Adult bicycles: sizes, types and choices

A bicycle for adults differs from a children's bike not only in size and geometry, but also in the distance that an adult biker will overcome on it. Every sports shop or hypermarket counts on such an audience - at least 80% of sales are made up of “adult” bicycles, their range is rich and varied.

An “adult” bicycle differs from a children's bicycle in the following parameters.

1. The size is selected for any height - from 150 to 195 cm. This range of adult growth in "length" is less than that of children - from 80 to the same 150 cm. Because of this, there are only 5 of its varieties - there are much more options for a child, about 10, since children cannot buy a bicycle "for growth".
2. The distance traveled by a biker per day is 5 ... 200 km. Parts must be extremely durable and strong, and spare parts for them - presented in a wide range. The child will “break down” a kilometer from the house and will be able to roll or convey a faulty bicycle. An adult biker during a bike trip or traveling across Russia, having “broken” into the wilderness, will walk tens of kilometers to the nearest city bike market or bike shop, driving his faulty bike along the highway or along a dirt road.
3. The bike should ride equally well on the smooth asphalt of streets, avenues and highways, to overcome slopes of up to 12 degrees, including mountain trails, to drive along forest and country roads and along the grass through a field where there is no road. There are no children's bikes of this level. Teenage, with several speeds, for boys and girls from 14 years old are approaching entry-level mountain models.
4. The weight of the bike is 7 ... 17 kg (if it is not an electric bike). Children's bicycles weigh 4 ... 7 kg, teenagers - 7 ... 12. An important role is played by the material of the frame, the quality and weight of the rubber, a set of parts (for example, for speed), which is assembled for a specific model.
5. Dimensions Compared to children's bicycles, the size of an “adult” can be significant. An important role here is played by the size of the frame, the diameter of the wheels and the distance between the bushes of the latter, the height of the steering wheel and saddle (taking into account the range of adjustment of their height), the width of the tires. The modest dimensions, comparable with teenagers, also have folding models (transformer) of the middle and upper price ranges.
6. Electrical equipment. It is unlikely that you will find an electric bike for a child. For adults, over the past 10 years, dozens of electric models have been created.
7. Only a two-wheeled bike. The exception is Izh-Bike, 3-wheeled cargo bicycles for adults.

The dimensions of the main (large) parts, even with ordinary bicycles, vary significantly.

The wheel rim material of an adult bicycle is most often an alloy based on aluminum, for example, with magnesium. Duralumin may be less common, but aviation aluminum is still considered the best alloy - it can withstand significant overloads. For the best strength, the rim is made in the form of a box-like structure, which remotely resembles a profile cut of a metal-plastic window.

The lattice (box) structure gives the rim more strength - than if it were like a regular single-layer hoop. Steel rims have become obsolete back in Soviet times. Compared to a layer of the same thickness of aluminum, they are too heavy.

After the material and construction of the rim, its diameter is considered the most important characteristic. For regular bicycles, it ranges from 24 to 29 inches. Several sizes - 24, 26, 27.5, 28 and 29 rule the "wheel ball" in most bikes. Highly specialized folding bikes have a diameter of 16-22 inches - as a rule, these are elite manufacturers, for example, the English company Strida, which produces ultra-compact models with a non-standard folding frame that allows you to fold the bike almost to the diameter of this wheel itself.

Several parameters are responsible for the overall characteristics of the frame.

1. Rostov - the height of the seatpost from the pedal sleeve to the point where it ends, giving way to the seatpost “finger” (pin, inner tube), on which the saddle “sits”. For adult bicycles of standard equipment, sizes from 14 to 24 inches are used.
2. Standover - the distance from the ground to the middle of the upper tube of the frame connecting the seatpost to the front - the steering glass. The middle point of the upper pipe is chosen because in most modern bicycle models this pipe is not parallel to the road surface, but has a slope of the front end upwards - relative to the rear. The average distance between the height of the standover and the crotch of a rider standing above the road frame and standing on the ground (and not on the pedals) is 5 cm, this is what guides you when choosing a bicycle with a suitable frame size.
3. Wheelbase Length - the distance between the front and rear wheel hubs. The average distance may be 1.2 m.
4. Main frame length - the distance between the front wheel and pedal bush. It can not be more than 0.8 m - for one person (not in case of a tandem) this is enough.
5. Carriage Height - distance from pedal sleeve to road surface.

The weight of a regular adult bike (including multi-speed models) is between 7 and 17 kg. Folding can weigh up to 20 kg - depending on the body kit. But electric bicycles, due to the presence of motor bushings and a set of batteries, “get fat” by another weight up to 10 kg. In total, a prefabricated factory electric bike can weigh up to 30 kg - like the first-generation Soviet color TVs. And if the classic bike can be carried alone to your floor on the stairs even with the elevator not working, then with an electric bike without the help of an elevator or a ramp you are unlikely to succeed.

Models with a reinforced frame allow heavyweights with a weight of up to 120 kg to ride. If you are a thin-bodied person weighing 60 kg with a height of, for example, 180 cm, and the bike is designed for a weight of 100 kg, you can hang it on the steering wheel on both sides, for example, with a 10-kg bag of potatoes, and fix it on the trunk the third is the same. When loading bags in the hypermarket, leave a small margin of the maximum load of at least 10-15 kg - this will allow you to avoid sagging and the danger of a sudden breakdown of the frame when driving along a not quite flat road.

In this way, their thinness is often turned into a plus, working, for example, as a bicycle courier delivering machinery and equipment whose dimensions do not interfere with the management of the bicycle.

In addition to sizes, the important role is played by the geometry and the material from which the velorama is made. In addition to the classic frame, resembling an ordinary or truncated rhombus, a parallelogram, bent frames with smooth lines, which are in demand among girls and women, are widely used. Also, some companies based on compact folding bikes have developed their own outlines.

So british Strida surprised the world with bikes with an A-type frame, which allows you to position the saddle near the steering wheel, while keeping the cyclist in balance while riding, allowing him to sit upright, like on a stool. The steering wheel is located almost above the pedals. The dimensions of folding bicycles will only benefit from such solutions - they are easy to store in any, even the closest utility room, not to mention the apartment.

The best materials for a bicycle are steel and titanium - they are practically “eternal”. To damage such a frame, you need to get into a serious accident - for example, drive into a parked car at a speed of 30 km / h, collide with another bicycle of the same kind or try to get down the mountain on a bike not intended for downhill.

Most racing bikes use carbon - carbon fiber, sometimes reinforced with steel wire. The disadvantage of carbon fiber is the easy destruction from shock and vibration, the direction of which does not coincide with the direction of riding, so most cyclists who have never taken part in bicycle races are unlikely to appreciate carbon as a worthy alternative to steel and aluminum alloys.

Young men and middle-aged men are likely to choose a bike of strict colors - the colors will be dim, from blue-black to dark green. If the guy is a racer, he may choose “sports” colors, such as those in which his sports uniform is painted, from trousers to sneakers. The choice of a bicycle for coloring T-shirts and sneakers is a good solution, it will emphasize the style. For men, functionality is more important - for example, 2 dozen or more speeds, a special steering wheel that allows you to hang several gadgets, etc.

As for the ladies, their choice is bright colors, among which pink, purple, purple or a combination of red and white may well be. If a girl dyed her hair, for example, in a pink blond, then a cruiser will be a good choice Minerva City M309, whose frame and fork are painted in a pale pink shade. In women, unlike men, the flight of imagination is much higher - they attach particular importance to the form factor and aesthetic performance.

Rating of manufacturers, starting with the top one, located as follows:

• Specialized
• Giant
• Trek;
• Merida;
• Scott;
• Cube
• Cannondale;
• Ghost
• Norco;
• Author;
• Bianchi;
• Schwinn;
• Bergamont;
• PRIDE
• Orbea;
• Kellys
• Spelli;
• Comanche
• Ardis and several other brands.

Among the bicycles used by most bikers who are far from cycling, but who allow themselves as a regular entertainment weekend trips and bike trips, bicycles of brands Stark, Stern, Stels. There are domestic - "Desna", "Stork", rapidly gaining popularity. Specialized brand deserves special attention - the most expensive, but also the highest quality. This company has its own design bureau that regularly offers bold, ambitious solutions. The company has not lost ground for many years.

Beginners should pay attention to 3 basic components: frame, bushings and rim. The best material for beginners is steel: it does not burst immediately if microcracks begin to form, but breaks gradually, this gives the cyclist time to pay attention to the breakdown, preserving his life and health. Many begin to ride it on steel bicycles.

Be sure to choose a bike with a frame, the size of which is right for you. Having chosen the “wrong” frame, you are guaranteed to encounter excessive fatigue and pain in the joints during long-distance driving over long distances. If you often, for a long time and go far away - the "right" frame is vital to you.

Unary ones can bend when abruptly crossing the railroad or when riding on stones, which is why “eights” are formed on them, leading to unnecessary beating of the whole base, destroying bearings and hubs in bushes.

In bushings, standard industrial bearings are most often used. All mechanics in the bushings should be steel, not aluminum or other alloys - steel is considered the most wear resistant. Fake bicycles often use low-quality iron and aluminum bearings. The result is deplorable - such a bike often breaks after one or several trips with a total mileage of less than 100 km.

For trips to the country or in the countryside, the usual road bike without depreciation on a fork or rear wheel is quite suitable. But many young men and women immediately buy a mountain bike for themselves - a hardtail (with depreciation only in the front) or a two-suspension (full-suspension depreciation). They can be understood.

1. Several speeds help to go against a strong wind (one of the smaller ones is chosen) and downhill in a rather mountainous area.
2. A fork and spring with springs soften shaking on broken asphalt and pebbles.
3. Aggressive tread on tires is indispensable where the dirt and gravel road is wet from frequent rains.

Progressive riders choose a hybrid - a bicycle that combines the advantages of a mountain and a simple road bike. The marching all-terrain vehicle for all roads and paths has wheels 28-29 inches, 7-21 speeds and "full suspension". For riding on fields, snow and ice, take a look at the fat bike - the rim diameter is 28-29 inches, but the tire width reaches 4 (versus 1.5 ... 2.5 for other bicycles). Speed ​​lovers choose lightweight (road) models.

Tips for choosing an adult bike in the video.