Intended Use of Your Bicycle
WARNING: Understand your bike and its intended use. Choosing the wrong bike
for your purpose can be hazardous. Using your bike the wrong way is dangerous.
No one type of bicycle is suited for all purposes. Your retailer can help you pick the
“right tool for the job” and help you understand its limitations. There are many types
of bicycles and many variations within each type. There are many types of mountain,
road, racing, hybrid, touring, cyclo-cross and tandem bicycles.
There are also bikes that mix features. For example, there are road/racing bikes with
triple cranks. These bikes have the low gearing of a touring bike, the quick handling
of a racing bike, but are not well suited for carrying heavy loads on a tour. For that
purpose you want a touring bike. Within each of type of bike, one can optimize for
certain purposes. Visit your bike Stockists and nd someone with expertise in the
area that interests you.
Do your own homework. Seemingly small changes such as the choice of tyres
can improve or diminish the performance of a bicycle for a certain purpose. On the
following pages, we generally outline the intended uses of various types of bikes.
Industry usage conditions are generalized and evolving. Consult your stockist about
how you intend to use your bike.
All Frog Bikes have been tested to a maximum weight of 280kg.
Bikes classied and marked as Kids bikes (EN 14765) Frog 43 and Frog 48 have a
maximum combined rider/cargo/bike weight
limit of 45kg – however, they have been tested to a weight of 280kg.
1. High-Performance Road
For riding on paved surfaces only
• CONDITION 1: Bikes designed for riding on a paved surface where the tyres do
not lose ground contact.
• INTENDED: To be ridden on paved roads only.
• NOT INTENDED: For o-road, cyclocross, or touring with racks or panniers.
• TRADE OFF: Material use is optimized to deliver both light weight and specic
performance. You must understand that (1) these types of bikes are intended to
give an aggressive racer or competitive cyclist a performance advantage over a
relatively short product life, (2) a less aggressive rider will enjoy longer frame life,
(3) you are choosing light weight (shorter frame life) over more frame weight and
a longer frame life, (4) you are choosing light weight over more dent-resistant
or rugged frames that weigh more. All frames that are very light need frequent
inspection. These frames are likely to be damaged or broken in a crash. They
are not designed to take abuse or be a rugged workhorse. See also Appendix B.
2. General Purpose Riding
For riding on improved paths and roadways only. No jumping!
• CONDITION 2: Bikes designed for riding Condition 1, plus smooth gravel roads
and improved trails with moderate grades where the tyres do not lose ground
contact.
• INTENDED: For paved roads, gravel or dirt roads that are in good condition, and
bike paths.
• NOT INTENDED: For o-road or mountain bike use, or for any kind of jumping.
Some of these bikes have suspension features, but these features are designed
to add comfort, not o-road capability. Some come with relatively wide tyres
that are well suited to gravel or dirt paths. Some come with relatively narrow
tyres that are best suited to faster riding on pavement. If you ride on gravel or
dirt paths, carry heavier loads or want more tyre durability talk to your stockist
about wider tyres.
3. Cyclo-cross
For riding on improved paths and roadways only. No jumping!
• CONDITION 2: Bikes designed for riding Condition 1, plus smooth gravel roads
and improved trails with moderate grades where the tyres do not lose ground
contact.
• INTENDED: For cyclo-cross riding, training and racing. Cyclo-cross involves
riding on a variety of terrain and surfaces including dirt or mud surfaces. Cyclo-
cross bikes also work well for all weather rough road riding and commuting.
• NOT INTENDED: For o road or mountain bike use, or jumping. Cyclo-cross
riders and racers dismount before reaching an obstacle, carry their bike over the
obstacle and then remount. Cyclo-cross bikes are not intended for mountain
bike use. The relatively large road bike size wheels are faster than the smaller
mountain bike wheels, but not as strong.
4. Cross-Country, Marathon, Hardtails
For riding on unimproved trails with small obstacles
• CONDITION 3: Bikes designed for riding Conditions 1 and 2, plus rough trails,
small obstacles, and smooth technical areas, including areas where momentary
loss of tyre contact with the ground may occur. NOT jumping. All mountain
bikes without rear suspension are Condition 3, and so are some lightweight rear
suspension models.
• INTENDED: For cross-country riding and racing which ranges from mild to
aggressive over intermediate terrain (e.g. hilly with small obstacles like roots,
rocks, loose surfaces, hard pack and depressions). Crosscountry and marathon
equipment (tyres, shocks, frames, drive trains) is light-weight, favouring nimble
speed over brute force. Suspension travel is relatively short since the bike is
intended to move quickly on the ground.
• NOT INTENDED: For hardcore freeriding, extreme downhill, dirt jumping,
slopestyle or very aggressive or extreme riding. No spending time in the air
landing hard and hammering through obstacles.
• TRADE OFF: Cross-country bikes are lighter, faster to ride uphill, and more
nimble than all-mountain bikes. Cross-country and marathon bikes trade o
some ruggedness for pedaling eciency and uphill speed.
APPENDIX A
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