What are the categories of bicycles

Road vehicles

The vehicle itself is relatively lightweight, with excellent exterior design and the fastest riding speed. Compared to mountain bikes and folding bikes, the comfort is relatively poor, the handling difficulty is higher, and the requirements for road smoothness are more stringent.

Mountain bike

Better riding comfort and shock absorption, simpler handling, suitable for various riding environments. The vehicle is heavier than road bikes and folding bikes, making it difficult to maintain high speeds on flat roads.

Folding bike

The vehicle is lightweight, portable, and occupies a small space. In addition to normal riding, it can also be folded and used for private cars, buses, and subways. Although there is no obvious speed advantage, the cycling safety factor is high, perfectly fitting for urban commuting.

Bicycle architecture (taking road bikes as an example)

Three core elements

Road vehicles are mainly composed of a frame, wheelsets, and transmission kits. When choosing a road vehicle, it is also important to consider the three core brands, materials, and prices mentioned above.

(1) The frame is the core architecture of a bicycle, and together with the seat, handlebars, and other components, it forms the "skeleton" of the bicycle.

(2) The wheel set is the easiest to understand, including wheels, tires, spokes, flower drums, etc.

(3) The transmission kit refers to the set of bicycle transmission and braking systems, and there are also terms such as small set, middle set, and large set in the bicycle circle, including manual shift, front shift, rear shift, toothed disc, flywheel, central axle, crankshaft, chain, brake, etc.

Frame material

The material of the frame can be divided into steel frame, aluminum alloy frame, carbon fiber frame, and titanium alloy frame. Steel frame is the oldest frame pipe in history, and to this day, household cars, station wagons, and other vehicles still use steel frames. Titanium alloy frame, also known as titanium frame, has advantages such as fatigue resistance and strong comfort. However, due to high processing difficulty and high price, its popularity is not high at present.

Compared to steel frames and titanium alloy frames, aluminum alloy frames and carbon fiber frames currently have a wider range of applications. Whether it's road bikes, mountain bikes, folding bikes, or even shared bikes, aluminum alloy is the most mainstream frame material,

Carbon fiber is a representative term for high-end car frames, and currently most racing cars in world competitions use carbon fiber frames.

Taking road vehicles as an example, aluminum alloy frames and carbon fiber frames each have their own advantages and disadvantages. Aluminum alloy frame has high cost-effectiveness and strong corrosion resistance, but its shock absorption effect is relatively poor, making it the first choice for beginners and ordinary enthusiasts. Carbon fiber frame is lighter, has better shock absorption effect, and is more comfortable. However, it may be damaged in some extreme environments, with high prices and installation and maintenance costs. It is more common among high-level riders and professional drivers.