Racing Bikes

(aka road bikes) are designed for speed, and the sport of competitive road racing

• Road Racing. They have lightweight frames and components with minimal accessories, drop handlebars to allow for a powerful and aerodynamic riding position, narrow high-pressure tires for minimal rolling resistance and multiple gears. Racing bikes have a relatively narrow gear range, and typically varies from medium to very high ratios, distributed across 18, 20, 27 or 30 gears. The more closely spaced gear ratios allow racers to choose a gear which will enable them to ride at their optimum pedalling cadence for maximum efficiency.

• Time trial bikes are similar to road bikes but are differentiated by a more aggressive frame geometry that throws the rider into (i.e. "aero") riding position, sacrificing manoeuvrability for aerodynamics. They also feature aerodynamic frames, wheels, and handlebars.

• Track bikes, (fixed Wheel) intended for indoor or outdoor cycle tracks or velodromes, are exceptionally simple compared with road bikes. They have a single gear ratio, a fixed drive train (i.e. no freewheel), no brakes, and are minimally adorned with other components that would otherwise be typical for a racing bicycle.

Mountain Bikes

• Mountain Bikes are designed for off-road cycling, and include other sub-types of off-road bikes such as Cross Country (i.e."XC"), Downhill , and Freeride bikes. All mountain bikes feature sturdy, highly durable frames and wheels, wide-gauge treaded tyres, and cross-wise handlebars to help the rider resist sudden jolts. Most mountain bikes feature various types of suspension systems (e.g. coiled spring, air or gas shock), and hydraulic or mechanical disc brakes. Mountain bicycle gearing is very wide-ranging, from very low ratios to mid ratios, typically with 27 gears although 30 gears are beginning to be introduced.

BMX Bikes

• BMX bikes are designed for stunts, tricks, and racing on hilly dirt BMX tracks. They have a single gear ratio with a freewheel and are built with smaller frames and wheels with wider, treaded tires.

Pedals

Pedals - general overview

• There are many different types of bicycle pedals depending both on what kind of riding you do and on personal preference. Below are some of the most common types and the applications they can be used for.

• Traditional flat or platform pedals are still used in various incarnations by leisure riders, commuters, BMXers and jump and freeride mountain bikers. However even many people in these categories now prefer to use clip-in pedals.
   

• Clip-In Pedals These are often referred to as SPD's which is Shimano's name for their own pedal system. SPD type pedals work by having a cleat  which attaches to the bottom of the riders shoe. The rider then locates this cleat into the sprung mechanism on top of the pedal. As the cyclist pushes down the cleat should force the spring open and the cleat should lock into place with an audible clunk. To get out a rider twists their heel to one side forcing the cycling shoe cleat out of the spring. Confusingly these kind of pedals are often known as clip-less.

• Pedals with Toe Clips The older style of pedals still used by some riders are toe clips. This is a flat or platform pedal with a curved semicircular piece of plastic attached to the front which holds the riders toe in place. A strap then passes over the top of the rider's toes holding the foot onto the pedal. This is the type of pedal is generally found on the bikes you can borrow at Palmer Park.
  
  Both this older kind of toe-clip pedal and the more recent clipless  SPD type pedals are used for the same reason. Attaching the foot to the pedal allows power to be exerted more effectively during the entire pedal stroke. With a traditional flat or platform pedal you can only push down with your foot. You are thereby only using about 1/3 of the rotation of the pedals to push the bike forward. Toe clips and SPD's allow the rider to pull up on the pedal as well as push it down thereby increasing the amount of power that can be put through in every rotation. As the foot is fixed to the pedal they also stop the foot flying off the pedal when going over bumps.

Pedal type by discipline

• BMX Pedals. BMX riders generally use large surface flat or platform pedals with short  pins' poking out of them which helps to give extra grip. It is worth noting that BMX pedals have a different axle size from MTB and Road pedals. They are ½ inch rather than 9/16. Many flat pedals are available with changeable axles so that they can be used on either mountain or BMX bikes. Some BMX racers do use SPD type pedals for the greater power they offer.

• Mountain Bike Pedals. There are numerous different types of pedals used by mountain bikers. Cross country bike riders tend to use small clip in pedals. The most popular tend to be something like the Shimano M520, M540 and the M959. Many riders also use the Crank Brothers Egg Beater style pedals. These pedals are essential the clip in mechanism and nothing else.

• Mountain Bike (cross country Pedals). Some cross country riders and most all mountain riders use pedals such as the Shimano M545 and the Crank Brothers Candy and Mallets. These are essentially the clip in mechanism pedals mentioned above with a metal or plastic cage around them to give a greater surface are for the foot to sit on. This is especially valuable in technical sections where you may wish to unclip so you are ready for a crash. Or where you are constantly clipping in and out as the cage provides somewhere for your foot to rest as you try and locate the clip in mechanism.

• Mountain Bike (Downhill & Freeride Pedals) While some DH, Freeride and Jump riders use the larger surfaced clip in pedals such as the Crank Brothers Mallet Pedals. Many prefer to use the kind of flat pedals beloved of BMXers as they allow for a quick exit from the bike when in trouble.

• Road Race/ Track Pedals Most road riders tend to use clip in pedals. However they tend to be of a different design from mountain bike ones. The classic pedals in this arena are made by Look although many other manufacturers including Shimano make their own versions. Here the cleat is much larger, often covering about 1/3 of the shoe. The pedal it clips into is also often much larger than those used by XC riders. This greater surface area helps to dissipate the force put through the foot on the down pedal stroke. This is especially important on road bikes where riders tend to push much bigger gears than on mountain bikes. The downside of the bigger pedal cleats is that you cannot  walk easily in these shoes.

Helmets

• Types of Bicycle Helmets Although most bicycle helmets are similar in design and function, a few varieties are designed for special types of riding and protection. Depending on the type of riding you typically do, you can choose the helmet that is best designed to protect you against injury. Wearing the right helmet is an important part of taking the precautions required for a safe ride. The Consumer Product Safety Commission sets the safety standards for bicycle helmets manufactured or imported for sale in the United States.

•  Road Bicycle Helmets Road bicycle helmets are meant for road cycling. These helmets have elongated and aerodynamic shapes to decrease drag. They also are heavily vented to reduce weight and increase airflow. Road helmets work in any cycling condition because they are versatile, lightweight and provide good protection.

  ·         Commuter Bicycle Helmets Commuter helmets, sometimes called sport helmets, are more rounded than road helmets but are otherwise similar in style and function. They are generally more affordable than road helmets, whose speed-related features increase the price. Commuter helmets are designed for bicycle commuters and other casual riders who want basic protection and are not worried about reducing drag and gaining that extra second.

  ·         Mountain Bicycle Helmets Mountain Bike helmets provide more protection in the rear of the head than either road or commuter helmets. They're designed for off-road riding where potential for injury is greater. Mountain bike helmets often have visors and more intricate fit systems to ensure they won't slide around during a bumpy and gruelling rides

• BMX helmets BMX helmets come in both cap and full-face designs that offer advanced protection tailored to the dangers of BMX riding. They protect heavily around the back and sides of the head, thus covering more area than other bicycle helmets. BMX helmets offer very little venting, because BMX rides are generally shorter than other types of rides and riders are less likely to become overheated