What to look for in a bike frame?
Although there are a number of different frame designs, some more strange than others, the diamond shape is most popular. In this design, there is a main triangle that includes the following:
Head tube: The head tube is where the fork connects with the frame and where the headset sits to enable steering.
Top tube: The top tube connects the seat tube with the head tube and can be horizontal or angled up or down, depending on the style of the bike. Cables are frequently run along the top tube.
Down tube: The down tube connects the head tube with the bottom bracket. This is where your water-bottle cage usually goes. On older bikes, this was the location for the friction shifters.
Seat tube: The seat tube is what supports your butt by holding the seat post and saddle in place. It's often used for attaching water-bottle cages and bike pumps.
Bottom-bracket shell: This is a short, fat tube that holds the bottom bracket. It runs sideways across the bottom of the bike and is usually threaded.
Frame materials are often compared based on the qualities of strength, stiffness, and weight:
- Strength: Strength refers to the durability of the frame. If you crashed, a stronger frame would be more likely to survive the crash intact. For a mountain bike that's going to be put through some challenging trail rides, strength is important.
- Stiffness: Stiffness describes how much the frame material flexes under a force. For example, when you pedal, you're applying a force to the frame; around the bottom bracket, it'll flex slightly depending on the frame material.
- Weight: Weight is an important factor with frame materials. In an ideal world, you'd have the lightest frame possible so on your next climb it wouldn't feel like you were hauling a sack of potatoes with you. Of course, lighter frames require more expensive materials, which makes them cost prohibitive for some riders.
About the Author
woodchuck is an up and coming expert on crafts and hobbies. Do you want complete Shave Horses Designs? You can learn wood Bench Hold Down plans, or you can learn woodworking by going to Wood Bench Blueprint site.
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