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