Touring bike
A touring bike, also called a city bike, is a bike that is designed for universal use in everyday life and is as comfortable as possible. A touring bicycle is not to be confused with a Reiserad (English touring bicycle ) which is adapted to the specific needs of travel. Touring bikes are also custom-made and have little in common with touring bikes. Historically, the term touring bike comes from the fact that these bikes were intended "for every tour", i.e. all-purpose bikes were and are. The name city bike has only been in use for a few years. The seating position on touring bikes is upright.
Characteristics of a touring bike are a consistently upright sitting position with a padded and sprung saddle , a chain case that is sometimes closed and mud flaps attached to the rear wheel, also known as skirt protection or coat protectors. The handlebars are usually wide and curved. Touring bikes usually have a gear hub (or no gear shift at all), wide tires (from 1 3 ⁄ 8 × 1 5 ⁄ 8 in 28 inches, less often 26 inches) and equipment suitable for everyday use, such as painted metal mudguards, lighting system, luggage rack and shopping basket. The ride comfort of touring bikes is increased by a comparatively large caster . In women's touring bikes, frames with a particularly deep frame tube have prevailed so that getting on and off is particularly easy.
Many historical bikes were touring bikes. Apart from the mentioned features of a touring bike, they were characterized by a massive, quite heavy frame with simple fork ends (straight slotted). This type of bicycle was widespread until the 1950s. In Austria they were colloquially called Waffenrad . The so-called Dutch bike is a special form of touring bike that is very similar to historical touring bikes.
Today's city bikes usually have high handlebars with a long stem, which, unlike the Dutch bike , is positioned quite far forward. This constellation is criticized , among others, by the ADFC as not recommendable. In addition to the reduced driving stability and driving safety, the associated posture leads to considerable back problems, especially due to the so-called straightening of the pelvis, which promotes the city bike. For scientists, this view is physically and medically untenable, the upright sitting on Dutch bikes causes the greatest back strain of all types of bike and the steering is less controllable the less load it carries.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Definition of bicycle types on fahrradmonteur.de
- ↑ http://ddr-fahrradwiki.de/Gabelenden
- ↑ http://www.fa-technik.adfc.de/Ratgeber/Sitzen/index.html
- ^ Michael Gressmann: Fahrradphysik und Biomechanik, 11th edition 2010 Verlag Delius Klasing, ISBN 978-3-7688-5222-7 , pages 85ff