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