Cycle sport

For the Queen song, see Bicycle Race.

The peloton of the Tour de France

Bicycle racing encompasses many forms in which bicycles are used for competition. Bicycle racing includes road bicycle racing, cyclo-cross, mountain bike racing, track cycling, BMX racing and bike trials and cycle speedway.

History

The first bicycle race is popularly held to be a 1,200 metre race held on 1868-05-31 at the Parc de Saint-Cloud, Paris. It was won by expatriate Englishman Dr. James Moore who rode a bicycle with solid rubber tires.

Types of races

Road bicycle racing the most popular type of bicycle racing. Racing typically takes place from spring through to fall, many riders spend the winter in countries in the Southern Hemisphere such as Australia where the racing for the year has just begun, to compete year round or to train. Races range from the multi-day stage races such as the Tour de France to single day "Classics" such as the Tour of Flanders and Milan-San Remo. Criteriums are races based on circuits typically less than 1 mile in length and lasts for a set time (60min, 90min, etc) rather than distance. Criteriums are the most popular form of road racing in North America. In Belgium Kermesses are particularly popular, a single day event usually 120+km in length. As well as road races in which all riders start simultaneously, individual time trial and team time trial events are also held on road-based courses.

Cyclo-cross originated as a sport for road racers during the off season, as a way to vary their training during the cold months. Races typically take place in the autumn and winter (the international or "World Cup" season is September-January), and consists of many laps of a short (2–3 km or 1–2 mile) course featuring pavement, wooded trails, grass, steep hills and obstacles requiring the rider to quickly dismount, carry the bike whilst navigating the obstruction and remount in one graceful motion. Races for senior categories are generally between 30 minutes and an hour long, with the distance varying depending on the ground conditions. The sport is strongest in the traditional road cycling countries such as Belgium (and Flanders in particular) and France .

Mountain bike racing is relatively new to the bicycle racing scene. It was very popular during the 1990's. Mountain bike races are entirely off-road, and usually involve a moderate degree of technical riding. There are several varieties of mountain bike racing; the main categories are cross-country and downhill but also 4X or four cross racing. For mountian bike racing and riding you should have wide nobbly tires with a deep tread.

Track cycling encompasses a variety of races that take place on banked tracks or velodromes. Events are quite diverse and can range from individual and team pursuits, one on one sprints, to various group and mass start races. Competitors use track bicycles which do not have brakes and also do not have freewheels.

BMX racing takes place off-road. BMX races are sprint races on purpose-built off-road single-lap racetracks. Riders navigate a dirt course made up of various jumps, along with banked and flat corners. Bike trials is a sport where riders navigate natural and man-made obstacles without putting down their foot, or "dabbing". It is similar to motorcycle trials. Points are awarded for bike handling skills, and as such there are similarities with BMX racing.

Cycle speedway is a form of bicycle racing that takes place on short outdoor dirt tracks, around 70-90 meters in length.

All of the above bicycle races involve diamond frame bicycles that basically consist of two triangles. An alternative form of bicycle is the recumbent. The recumbent is a bicycle on which the rider sits back in a full seat with the legs in a horizontal position. This puts the body in a position where there is less wind drag from the legs. Proponents of the recumbent claim that it provides a more comfortable riding position with no weight on the wrists. The recumbent is a more aerodynamic design of bicycle, and current world speed records were set with recumbent bicycles.

Bicycle races are popular all over the world, especially in Europe. The most competitive and devoted countries are generally thought to be Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Switzerland, although the United States also has a high international standing, as does Australia. The USA boasts three-time Tour de France and first American winner, Greg LeMond as well as seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, and Australia has seen success through the likes of Michael Rogers (World Road Time Trial Champion, 2003, 2004, and 2005) and Robbie McEwen (2002, 2004 and 2006 Green Jersey (sprinters jersey) winner in the Tour de France) and Stuart O'Grady who won the prestigious Paris-Roubaix in 2007.