A bicycle is a very efficient form of personal transport. Its history dates back over 200 years to the early designs of the second half of the 18th century.

Modern,mass produced bicycle frames are made from high quality light weight steel alloy tubing,with steel or light alloy handle base. The wheels have steel or alloy rims and nuts,with steel wire spokes. The pedals and cranks are fitted to a short axle running through the bottom bracket of the frame;this axle also carries the chain wheel with the rear drive sprocket mounted on the nuts of the rear wheel.

Sport bicycles are fitted with gears,either fully enclosed type built into the rear wheel,nut or the derailleur type comprising a set of rear sprockets of different sizes. The enclosed type is a miniature form of the epixcyclic gear box,the type of gearing used on many vehicle transmission systems,and gear changes are accomplished by engaging different combinations of gear wheels within the hub.

The general used cycle is of 22 inch or 26 inch wheel size with the usual speed of 12-14km/hour and the standard loading capacity is 15-20 kgs. The sports cycle on the other hand is equipped with a variable speed gear having wheel six 26 inches,and usual speed 16-20 km/hour. Standard weight is 17kgs and loading capacity is 5-10 kgs.

BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARD(BIS)SPECIFICATION

BIS has developed the following specification for the cycles. They are :
IS: 10616-1983-Methods of tests for bicycles and sub assemblies,size 4 A.
IS: 3404-1979-Ladies bicycles frames(First revision)

IS: 3798-1966-Glossary of terms used in bicycle industries( Reaffirmed 1976)

They can be available from: Bureau of Indian Standards,Manak Bhawan,9,Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
New Delhi- 110002

MARKET POTENTIAL
Being the cheapest and easiest conveyance media it has attracted the low income group people in India. This is also doing very good from the point view of foreign trade and economy in our country. It is a vehicle which consumes no fuel in its driving,hence,neither it suffers the fuel crisis,nor,it pollutes the atmosphere. As pollution is the main concern,now-a-days,keeping it in view new varieties of cycles are manufactured.

Again the demand for cycle depends upon certain parameters,such as growth of population,want for easy conveyance,blended with economic condition. Considering all these points the demand for cycle is increasing. India is one of the leading exporters of bicycles. India exports the bicycles to Afghanistan,Egypt,China,Iraq,Iran,Italy,Kenya,Malawi,Mauritius,Nepal,NIGERIA,Sri Lanka,Tanzania,Uganda,UAE,USSR,Zambia,Yugoslavia and others.


Culled from: MIDWEEK CONCORD/July 8,1998.