| A bicycle frame is the main component of | | | | and standing on the ground is called |
| a bicycle, onto which wheels and other | | | | clearance. The total height from the |
| components are fitted. The modern and | | | | ground to this point is called the |
| most common frame design for an upright | | | | standover height. |
| bicycle is based on the safety bicycle, | | | | Down tube |
| and is made of two triangles, a main | | | | The down tube connects the head tube to |
| triangle and a paired rear triangle. | | | | the bottom bracket shell. On racing |
| This is known as the diamond frame. The | | | | bicycles and some mountain and hybrid |
| main triangle consists of the head tube, | | | | bikes, the derailleur cables run along |
| top tube, down tube and seat tube. The | | | | the down tube. On older racing bicycles, |
| rear triangle consists of the seat tube, | | | | the gear levers were mounted on the down |
| and paired chain stays and seat stays. | | | | tube. On newer ones, they are integrated |
| The head tube contains the headset, the | | | | with the brake levers on the handlebars. |
| interface with the fork. The top tube | | | | Bottle cage mounts are also on the down |
| connects the head tube to the seat tube | | | | tube. In addition to bottle cages, small |
| at the top, and the down tube connects | | | | air pumps may be fitted to these mounts |
| the head tube to the bottom bracket | | | | as well. |
| shell. The rear triangle connects to the | | | | Seat tube |
| rear dropouts, where the rear wheel is | | | | The seat tube contains the seatpost of |
| attached. It consists of the seat tube | | | | the bike, which connects to the saddle. |
| and paired chain stays and seat stays. | | | | The saddle height is adjustable by |
| The chain stays run parallel to the | | | | changing how far the seatpost is |
| chain, connecting the bottom bracket to | | | | inserted into the seat tube. On some |
| the rear dropouts. The seat stays | | | | bikes, this is achieved using a quick |
| connect the top of the seat tube (often | | | | release lever. The seatpost must be |
| at or near the same point as the top | | | | inserted at least a certain length; this |
| tube) to the rear dropouts. | | | | is marked with a minimum insertion mark. |
| Unless otherwise specified, the | | | | The seat tube also may carry bottle cage |
| remainder of this article focuses | | | | mounts. |
| primarily on the diamond frame. | | | | Chain stays |
| The diamond frame consists of two | | | | The chain stays run parallel to the |
| triangles, a main triangle and a paired | | | | chain, connecting the bottom bracket |
| rear triangle. The main triangle | | | | shell to the rear dropouts. When the |
| consists of the head tube, top tube, | | | | rear derailleur cable is routed |
| down tube and seat tube. The rear | | | | partially along the down tube, it is |
| triangle consists of the seat tube, and | | | | also routed along the chain stay. The |
| paired chain stays and seat stays. | | | | chain stays provide a mount for rear |
| Head tube | | | | disc brakes. |
| The head tube contains the headset, the | | | | Seat stays |
| interface with the fork. In an | | | | The seat stays connect the top of the |
| integrated threadless headset, the | | | | seat tube (often at or near the same |
| bearings interface directly with the | | | | point as the top tube) to the rear |
| metal surface on the inside of the head | | | | dropouts. When the rear derailleur cable |
| tube. | | | | is routed partially along the top tube, |
| Top tube | | | | it is also routed along the seat stay. |
| The top tube connects the head tube to | | | | One combination aluminum/carbon fiber |
| the seat tube at the top. In a mountain | | | | racing frame design uses carbon fiber |
| bike frame, the top tube is almost | | | | for the seat stays and aluminum for all |
| always sloped. In a traditional-geometry | | | | other tubes. This takes advantage of the |
| racing bicycle frame, the top tube is | | | | better vibration absorption of carbon |
| horizontal. In a compact-geometry frame, | | | | fiber compared to aluminum. |
| the top tube is sloped. See Road and | | | | A single seat stay refers to seat stays |
| triathlon bicycles for more information | | | | which merge onto one section before |
| on geometries. | | | | joining the front triangle of the |
| Control cables are routed along mounts | | | | bicycle, thus meeting at a single point. |
| on the top tube. Most commonly, this | | | | A dual seat stay refers to seat stays |
| includes the cable for the rear brake, | | | | which meet the front triangle of the |
| but some mountain bikes and hybrid | | | | bicycle at two separate points, usually |
| bicycle also route the front and rear | | | | side-by-side. The seat stays also |
| derailleur cables along the top tube. | | | | provide a mounting point for the rear |
| The space between the top tube and the | | | | rim brakes. |
| rider's groin while straddling the bike | | | | |