Comparison Bergamont Vitox ATB Gent 2015 vs Bergamont Helix 3.0 Gent 2016

The year to which the manufacturer classifies the bicycle (more precisely, the model range that includes this model).

The significance of this parameter is that the model range is updated every year, and two bicycles with the same name, but from different years, can differ significantly in characteristics and equipment. At the same time, new models ( 2024, 2023) usually cost more, and older ones ( 2022, 2021, etc.) are sold at reduced prices.

It is worth considering that a later year of manufacture in itself does not necessarily mean more advanced characteristics - manufacturers can change them in the direction of simplification. So the model of previous years may be in no way inferior to the new bike.

Front fork travel on bicycles with damped suspension (see "Suspension"). Roughly speaking, the travel of a fork is the maximum distance that its size can be reduced by compression during shock absorption. The longer the fork travel, the better the shock absorption and “soft” ride it provides, but not all bikes require a lot of travel. Even within the same type (see “Purpose”), depending on the specific application and riding style, the optimal fork travel will be different — for example, freeride mountain bikes need good shock absorption, and for cross-country, on the contrary, a long fork travel will be redundant.

In general, if you do not plan on extreme cross-country riding or doing cycling tricks, this parameter is not critical. However, when choosing a bike for serious cycling, it is worth checking the recommended fork travel values (according to specialized literature or from professionals) and making sure that the desired model corresponds to them.

The nominal diameter of the bicycle wheels. Usually, this paragraph actually indicates the size of the bicycle tyres supplied in the kit, more precisely, the outer diameter of the tyres.

Wheel diameter is traditionally indicated in inches. For bicycles of different purposes and age groups (see paragraphs above), there are certain size standards. So, adult mountain models are equipped mainly with 26 " wheels, "road" and urban ones — with a slightly larger diameter (mostly 28 "), and BMX for the most part — much smaller; children's and teens' bikes have smaller wheels than similar adults' bikes.

Other things being equal, larger tyres hold speed better and work out small bumps on the road; and relatively small wheels are more “sticky”, they provide more torque and better traction. This is the reason for the above-described difference in wheel sizes between bicycles for different purposes. Such nuances will be useful if you choose a car from several models with similar characteristics, but different wheel diameters. Here it is worth considering the features of the planned application. For example, for urban and "road" driving — on a hard surface without any special irregularities and elevation changes — it is better to choose larger wheels, and for dirt roads with ups and downs — smaller ones.

Also note that tyres are replaceable, and many bikes allow the installation of tyres of...a “non-native” size — for example, 29 "on a model with 28-inch wheels. It is also worth considering that wheels (tyres) of the same size may differ in inner (landing) diameter These nuances are described in detail in special sources.

The model of the hub used in the front wheel of a bicycle.

The hub is the central part in the wheel through which the axis of rotation passes. Features of the behavior of a bicycle depend on its characteristics, in particular, “rolling” (the ability to move by inertia, without pedaling). Knowing the model of the front hub, you can clarify its characteristics according to the manufacturer's documentation, find reviews from other users, etc., in order to determine how this model suits you.

The number of speeds (gears) provided for in the design of the bicycle. Each transfer has its own so-called gear ratio — in this case it can be described as the number of revolutions that the driven gear (rear, on the wheel) makes in one revolution of the leading gear (associated with the pedals).

Different gear ratios will be optimal for different conditions: for example, high gears provide good speed, but are poorly suited for overcoming obstacles, because. the effort on the pedals increases significantly and the frequency of their rotation decreases. It has been scientifically proven that a cyclist develops maximum power at a cadence of about 80-100 rpm. Thus, the presence in the bike of several speeds allows you to optimally adjust it to different driving modes and features of the tracks in order to provide optimal pedaling force and frequency of their rotation. For example, on smooth asphalt it is best to drive in a high gear, and when overcoming a rise or entering a dirt road, you can lower it in order to effectively overcome resistance.

The number of gears in classic systems is directly related to the number of stars of the system (on the bottom bracket with pedals) and the cassette (on the rear wheel); it can be obtained by multiplying two numbers — for example, 3 stars of the system and 6 on the cassette give 18 gears. However, there is also the so-called planetary hubs — there are stars one at a time, and gear shifting is carried out by a mec...hanism built into the rear hub.

Note that the optimal number of gears depends on the purpose of the bike (see above), and it is not always necessary to have several of them. So, in mountain models, depending on specialization, there can be from 8 to 30 gears, in road ones — within 20-30, and some inexpensive city bikes and most BMXs do not have a gear shift system at all.

The number of stars (gears) of different sizes in a bicycle cassette. A cassette is a part of the rear hub that interacts directly with the chain, in other words, a gear or a set of gears mounted on the hub. In classical gear shifting systems, the number of gears directly depends on the number of stars in the cassette (for more details, see "Speeds"); a single chainring is used either in single speed bikes or in planetary hubs (see System Stars for more on these).

Model of a cassette — a system of rear wheel gears — mounted on a bicycle. Cassettes of different models differ in characteristics and can belong to different classes — from entry-level to professional. Knowing the cassette model, you can get acquainted with its features in more detail (according to official documentation, reviews, user reviews, etc.). This is especially important when choosing a bike for professional cycling.

Model of the derailleur (derailer) installed on the carriage with pedals as standard on the bike. For more information on why you need to know the model of a particular bicycle component, see paragraph "Cassette Model".

Type of shifters — devices that control gear shifting — installed on a bicycle. To date, the following types of shifters are used:

— Trigger. The design of this type is based on the use of 1 or 2 levers, as well as (sometimes) buttons located in close proximity to the hands of the cyclist. Trigger shifters can have different designs with varying degrees of convenience (usually, this is directly related to the price category of the device), located above or below the steering wheel, however, a number of common features are characteristic of all such models. Their main advantages are the traditional design and comfort when holding the steering wheel — the shifters are located outside the handles (grips) and do not affect convenience. In addition, they are quite simple in design and installation. On the other hand, this type also has a number of disadvantages. Thus, the presence of protruding parts increases the risk of equipment failure or injury to the cyclist in an accident. In many models, especially the low-cost level, in some cases, you have to take your hand off the steering wheel to change gear, which can lead to loss of control. In addition, shifting gears more than 2-3 "clicks" per press in trigger shifters is somewhat difficult and requires skill. However, in most cases, these disadvantages do not play a decisive role, and this type of levers is by far the most popular.

— Grip shift. By design, the grip shift is somewhat reminiscent of motorcyc...le gas regulators: part of the handle is made movable, and gear shifting is carried out by turning it in one direction or another. Since the grip shift rings are actually combined with handles (grips), you don’t need to remove your hand from the steering wheel to control the gears — just move it a little to the side, and you can switch speed (and in some cases you can even keep your hands on the rings all the time). Such systems are devoid of protruding parts, which increases reliability and safety. Another advantage over triggers is the ease of shifting gears to any number of speeds. The main disadvantage of this type is the increased risk of accidentally shifting gears on a difficult section of the track, when you have to hold on tightly to the grips (especially with large palms and short grips) — you can accidentally turn the shifter, which is fraught with a sharp shift, breaking the chain from the sprockets and loss of controllability. In addition, contact with water or dirt on the ring can lead to slippage of the hand when working with gears, and the rings themselves increase the dimensions of the steering wheel and for some may cause inconvenience in the grip.

— Dual control. An original system that combines the control of brakes and gears in one lever — the brake lever. In this case, braking is carried out by moving towards you, and gear shifting is carried out by shifting up or down. The advantages of such a system are the constancy of the grip of the steering wheel — 2 fingers are enough to control both the brakes and the gears. At the same time, dual control shifters are quite complex in design, as a result, they are expensive and poorly compatible with “non-native” brakes and switches. And the ergonomics of such systems is very ambiguous, ease of use largely depends on the individual tastes of the cyclist. Therefore, this type of shifters is rather uncommon.

— Electronic. The competitive advantages of electronic shifters include the absence of a cable and levers to transfer physical force to the switch. In fact, these are ordinary buttons that send signals to the gearshift control unit. Such shifters work in conjunction with electronic switches that are installed on board advanced bicycle models. They can be placed in any convenient place with quick and comfortable access to the switches.