Racing bicycle

a racing bicycle

A racing bicycle is a bicycle designed for racing on roads according to the rules of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). (Bicycles for racing indoors are track bicycles; bicycles for racing offroad are mountain bicycles or cyclo-cross bicycles; bicycles that race according to the rules of the International Human Powered Vehicle Association are recumbent bicycles.)

The two most important things about a racing bicycle are its weight and low aerodynamic drag (at least as far as can be achieved within the rules of the UCI). Everything else in the design is sacrificed for these properties. In order to reduce wheel weight and improve aerodynamic efficiency, racing wheels have few spokes, or are made of moulded fibreglass, carbon fibre,or aluminum. The resulting weaker wheel is not suitable for carrying heavy loads or landing from jumps, since this could cause spokes to break. To reduce both air resistance and friction on the road, tires are thin and smooth, and pumped to a very high pressure. Most racing bikes use "tubular" tires which are glued to the rims, instead of the heavier clincher tires found in most bicycles. Drop handlebars and optional handlebar extensions are combined with a raised seat post in order to put the rider in a more aerodynamic posture. The front and back wheels are close together so it can turn very quickly. It has many closely-spaced derailleur gears so that the rider can pedal at their preferred cadence. Components are as light as possible. The fastest racing bicycles thus need a great deal of maintenance.

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