The wheelset in the construction of the bicycle is of great importance, since during operation it is the wheels that bear the entire load. They hold the weight of the vehicle and the cyclist, cope with the roughness of the road, taking all the blows on themselves. Performing all these functions, the wheels with their light weight should be strong enough for such loads.
How is the wheel
The main characteristic of a bicycle wheel is its diameter, or the size of the wheel, on which the maneuverability, speed and compactness of the vehicle depend. A bicycle wheel is not such a simple system as it might seem at first glance. The wheel structure consists of several elements: tires, rims, bushings and spokes. It is the rim that determines the size of the wheel. The tire protects the rim from damage while riding on bumps. Spokes in this design connect the rim to a hub that has a pair of bearings and is attached to a bicycle frame. The rear wheel hub can be supplemented with a brake mechanism and a gear shift system.
Types of Bicycles
There are several models of bicycles: their main differences are the size of the bicycle wheels and frame structures.
- Mountain biking can be used on any road, but the main purpose of this model is riding on rough terrain. It is not designed for speed. Basically, the size of the wheels of a bicycle of this type ranges from 20 to 26 inches. The mountain bike tire will be slightly wider than usual and with a deep tread pattern, and the frames can have a different design.
- A sports or road bike is designed for good roads. This is a fast bike with a narrow tire with virtually no pattern. Such models do not have shock absorbers, so you can’t ride them off-road.
- A road bike is ideal for daily trips on city roads. The frame design can be male or female, and the wheel size of such a bicycle is 28 inches. Usually it is equipped with protective shields from getting the trouser leg into the chain, wings, trunk, basket, headlight, signal and reflectors.
- Children's bike must be matched to the age of the child. So, a tricycle is suitable for a three -year-old baby . For an older child, the choice will be much wider, a teenager can also pick up a large bike, the main thing is that the frame matches the height of the child. Basically, the size of the wheel of a children's bike ranges from 12 to 24 inches.
How to choose a bike size
The main mistake of the choice is the wrong frame size. A bicycle frame, like wheels, is measured in inches. Manufacturers produce various sizes of one model of a bicycle, however, often only one size from the entire size is presented in stores.
The height of the frame is also important. The correct height is the one when the bike is between the legs, and from the body to the frame there is a distance of 7-10 cm. Otherwise, if you accidentally jump off the vehicle, you can be injured.