The evolution of road bicycles
Bicycle technology on the road is constantly evolving. These are the most outstanding advances.
Over the decades, technology has evolved by leaps and bounds. These advances have been applied to every area of our lives. In the case of road bikes, we can assure that they have undergone some very drastic changes throughout history.
For that reason, today from your road bike shop in Tenerife, we are going to tell you how technology has evolved in road bikes in recent decades.
The beginnings are always hard
The first road bikes were made of wood and had wood and iron tires and a fixed gear. It wasn't until 1887 that rubber tires with an inner tube began to be used, replacing the heavy and uncomfortable iron covers.
Undoubtedly, this was a very important step in the evolution of road bikes. So much so that, more than 125 years later and with some small modifications, we still use the same type of tire.
Advances in derailleurs
The way gear shifting was done before the 1930s was very curious. The wheels had two different gears, one on each side of the wheel. To change gears, you had to stop the bike, get off, remove the wheel, turn it around, and put it back on.
As you can imagine, it was not a very comfortable task, especially if you were climbing a mountain pass and wanted to start descending with a different gear ratio. It wasn't until the late 1930s that the gear shift through a derailleur, operated by a cable, appeared.
Although it was a very important change in the possibilities of road bikes, the biggest change came in 1985. In that year, Shimano introduced synchronized shifting, which is what we all know today.
Light Frames
From the beginning of the history of road bikes, a very clear objective has always been pursued: to reduce weight without losing strength.
With that objective, frames started to be manufactured in steel. Later on, aluminum began to be used, a lighter and more flexible material that allowed frames to be created with more aerodynamic shapes.
And, searching for the same objective, less weight and more strength, today carbon fiber is the main material used to manufacture road bike frames.
These have been, in our opinion, the most relevant technological advances in road bikes. However, there have been other very important advances, such as electronic gear groups, quick releases, power meters, automatic pedals, disc brakes, aerodynamic helmets, STI shifters…
Without a doubt, road bikes have undergone a radical change since their beginnings. It has never before been possible to enjoy this sport with so much technology under our power. Don't you have a latest generation road bike yet? Visit our store and we will help you find the best bike based on your tastes, preferences, and needs.