Advent of Carbon Frames
Summary Carbon-fiber bicycle frames emerged commercially in the 1970s and became increasingly important during the 1980s and 1990s. Unlike metals, carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer can be built with different fiber…
Velopedia Entries
An evolving encyclopedia of cycling brands, technologies, components, and history.
Birth of the Road Racing Groupset
Summary The road racing groupset developed gradually as component manufacturers began designing shifters, derailleurs, cranksets, brakes, hubs, chains, and sprockets as coordinated product families. Campagnolo played the central…
Panasonic Cycle Tech
Summary Panasonic Cycle Technology Co., Ltd. is a Japanese bicycle manufacturer within the Panasonic Group. Founded in 1952, it produces conventional bicycles, electric-assist bicycles and tricycles, replacement parts,…
Q-Factor
Summary Q-factor is the lateral distance between the outside faces of a bicycle’s crank arms at the pedal mounting points. It describes the width of the crankset, but…
BCD (Bolt Circle Diameter)
Summary BCD, or Bolt Circle Diameter, describes the diameter of the circle passing through the centers of a chainring’s mounting bolts. It is an essential measurement when replacing…
3x Drivetrains
Summary A 3× drivetrain uses three front chainrings with a multi-sprocket cassette or freewheel. It can provide very low climbing gears, high road gears, and relatively small steps…
2x Drivetrains
Summary A 2× drivetrain uses two front chainrings with a multi-sprocket rear cassette. The front derailleur makes large changes between climbing and higher-speed ranges, while the rear derailleur…
Stack
Summary Stack is the vertical distance from the center of a bicycle’s bottom bracket to the top-center of the head tube. Paired with reach, it provides a consistent…
Reach
Summary Reach is the horizontal distance from the center of a bicycle’s bottom bracket to the center of the top of the head tube. Together with stack, it…
Single Pivot Suspension
Summary Single pivot is a foundational rear suspension design in mountain biking, where the rear wheel moves in an arc around a single main pivot attached to the…
Faux-Bar Suspension
Summary Faux-bar suspension is a linkage-driven single-pivot design commonly identified by a pivot on the seatstay above the rear axle. The rear axle remains fixed to the main…
Horst Link Suspension
Summary Horst Link is a four-bar rear suspension layout identified by a pivot on the chainstay, forward and normally below the rear axle. The axle is carried by…