Upright bicycle
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An upright bicycle is a bicycle on which the rider sits astride the saddle and stands on the pedals; this is the type most commonly seen. The most popular form of the upright bicycle frame, consisting of two triangles, is know as a diamond frame. Other types of frames used in upright bicycles include the step-through frame and the mixte frame.
An alternative to the upright bicycle is the recumbent bicycle, on which the rider reclines on a seat or lies supine.
[edit] Advantages and disadvantages
Upright bicycles have some advantages over recumbent bicycles. They are easier to pedal uphill, because they are usually lighter and the rider can stand up on the pedals and use his or her body weight. They have a shorter wheelbase and therefore have better maneuveribility. They also tend to be cheaper for bikes of comparable quality with comparable components.
Recumbents have advantages over upright bicycles: they are more comfortable to ride; and they can be more aerodynamic. Some recumbent riders refer to the upright bicycle as the upwrong, in a midly disparaging assertion of supremacy of the recumbent style.
For more on this topic, see the Compared to uprights section of the Recumbent bicycle article.
[edit] Regulations
Only upright bicycles are allowed to compete in events governed by the Union Cycliste Internationale. Other types of bicycle compete in events governed by the International Human Powered Vehicle Association.
