 |
This article does not cite any sources. Please help improve this articlebyadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Road cycling" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (September 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Road cycling is the most widespread form of cycling. It takes place primarily on paved surfaces. It includes recreational, racing, and utility cycling. Experienced road cyclists generally obey the same rules and laws as other vehicle drivers and are often referred to as vehicular cyclists.
In the context of utility cycling, road cycling fulfils various purposes including commuting and also general transport for work, e.g., bicycle messengering and leisure. There are many types of bikes that are used on the roads, from BMX bikes through to high end road bikes with the road bicycle being the most common type.
Bikes are usually made from one of four different materials (or a combination of two or more of these materials). These are steel, aluminium, titanium, and carbon fiber. Throughout the world the most commonly used material is steel as it is relatively cheap, strong and is much easier to repair than the other materials that can be used.
Road cycling is an activity most commonly performed on a bicycle and is usually referred to as road biking, bicycling or simply biking. Road cycling is one of the most widespread types of cycling; appearing to hit a recreational peak in the United States during the winnings of Lance Armstrong in the Tour de France. It is a highly publicized and viewed sport in almost every country in the world. The extraordinary efficiency of the bicycle makes it a very popular item for recreational fun, transport, or in racing. It is performed on roads and pathways, but mainly is restricted to concrete or pavement.
Common courtesy when road biking is to obey the same rules and laws as other vehicles. Being observant and at tentative while riding on a road with traffic is very important. Due to the aerodynamics of a road bike, bikers along side of the road may be hard to see by passing motorists. To appear more noticeable, wearing bright and reflective colors will reduce the chance of an accident.
Road bicycles have drop handlebars and multiple gears, although there are single and fixed gear varieties. Road bikes also use narrow, high-pressure tires to decrease rolling resistance, and tend to be somewhat lighter than other types of bicycle. The light weight and aerodynamics of a road bike allows this type of bicycle to be the most efficient self-powered means of transportation a person can use to get from one place to another. The drop handlebars are positioned lower than the saddle in order to put the rider in a more aerodynamic posture.
 | This cycling-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
