Home > Learning Center > Bicycle Frame

Bicycle Frame

A bicycle frame is the body of the bike. It’s also the part of the bike that must stand up to the rigors of the trail, road, track, or wherever your bike finds itself. The material composition of your bike’s frame will tell a lot about its character and the type of riding it is suited for.

For instance, if you went with a low grade brand like Huffy for your bike, odds are you have a steel bicycle frame. Steel frames are the entry level of the biking world. If properly built, a good steel frame can outperform a low grade aluminum frame. But that steel frame will also cost more than the low grade aluminum too. The cheapest bikes around feature poorly constructed steel frames that are welded together.

A step up from steel for bicycle frames is aluminum, it is generally lighter and stronger per pound than steel is, although as mentioned above there are exceptions to this rule. It is suitable for most applications, from road biking to hardcore mountain biking. Its versatility is a big factor in its success as a framing material.

But if you want a truly cutting edge bicycle frame you’ll probably be looking for a carbon fiber frame. That’s right, before you could get carbon fiber auto parts; the best cyclists in the world were putting together bike frames with the stuff. It’s the lightest material out there, and if you’re looking into competitive racing it’s the way to go. However the stress put on joints in mountain biking makes it less than ideal for that application unless the frame features reinforcements at the joints.

 

Bicycle | Bicycle Parts | Learning Center | Site Map | Links | Contact | Home

©