Over the years, bicycles have become high-tech vehicles of pleasure refined in wind tunnels into aerodynamic marvels.
Some changes in road bikes:
Tubing (or frame): Many frames no longer are round cylinders. Instead, they feature teardrop shapes that provide less wind resistance.
Chains: Being made much thinner to accommodate increased number of gears, to a maximum of three gears on front derailleur and 10 on the back, providing a total of 30 gears.
Seats: Have features like a groove in the middle to reduce pressure, gelpack inserts for comfort and narrow lines to reduce friction on inner thighs and the back of the leg.
Shifters and brakes: Fully integrated, both within fingertip reach on the handle bar.
Handles: Drop bars on road bikes. The newest look: arrow bars (Y shape) with padded braces to cradle forearms.
Pedals: Design lets riders wear special shoes that clip into place.
Materials: Titanium and carbon, although aluminum is the most widely used.
Apparel: Sleek skin suits for comfort and speed, and shorts with chamois for moister wicking.
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Edited by Curt Wagner (cwwagner@tribune.com) and Drew Sottardi (dsottardi@tribune.com)
