Many different types of vehicles exist around the world for personal transport and delivering freight. One of the most common and affordable personal transit vehicles, meanwhile, is the bicycle. Ever since the first bicycles were invented around the turn of the 20th century, they have spread around the globe and proven highly popular. These vehicles can be upgraded or fixed at will, and replacement parts from bike shops can be found at one’s local retailer. A bicycle shop may offer bike brake systems such as Dia Compe brake levers, for example, for someone who needs new brake systems. Dia Compe brake levers might be found along with bicycle toe clips, bike stems, leather saddles, new pedals for bikes, and more. A person may look online for “Dia Compe brake levers,” for example, and find local retailers that stock the right items. What is there to know about bicycles around the world today?
The Uses for Bikes
Bicycles are among the most flexible vehicles in the world, and common, too. In fact, there are nearly one billion of them in the entire world, and that means that they outnumber automobiles roughly two to one. These are among the few wheeled vehicles that do not need fuel or a motor, which makes them inexpensive, quiet, and easy to maintain. They are even light enough to carry by hand and can be stored nearly anywhere, even on a car’s roof. This makes them the standard mode of transport in some developing parts of the world, where people primarily ride bikes instead of cars or trucks.
A bicycle may be used for work and commuting. In developing parts of the world, bikes often replace the function of cars, as mentioned above, and they can be ridden a great distance. Some merchants around the world use bicycles to deliver their wares to a marketplace, and baskets and palettes balances on the bicycles can carry impressively large loads. A farmer, for example, might deliver baskets of rice or fruits to market on board his bicycle. And in more developed parts of the world, some employees choose to ride bicycles for the health benefits as well as cutting back on pollution. It is well known that heavy traffic often builds up a lot of air pollution, so some workers who go green can ride their bikes to work. Daily cardio also helps boost one’s health and burn fat, and can even reduce the chances of heart disease.
Sometimes, bicycles are ridden for leisure. Some bicycles have wide wheels, tough frames, and wide, soft seats for casual riding, such as around a park. These bikes may be ridden more slowly than racing bikes, and their soft, wide seats, or saddles, are ideal for the sitting bones. These bikes don’t have to be cheap, however; a casual rider can invest into their bicycle to make it powerful and comfortable, and parts such as Dia Compe brake levers can be bought and installed if the bike’s current parts are wearing out. These bikes may come in many different colors and styles for different riders.
Bicycles can also be ridden for sport. Bicycle racing is popular both to take part in and watch, and the most famous example may be the Tour de France. But many other bike races are held as well, such as charity races, and riders are there to win. These bicycles are made primarily for fast riding on pavement, so they tend to have large, narrow wheels and tires. The saddle, or seat, will be narrow and hard so that the saddle does not interfere with the rider’s rapidly pumping legs. The rider is more likely to lean forward rather than sit on their bike for very long, so the saddle is not designed with prolonged comfort in mind.
Bike Parts
Like any other vehicle, bicycles need maintenance and repair. Even without an engine, they may suffer from some technical problems. The bike chain may get stuck or run out of lubrication, for example, or a tire may get blown out or the brakes stop working. Spare parts can be found at one’s local retailer or online, such as Dia Compe brake levers and similar items. If need be, bike shop owners can help repair a bike’s parts.