Bicycle: Advancements in its technology

If your last bicycle was a 3-speed butcher's bike or a 10-speed 'racer', you are in for a pleasant surprise. Advances in materials and technologies mean that bicycles are generally lighter weight and work much better than they did 10, 20 or 30 years ago.

In the area of technological advancement man seems to be on the ball. Every almost every day there is something new to behold. From computers to cell phones and the list can go on. Who ever thought that such a thing as a bicycle would be in the list of things that needed a touch of technology? Well you are in for a surprise, we have done it again.

 New bicycle technology boasts Light Weight and Safety: Advances in material technology mean that you can now get a lightweight aluminium-framed bike at a fraction of the cost you would have paid twenty years ago. In more recent years, carbon fibre bikes have become more affordable too. That's a good thing because a lighter bike is easier to pedal up hills. The use of better materials can also improve safety. Witness the 4-fold improvement in wet weather braking performance that came about when aluminium alloy rims superseded chromed steel wheels.

Comfort: Suspension is now ubiquitous on mountain bikes (and some hybrids) because it smooths the bumps, thus enabling you to ride further and/or longer and/or faster over rough terrain. It's a misconception that suspension is just for expert mountain bikers. Quite the opposite. Suspension helps keep the tyres 'planted' while the wheels roll over obstacles that might have otherwise pitched you off the bike. Suspension therefore helps compensate for lack of skills when you start out, and helps build confidence as you climb the MTB learning curve.

These are only two of the areas in which improvements have been made. The entire bicycle has been redesigned and boasts maximum benefit for its rider. I would show you the contrast between the old and new bicycle.