Marc'hhouarnerezh : diforc'h etre ar stummoù

Endalc’h diverket Danvez ouzhpennet
Pajenn nevez : thumb|right|330px|Priz [[Tro Alamagn.]]Ar '''marc'hhouarnerezh''' eo sport an dud a ya war varc'h-houarn. en:Cycling
 
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[[Image:Dtour Cup 20060809 078.jpg|thumb|right|330px|Priz [[Tro Alamagn]].]]Ar '''marc'hhouarnerezh''' eo sport an dud a ya war varc'h-houarn.
[[Image:Cycling.gif|thumb|right|Mont war varc'h-houarn]]
[[Image:Bikecentennial Kansas.jpg|thumb|Marc'houarnerien e [[Kansas]].]]
[[Image:PoliceOfficerOnBike.jpg|thumb|right|Polis war varc'h-houarn.]]
[[Image:Dtour Cup 20060809 078.jpg|thumb|right|330px|Priz [[Tro Alamagn]].]]Ar '''marc'hhouarnerezh''' eo an anv a vez graet ouzh ar mont war [[marc'h-houarn|varc'h-houarn]], un ardivink divrodek peurvuiañ (met unrodek, teirrodek, pe bederrodek ivez a-wechoù) hag a ya war-raok dre nerzh an den a zo warnañ. Gallout a ra an obererezh-se bezañ un doare emzezougen, ur blijadur, pe ur sport. Gallout a ra c'hoarvezout war an hentoù, pe gwenodennoù zoken a-wechoù, war ar maez pe e kêr, dindan an amzer pe dindan doenn, war an erc'h pe ar skorn ivez.
 
 
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==Introduction==
As a sport, cycling is governed internationally by the [[Union Cycliste Internationale]] in [[Switzerland]] (for [[upright bicycle]]s) and by the [[International Human Powered Vehicle Association]] (for other HPVs, or human-powered vehicles). Cycling for transport and touring is promoted on a European level by the [[European Cyclists' Federation]], with associated members from Great Britain, Japan and elsewhere. Regular conferences on cycling for transport are held under the auspices of [[Velo City]]; global conferences are coordinated by [[Velo Mondial]]<ref>[http://www.velomondial.org/ Welkom bij XS4ALL<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>.
 
===Equipment===
{{main|bicycle}}
{{globalize}}
[[Image:utility bicycle.jpg|thumb|right|Dutch [[utility bicycle]] featuring rear internal hub brake, chaincase and mudguards, kickstand for parking, permanently attached dynamo-powered lamps and upswept handlebars for a more natural grip position.]]
 
In many countries, the most commonly used [[vehicle]] for [[road transport]] is a [[utility bicycle]]. These have frames with relaxed geometry, protecting the rider from shocks from the road, and easing steering at low speeds.
 
Road bikes tend to have a more upright shape and a shorter wheelbase, which make the bike more mobile but harder to ride slowly. The design, coupled with low or dropped handlebars, requires the rider to bend forward more, which reduces air resistance at high speed.
 
The price of a new bicycle can range from US$50 to more than US$20,000<ref>[http://www.bicycling.com/article/1,6610,s1-1-2-15285-1,00.html Custom Bike Builders: Groupe de Tete - bicycling.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, depending on quality, type and weight (the most exotic road bicycles can weigh as little as 3.2kg (7 lb))<ref>[http://www.light-bikes.com/bikegallery/BikeListing.asp?id=1507 SPIN Custom...7.04 lbs<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>). Being measured for a bike and taking it for a test ride are recommended before buying.
 
The [[bicycle#Drivetrain|drivetrain]] components of the bike should also be considered. A middle grade [[dérailleur]] is sufficient for a beginner, although many utility bikes come equipped with [[hub gear]]s. If the rider plans a significant amount of [[Hillclimbing (cycling)|hillclimbing]], a triple-[[crankset|crank]] (three chainrings) front [[bicycle gearing|gear system]] may be preferred. Otherwise, the relatively lighter and less expensive two chainrings may be better.
 
Many road bikes include [[clipless pedal]]s to which special shoes attach via a [[cleat (shoe)|cleat]], permitting the rider to pull on the pedals as well as push. Other possible accessories for the bicycle include locks, fenders , baggage carriers and pannier bags, water bottles and bottle cages.
 
[[Image:manbiking.jpg|thumb|right|Cycling with a [[backpack]] in London.]]
 
For basic maintenance and repairs, cyclists can choose to carry a [[bicycle pump|pump]] (or a [[carbon dioxide|CO<sub>2</sub> cartridge]]), a puncture repair kit, a spare inner tube, and [[tire levers]]. Cycling can be more efficient and comfortable with special [[cycling shoe|shoe]]s, [[cycling gloves|gloves]], and [[cycling shorts|shorts]]. In wet weather, riding can be more tolerable with waterproof clothes, such as cape, jacket, pants and overshoes.
 
Items legally required in some jurisdictions, or voluntarily adopted for safety reasons, include [[bicycle helmet]]s, generator or battery operated and audible signaling devices such as a bell or horn. Extras include [[studded tires]] and a [[cyclocomputer|bicycle computer]].
 
===Skills===
{{main|vehicular cycling}}
Learning to ride efficiently and safely in traffic is important. In the [[United Kingdom]], many primary school children take the [[Cycling Proficiency Test]], to help them travel more safely. However, the Cycling Proficiency Test has now been superseded, for children, by 'Bikeability' and the National Standards for Cycle Training. In countries such as the Netherlands, where cycling is popular, cyclists sometimes ride in bike lanes at the side of, or separate from, the main highway. Many primary schools participate in the national road test in which children individually complete a circuit on roads near the school while being observed by testers.
 
==Types==
===Urban===
{{See also|Bicycle friendly}}
[[Image:Bicycle Parking Lot Niigata.jpg|thumb|right|A parking lot for bicycles in [[Niigata, Niigata]], [[Japan]].]]
Cyclists, pedestrians and motorists make different demands on road design which may lead to conflicts. Some jurisdictions give priority to motorized traffic, for example setting up one-way street systems, free-right turns, high capacity roundabouts, and [[interchange (road)|slip roads]]. Others may apply [[traffic calming|traffic restraint]] measures to limit the impact of motorized transport. In the former cases, cycling has tended to decline while in the latter it has tended to be maintained. Occasionally, extreme measures against cycling may occur. In [[Shanghai]], where bicycles were once the dominant [[mode of transport]], bicycle travel on a few city roads was banned temporarily in December 2003.
 
In areas in which cycling is popular and encouraged, cycle-parking facilities using [[bicycle stand]]s, lockable mini-garages, and patrolled cycle parks are used to reduce theft. Local governments promote cycling by permitting the carriage of bicycles on public transport or by providing external [[Bicycle carrier|attachment devices]] on public transport vehicles. Conversely, an absence of secure cycle-parking is a recurring complaint by cyclists from cities with low modal share of cycling.
 
Extensive [[bicycle path]] systems may be found in some cities. Such dedicated paths often have to be shared with in-line skaters, scooters, skateboarders, and pedestrians. Segregating bicycle and automobile traffic in cities has met with mixed success, both in terms of safety and bicycle promotion. At some point the two streams of traffic inevitably intersect, often in a haphazard and congested fashion. Studies have demonstrated that, due to the high incidence of accidents at these sites, some such segregated schemes can actually ''increase'' the number of car-bike collisions.<ref>"Bicycling Life"</ref>
 
Bicycles are considered a sustainable mode of transport, especially suited for urban use and relatively shorter distances when used for transport (compared to recreation). Case studies and good practices (from European cities and some worldwide examples) that promote and stimulate this kind of functional cycling in cities can be found at [[Eltis]], Europe's portal for local transport.
 
In the Netherlands bicycle paths are widespread and are (in the cities) closed to scooters. Cyclists in the Netherlands are well protected as the law assumes the stronger participant (i.e. the car driver) is guilty until proved innocent (ie is the guilty party in all accidents involving weaker traffic unless evidence of the opposite is provided). Furthermore, drivers know to expect bikes, which are plentiful and treat traffic rules as guidelines to be ignored at will (increasingly common in the UK, also). Due to these issues the number of car-bike collisions with serious consequences is not alarmingly high in the Netherlands
 
===Utility===
[[Image:coconut bunch.jpg|thumb|right|A bicycle loaded with [[tender coconut]] for sale. [[Karnataka]], [[India]].]]
{{main|utility cycling}}
 
Utility cycling refers both to cycling as a mode of daily [[commuting]] transport as well as the use of a bicycle in a commercial activity, mainly to transport goods.
 
The [[mail|postal service]]s of many countries have long relied on bicycles. The British [[Royal Mail]] first started using bicycles in 1880; now bicycle delivery fleets include 37,000 in the UK, 25,700 in [[Germany]], 10,500 in [[Hungary]] and 7000 in [[Sweden]]. The [[London Ambulance Service]] has recently introduced bicycling paramedics, who can often get to the scene of an incident in [[Central London]] more quickly than a motorized ambulance.
 
Late in the 20th century, urban [[police bicycle]]s became more common, as the mobility of car-borne officers was increasingly limited by traffic congestion and [[Auto-free zone|pedestrianisation]].
 
Bicycles enjoy substantial use as general delivery vehicles in many countries. In the UK and North America, generations of teenagers have got their first jobs delivering newspapers by bicycle. London has many delivery companies that use bicycles with trailers. Most cities in the West, and many outside it, support a sizeable and visible industry of [[Bicycle messenger|cycle couriers]] who deliver documents and small packages. In India, many of [[Mumbai]]'s [[Dabbawala]]s use bicycles to deliver home cooked lunches to the city’s workers. In [[Bogotá]], [[Colombia]] the city’s largest bakery recently replaced most of its delivery trucks with bicycles. Even the car industry uses bicycles. At the huge [[Mercedes-Benz]] factory in [[Sindelfingen]], Germany workers use bicycles, color-coded by department, to move around the factory.
 
===Recreational===
;Bicycle Touring
{{main|bicycle touring}}
[[Image:WhiteBikesVeluwe.jpg|thumb|right|In the Netherlands, bicycles are freely available for use in the Hoge Veluwe National Park]]
 
Bicycles are used for recreation at all ages. [[Bicycle touring]], also known as cyclotourism, involves touring and exploration or sightseeing by bicycle for leisure. A [[brevet (cycling)|brevet]] or randonnée is an organized long-distance ride.
 
One popular [[Netherlands|Dutch]] pleasure is the enjoyment of relaxed cycling in the [[rural|countryside]] of the Netherlands. The land is very flat and full of public [[Segregated cycle facilities|bicycle trails]] where cyclists aren't bothered by [[automobile|cars]] and other traffic, which makes it ideal for cycling recreation. Many [[Dutch people]] subscribe every [[year]] to an event called ''[[fietsvierdaagse]]'' &mdash; four days of organised cycling through the local environment. [[Paris-Brest-Paris]] (PBP), which began in 1891, is the oldest bicycling event still run on a regular basis on the open road, covers over 1200 km and imposes a 90-hour time limit. Similar if smaller institutions exist in many countries.
 
;Organized rides
[[Image:Bikes in Portland.jpg|thumb|right|Tour de Fat group ride in [[Portland, Oregon]]]]
Many [[cycling club]]s hold organized rides in which bicyclists of all levels participate. The typical organized ride starts with a large group of riders, called the mass, bunch or even [[peloton]]. This will thin out over the course of the ride. Many riders choose to ride together in groups of the same skill level to take advantage of [[drafting (racing)|drafting]].
 
Most organized rides, for example [[Cyclosportive]]s, [[Challenge riding|Challenge Rides]] or [[reliability trial]]s, and [[Hillclimbing (cycling)|hill climbs]] include registration requirements and will provide information either through the mail or online concerning start times and other requirements. Rides usually consist of 25, 50 and 100 mile routes, each with a certain number of rest stops that usually include refreshments, first aid and maintenance tools.
 
;Mountain
[[Mountain biking]] grew in the late 20th century, including recreation and racing. It emphasises riding special cycles with high gear ratios over rough paths, special obstacle courses or directly cross country. While very popular as a sport, it has also been criticised for damaging the countryside.
 
===Racing===
[[Image:Cyclist L Georget LOC 04379.jpg|thumb|Bicycle racing around 1909.]]
{{main|bicycle racing}}
Shortly after the introduction of bicycles, competitions developed independently in many parts of the world. Early races involving [[boneshaker]] style bicycles were predictably fraught with injuries. Large races became popular during the 1890s "Golden Age of Cycling", with events across Europe, and in the U.S. and Japan as well. At one point, almost every major city in the US had a [[velodrome]] or two for [[track racing]] events. However since the middle of the 20th century cycling has become a minority sport in the US whilst in Continental Europe it continues to be a major sport, particularly in France, Belgium, Italy and Spain. The most famous of all bicycle races is the [[Tour de France]]. This began in 1903, and continues to capture the attention of the sporting world.
 
In 1899, [[Mile-a-Minute Murphy]] became the first man to ride a bicycle a mile in under a minute, which he did by drafting a [[locomotive]] at [[New York's]] [[Long Island]].
 
As the bicycle evolved its various forms, different racing formats developed. Road races may involve both team and individual competition, and are contested in various ways. They range from the one-day road race, [[criterium]], and time trial to multi-stage events like the Tour de France and its sister events which make up cycling's [[Grand Tour (cycling)|Grand Tours]]. [[Recumbent bicycle]]s were banned from bike races in 1934 after [[Marcel Berthet]] set a new [[hour record]] in his ''Velodyne streamliner'' (49.992 km on November 18, 1933). [[Track bicycle]]s are used for [[track cycling]] in [[Velodrome]]s , while [[cyclo-cross]] races are held on rugged outdoor terrain. In the past decade, [[mountain biking|mountain bike racing]] has also reached international popularity and is even an Olympic sport.
 
Professional racing organizations place limitations on the bicycles that can be used in the races that they sanction. For example, the Union Cycliste Internationale, the governing body of international cycle sport (which sanctions races such as the Tour de France), decided in the late 1990s to create additional rules which prohibit racing bicycles weighing less than 6.8 kilograms (14.96 pounds). The UCI rules also effectively ban some [[bicycle frame]] innovations (such as the [[recumbent bicycle]]) by requiring a double triangle structure.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uci.ch/english/about/rules/ch01_general.pdf |title=UCI Cycling Regulations |accessdate=2006-08-04 |author=Union Cycliste International |year=2003 }}</ref>
 
===War===
{{main|bicycle infantry}}
The bicycle is not suited for combat, but it has been used as a method of [[reconnaissance]] as well as transporting soldiers and supplies to combat zones. In this it has taken over many of the functions of [[horses in warfare]]. Bicycles were used in the [[Second Boer War]], where both sides used them for scouting. In [[World War I]], France, Germany, Australia and New Zealand used bicycles to move troops. In its 1937 invasion of China, Japan employed some 50,000 bicycle troops, and similar forces were instrumental in Japan's march or "roll" through [[Malaysia]] in [[World War II]]. Germany used bicycles again in World War II, while the British employed airborne "Cycle-commandos" with folding bikes.
 
In the [[Vietnam War]], communist forces used bicycles extensively as cargo carriers along the [[Ho Chi Minh Trail]]. There are reports of mountain bicycles being used in scouting by U.S. Special Forces in the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|U.S. invasion of Afghanistan]] and in subsequent battles against the [[Taliban]]. British troops, designated Light Bicycle Infantry [http://www.combatreform.com/atb.htm LBI], used bicycles to patrol in [[Basra]], [[Iraq]] in January 2005.
 
The last country known to maintain a regiment of bicycle troops was Switzerland, who disbanded their final unit in 2003.
 
==Activism==
[[Image:Moving by bike.jpg|thumb|right|Cyclists move by bike in [[Portland, Oregon]].]]
Two broad and correlated themes run in bicycle activism: one is about advocating the bicycle as an alternative mode of transport, and the other is about the creation of conditions to permit and/or encourage bicycle use, both for utility and recreative cycling. Although the first, which emphasizes the potential for energy and resource conservation and health benefits gained from cycling versus automobile use, is relatively undisputed, the second is target of much debate.
 
It is generally agreed that improved local and [[inter-city rail]] services and other methods of mass transportation (including greater provision for cycle carriage on such services) create conditions to encourage bicycle use. However, there are different opinions on the role of the use of [[segregated cycle facilities]] and other items of the [[Utility cycling#Cycling infrastructure|cycling infrastructure]] in building [[bicycle-friendly]] cities and roads.
 
Some bicycle activists (including some traffic management advisers) seek the construction of segregated cycle facilities for journeys of all lengths. Other activists, especially those from the more established tradition, view the safety, practicality, and intent of many segregated cycle facilities with suspicion. They favour a more holistic approach based on [[Traffic psychology#Accident prevention and improvement of traffic safety|the 4 'E's]]; ''education'' (of everyone involved), ''encouragement'' (to apply the education), ''enforcement'' (to protect the rights of others), and ''engineering'' (to facilitate travel while respecting every person's equal right to do so). In some cases this opposition has a more ideological basis: some members of the [[Vehicular cycling|Vehicular Cycling movement]] oppose segregated public facilities, such as on-street bike lanes, on principle. Some groups offer [[Vehicular cycling#VC Education|training courses]] to help cyclists integrate themselves with other traffic. This is part of the ongoing [[cycle path debate]].
 
[[Image:Critical Mass, San Francisco, April 29, 2005.jpg|thumb|right|[[San Francisco]] [[Critical Mass]], April 29, 2005.]]
[[Critical Mass]] is an event typically held on the last Friday of every month in [[city|cities]] around the [[world]] where bicyclists take to the streets ''en masse''. While the ride was originally founded with the idea of drawing attention to how unfriendly the city was to bicyclists, the leaderless structure of Critical Mass makes it impossible to assign it any one specific goal. In fact, the purpose of Critical Mass is not formalized beyond the [[direct action]] of meeting at a set location and time and traveling as a group through city streets.
 
[[Midnight Ridazz]] is a massive established bicycle ride in Los Angeles based on recreational activism. The ride incorporates themes and ride routes designed to maximize fun and comraderie without any overt political agenda that might fracture the group of diverse riders. The one goal of Midnight Ridazz is to have fun riding a bike and thus inspire others to ride and have fun as well.
 
There is a long-running [[Bicycle helmet#The helmet debate|cycle helmet debate]] among activists. The most heated controversy surrounds the topic of [[Bicycle helmet#Use, promotion, compulsion|compulsory helmet use]].
 
==Associations==
Cyclists form associations, both for specific interests (trails development, road maintenance, urban design, racing clubs, touring clubs, etc.) and for more global goals ([[energy conservation]], pollution reduction, promotion of fitness). Some bicycle clubs and national associations became prominent advocates for improvements to roads and highways. In the [[United States]], the [[League of American Wheelmen]] lobbied for the improvement of roads in the last part of the 19th century, founding and leading the national [[Good Roads Movement]]. Their model for political organization, as well as the paved roads for which they argued, facilitated the growth of the automobile.
 
==Health==
Bicycles are often used by people seeking to improve their fitness and cardiovascular health. In this regard, cycling is especially helpful for those with [[arthritis]] of the lower limbs and are unable to pursue sports that cause impact to the knees and other joints. Since cycling can be used for the practical purpose of transportation, there can be less need for self-discipline to exercise.
 
Cycling while seated is a relatively non-[[weight bearing]] exercise that, like [[Swimming#Swimming for exercise|swimming]], does little to promote bone density.<ref>Osteoporos Int., ''Low bone mineral density in highly trained male master cyclists.'' 2003 Aug;14(8):644-9 (PMID 12856112)</ref> Cycling up and out of the saddle, on the other hand, does a better job by transferring more of the rider's body weight to the legs. However, excessive cycling while standing can cause knee damage.{{fact|date=September 2008}} It used to be thought that cycling while standing was less energy efficient, but recent research has proven this not to be true. Other than air resistance, there is no wasted energy from cycling while standing if it's done well.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=4512| title=Sit or Stand: Tradeoffs in Efficiency?| publisher=[http://www.pezcyclingnews.com] | date=November 21, 2006 | accessdate=2006-11-28}}</ref>
 
Cycling on a stationary cycle is frequently advocated as a suitable exercise for rehabilitation particularly for lower limb injury due to the low impact that it has on the joints. In particular cycling is commonly used within knee rehabilitation programs. <ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEnotes/node/1071 | title=Cycling for Knee Rehabilitation}}</ref>
 
Excessive saddle height can cause [[posterior]] knee pain, while setting the saddle too low can cause pain in the [[anterior]] of the knee. An incorrectly fitted saddle may eventually lead to muscle imbalance. A 25 to 35 degree knee angle is recommended to avoid an overuse injury.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nasm.org/nasmpro/library/showarticle.aspx?id=14202 | title=Avoid Repetitive Knee Injuries While Riding A Bike}}</ref>
 
===Benefits===
The [[physical exercise]] gained from cycling is generally linked with increased health and well-being. According to the [[World Health Organization]], physical inactivity is second only to [[tobacco smoking]] as a health risk in developed countries, and this is associated with many tens of billions of dollars of healthcare costs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/economic_consequences.htm|title=Overweight and Obesity: Economic Consequences|publisher=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov)}}</ref> The WHO's report<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.euro.who.int/document/e75662.pdf|title=A PHYSICALLY ACTIVE LIFE THROUGH EVERYDAY TRANSPORT|publisher=World health Organisation}}</ref> suggests that increasing physical activity is a public health 'best buy', and that cycling is a 'highly suitable activity' for this purpose. The charity [[Sustrans]] reports that investment in cycling provision can give a 20:1 return from health and other benefits.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sustrans.org.uk/default.asp?sID=1158137684156|title=How transport can save the NHS|publisher=sustrans.org.uk}}</ref> It has been estimated that, on average, approximately 20 life-years are gained from the health benefits of road bicycling for every life-year lost through injury.<ref>{{cite book|author=British Medical Association|coauthors=Mayhew Hillman, David Morgan|title=Cycling: Towards Health and Safety|origyear=1992|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|id=ISBN 0-19-286151-4}}</ref>
 
===Injuries===
Cycling is seen by some to be an inherently high-risk, dangerous activity although use of appropriate safety equipment can reduce risk of serious injury. In the UK, fatality rates per mile or kilometre are approximately double those for walking. However in the US, bicycling fatality rates are less than 2/3 of those walking the same distance<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bts.gov/publications/transportation_statistics_annual_report/2004/html/chapter_02/daily_travel_by_walking_and_bicycling.html|title=Daily Travel by Walking and Bicycling|publisher=Bureau of Transportation Statistics}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/|title=Fatality Analysis Reporting System|publisher=National Highway Traffic Safety Administration}}</ref>. For a child cyclist the rate per mile or kilometre travelled is around 55 times that for a child occupant of a car, while the fatality and serious injury rates ''per hour of travel'' are very much higher for cycling than for walking, in the UK.
 
Most cycle deaths result from a collision with a car or heavy goods vehicle.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/personal/articles/cyclingingreatbritain1|title=Cycling in Great Britain|publisher=Department of Transport}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.camcycle.org.uk/newsletters/53/article4.html|title=44 tonne articulated trucks and towns don't mix|publisher=Cambridge Cycling Campaign UK}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|url=http://showcase.commedia.org.uk/article/articleview/390/1/13/|title=Lorries and Towns Don't Mix (video) | publisher=Robert Webb}}</ref> However, a very high proportion of injuries to cyclists do not involve any other person or vehicle.
 
A Danish study in 2000 concluded that "bicycling to work decreased risk of mortality in approximately 40% after multivariate adjustment, including leisure time physical activity". <ref>{{cite web|url=http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/160/11/1621|title=All-Cause Mortality Associated With Physical Activity During Leisure Time, Work, Sports, and Cycling to Work|publisher=Archives of Internal Medicine}}</ref> This conclusion is open to various interpretations.
 
Injuries (to cyclists, from cycling) can be divided into two types:
* [[Physical trauma]] (extrinsic)
* Overuse (intrinsic).
 
[[Acute (medical)|Acute]] physical trauma includes injuries to the head and extremities resulting from falls and collisions. Since a large percentage of the collisions between motor and pedal vehicles occur at night, [[Bicycle lighting#Safety|bicycle lighting]] is required for [[bicycle safety|safety when bicycling]] at night.
 
The most common cycling overuse injury occurs in the knees, affecting cyclists at all levels. These are caused by many factors:<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.biomech.com/db_area/archives/1996/9607sports.bio.html | title=Knee Pain in Cycling: New Twist on an old Injury | publisher=BioMechanics | date=July/August, 1996 | accessdate=2006-11-24}}</ref>
*Incorrect bicycle fit or adjustment, particularly the saddle.
*Incorrect adjustment of clipless pedals.
*Too many hills, or too many miles, too early in the training season.
*Poor training preparation for long touring rides.
*Selecting too high a gear. A lower gear for uphill climb protects the knees, even though your muscles are well able to handle a higher gear.
 
Overuse injuries, including chronic nerve damage at weight bearing locations, can occur as a result of repeatedly riding a bicycle for extended periods of time. Damage to the [[ulnar nerve]] in the palm, [[carpal tunnel syndrome|carpal tunnel]] in the wrist, the genitourinary tract<ref>Eur Urol., ''Bicycling related urogenital disorders.'' 2005 Mar;47(3):277-86 (PMID 15716187)</ref> or bicycle seat neuropathy<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.emedicine.com/SPORTS/topic12.htm | title=Bicycle Seat Neuropathy, follow up | publisher=[[eMedicine]] | date=February 8, 2006 | accessdate=2006-03-20}}</ref> may result from overuse.
 
Note that overuse is a relative term, and capacity varies greatly between individuals. Someone starting out in cycling must be careful to increase length and frequency of cycling sessions slowly, starting for example at an hour or two per day, or a hundred miles or kilometers per week. Muscular pain is a normal by-product of the training process, but joint pain and numbness are early signs of overuse injury.
 
Cycling has been linked to sexual impotence due to pressure on the perineum from the seat, but fitting a proper sized seat prevents this effect.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/149268.stm|title=Cycle of despair|publisher=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/363070.stm|title=Cycling linked to impotence|publisher=BBC News}}</ref> In extreme cases, [[Pudendal Nerve Entrapment]] can be a source of intractable perineal pain.<ref>Am J Phys Med Rehabil., ''Pudendal nerve entrapment as source of intractable perineal pain.'' 2003 Jun;82(6):479-84. (PMID 12820792)</ref> Some cyclists with induced pudendal nerve pressure neuropathy gained relief from improvements in saddle position and riding techniques.<ref>Clin Exp Neurol., ''Bicycling induced pudendal nerve pressure neuropathy.'' 1991;28:191-6. (PMID 1821826)</ref>
 
The [[National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health]] (NIOSH) has investigated the potential health effects of prolonged bicycling in police bicycle patrol units, including the possibility that some bicycle saddles exert excessive pressure on the urogenital area of cyclists, restricting blood flow to the genitals. NIOSH is currently investigating whether saddles developed without protruding noses (which remove the pressure from the urogenital area) will alleviate any potential health problems. <ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/bike/ |title=NIOSH -Bicycle Saddles and Reproductive Health |accessdate=2007-10-10|publisher=United States National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health}}</ref>
 
Riding a [[recumbent bicycle]] or [[quadricycle]] where [[Ergonomics|ergonomic]] principles are more closely respected will largely address these health issues, particularly those related to chronic nerve damage at weight bearing locations, simply because the body is supported in the normal sitting position.
 
Despite rumors to the contrary, there is no [[scientific evidence]] linking cycling with [[testicular cancer]] in men.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.andrologyaustralia.org/library/TesticlarCancerFactSheet.pdf |title=Testiclar Cancer Fact Sheet |accessdate=2008-09-30|publisher=Monash Institute of Medical Research}}</ref>
 
=== Air pollution ===
One concern often expressed (both by non-cyclists and some cyclists) is the thought that riding in traffic exposes the cyclist to higher levels of air pollution, especially if he travels on or along busy roads. This has been shown to be untrue, as the pollutant and irritant count within cars is consistently higher,<ref>''[http://www.bfa.asn.au/cms/uploads/resources/hpja_air_pollution_exposure.pdf Comparison of air pollution exposure for five commuting
modes in Sydney – car, train, bus, bicycle and walking]'' - Chertok, Michael; Voukelatos, Alexander; Sheppeard, Vicky and Rissel, Chris, ''Health Promotion Journal of Australia'', 2004 : 15 (1)</ref> (presumably because of limited circulation of air within the car and due to the air intake being directly in the stream of other traffic).
 
==See also==
{{portal}}
* [[Bicycle]]
 
'''General'''
{|
|
* [[Bicycling terminology]]
* [[list of cyclists|Cyclists, list of]]
* [[Bicycle and motorcycle dynamics|Dynamics of cycling]]
|
* [[Indoor cycling]]
* [[Offroad cycling]]
* [[Road cycling]]
|}
 
'''Cycling Culture'''
{|
|
* [[Bicycle culture]]
* [[Clothing-optional bike rides|Clothing-optional and top-free cycling events]]
|}
 
'''Cycling Advocacy & Safety'''
{|
|
* [[Bicycle law]]
* [[Cycling advocacy]]
* [[bicycle safety|Cycling safety]]
* [[cycling hand signals|Hand signals]]
|
* [[Segregated cycle facilities]]
* [[Vehicular cycling]]
* [[Filtering forward]]
|}
 
'''Sports-related cycling and fast-paced recreation'''
{|
|
* [[Bike trials riding]]
* [[Bicycle racing]]
* [[BMX racing]]
* [[Bike derby]]
* [[Cross-country cycling]]
* [[Cycle speedway]]
* [[Cyclo-cross]]
|
* [[Cyclosportive]]
* [[Freeride]]
* [[Goldsprint]]
* [[Mountain biking]]
* [[Road bicycle racing]]
* [[Track cycling]]
* [[Triathlon]]
|}
 
'''Utility cycling and slow recreation'''
{|
|
* [[Bicycle touring]]
* [[Bicycle messenger]]
* [[Bicycle transportation engineering]]
* [[brevet (cycling)|Brevet]]
* [[Challenge riding]]
|
* [[list of cycleways|Cycleways, list of]]
* [[Icebiking]]
* [[Rail trail]]
* [[Utility cycling]]
* [[Bicycle commuting]]
|}
 
'''Other'''
{|
|
* [[Aerobic exercise]]
* [[Divorce your Car!]]
* [[Exercise]]
|
* [[General fitness training]]
* [[Green transport]]
* [[Heart rate monitor]]
|}
 
==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}
 
==External links==
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{{Wiktionarypar|cycling}}
*[http://www.exploratorium.edu/cycling/humanpower1.html Science of Cycling: Human Power] Exploratorium. Retrieved March 30, 2005.
*[http://www.sheldonbrown.com/ sheldonbrown.com] [[Sheldon Brown (bicycle mechanic)|Sheldon Brown]]'s web site, a source of technical information and wisdom.
*[http://www.faqs.org/faqs/bicycles-faq/ Rec.Bicycles FAQ] Frequently Asked Questions (and Interesting Information)
*[http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages Ken Kifer's Bike Pages] Highly regarded cycling articles by the late [[Ken Kifer]]
*[http://www.ufsm.br/gepec/indexenglish.html Cycling Research and Study Group - Brazil] Cycling science
*[http://www.bikeforall.net Cycling links] as collected and rated in Britain
 
 
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