Making the most of bicycle frames is important, for it allows the rider to hit the trail, road, mountain, or track to the best of the rider's ability. Whether you sell bicycle frames, or are a shop owner or company looking to sponsor a bicycle racing team to raise money for charity, you can know exactly what to look for when making the most of bicycle frames. With this knowledge, the riders who come to your shop or the team you hope to sponsor will end up standing on winner's podiums.

Consider these bicycle frames and accessory options to find the best fit for the rider.

1. Use a mountain bike frame for rugged terrain.

2. Lose the weight with a road bike frame.

3. Tear up the track with track bike frames.

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Add the right stuff to tackle the mountains with the mountain bike frame

Once you decide you need a mountain bike frame, it's time to add on to it so you can make the most of the bike frame. When buying components for the mountain bike frame, make sure you purchase the proper ones that will meet the rugged requirements of the trail.

I recommend: Jenson USA has accessories that would compliment any mountain bike frame. For a mountain bike seat, check out ABC of Mountain Biking. Its seats have flex carbon shells and carbon rails that allow the rider comfort while also providing support on the most rugged mountain trail.

Keep road bike frames light and agile

Agile, light road bike frames allow riders to compete at world-class levels. That's because bicycle frame manufacturers choose lighter materials when making road bike frames. Aluminum bicycle frames as well as a titanium bicycle frame are in this class. When making the most of road bike frames, the components that you add to it should be lighter, like the frame. The wheels, for example, are durable and aerodynamic, and weigh just over two pounds. Even the seats are lightweight, and consist of durable yet light materials.

I recommend: Manufacturers of custom bicycle frames and wholesale bicycle frames provide kits that you can use to make the most out of your road bike frames. Companies that offer quality road bike kits are Colorado Cyclist and Spoke and Sprockets.

Get the most from track bike frames

Shave off the seconds with the right components for your track bike frame. Compared to other bikes, track bikes seem stripped bare. They have no brakes, one gear, and no freewheel. Look for accessories made of lightweight materials, like carbon fiber, and wheels stripped bare.

I recommend: World Class Cycles offers all the stripped down accessories you need for your track bike frame. Team Cyclist has handlebars, wheels and accessories to get you moving without the extra weight.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Making the most of bicycle frames means understanding the true purpose for which the bike frame was designed, and choosing components that will compliment, rather than hinder, that purpose.

Bicycle frame makers aren't hard to find, but finding a reputable manufacturer in the large venue of options is important. If you own your own bicycle shop or dealership, you'll want to find the latest and greatest in technology to meet the needs of your customers. Find manufacturers that build frames for all types of biking from track racing to leisure riding.

Find a variety of bicycle frames to stock. Look for aluminum bicycle frames, titanium, carbon fiber and more. Even a small dealer can have a few great models in the show room to pique the customers' interest. Once you have them in the shop, give your customers a variety of options from a few different great manufactures.

1. Stock bicycle frames from reputable bike frame manufacturers with great track records.

2. Look for custom-made bicycle frames to fit your customer's exact physical needs.

3. Establish a good working relationship with several different manufacturers to get the newest frames quickly in stock.

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Order custom bicycle frames through reputable builders

A great custom frame builder can design a bicycle around a customer's exact dimensions. Find a few great custom builders to meet the different needs of your clients.

I recommend: Alpine Designs creates custom framed bicycles fit to your physical characteristics. Their wide range of frame styles and components such as titanium, steel and platinum make them one of the leaders in custom frames. Find a custom-made frame for racing to mountain biking from Rock Lobster. Their extremely experienced builders work in steel and aluminum.

Stock aluminum and steel bike frames

Offer the aluminum or steel option for all your off-road and leisure bicyclists looking for a sturdy option. Aluminum and steel may be the oldest of the frame options, but they've been around for a long time for a reason -- they're built to last.

I recommend: Maxway manufactures bicycle frames in aluminum, steel and carbon fiber composite material. KHS manufactures road, track and other types of bicycles with aluminum and other frame material options.

Find a carbon-composite or titanium bicycle frame for the speedsters

If your customer base includes racing enthusiasts or professionals, you'll want the best of the light bikes. Look for titanium or carbon composite based frames for the best and fastest bicycles in the industry.

I recommend: Calfee Design has a great selection of race and off-road bicycle frames made of carbon fiber. Their frames have been used in world class competitions including the Tour de France. Masi Bicycles is another award winning builder that offers carbon lugged frames in their large selection of bicycle frames.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Buy wholesale bicycle frames to stock your show room, but include a few specialty frames from the high-end manufacturers to attract the professional bikers to your shop.

There are plenty of bicycle frames for sale, including wholesale bike frames, but why settle? There are plenty of bicycle frame manufacturers in the US as well as manufacturers of custom bicycle frames that can create track bike frames, road bike frames and mountain bike frames that will blow your socks off as well as those of your competitors (should you compete).

Use these bicycle frames basics to determine the type of frame you need.

1. Rely on the mountain bike frame for rugged terrains.

2. Pick the road bike frames for smoother, long distance riding.

3. Get track bike frames for the rigors of the track.

4. Go for the custom bike for the ultimate in bike frames.

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Eat up the distances with road bike frames

Their lightness and strength allow you comfort and longevity.

I recommend: Bicycle frame makers feature aluminum bike frames, titanium bike frames and carbon fiber in their road bike frames. Noted US bike frame manufacturers of road bike frames are Trek Bikes and Lynskey Performance.

Tackle mountains with the aid of mountain bike frames

These cycling frames take abuse and keep on truckin'. If your company is interested in getting into mountain biking as a way to build moral for your company's employees or raise money for charities, make sure your company has the right frames for the job. Mountain bike frames can be fairly light, despite their heartiness, and are usually comprised of scandium bicycle frames, steel bicycle frames, aluminum bicycle frames or carbon fiber bicycle frames.

I recommend: There are many manufacturers of the hearty cycling frame. Two US manufacturers are Azonic and Niner Bikes.

Hit the track with track bike frames

These bikes will help you eat up the miles on the track. Track bike frames are similar to road bike frames in that they're lighter than mountain bike frames, and are for speed. It is possible to get track bike frames with untrack-like additions such as bottle holders.

I recommend: Two US manufacturers of track bike frames are Soma Fabrications and Pake. The frames are made of chromium-molybdenum or steel and are for longevity and endurance.

Pick custom bicycle frames for the ultimate ride

Custom bike manufactures are able create the opposite of wholesale bicycle frames in their attention to detail. Carbon fiber bike frames can be in custom bike frames, as well as steel, and any material your company chooses, including titanium bike frames or aluminum bike frames.

I recommend: Two custom manufacturers are Aegis of and Anvil Bikes. What is interesting about Aegis is that fact that this company produces exceptional products: mountain bike frames, track bikes frames and road bike frames. Anvil Bike is the epitome of the custom bike frame manufacturer. No bike frame by this company is the same and they all fit the rider. The rider also decides the material of the bike frame.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  A bike frame is not necessarily just a bike frame, but must fit the terrain you will use it on. With these bike frame basics, your company can decide the bike on which to focus. If your company does not find a suitable bike frame, contact the manufacturers to have bike frames designed for you.

Bike frames are not all created equal, and the bike frame key terms can help you determine what the best one is for each application. For example, a road bike is not good for off-road, while a mountain bike is not well-suited for the track. One of the main things to consider with bike frames is the material from which they are made. Read below for more information.

Action Steps
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Steel bike frames

Steel bike frames are perhaps the most common. As might be expected with steel, these bike frames are particularly strong. They're also easier to repair than bike frames made from composite materials. For this reason, steel bike frames are used for mountain, road, touring and off-road bikes.

I recommend: Rivendell Bicycle Works writes eloquently about steel bike frames, and why steel is such a versatile material for that purpose.

Chrome molybdenum or chromoly steel bike frames

This steel bike frame is different from the one above thanks to its weight. Chromoly steel is lighter, yet can last just as long and can endure as much. Chromoly steel bike frames are a newer edition to the bike frame family.

I recommend: Online Metals has a good description of chromoly steel.

Aluminum bike frames

Aluminum bike frames are light. The material itself is not as strong as steel, nor is it as long-lasting. It has a tendency to be stiff, and its strength can depend on the integrity of the design.

I recommend: Torelli discusses aluminum bike frames' strengths and weaknesses.

Titanium bike frames

Titanium bike frames are among the most expensive. These frames have steel's strength without the weight. This strength and lightness makes it popular for use as bike frames for mountain bikes as well as road bikes.

I recommend: Bike Cycling Reviews discusses the pros and cons of titanium bike frames.

Carbon fiber bike frames

Carbon fiber bike frames depend on the integrity of the design for their strength. Though light, carbon fiber bike frames also can be brittle. In order to combat this Achilles heel, designers of carbon fiber bike frames tend to over-build them to make them stronger.

I recommend: Harris Cyclery details the benefits and the features of carbon fiber bike frames.

Custom bike frames

Perhaps you are very tall or very short, or have difficulty finding a bike frame that works well for you. You may well be a good candidate for a custom bike frame. The benefit of a custom bike frame is also that you can choose to have your bike made from a certain material or a combination of materials. There is more than one custom bike frame company out there that would be willing to create a bike frame that's just right for you.

I recommend: Penguin Cycles not only makes custom bikes, but has one of the best explanations regarding why a custom bike frame is a good choice for some people.