a second [[bicycle craze]], the 1890s' ''Golden Age of Bicycles''. In 1888, Scotsman [[John Boyd Dunlop]] introduced the first practical [[pneumatic tire]], which soon became universal. Soon after, the rear [[freewheel]] was developed, enabling the rider to coast. This refinement led to the 1898 invention of [[Bicycle brake systems#Coaster brakes|coaster brakes]]. [[Derailleur gears]] and hand-operated [[Bicycle brake systems|cable-pull brakes]] were also developed during these years, but were only slowly adopted by casual riders. By the turn of the century, [[cycling club]]s flourished on both sides of the Atlantic, and touring and racing became widely popular.

Bicycles and horse buggies were the two mainstays of private transportation just prior to the automobile, and the grading of smooth roads in the late 19th century was stimulated by the widespread advertising, production, and use of these devices.

{{clear}}

==Uses==
[[Image:BicyclesMilkChurnsKolkata gobeirne.jpg|thumb|right|Transporting milk churns in [[Kolkata]], [[India]]]]

Bicycles have been and are employed for many uses:
[[Image:Working bicycle.jpg|thumb|left|Working bicycle in [[Amsterdam]], [[Netherlands]]]]
*Utility: [[bicycle commuting]] and [[utility cycling]]
*Work: [[mail|mail delivery]], [[paramedic]]s, [[Police bicycle|police]], [[Bicycle messenger|couriering]], and [[Delivery (commerce)|general delivery]].
*Recreation: [[bicycle touring]], [[mountain biking]], [[BMX]] and [[physical fitness]].
*[[Bicycle racing|Racing]]: [[Track cycling|track racing]], [[criterium]], [[bicycle rollers|roller racing]] and [[time trial]] to multi-stage events like the [[Tour of California]], [[Giro d'Italia]], the [[Tour de France]], the [[Vuelta a España]], the [[Volta a Portugal]], among others.
*Military: [[Reconnaissance|scouting]], troop movement, supply of provisions, and patrol. See [[bicycle infantry]].
*Show: entertainment and performance, e.g. [[circus clown]]s.
*As a novelty musical instrument; e.g. [[Frank Zappa]] and [[P. D. Q. Bach]].

==Technical aspects==
[[Image:Half Wheeler - bike.JPG|right|thumb|A Half Wheeler [[trailer bike]] at the [[Golden Gate Bridge]]]]
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.

===Types===
{{Main|List of bicycle types}}

[[Image:BMX bicycle.JPG|left|thumb|A [[BMX bike]], an example of a bicycle designed for [[sport]]]] 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 bicycle]]s, [[mountain bicycle]]s, [[racing bicycle]]s, [[touring bicycle]]s, [[hybrid bicycle]]s, [[cruiser bicycle]]s, and [[BMX bike|BMX Bikes]]. Less common are [[tandem bicycle|tandems]], [[Lowrider bicycle|lowriders]], [[tall bike]]s, [[Fixed-gear bicycle|fixed gear]], [[folding bicycle|folding models]] and [[recumbent bicycle|recumbents]] (one of which was used to set the [[Hour_record#IHPVA_Hour_record|IHPVA Hour record]]).

[[Unicycle]]s, [[tricycle]]s and [[Quadracycle (human-powered vehicle)|quadracycle]]s are not strictly bicycles, as they have respectively one, three and four wheels, but are often referred to informally as "bikes".
[[Image:Tuftscriterium.jpg|thumb|Bicycles leaning in a turn]]

===Dynamics===
{{Main|Bicycle and motorcycle dynamics}}
A bicycle stays upright while moving forward by being steered so as to keep its [[Center of mass|center of gravity]] over the wheels.<ref name=NS2581>{{cite journal
| last=Various
| date=9 December 2006
| title=Like falling off
| journal=[[New Scientist]]
| issue=2581
| page=93
| url=http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19225812.400
| accessdate=27 January 2009}}</ref> This steering is usually provided by the rider, but under certain conditions may be provided by the bicycle itself.<ref name=MPRS>{{cite journal
| journal = Proc. R. Soc. A.
| volume = 463
| issue = 2084
| year = 2007
| pages = 1955–1982
| title = Linearized dynamics equations for the balance and steer of a bicycle: a benchmark and review
| last = Meijaard, Papadopoulos, Ruina, and Schwab
| doi = 10.1098/rspa.2007.1857
| first1 = J.P.
| last2 = Papadopoulos
| first2 = Jim M.
| last3 = Ruina
| first3 = Andy
| last4 = Schwab
| first4 = A.L.
}}</ref>
The combined center of mass of a bicycle and its rider must lean into a turn to successfully navigate it. This lean is induced by a method known as [[countersteering]], which can be performed by the rider turning the handlebars directly with the hands<ref name="Wilson">{{cite book
| title = Bicycling Science
| edition = Third
| last = Wilson
| first = David Gordon
| coauthors = Jim Papadopoulos
| year = 2004
| publisher = The MIT Press
| isbn = 0-262-73154-1
| pages = 270–272}}</ref> or indirectly by leaning the bicycle.<ref name="fajans">{{cite journal
| journal = American Journal of Physics
| volume = 68
| issue = 7
| month = July
| year = 2000
| last = Fajans
| first = Joel
| title = Steering in bicycles and motorcycles
| url = http://socrates.berkeley.edu/~fajans/pub/pdffiles/SteerBikeAJP.PDF
| format = PDF
| accessdate = 2006-08-04
| pages = 654–659
| doi = 10.1119/1.19504}}</ref>

Short-wheelbase or [[tall bike|tall bicycles]], when braking, can generate enough stopping force at the front wheel to flip longitudinally.<ref>{{cite book
| title = Motorcycle Dynamics
| edition = Second
| last = Cossalter
| first = Vittore
| year = 2006
| publisher = Lulu.com
| isbn = 978-1-4303-0861-4
| pages = 241–342}}</ref> The act of purposefully using this force to lift the rear wheel and balance on the front without tipping over is a trick known as a [[stoppie]], endo or front wheelie.

===Performance===
{{Main|Bicycle performance}}
The bicycle is extraordinarily efficient in both biological and mechanical terms. The bicycle is the most efficient self-powered means of transportation in terms of energy a person must expend to travel a given distance.<ref>"Bicycle Technology", S.S. Wilson, [[Scientific American]], March 1973</ref> 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%.<ref>
[http://www.jhu.edu/~gazette/1999/aug3099/30pedal.html "Johns Hopkins Gazette"],
30 August 1999</ref><ref name="whitt">{{cite book
| title = Bicycling Science
| edition = Second
| last = Whitt
| first = Frank R.
| coauthors = David G. Wilson
| year = 1982
| publisher = Massachusetts Institute of Technology
| isbn = 0-262-23111-5
| pages = 277–300}}</ref>
In terms of the ratio of cargo weight a bicycle can carry to total weight, it is also an efficient means of cargo transportation.

[[Image:Corsa bacchetta.jpg|thumb|left|A [[recumbent bicycle]] ]]

A human traveling on a bicycle at low to medium speeds of around 10–15&nbsp;mph (15–25&nbsp;km/h) uses only the energy required to walk. Air drag, which is proportional to the square of speed, requires dramatically higher power outputs as speeds increase. If the rider is sitting upright, the rider's body creates about 75% of the total drag of the bicycle/rider combination. Drag can be reduced by seating the rider in a [[supine position]] or a [[prone position]], thus creating a [[recumbent bicycle]] or [[human powered vehicle]]. Drag can also be reduced by covering the bicycle with an aerodynamic [[Bicycle fairing|fairing]].

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.<ref>[http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/advocacy/bike_co2.htm How Much Do Bicycles Pollute? Looking at the Carbon Dioxide Produced by Bicycles<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

===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.

====Frame====
{{Main|Bicycle frame}}

[[Image:Bicycle diagram-en.svg|thumb|Diagram of a bicycle.]]

The great majority of today's bicycles have a frame with upright seating which looks much like the first chain-driven bike.<ref name="herlihy">{{cite book
| title = Bicycle: the history
| last = Herlihy
| first = David V.
| year = 2004
| publisher = Yale University Press
| isbn = 0-300-10418-9
| pages = 200–250}}</ref>
Such [[upright bicycle]]s almost always 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 (bicycle part)|headset]], the set of bearings that allows the [[bicycle fork|fork]] to turn smoothly for steering and balance. The top tube connects the head 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 [[bicycle chain|chain]], connecting the bottom bracket to the rear [[Dropout (bicycle part)|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.

[[Image:Triumph Bicycle.JPG|left|thumb|A [[Triumph Cycle Co. Ltd.|Triumph]] with a [[step-through frame]].]]
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 [[Bicycle frame#Frame geometry|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]]'', 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 ''[[Step-through frame#Mixte|mixte]]'', which splits the top tube laterally into two thinner top tubes that bypass the seat tube on each side 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 frames.

Another style is the [[recumbent bicycle]]. These are inherently more [[aerodynamic]] than upright versions, as the rider may lean back onto a support and operate pedals that are on about the same level as the seat. The world's fastest bicycle is a recumbent bicycle but this type was banned from competition in 1934 by the [[Union Cycliste Internationale]].<ref>[http://www.recumbent-bikes-truth-for-you.com/history.html History Loudly Tells WhyThe Recumbent Bike Is Popular Today<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

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 alloy|aluminum alloys]] are increasingly used in components such as handlebars, [[Seatpost|seat post]], and brake levers. In the 1980s aluminum 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 and even bamboo.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bamboo bikes|work=AboutMyPlanet.com|last=Lukenbill|first=Jen|date=13 February 2008|url=http://www.aboutmyplanet.com/environment/bamboo-bikes/}}</ref>

====Drivetrain and gearing====
[[Image:Shimano xt rear derailleur.jpg|right|thumb|A set of rear sprockets (also known as a cassette) and a derailleur]]

{{details|bicycle gearing}}
The ''drivetrain'' begins with [[bicycle pedal|pedals]] which rotate the [[Crank set|cranks]], which are held in axis by the [[bottom bracket]]. Most bicycles use a chain to transmit power to the rear wheel. A relatively small number of bicycles use a shaft drive to transmit power. A very small number of bicycles (mainly [[single-speed bicycle]]s intended for short-distance commuting) use a belt drive as an oil-free way of transmitting power.

Since cyclists' legs are most efficient over a narrow range of pedaling speeds ([[Cadence (cycling)|cadence]]), a variable [[gear ratio]] helps a cyclist to maintain an optimum pedalling speed while covering varied terrain. As a first approximation, [[utility bicycle]]s often use a [[hub gear]] with a small number (3 to 8) of widely-spaced gears, [[road bicycle]]s and [[racing bicycle]]s use [[derailleur gears]] with a moderate number (10 to 22) of closely-spaced gears, while [[mountain bike|mountain bicycles]], [[hybrid bicycle]]s, and [[touring bicycle]]s use dérailleur gears with a larger number (15 to 33) of moderately-spaced gears, often including an extremely low gear (granny gear) for climbing steep hills.

Different gears and ranges of gears are appropriate for different people and styles of cycling. Multi-speed bicycles allow gear selection to suit the circumstances: a cyclist could use a high gear when cycling downhill, a medium gear when cycling on a flat road, and a low gear when cycling uphill. In a lower gear every turn of the pedals leads to fewer rotations of the rear wheel. This allows the energy required to move the same distance to be distributed over more pedal turns, reducing fatigue when riding uphill, with a heavy load, or against strong winds. A higher gear allows a cyclist to make fewer pedal turns to maintain a given speed, but with more effort per turn of the pedals.

[[Image:Dsb-1.jpg|thumb|right|A [[Shaft-driven bicycle|bicycle with shaft drive]] instead of a chain]]

With a ''chain drive'' transmission, a ''chainring'' attached to a crank drives the [[bicycle chain|chain]], which in turn rotates the rear wheel via the rear [[sprocket]](s) ([[cassette (bicycle part)|cassette]] or [[Cogset#Freewheels|freewheel]]). There are four gearing options: two-speed hub gear integrated with chain ring, up to 3 chain rings, up to 11 sprockets, hub gear built in to rear wheel (3-speed to 14-speed). The most common options are either a rear hub or multiple chain rings combined with multiple sprockets (other combinations of options are possible but less common).

With a [[Shaft-driven bicycle|''shaft drive'']] transmission, a gear set at the bottom bracket turns the shaft, which then turns the rear wheel via a gear set connected to the wheel's hub. There is some small loss of efficiency due to the two gear sets needed. The only gearing option with a shaft drive is to use a [[hub gear]].

====Steering and seating====
The [[Bicycle handlebar|handlebars]] turn the [[bicycle fork|fork]] and the front wheel via the [[Stem (bike)|stem]], which rotates within the [[headset (bicycle part)|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'' "drop" as they curve forward and down, offering the cyclist best braking power from a more aerodynamic "crouched" position, as well as more upright positions in which the hands grip the brake lever mounts, the forward curves, or the upper flat sections for increasingly upright postures. Mountain bikes generally feature a 'straight handlebar' or 'riser bar' with varying degrees of sweep backwards and centimeters rise upwards, as well as wider widths which can provide better handling due to increased leverage against the wheel.

[[Image:San marco selle1.jpg|thumb|left|A Selle San Marco saddle designed for women]]
[[Bicycle saddle|Saddles]] also vary with rider preference, from the cushioned ones favored by short-distance riders to narrower saddles which allow more room for leg swings. Comfort depends on riding position. With comfort bikes and hybrids, cyclists sit 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, 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 anatomies, although bikes typically are sold with saddles most appropriate for men.

A recumbent bicycle has a reclined [[Bicycle seat|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 [[Recumbent bicycle#Steering|steering]].

====Brakes====
{{Main|Bicycle brake systems}}
[[Image:Brake.agr-edit.jpg|thumb|Linear-pull brake, also known by the [[Shimano]] trademark: V-Brake, on rear wheel of a [[mountain bike]]]]
Modern bicycle ''brakes'' may be ''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, ''disc brakes'', with a separate rotor for braking. [[Disc brakes]] are more common on off-road bicycles, [[tandem bicycle|tandem]]s and recumbent bicycles than on road-specific bicycles.

[[Image:BrakeDiskVR.JPG|thumb|left|A front disc brake, mounted to the [[Bicycle fork|fork]] and hub]]
With hand-operated brakes, force is applied to brake levers mounted on the handlebars and transmitted via [[Bowden cable]]s 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 common in children's bicycles.

[[Track bicycle]]s do not have dedicated 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 bicycle|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, the rider applies resistance to the pedals &ndash; this acts as a braking system which can be as effective as a friction-based rear wheel brake, but not as effective as a front wheel brake.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed.html
| title = Fixed Gear Conversions: Braking
| last = Brown
| first = Sheldon
| accessdate = 2009-02-11}}</ref>

====Suspension====
{{Main|Bicycle suspension}}

Bicycle suspension refers to the system or systems used to ''suspend'' the rider and all or part of the bicycle. This serves two purposes:

* To keep the wheels in continuous contact with rough surfaces to improve control.

* To isolate the rider and luggage from jarring due to rough surfaces.

Bicycle suspensions 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. Suspension is especially important on recumbent bicycles, since while an upright bicycle rider can stand on the pedals to achieve some of the benefits of suspension, a recumbent rider cannot.

====Wheels====
{{Main|Bicycle wheel}}

The wheel axle fits into [[Dropout (bicycle part)|dropouts]] in the [[bicycle frame|frame]] and [[bicycle fork|forks]]. A pair of wheels may be called a [[wheelset]], especially in the context of ready-built "off the shelf", performance-oriented wheels.

Tires vary enormously. Skinny 18 to 25 millimeters wide, road-racing tires may be completely smooth, or ([[slick tire|slick]]). On the opposite extreme, off-road tires are 38 to 64 millimeters wide and usually have a deep tread for gripping in muddy conditions or metal spikes for ice.

====Accessories, repairs, and tools====
[[Image:Reiserad-beladen.jpg|right|thumb|Touring bicycle equipped with [[Bicycle lighting|head lamp]], [[bicycle pump|pump]], rear [[Luggage carrier|rack]], fenders/mud-guards, water bottles and [[Bottle cage|cages]], and numerous saddle-bags.]]
[[Image:Puncture-repaire-kit.jpg|right|thumb|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.]]

Some components, which are often optional accessories on sports bicycles, are standard features on [[utility bicycles]] to enhance their usefulness and comfort. [[Mudguard]]s, or [[Fender (vehicle)|fender]]s, protect the cyclist and [[moving parts]] from spray when riding through wet areas and [[chainguard]]s protect clothes from oil on the chain while preventing clothing from being caught between the chain and [[crankset]] teeth. [[Kick stand]]s keep a bicycle upright when parked, while a [[bike lock]] will help prevent it from being stolen. Front-mounted [[bicycle basket|baskets]] for carrying goods are often used. [[Luggage carrier]]s and [[pannier]]s mounted above the rear tire can be used to carry equipment or cargo. Parents sometimes add rear-mounted [[Baby transport|child seats]] and/or an auxiliary saddle fitted to the crossbar to transport children.

[[Clipless#Clipless_pedals|''Toe-clips'']] and ''toestraps'' and [[Bicycle pedal#Clipless pedals|clipless pedals]] help keep the foot locked in the proper position on the pedals, and enable the cyclist to pull as well as push the pedals&mdash;although not without their hazards, e.g. may lock foot in when needed to prevent a fall. Technical accessories include [[cyclocomputer]]s for measuring speed, distance, heart rate, GPS data etc. Other accessories include [[bicycle lighting|lights]], reflectors, [[Bicycle lock|security locks]], mirror, water bottles and [[Bottle cage|cages]], and bell.<ref name="bicycleuniverse">{{cite web|url=http://bicycleuniverse.info/eqp/accessories.html#safety |title=Safety Accessories |accessdate=2006-09-13 |last=Bluejay |first=Michael |work=Bicycle Accessories |publisher=BicycleUniverse.info}}</ref>

[[Bicycle helmet]]s 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<ref name="bicycleuniverse" /> or an item of clothing by others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bicycling.about.com/library/weekly/aa041098.htm |title=The Essentials of Bike Clothing |accessdate=2006-09-13 |work=About Bicycling |publisher=About.com}}</ref>

Many cyclists carry ''tool kits''. These may include a tire patch kit (which, in turn, may contain any combination of a [[Bicycle pump|hand pump]] or [[Bicycle_pump#CO2_Inflators|CO2 Pump]], [[tire lever]]s, spare [[Tire#Inner_tube|tubes]], self-adhesive patches, or tube-patching material, an adhesive, a piece of sandpaper or a metal grater (for roughing the tube surface to be patched),<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://sheldonbrown.com/flats.html#patching
| title = Sheldon Brown: Flat tires
| accessdate = 2008-05-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.bikewebsite.com/bikeop.htm
| title = BikeWebSite: Bicycle Glossary – Patch kit
| accessdate = 2008-06-20}}</ref> and sometimes even a block of [[French chalk]].), [[wrench]]es, [[hex key]]s, [[screwdriver]]s, and a [[chain tool]]. There are also cycling specific [[multi-tool]]s that combine many of these implements into a single compact device. More specialized bicycle components may require more complex tools, including proprietary tools specific for a given manufacturer.

Some bicycle parts, particularly hub-based gearing systems, are complex, and many cyclists prefer to leave [[repair and maintenance|maintenance and repairs]] to professional [[bicycle mechanic]]s. In some areas it is possible to purchase road-side assistance from companies such as the [[Better World Club]]. Other cyclists maintain their own bicycles, perhaps as part of their enjoyment of the hobby of cycling or simply for economic reasons. The ability to repair and maintain your own bicycle is also celebrated within the [[DIY]] movement.

====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 [[List of ISO standards|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.<ref>The TC149 ISO bicycle committee, including the TC149/SC1 ("Cycles and major sub-assemblies") subcommittee, has published the following standards:
* [[ISO 4210]] Cycles&mdash;Safety requirements for bicycles
* [[ISO 6692]] Cycles&mdash;Marking of cycle components
* [[ISO 6695]] Cycles&mdash;Pedal axle and crank assembly with square end fitting&mdash;Assembly dimensions
* [[ISO 6696]] Cycles&mdash;Screw threads used in bottom bracket assemblies
* [[ISO 6697]] Cycles&mdash;Hubs and freewheels&mdash;Assembly dimensions
* [[ISO 6698]] Cycles&mdash;Screw threads used to assemble freewheels on bicycle hubs
* [[ISO 6699]] Cycles&mdash;Stem and handlebar bend&mdash;Assembly dimensions
* [[ISO 6701]] Cycles&mdash;External dimensions of spoke nipples
* [[ISO 6742]] Cycles&mdash;Lighting and retro-reflective devices&mdash;Photometric and physical requirements
* [[ISO 8090]] Cycles&mdash;Terminology (same as BS 6102-4)
* [[ISO 8098]] Cycles&mdash;Safety requirements for bicycles for young children
* [[ISO 8488]] Cycles&mdash;Screw threads used to assemble head fittings on bicycle forks
* [[ISO 8562]] Cycles&mdash;Stem wedge angle
* [[ISO 10230]] Cycles&mdash;Splined hub and sprocket&mdash;Mating dimensions
* [[ISO 11243]] Cycles&mdash;Luggage carriers for bicycles&mdash;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&mdash;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 14782]] 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&mdash;Electrically power assisted cycles ([[EPAC]] bicycle)
* [[EN 15532]] Cycles&mdash;Terminology
* 00333011 Cycles – Bicycles trailers – safety requirements and test methods</ref>

====Parts====

For details on specific bicycle parts, see [[list of bicycle parts]] and [[:category:bicycle parts]].
<!-- *[[Bicycle brake systems]] -->
<!-- *[[Bicycle lighting]] -->
<!-- *[[Bicycle physics]] -->

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

===In daily life===

Around the turn of the 20th century, bicycles reduced crowding in inner-city tenements by allowing workers to [[Bicycle commuting|commute]] from more spacious dwellings in the suburbs. They also reduced dependence on horses. 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.
[[Image:Estacio bicing bcn.jpg|left|thumb|A [[bike-sharing]] [[Bicing|station in Barcelona]]]]

Recently, several European cities and [[Montreal]] have implemented successful schemes known as [[community bicycle program]]s or bike-sharing. These initiatives complement a city's public transport system and offer an alternative to motorized traffic to help reduce congestion and pollution. In Europe, especially in The Netherlands and parts of Germany and Denmark, [[commuting]] by bicycle is very common. In The Netherlands, all train stations are equipped with provisions for bicycle parking for a small fee and the larger ones also with bicycle repair shops, and cycling is so popular that the parking capacity is sometimes exceeded.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.nrc.nl/international/article2482297.ece/So_many_bikes%2C_so_little_space
| title = So many bikes, so little space
| author = Joel Broekaert and Reinier Kist
| date = 12 February 2010
| publisher = NRC Handelsblad
| accessdate = 2010-02-13}}</ref> In [[Trondheim]] in Norway, the [[Trampe bicycle lift]] has been developed to encourage cyclists by giving assistance on a steep hill.

In cities where the bicycle is not an integral part of the planned transportation system, commuters often use bicycles as elements of a [[mixed-mode commuting|mixed-mode commute]], where the bike is used to travel to and from train stations or other forms of rapid transit. [[Folding bicycles]] are useful in these scenarios, as they are less cumbersome when carried aboard. Los Angeles removed a small amount of seating on some trains to make more room for bicycles and wheel chairs.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/10/16/metro-making-room-for-bikes-on-their-trains/
| title = Metro Making Room for Bikes on Their Trains
| author = Damien Newton
| date = October 16, 2008
| publisher = LA.StreetsBlog.Org
| accessdate = 2010-02-12}}</ref>

Bicycles offer an important mode of transport in many developing countries. Until recently, bicycles have been a staple of everyday life throughout Asian countries. They are the most frequently used method of transport for commuting to work, school, shopping, and life in general.

===Female emancipation===

[[Image:Woman with Bicycle 1890s.jpg|thumb|right|Woman with bicycle, 1890s]]
The [[safety bicycle]] gave women unprecedented mobility, contributing to [[Emancipation of women|their emancipation]] in Western nations. As bicycles became safer and cheaper, more women had access to the personal freedom they embodied, and so the bicycle came to symbolize the [[New Woman]] of the late 19th century, especially in Britain and the United States.
The bicycle was recognized by 19th-century [[feminist]]s and [[suffragist]]s as a "freedom machine" for women. American [[Susan B. Anthony]] said in a ''[[New York World]]'' interview on February 2, 1896: "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."

Male anger at the freedom symbolized by the New (bicycling) Woman was demonstrated when the male undergraduates of [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge University]] showed their opposition to the admission of women as full members of the university by hanging a woman bicyclist in effigy in the main [[town square]]. This was as late as 1897.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.newn.cam.ac.uk/about-newnham/college-history/history/content/history-of-the-college-2
| title = Newnham College Cambridge: The History of the College
| publisher = Newnham College
| year = 2009
| accessdate = 2010-02-12}}</ref> The [[bicycle craze]] in the 1890s also led to a movement for so-called [[rational dress]], which helped liberate women from corsets and ankle-length skirts and other restrictive garments, substituting the then-shocking [[bloomers (clothing)|bloomers]].

===Economic implications===
[[Image:Columbia Bicycles 1886 Advertisement.svg|left|thumb|[[Columbia Bicycles]] advertisement from 1886]]
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 [[Bearing (mechanical)|ball bearings]], [[washer (mechanical)|washer]]s, and [[sprocket]]s. These techniques later enabled skilled metalworkers and mechanics to develop the components used in early automobiles and aircraft.

They also served to teach the industrial models later adopted, including mechanization and [[mass production]] (later copied and adopted by [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] and [[General Motors]]),<ref>Norcliffe, Glen. ''The Ride to Modernity: The Bicycle in Canada, 1869-1900'' (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2001), pp.23, 106, & 108. GM's practice of sharing chassis, bodies, and other parts is exactly what the early bicycle manufacturer Pope was doing.</ref> vertical integration<ref>Norcliffe, p.106.</ref> (also later copied and adopted by Ford), aggressive advertising<ref>Norcliffe, pp.142–47.</ref> (as much as 10% of all advertising in U.S. periodicals in 1898 was by bicycle makers),<ref>Norcliffe, p.145.</ref> lobbying for better roads (which had the side benefit of acting as advertising, and of improving sales by providing more places to ride),<ref name="Norcliffe, p.108">Norcliffe, p.108.</ref> all first practised by Pope.<ref name="Norcliffe, p.108" /> In addition, bicycle makers adopted the annual model change<ref>Norcliffe, p.23.</ref><ref>Babaian, Sharon. ''The Most Benevolent Machine: A Historical Assessment of Cycles in Canada'' (Ottawa: National Museum of Science and Technology, 1998), p.97.</ref> (later derided as [[planned obsolescence]], and usually credited to General Motors), which proved very successful.<ref>Babaian, p.98.</ref>

Furthermore, early bicycles were an example of [[conspicuous consumption]], being adopted by the fashionable elites.<ref>Norcliffe, pp.8, 12, 14, 23, 147–8, 187–8, 208, & 243–5.</ref> In addition, by serving as a platform for accessories, which could ultimately cost more than the bicycle itself, it paved the way for the likes of the [[Barbie doll]].<ref>Norcliffe, pp.23, 121, & 123.</ref>

Moreover, they helped create, or enhance, new kinds of businesses, such as bicycle messengers,<ref>Norcliffe, p.212.</ref> travelling seamstresses,<ref>Norcliffe, p.214.</ref> riding academies,<ref>Norcliffe, p.131.</ref> and racing rinks<ref>Norcliffe, p.30 & 131.</ref> (Their board tracks were later adapted to early [[motorcycle racing|motorcycle]] and [[automobile racing]].) Also, there were a variety of new inventions, such as spoke tighteners,<ref>Norcliffe, p.125.</ref> and specialized lights,<ref>Norcliffe, p.123 & 125.</ref> socks and shoes,<ref>Norcliffe, p.125 & 126.</ref> and even cameras (such as the [[Eastman Kodak|Eastman Company]]'s ''Poco'').<ref>Norcliffe, p.238.</ref> Probably the best known and most widely used of these inventions, adopted well beyond cycling, is Charles Bennett's Bike Web, which came to be called the "[[jock strap]]".<ref>Norcliffe, p.128.</ref>

[[Image:Person mit fahrrad feb07.jpg|thumb|A man uses a bicycle to carry goods in [[Ouagadougou]], [[Burkina Faso]]]]
They also presaged a move away from public transit<ref>Norcliffe, p.214–5.</ref> that would explode with the introduction of the automobile.

J. K. Starley's company became the Rover Cycle Company Ltd. in the late 1890s, and then simply the [[Rover Company]] when it started making cars. The [[Morris Motor Company]] (in [[Oxford]]) and [[Škoda Auto|Škoda]] also began in the bicycle business, as did the [[Wright brothers]].<ref>
{{cite web
| title = The Wrights' bicycle shop
| year = 2007
| url = http://www.nasm.si.edu/Wrightbrothers/who/1893/shop.cfm
| accessdate = 2007-02-05
}}</ref> Alistair Craig, whose company eventually emerged to become the engine manufacturers [[Ailsa Craig Engines|Ailsa Craig]], also started from manufacturing bicycles, in Glasgow in March 1885.

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 60% 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.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}} One of the major reasons for the proliferation of Chinese-made bicycles in foreign markets is the lower cost of labor in China.<ref>[[The Economist]], 15 February 2003</ref>

One of the profound economic implications of bicycle use is that it liberates the user from oil consumption (Ballantine, 1972). The bicycle is a inexpensive, fast, healthy and environmentally friendly mode of transport (Illich, 1974)

===Legal requirements===
[[File:Bicycle diagram reflectors.jpg|left|thumb|Reflectors for riding after dark]]

Early in its development, as with [[automobile]]s, there were restrictions on the operation of bicycles. Along with advertising, and to gain free publicity, [[Albert A. Pope]] litigated on behalf of cyclists.<ref>Norcliffe, Glen. ''The Ride to Modernity: The Bicycle in Canada, 1869-1900'' (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2001), p.108.</ref>

The 1968 [[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. The traffic codes of many countries reflect these definitions and demand that a bicycle satisfy certain legal requirements before it can be used on public roads. In many [[jurisdiction]]s, it is an offense to use a bicycle that is not in a roadworthy condition.

In most jurisdictions, bicycles must have functioning front and rear lights when ridden after dark. As some generator or [[dynamo]]-driven lamps only operate while moving, rear [[retroreflectors|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 cyclists.

Some countries require child and/or adult cyclists to wear [[Bicycle helmet|helmets]], as this may protect riders from head trauma. Countries which require adult cyclists to wear helmets include Spain, Canada, [[Bicycle helmets in New Zealand|New Zealand]] and Australia.

<!-- *Music: Used as an instrument by [[Frank Zappa]].<ref>http://www.ganyet.com/music/frank-zappa-plays-the-bycicle-on-steve-allens-tv-show</ref> -->

==See also==
{{Wikibooks|Bicycle repair}}
{{Spoken Wikipedia|EN_Bicycle.ogg|2007-12-07}}
{{Portalpar|Sustainable development|Sustainable development.svg}}

* [[Cycling]] – use of bicycles

'''General'''
* [[Bicycle commuting]]
* [[Bicycle industry]] and [[List of bicycle manufacturing companies]]
* [[Bicycle law]]
* [[Bicycle lighting]]
* [[Bicycle lock]]
* [[Bicycle locker]]
* [[Bicycle safety]]
* [[Bicycle tools]]
* [[List of bicycle and human powered vehicle museums]]
* [[List of bicycle parts]]

'''Special uses and related vehicle types'''
* [[Balance bicycle]]
* [[Beach cruiser]]
* [[Bicycle trailer]]
* [[Boda-boda]]
* [[Cycle rickshaw]]
* [[Bicycle fairing|Faired bicycle]]
* [[Bixi]]
* [[Folding bicycle]]
* [[Freight bicycle]]
* [[Bicycle infantry|Infantry bicycle]]
* [[Monowheel]]
* [[Quadracycle (human-powered vehicle)|Quadracycle]]
* [[Recumbent bicycle]]
* [[Shaft-driven bicycle]]
* [[Tandem bicycle]]
* [[Trailer bike]]
* [[Tricycle]]
* [[Utility cycling]]
* [[Unicycle]]
* [[Velocipede]]
* [[Velomobile]]
* [[Workbike]]

'''Other'''
* [[Human-powered transport]]
* [[Safety standards]]
* [[Timeline of transportation technology|Transportation technology, timeline of]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}
<!-- The following notes were found to not be in use when converting to cite.php:
*3 "The Stability of the Bicycle", David Jones, "Physics Today", April 1970: pp.34-40 (external link, below)
*4 Townsend (external link, below)
*6 "Cities for Cyclists" (external link, below)
*8 [[Effective Cycling]], John Forester
-->

==References==
* ''All About Bicycling'', Rand McNally.
<!--* ''The New Columbia Encyclopedia'' (This reference is overly broad) -->
* [[Richard Ballantine]], ''Richard's Bicycle Book'', Pan, 1975.
* Caunter C. F. ''The History and Development of Cycles'' Science Museum London 1972.
* Daniel Kirshner. ''Some nonexplanations of bicycle stability''. American Journal of Physics, 48(1), 1980. The abstract reads "In this paper we attempt to verify a nongyroscopic theory of bicycle stability, and fail".
* David B. Perry, ''Bike Cult: the Ultimate Guide to Human-powered Vehicles'', Four Walls Eight Windows, 1995.
* Roni Sarig, ''The Everything Bicycle Book'', Adams Media Corporation, 1997
* {{cite web | title=Randonneurs USA | work=PBP: Paris-Brest-Paris | url=http://www.rusa.org/pbp.html |date=March 31, 2005}}
*US Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. "America's Highways 1776-1976", pp.&nbsp;42–43. Washington, DC, US Government Printing Office.
* [[David Gordon Wilson]], ''Bicycling Science'', MIT press, ISBN 0-262-73154-1
* David V. Herlihy, ''Bicycle: The History'', Yale University Press, 2004
* Frank Berto, ''The Dancing Chain: History and Development of the Derailleur Bicycle'', San Francisco: Van der Plas Publications, 2005, ISBN 1-892495-41-4.
* ''The Data Book: 100 Years of Bicycle Component and Accessory Design'', San Francisco: Van der Plas Publications, 2005, ISBN 1-892495-01-5.
* {{cite web|url=http://www.didyouknow.org/bicycles.htm |title=Bicycle facts |accessdate=2006-07-25}}

Other authors: [[Eddie Borysewicz]], [[Greg LeMond]], [[Davis Phinney]], [[Connie Carpenter]].

==External links==
{{commons|Bicycle|Bicycle}}
{{wikisource|1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Bicycle|Bicycle (1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article)}}
* [http://www.pedalinghistory.com/ Pedaling History Museum] The world's largest bicycle museum
* [http://www.pepa.gr/en/pepa.html P.E.P.A.] Τhe official site of Cycling Association of Veteran Athletes of Greece
* [http://www.greenoptimistic.com/2008/04/16/home-made-electric-bicycle/ Home Made Electric Bicycle ]
* A range of [http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/tpm/tal/cyclefacilities/ Traffic Advisory Leaflets] produced by the [[Department for Transport|UK Department for Transport]] covering cycling.
* [http://www.OldRoads.com/ Menotomy Vintage Bicycles] – Databases of antique bicycle photos, features, price guide and research tools. Very large archives.
* [http://gotoes.org/bikestuff/index.htm The Bicycle - Worlds most efficient form of transportation] Discussion of the Bicycle and its advantages over motor vehicles
* [http://sheldonbrown.com/ Brown, Sheldon] (2005). Extensive Online [http://sheldonbrown.com/glossary.html Bicycle Glossary]
* Hudson, William (2003). [http://www.jimlangley.net/ride/bicyclehistorywh.html Myths and Milestones in Bicycle Evolution]. Retrieved March 30, 2005.
* [http://www.sciencetech.technomuses.ca/english/collection/cycles.cfm A History of Bicycles and Other Cycles] at the [[Canada Science and Technology Museum]]
* Jones, David E. H. (1970). [http://ist-socrates.berkeley.edu/~fajans/Teaching/MoreBikeFiles/JonesBikeBW.pdf The Stability of the Bicycle]. Scanned in copy for download for personal use.
* [http://www.indiana.edu/~liblilly/awheel/awheel.html The World Awheel: Early Cycling Books at the Lilly Library]
*[http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Bicycles/Maintenance_and_Repair Bicycle Maintenance] :A Wikibooks series
* [http://bicycletutor.com/ Bicycle Tutor] - Bicycle repair video tutorials.

<!--spacing, please do not remove-->

{{Human-powered vehicles}}

[[Category:Cycling]]
[[Category:Cycle types]]
[[Category:Human-powered vehicles]]
[[Category:Sustainable technologies]]
[[Category:Appropriate technology]]
[[Category:Bicycles]]

{{Link FA|uk}}
{{link FA|ru}}

[[af:Fiets]]
[[am:ብስክሌት]]
[[ar:دراجة هوائية]]
[[an:Bezicleta]]
[[ast:Bicicleta]]
[[az:Velosiped]]
[[bn:বাইসাইকেল]]
[[zh-min-nan:To̍k-lián-chhia]]
[[be-x-old:Ровар]]
[[bs:Bicikl]]
[[br:Marc'h-houarn]]
[[bg:Велосипед]]
[[ca:Bicicleta]]
[[cs:Jízdní kolo]]
[[cy:Beic]]
[[da:Cykel]]
[[pdc:Beik]]
[[de:Fahrrad]]
[[et:Jalgratas]]
[[el:Ποδήλατο]]
[[es:Bicicleta]]
[[eo:Biciklo]]
[[eu:Bizikleta]]
[[fa:دوچرخه]]
[[fr:Bicyclette]]
[[ga:Rothar]]
[[gd:Rothair]]
[[gl:Bicicleta]]
[[gan:腳踏車]]
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[[hi:सायकिल]]
[[hsb:Koleso]]
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[[is:Reiðhjól]]
[[it:Bicicletta]]
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[[jv:Pit]]
[[kn:ಸೈಕಲ್]]
[[ka:ველოსიპედი]]
[[kk:Велосипед]]
[[sw:Baisikeli]]
[[lo:ລົດຖີບ]]
[[la:Birota]]
[[lv:Velosipēds]]
[[lb:Vëlo]]
[[lt:Dviratis]]
[[hu:Kerékpár]]
[[mg:Bisikileta]]
[[ml:സൈക്കിൾ]]
[[mr:सायकल]]
[[arz:بيسكليته]]
[[ms:Basikal]]
[[my:စက်ဘီး]]
[[nah:Omalacatl]]
[[fj:Basikeli]]
[[nl:Fiets]]
[[nds-nl:Fietse]]
[[ja:自転車]]
[[no:Sykkel]]
[[nn:Sykkel]]
[[nrm:Bike]]
[[uz:Velosiped]]
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[[pt:Bicicleta]]
[[ro:Bicicletă]]
[[qu:Iskaymuyu]]
[[ru:Велосипед]]
[[scn:Bicicletta]]
[[simple:Bicycle]]
[[sk:Bicykel]]
[[sl:Dvokolo]]
[[sr:Бицикл]]
[[sh:Bicikl]]
[[su:Sapédah]]
[[fi:Polkupyörä]]
[[sv:Cykel]]
[[tl:Bisikleta]]
[[ta:மிதிவண்டி]]
[[te:సైకిల్]]
[[th:จักรยาน]]
[[tr:Bisiklet]]
[[bug:ᨔᨛᨙᨄᨉ]]
[[uk:Велосипед]]
[[vec:Bicicleta]]
[[vi:Xe đạp]]
[[fiu-vro:Jalgratas]]
[[wa:Biciclete]]
[[war:Bisikleta]]
[[wuu:脚踏车]]
[[yi:ביציקל]]
[[zh-yue:單車]]
[[bat-smg:Dvėratis]]
[[zh:自行車]]

Revision as of 22:44, 18 February 2010

"velo" redirects here. For the binding, see VeloBind.
A mountain bike, a popular multi-use bicycle.
File:Pedelec-wildwind.jpg
A European city bike, an example of a bicycle designed for transportation. Also an example of a motorized bicycle.
A time trial racing bicycle.
For other uses, see Bicycle (disambiguation).

ride skateboards ya skatists

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