Cycling - Be technology aware.

Cycling has evolved into different forms that include mountain biking, dirt biking, freeriding, BMX, tandem, recumbent, touring and road bicycling. With this evolution, the technology of the bikes keeps changing to adapt to the unique requirements of the type of cycling that the bike is built for.

For example, mountain bike tires are designed to be fat (relative to road or touring bikes). The reason for this is that if you had narrow tires you would easily cut in to the dirt and you'd always be pedaling "to get out of the rut". Meanwhile, touring and road bikes use very narrow tires that are kept at a high pressure. The reason for this is to reduce rolling friction on the hard, smooth surfaces where these bikes are being ridden.

Tires are also manufactured with different tread patterns based on where the tire will be used. Mountain bike tires are "knobby" so they can grip the rough terrain where you're mountain biking. Road and touring bike tires use a smooth tread pattern because the smooth tread grips the smooth roads better and offers less rolling friction so they offer much better performance than fat tires for this application.

Another example of technology changing is for mountain bikes. Mountain bike frames are built to varying lengths. Since longer bikes offer more stability you'd think that all mountain bikes would use longer frames - but you'd be wrong. Though a longer frame offers more stability, it also takes away the shorter turning radius required for those single-track trails that many mountain bikers encounter.

The world of bicycling is ever-changing. When you're looking at updating your biking gear, be aware of how you intend to ride and then evaluate the ever-quickening improvements in technology that modify the overall riding experience.

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