User:Dskahill/Road Cycling

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Road cycling is the most widespread form of cycling in which cyclists ride on paved roadways. It includes recreational, racing, commuting, and utility cycling. As users of the road, road cyclists are generally expected to obey the same laws as other vehicle drivers motorists, however there are certain exceptions. or riders and may also be vehicular cyclists. While there are many types of bicycles that are used on the roads such as BMX, recumbents, racing, touring and utility bicycles, dedicated road bicycles have specific characteristics that make them ideal for the sport. Road bicycles have thinner tires, lighter frames with no suspension, and a set of drop handle bars to allow riders to get in a more aerodynamic position while cycling at higher speeds. On a flat road, an intermediate cyclist can average about 18-20mph, while a professional rider can average up to 25mph. At higher speeds, wind resistance gets stronger and the light, aerodynamic road bikes that have developed over the years ensure that most of the riders' energy is spent propelling the bike forward rather than fighting the wind resistance.

History
Road cycling is an activity most commonly performed on a bicycle. Road cycling in its modern form was invented in Germany on Aug 12, 1817.

In 1817, Karl von Drais created the first bicycle which used heavy steel and wood, but since then, the road bicycle industry has adopted aluminum, carbon fiber, and titanium as the main materials for production. The first steel bicycles weighed as much as 80 pounds, whereas the lightest carbon fiber road bikes now can weigh as little as thirteen pounds.

On May 31, 1868, cycling officially became a sport with the first race occurring at Saint-Cloud Park in France. While this first race was not considered a road race, road cycling races began to pop up throughout Europe in the 1870s. Road cycling as a form of recreational activity as well as a way to commute began to gain traction shortly after these first road races. Since its origins, millions of people have adopted road cycling for either recreation or commuting.

In 2020, it was estimated that about 44.5 million people worldwide participate in road cycling, which is an increase of about five million people since 2019. Demand for road bicycles as well as other types of bicycles continued to increase throughout 2021. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the cycling industry saw a massive increase in sales which amounted to a worldwide market size of $57.5 Billion USD, about 35% of which can be attributed to road cycling. Partially due to this increase in popularity as well as supply chain issues, 2021 the cycling industry saw a global bicycle shortage in the second half of 2021.

drop handlebars and multiple gears, although there are single and fixed gear varieties. Road bikes mostly have 21 or more gears. Road bikes also use narrow, high-pressure tires to decrease rolling resistance, and tend to be somewhat lighter than other types of bicycle. The drop handlebars are often positioned lower than the saddle in order to put the rider in a more aerodynamic position. In an effort to become more aerodynamic, some riders have begun using aerobars. Who and when aerobars where invented is unclear but they seem to date back to the early 1980s. The light weight and aerodynamics of a road bike allows this type of bicycle to be the second most efficient self-powered means of transportation, behind only recumbent bicycles due to the latter's higher aerodynamic efficiency.

Mountain bikes fitted with slick or semi-slick are also popular for commuters. Though less efficient, the upright riding position allows the cyclist a better view of traffic, and they can also be readily fitted with mudguards, cargo racks and other accessories. Mountain bikes are usually ridden on unpaved roads and tracks but they are not to be confused with cyclocross bikes.

A hybrid form of road cycling has been gaining solid ground lately called cyclo-cross. Cyclo-cross (sometimes CCX, CX, cyclocross) is bicycling off-road and not to be confused with mountain biking. Cyclo-cross bikes are nearly identical to traditional road bikes but tend to have a longer wheelbase, a higher bottom-bracket for improved clearance over obstacles and tread on their tires for the purpose of riding on unpaved roads and rough trails.

Riding Safety Within the United States
Sharing the roadways with other motorists is an unavoidable aspect of road cycling, so road cyclists are generally expected to follow the same laws as their motorist counterparts. That being said, road cyclists also have the same fundamental rights as motorists. In the U.S., laws for cyclists vary by state, so it is important to keep up to date on your state's road cycling laws.

You can find a breakdown of all cycling laws by state here.

Helmets
While laws on wearing helmets vary by state in the United States, helmets significantly reduce the risk of serious injury and death in the event of an accident.

Crash Prevention
In 2019, 846 cyclists were killed in road related accidents. Most fatal bike crashes were caused between 6 P.M. and 9 P.M. and about 78% of fatal crashes in 2019 were in urban areas.

Some tips for crash prevention are:


 * Check to make sure that your brakes work.
 * Wear reflective gear as much as possible.
 * If you have shoe laces, make sure they are tied so they do not get caught in the drivetrain.
 * Plan your route with caution.
 * Use bike lanes as much as possible.
 * Invest in a rear tail light.

The Road Cycling Industry
Some of the major companies within the road cycling industry are:


 * Accell Group
 * Atlas Cycles (Haryana) Ltd.
 * Avon Cycles Ltd.
 * Cervelo
 * Dorel Industries Inc.
 * Giant Bicycles
 * Merida Industry Co., Ltd
 * Shimano
 * SRAM
 * Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc.
 * SCOTT Sports SA
 * Trek Bicycle Corporation

Road Cycling Races
See Road bicycle racing.