Usually, after riding a popular mountain bike a little, a person realizes that he prefers fast riding on smooth asphalt. What to do?

How to make a bike faster?
Firstly, I don’t want to change my bike, and secondly, a road bike is quite expensive.

There is a solution: improve the technical characteristics of your mountain bike.

Aerodynamic drag is important for driving fast

About bicycles

The most popular are mountain bikes, which appeared in the 70s.
Their appearance is associated with improvements in the quality of materials and inventions in braking and mechanical devices.

Among mountain bikes there are several subtypes. All models have much in common:
hard steering;
brakes on both wheels;
often two transmission switches.

Most often, aluminum hardtail models with suspension front forks are purchased.
They are designed for mid-seat seating, equipped with disc brakes and additional equipment: trunk, fenders, etc.

The following factors influence the speed of a bicycle:
aerodynamic drag;
condition of the road surface;
wind strength and direction;
technical characteristics of the bike.

Experienced cyclists advise ways to improve the technical characteristics of a bike.

Tires have a big impact on driving speed.
Regular mountain bikes have tires with spikes. It has a small area of ​​adhesion to the asphalt, so it dampens the bike’s roll.

For asphalt roads, slick tires with a smooth surface and drainage grooves are effective, which provide the bike with high inertia and do not slip on a wet road.

Tire with studs, semi-slick and slick

There is a rubber option - semi-slick, which has a smooth surface in the middle and spikes only at the edges. Wheels with such rubber stabilize the bike well when cornering.

With slick tires, the cyclist spends less energy on accelerating and maintaining speed, the bike travels a longer distance without pedaling, and the speed increase can reach up to 10 km/h.

While riding, the suspension fork sways, so the cyclist's efforts are dampened and the speed does not increase.
If you install a rigid (rigid) fork or a shock-absorbing fork with locking, the speed will increase.

The carbon rigid fork is lightweight and lightly cushioned due to the elasticity of the material.

An aluminum fork is stiffer, costs less, but weighs more.

When replacing, the size of the rigid fork is selected to match the geometry of the frame, and the existing angle of the steering column is maintained.

Bicycle forks

The speed of the bicycle depends on the condition of the large sprocket. As a rule, it is replaceable.

For maximum speed, a large sprocket is installed at the front.
On a traditional bike it has 42 teeth.
After installing a 48-tooth sprocket, the driving speed increases.

Replacing sprockets

When riding, the cyclist presses the pedal with one foot, while the other leg does not work.
Pedals have been developed to improve foot performance.

Contact models, which use a special cleat on the shoe and a groove on the pedal, use both feet.
When one foot moves its pedal down, the other foot pulls the second pedal up.

There are pedals that fix the legs in the stirrups (toe clips).
This fastening can be easily made with your own hands from a thin strap.

The speed of the bicycle increases if the “trampling” pedals are replaced with pedals that fix the legs.

Pedals and toe clips

The resistance to the headwind, and therefore the speed, depends on the cyclist’s position.
A horizontal landing is considered ideal, which can be achieved in various ways.

Firstly, they raise or move the saddle, secondly, they change the stem of the steering wheel or lower it, and thirdly, they shorten the handlebars to shoulder width.
In addition, there are sun loungers for the steering wheel. They have armrests for ease of control.

Correct riding position

The riding speed depends on the technical condition of the bike. If you decide to buy a bicycle in Ukraine, provide quality service.
To make it move faster, you need to:
once a season, go through all the nodes;
replace worn bearings;
adjust the brakes so that they do not touch the rim;
clean the stars and derailleur rollers;
wash the chain with gasoline and lubricate it with liquid lubricant;
tighten the chain.

Bike maintenance

In conclusion, it should be noted that speed depends not only on the condition of the bicycle. First of all, the cyclist must have good physical fitness.
High speed is possible if you ride a lot and watch your weight. So you've learned how to make a bike faster.

But not every craftsman has an experimental chainsaw on hand. And just for those who have already run out of chainsaws, and the scope for mechanization of everyday life is still very wide, I suggest that you familiarize yourself with the review of homemade products using muscle power. Today we will not consider the great variety of vehicles born from the minds of the inventors of the bicycle - this is a topic for a separate discussion. We will look at stationary solutions.

Perhaps the simplest and most obvious application for a pedal drive is an electric generator. The great Chinese industry produces a great variety of all kinds of generators that can be installed on a bicycle in a few minutes, without even losing mobility:

• A generator roller pressed directly against the wheel tire.

• A hub-generator installed in the front wheel of a bicycle instead of the original one.

• Or even a USB charger that fits directly onto the chain drive.

But, as the reader will correctly grin, these methods are extremely unsporting for our homemade person. Therefore, we take a sports, or not quite sports, bicycle, a table, two rollers from a dot matrix printer, a car generator, an inverter and some bright paint:

It is assembled relatively quickly, which cannot be said about the following designs:

And if you combine a bicycle generator with a computer, you can spend a couple of hours on the Internet with health benefits.

The next popular use of pedal power surprised me a little. It turns out that washing machines are quite often assembled with pedal traction.

Although it looks like a washing machine, it is already a full-fledged industrial machine for stirring soap:

To grind apples and beans, the following two bicycle grinders were created:

Watering tomatoes in a greenhouse is not a problem when you have a bicycle pump at hand... Or rather, a bicycle pump under your feet:

What does the Chinese woman Kin Min Sal, soy cutlets, cook for lunch? And here the bicycle chopper is indispensable. “It’s a big family,” as the poet said.

In the hot countries of Africa, it is very difficult to supply electricity, and sometimes you just want to drink a glass of cocktail. Not a problem when you have a bike blender:

The hazelnut is certainly hard,
Although walnut too,
However, this unit
They can be easily cleaned by:

In North American countries, the corn shelling machine is probably popular. I couldn’t figure out how she does it from the photo. It is necessary to note the brutality of the design, apparently this is a tribute to the American traditions of industrial design.

I thought it would be simple and simple to supplement the manual drive of the mill with a pedal one:

A compact snow blower will help you quickly clear paths. Of course, if you have such smooth paths.

And in conclusion, I would like to especially mention our fellow countryman - plumber Mikhalych from Chelyabinsk, who designed and assembled a unique spinning rod design that allows you to increase the speed of fishing. In addition, due to the increased diameter of the reel, high torque is achieved and, accordingly, the tension force of the fishing line increases. Unfortunately, the issues of effective braking of the reel when casting gear and reliable fixation of the fisherman on the shore have not yet been finally resolved.

With the onset of warm weather, cycling in the fresh air becomes increasingly important. It’s nice to see whole families riding their iron friends around the park area and bike paths on their days off. promotes health, general physical development and is extremely useful, even if it is not strenuous sports training.

The variety of bicycle transport on the modern market is very large and can satisfy the most demanding buyer, both in functional terms and in cost. Moreover, the price for individual copies can reach several thousand dollars. There are a huge variety of bicycles of various types, for example: mountain, track, sports, city. Homemade bicycles are a separate group. They are distinguished from each other by various parameters of weight, design, wheel sizes, number of speeds, etc.

No need to buy a bike

An alternative to buying a bicycle is to make it yourself. Homemade bicycles are very common and are distinguished by their original design. But to implement such an idea, you need to be patient and have certain professional skills and tools. And it’s best to have access to a workshop equipped with the necessary tools and equipment. Assembling homemade bicycles from ready-made parts will not be difficult; anyone can do it.

How to make a bicycle?

In order to assemble you will need a detailed drawing. You can draw it yourself, but it is best to use ready-made options, which are not difficult to find if you wish.

Using a ready-made drawing will help you avoid possible mistakes when assembling your vehicle. It will be impossible to ride a bicycle made according to a technically incorrect drawing. In addition, if the balance of elements is incorrectly calculated, the load on some parts and assemblies will be increased, which can lead to their accelerated wear. And soon the most critical moment may come when the vehicle breaks down or falls apart. There is a very high risk of injury and disfigurement if a breakdown occurs while the bicycle is being used.

Can't do without shopping

It is worth understanding that some mechanisms, such as chains and wheels, cannot be made at home, or even in a workshop. In any case, they will have to be purchased ready-made. In this case, it is worth paying attention to the material from which the wheel rim and spokes are made. The tire must be selected taking into account the operating conditions of the bicycle. If you plan to drive in quiet urban conditions, then regular city tires will do. If you plan to drive aggressively or operate in rough terrain, you will need tires with reinforced tread to improve the wheel’s grip on the ground. Homemade tricycles are very popular and original nowadays. Immediately before assembling the bicycle, you should carefully study the drawing and determine the exact sequence of actions.

The stronger the metal, the more durable the bike

To produce the frame, you will need tubes of various diameters made of durable metal. It will not be superfluous if the metal surface is treated with an anti-corrosion compound. This will extend the life of the bike.

According to the drawing, you need to make all the elements of the frame and connect them together using After the frame is ready, it should be checked for defects and, if necessary, all the nuances should be finalized.

When making a fork, you will need to use special pressing equipment. You can use devices and tools designed for forging metal for these purposes. When the fork elements and frame are almost ready, you need to drill all the necessary holes in them for attaching wheels, sprockets and pedals.

Next you need to make the steering wheel, saddle and pedals. If these parts are left over, they can be repaired or simply brought back to normal if they are in good technical condition. The chain, wheels and brakes must also be checked for serviceability and repaired if necessary. Problems can arise due to leaky spokes, lack of lubrication on the brake mechanism, and poor-quality bicycle chain links.

Homemade bicycles, or rather, their parts, can be painted by first covering them with a primer. Even the thinnest layer of paint will protect the metal from corrosion. This will help maintain the appearance of the parts in proper condition.

Assembly and running-in

If all the components are prepared, then you can attach them to the frame for a preliminary assessment of the technical suitability of the assembled vehicle. The first thing you should pay attention to is the quality and straightness of the bike, the ease of pedaling, the functionality of the brakes and other, less significant nuances.

If the ride is not satisfactory or is impossible without some effort, then you need to understand the existing inconsistencies, correct them and carry out further tests. If all parts and components are in good condition, the bicycle should be completely disassembled for painting.

Buy and collect

If there is no particular desire to resort to such a complex option, then it is easier to purchase ready-made components and assemble bicycles with your own hands, adapting them to your needs and wishes. You can build a lightweight version using a titanium or cheaper aluminum frame. It can be equipped with any components of appropriate quality and value. It is possible to construct a homemade version of such transport that will be the most convenient and practical. If any component or component fails or simply no longer suits its characteristics, then it can be replaced with a new one without any problems.

It is worth remembering that frequent use of a bicycle instead of a car not only has a positive effect on health, but also improves the environmental situation.

The rhythm of life in a big city today is increasingly accelerating. Therefore, it becomes quite difficult to get by with two of your own. Cars or public transport are usually used as a means of transportation. But both of these options have their drawbacks. Of course, there are also advantages, but they often cannot outweigh the disadvantages or are simply unattainable. That's why bicycles are taking up more and more space in everyone's life.

What is the reason for such popularity?

Explaining what a bicycle is is stupid, to say the least. After all, every person, even if he did not have a two-wheeled friend in childhood, at least saw one of these.
The advantages of a bicycle as a means of transportation are quite sufficient - you can start with the fact that you will only have to spend money on its purchase. All subsequent operations, such as routine repairs, can either be done using scrap materials, or they do not deserve attention at all due to small expenses. For example, replacing tubes or tires is a small thing compared to the same car repair.

Plus, no fuel is required - everything runs on your muscle power. And it’s easier to ride a bicycle; in extreme cases, you can even turn onto the sidewalk - which, for obvious reasons, is unacceptable for a car. Also, as a bonus, you get an increase in health, since constant exercise has a beneficial effect on the general condition of the body. Moreover, there is also a plus in the form of respect from family and colleagues, even if at first it is not visible due to misunderstanding.

Which bikes are better?

We will now talk about such a thing as a bicycle frame. This is indirectly connected with the appearance of himself. This is logical, since road, mountain, and sports bikes are different from each other. But there are also more specific types - like BMX, etc.
It is impossible to say unequivocally which model is better. The bicycle frame (its design), wheels, number of gears and speeds - all this differs greatly from model to model. Accordingly, you need to select according to certain characteristics. The latter includes the location of the action, the frequency of travel, as well as the required speed and maneuverability. There is no need to talk about the need for jumps and even more tricks, since this is already a rather specific area.

Why is a suitable frame important?

The point here is that this is the load-bearing part of the structure, on the basis of which everything else is assembled. A bicycle frame is a necessary thing to determine the size of the wheels, and the type of vehicle in general.

In addition, the material from which it is made also plays a role. There is a direct relationship between weight, price, and scope of application. However, there are other, less noticeable, but also significant factors - such as selection by height, weight, etc.

Bicycle frame manufacturing

Today you can buy an iron horse almost everywhere. They are produced industrially, and therefore there will be no difficulties. The other question is, will the standard model suit you? The whole point here is in standardization, that is, reducing differences to a minimum. But can you be sure that you are an average person without any deviations such as too long arms or legs? Most likely no.

This necessitates hand assembly - the best bicycle frames are made this way. Naturally, the price of such units is quite high, but the quality is also good. However, there is another option - try to make the frame yourself. This is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance, and it has enough advantages.

Subtleties of manufacturing: geometry

A bicycle frame can be made in a variety of ways. This will primarily affect the way you get on the bike. Naturally, this is how the type of future transport is determined - it will be highway, mountain or sports.

For all three, this characteristic can be quite low, since air resistance is an important aspect of the ride. Nevertheless, urban options are often made with a high seating position, because this is enough for trips to the park or even to work.

A common option today is a cruiser. Here it is worth paying special attention to the dimensions of bicycle frames, since the entire design is based on ensuring that there is no load on the back and arms at all. Achieving such a result, as you understand, is unrealistic - and therefore everything is simply reduced to a minimum. The design of such iron horses was borrowed from American choppers.

What does frame geometry affect?

As mentioned earlier, this part of the structure is key, since it is the load-bearing support for everything in general. That is, the spatial location of the wheels, pedals, steering wheel and saddle is determined precisely by the design of the frame.
Naturally, adjustment can be made, but only the slightest - if you make everything too mobile, then the reliability will greatly decrease, and therefore such options are rarely resorted to.

Bicycle frame sizes are very important because of comfort. All people are different, and therefore it is quite difficult to make a bicycle for someone specific - separate workshops do this. In this case, the geometry is adjusted in such a way as not to create awkwardness or inconvenience during control.

Preparation method

It would be wise to explain how to make a bicycle frame. It is easiest to use metal pipes due to the high reliability and availability of the material.

Pipes of the same diameter will be used - you need to make supports for everything that was described earlier. That is, wheel mounts are one of the most important parts. How the parts of the front and rear wheels will be connected will show the future type of two-wheeled transport.

After this, choose a support tube for the saddle - provide for height adjustment, this can be quite important. You also need to make room for the steering column. However, this must be done while assembling the frame structure for the front wheel - this is what you have to control. But the frame design usually just provides a hole for threading the steering column through. And in general, wheel holders are not always included in the design - this is usually for bicycles that are not dismountable.

More specific parts, such as the “gearbox” mount and pedal cups, are placed at the end. The last stage is painting and installation of all additional equipment.

Is it possible to make everything from carbon? It will be even better this way. The material is lighter and sometimes stronger than some metals. But it’s not that easy to get it, and it’s worth working only with certain skills.

Bicycle frame according to height

It was already said above that dimensions greatly influence the comfort of use. So, the size is the parameters of the length and height of the structure according to which it is assembled. That is, if you increase or decrease the size of the frame, the length (and sometimes the diameter) of the seat tube, top and down tube will change.

It is worth noting that the correct determination of such a parameter as size is mandatory for everyday use of a bicycle. In this case, a comfortable ride is mandatory - this will help avoid back pain, as well as unnecessary stress on the limbs.

In cases of sports competitions or professional training, a perfectly suitable bicycle is generally required. It's all about distances and time in the saddle - any discomfort will eventually turn into real pain, or even serious injury.

Factory bicycles differ in size markings - everything is exactly the same as in clothing - from XS to XL. However, this is not always an exact science, which is why DIY assembly remains a common alternative.

Comparative sizes

The dimensions of bicycle frames by height are determined as follows.
For mountain or city models, the smallest bikes will be suitable for a height of 155 cm, S - this is already up to 165 cm. Medium sizes start from 156 cm to 178 cm. Large - from 172 cm to 185 cm, and extra large - already to the limit, then there are up to 195 cm. Of course, there are also special models for larger heights - they are not mass-produced, but there are usually several batches. So if your height is above 190 cm, you can look for the XXL marking.

Road and, equally, road bikes are produced with less difference. Accordingly, from small to large - 157-163, 163-170, 170-178, 178-183 (intermediate size M/L), 183-190 and 190-198 cm. Thus, it is easy to determine the size.

Folding bicycles are a little more complicated because they are suitable for all heights at once - you will have to choose a manufacturer.

Technical details

An important aspect of riding a two-wheeled friend is taking care of it. That is, repairing bicycle frames generally takes quite a long time if problems do occur.

Various problems can arise - this is due to the rather complex design and many attached parts. However, you can figure out almost everything on your own. In general, below are listed what problems may arise, as well as the procedures that need to be carried out.

Lack of trimming of the disc brake clipper. This causes serious problems - for example, uneven and rapid wear of the pads.

Correcting mechanical damage - any collision can cause one of the pipes to bend, leaving you unable to drive.

Facing the steering tube - if this is not done, then some difficulties may arise with precise control.

In addition, you may want to somehow improve your transport. This is usually done in two ways. In the first case, people attach various useful things to the frame. These include a bottle cage, pump mount, fenders, trunk, and so on. The second option is tuning and painting. This is airbrushing, illumination and so on. But this is a topic for a separate article.

So, we found out how to make a bicycle frame with your own hands at home.

How to make a bicycle?

Creating a bicycle exclusively with your own hands is a difficult task, but doable and extremely interesting. Of course, you will need a large number of tools and certain knowledge that will have to be acquired during the assembly process, but all this is quite within the capabilities of an enthusiastic person. So, let's try to figure out how to make a bicycle with your own hands.

During the work we will need the following tools:

• welding machine;
• Bulgarian;
• drill;
• vice;
• set of clamps;
• screwdriver;
• pliers;
• adjustable wrench;
• set of open-end wrenches;
• set of hexagons;
• set of files.

Making a bike

Determining the type of bike

The first thing to start making a bicycle is to decide what it should be like, what the rider’s position should be and, accordingly, the geometry of the frame. It is worth clarifying that in this article we will talk about creating a city bike, “cruiser” or “city bike”. It is these models of two-wheeled transport that will allow you to fully realize all your creative ideas. At the same time, they are not so demanding on the material, from
which will make the bicycle frame. In the case of sports equipment, it would be better to either purchase a ready-made one or assemble your own sports bike from ready-made components.

But, at the same time, in a home workshop it is quite possible to create a stylish city bike of your own, unique model.

Depending on the type of bicycle chosen, we determine the rider’s seating position. It happens

• high;
• low.

Low seating position is typical for sports bikes. A high, relaxed seating position is precisely what is typical for “city” bicycles, the so-called “cruisers”. This type of bicycle is incredibly popular in the West, primarily because of its appearance. It is this geometry that is typical for chopper motorcycles, in particular for the most famous such brand: Harley-Davidson. Since we chose a city bike, the seating position in our case will be high.

Developing frame geometry

We find out what the complete geometry of the frame should be, that is, the exact location of the main components of the future bicycle. There are only 4 of them:

• steering column;
• saddle;
• pedals;
• wheels.

Create a sketch of a bicycle

In order to correctly arrange the frame, you need to draw a sketch of the future bicycle. You can take this one as an example.

The next step is to build a 3D scale model of the bike. For
This requires skills in working with special engineering programs, for example, AutoCAD.

It should be noted that you can assemble the frame solely according to the sketch, but this will greatly complicate the work process.

Choosing the material for the frame

Now we choose the material for the frame. Today, industry uses various types of materials, from iron (the worst option) to carbon. But in the case of self-assembly of the frame, the best option would be steel, or more precisely, steel pipes.

Such material can be given almost any shape and the frame can be welded with high quality. Industrial steel frames usually come with a “lifetime” warranty and are strong and reliable.

Assembling the bicycle frame

Create a template

The best choice would be to print the model created on a computer at a scale of 1:1. If the work is planned to be carried out exclusively according to sketches, the template will have to be drawn manually, but strictly observing all dimensions.

Frame assembly

When the template is ready, we bend the steel pipes along it, cut them and adjust them to size.

Manufacturing of frame structural parts

There are three main details:

• glass for the steering column;
• glass for pedals;
• dropouts (rear wheel mounts).

Final frame assembly

After all parts of the frame are ready, they should be installed on the slipway. In this case, it is a special table on which all the components of the frame can be firmly fixed in compliance with the geometry.

The bicycle frame is welded in the slipway.

Cleaning and painting the frame

After welding, it is necessary to clean the weld seams using a grinder and a special nozzle. The entire frame should also be cleaned.

Automotive enamels are used to paint a bicycle frame. You can paint the frame yourself, using a spray can, or in a workshop. The second option is more durable.

In principle, this is the most difficult part of building a bicycle with your own hands.

Final assembly of the bike

Now we need to attach the remaining components and parts of the bicycle to the manufactured frame. Since we initially considered creating a “city bike,” all further advice applies specifically to this type of bicycle.

After the frame is completely ready and assembled, let's start assembling the bike with our own hands: