Cycling Technology : Bike Culture articles from Cyclorama

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Cycling Technology

How bikes work. Materials, techniques, insights, ideas: from a range of experts.

Ball bearings

The wheels go round and round but what is actually going on in the greasy bits of your bike? An expert explains.

DAVID WRATH-SHARMAN makes bikes with a difference. In his retreat in rural Wales he designs and makes very special, utterly unique and entirely custom-built off-road bicyles Here he sets out his thinking and his ambitions.

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Materials and processes.

Steel and aluminium are the most commonly used cycle frame materials. In this extract from his book MIKE BURROWS explains what the numbers mean and how the tubes are joined together.

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Beyond the Diamond. Composite monocoques.

The shape of cycle frames, constrained by the characteristics of available materials, has hardly changed in over 100 years. In this extract from his book MIKE BURROWS considers how developments in materials technology will shape the future.

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Gears without Tears

Having lots of gears is very fashionable, but they add weight and complexity. In this extract from his book MIKE BURROWS asks: do we really need them?

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The Wheel

In this extract from his book MIKE BURROWS asks; How much of wheel lore is science and how much myth? Do spoking patterns make a difference? And do disc wheels give a hard ride?

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Lubrication

In this extract from his book, Bicycle Design, MIKE BURROWS looks at how we lubricate our bikes

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Standing on one Leg

Cantilevered wheels may look odd, but they make sense for many bikes. In an extract from his book, Bicycle Design, MIKE BURROWS examines the monoblade alternative.

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