| As a sport and a pastime cycling is growing on | | | | different beast to a road bike. In looks they are very |
| popularity at a fantastic rate. We're in the midst of the | | | | similar but the track bike is totally stripped of |
| cycling track season which is getting a fantastic | | | | components, no gears and no brakes. The only things |
| amount of television coverage. As well as that there is | | | | that go to make up a track bike is wheels, frame and |
| the Olympics coming up in August in which cycling will | | | | pedals, that is it. A track bicycle runs on a fixed wheel |
| feature heavily. Cycling is a great sport to get into; | | | | which means that as you pedal the wheels and pedal |
| you've got so many options open to you with where | | | | cranks go around, as with a standard road bike but |
| you go and what distance you cover as well as | | | | you cannot free wheel with a track bike as the chain |
| choosing a style of bike that suits your needs. | | | | is directly linked to the rear wheel. This takes a little bit |
| Road racing bicycles are designed for use on normal | | | | of time to get used to but is easy enough to come to |
| highway roads and are ideally suited for covering | | | | grips with after a while. You can usually hire a track |
| greater distances than other types of bicycles. | | | | session for one hour which will include the use of a |
| Because the tyres on a road bike are thinner than | | | | track bike. As track bikes are always ridden indoors |
| those on different bicycles it is easier to ride over | | | | there is no need for bike lights to be fitted. |
| distance, the bikes are also made of lighter material | | | | The popularity in mountain bikes has grown |
| and the components that go to make up the bike are | | | | overwhelmingly in the past few years. In reality if you |
| less weighty. All these things add up to making a very | | | | are looking to start cycling in earnest then a mountain |
| light racing bike. The gearing on a road bike is also | | | | bicycle may be your best option to start with. You |
| different and usually comprises of twelve to fourteen | | | | tend to ride a mountain bike in a more sit up right |
| gears. It is possible to get road bikes designed for riding | | | | position which many people find more comfortable to |
| on different road surfaces depending on the road | | | | start off with. I would always recommend fitting bike |
| surfaces where you live; it is possible to even get a | | | | lights to a mountain bike, especially if you go off road. |
| road bike specifically designed for riding on paved | | | | Mountain bikes are generally heavier than road bikes |
| roads. Road bikes all come with the capacity to fit bike | | | | but come with much lower gearing for getting up |
| lights to the front for safety. | | | | steep hills. Mountain bikes are generally not used for |
| Track cycling is very popular, if you have a track near | | | | riding as many miles as road bicycles as their weight |
| you and you like cycling it is well worth a trip to the | | | | tends to make them harder to propel. |
| velodrome to give it a go. A track bicycle is a totally | | | | |