| The year that the first bicycle was built was | | | | of different sized bike frames, including |
| 1817. This first bicycle was invented by | | | | different tube widths to help make the bike |
| German, Karl von Drais, and was called the | | | | lighter or heavier, depending upon your |
| "swift walker." This name was given to this | | | | preferences. |
| bicycle due to the fact that it did not have | | | | |
| any pedals and people "walked" rather than | | | | A lighter weight option would be aluminum. |
| rode on them. The first bicycles were | | | | This material is very light, but it also has |
| constructed of a wood bike frame that had two | | | | a big deficit. Due to the lightness of this |
| wheels to support this frame. The bike frame | | | | material, it is also very easy to bend and |
| was covered by leather for comfort. These | | | | this can be very bad. The high yield |
| first bike frames and the materials that they | | | | strength of aluminum is why a larger diameter |
| were constructed of have undergone many | | | | tube is used to help decrease the chance of |
| changes in the years since this first bicycle | | | | the bike frame bending. |
| was invented. | | | | |
| | | | The most popular material for bike frames is |
| Tubular steel bike frames began to replace | | | | titanium. Titanium has a natural shine and |
| the wooden frame during the latter part of | | | | it will take you very little effort to keep |
| the 1800s. These bicycles were very strong, | | | | it looking beautiful. It is on the high end |
| but they were also very heavy, which made | | | | of the price range, though, and this is why |
| them difficult to control and ride. Steel is | | | | it is not readily available to everyone. The |
| still a widely used material for bike frames, | | | | strength of titanium is amazing and it will |
| but there are other materials that are very | | | | keep its frame even after a wreck. |
| popular as well, including titanium, carbon | | | | |
| fiber, and aluminum. These lighter materials | | | | Carbon fiber is one more material that is |
| are mainly used in manufacturing the more | | | | used for bike frames. This material has been |
| expensive, high-end bike frames. | | | | widely used to build boats for a long time |
| | | | and it is a strong material that holds up |
| Material properties are important to keep in | | | | well to weight. It is even more expensive |
| mind when designing your bike. Each material | | | | than titanium, though, which means that it is |
| has its own unique properties and knowing | | | | only purchased by the rich or a professional |
| their elasticity, ultimate strength, and | | | | racer. |
| yield strength is essential in create the | | | | |
| perfect bike for you. These properties need | | | | Bike frames come in several different |
| to be in the proper ratio for you to have a | | | | designs, but the most popular design is the |
| bike that will withstand the type of riding | | | | double triangle or diamond frame. Designers |
| that you do. | | | | of bike frames have tweaked the design a |
| | | | little since the invention of the 1880s, |
| Steel is the strongest material that you can | | | | especially with different materials. This |
| get for bike frames. The strength of steel | | | | has helped make the bike lighter and more |
| makes it safer in a crash for a ride. It is | | | | aerodynamic. Changes may have been made to |
| also less expensive and easy to find, which | | | | make it more comfortable, but for the most |
| is a benefit for many riders. Steel is easy | | | | part, it is the same design as the very first |
| to work with and can be made into a variety | | | | bike. |