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