Most tyres use rubber blended with carbon black, because it makes the tread more durable and improves traction. In the 1950's some tyre companies started using "gum" rubber (without the carbon black) for the sidewalls, in the interest of improved flexibility and lowered rolling resistance. Later, "skinwall" tyres became popular, tyres with nearly naked cloth sidewalls, with just a bit of rubber to hold the cords together. For many years tan sidewalls - whether gum or skin - were a sign of high-performance tyres, and blackwalls were a sign of cheapness. In the early 1990s there was a styling fad for tyres which were basically skinwalls, but looked like the old black-walls and fundamentally a styling issue, as with white walls.

An obsolete type of chain formerly popular with track racers. Block chains had solid blocks as inner links, without rollers. It had a 1" pitch with 3/16" wide blocks, the same as the "skip link" roller chain that appeared on the market during/about 1930 to replace it. The remaining stock of block chain was coveted by track riders who believed it was the only chain strong enough to withstand their imagined strength. When the stock of block chains finally ran out in the late 1970's, it was replaced by 1/2" pitch 3/32" wide chain, as used with derailleurs, although track riders still prefer an 1/8" wide chain, believing they are stronger than other riders. (MTB's with 22 tooth granny chainwheels produce several times the chain tension any track rider can muster.)

Bicycle Supercross (also known as "4X") - an adult version of BMX - using mountain bikes on a downhill course similar to a BMX track. Mountainbikers compete on a specially designed, challenging course. The races last between 25 seconds and one minute and are usually fast and frenzied. The courses are a mix of natural and man-made obstacles covering a steep descent. The array of obstacles include triples, doubles, table tops, step ups, drop offs, bermed or off-camber corners and gap jumps. The difficulty of getting over these obstacles at high-speed whilst being jostled by three other competitors means there are plenty of crashes. The 4X competition starts with a limited number of riders competing in knock-out rounds. The knock-out rounds can be decided by a series of heats called 'Motos' with riders competing three times before moving on to quarters, semis and final. The final consists of the last four riders left in the competition.

Most modern bicycles use cables to control the gear shifting and brakes. These cables, - also known as "bowden cables" - consist of two parts, an inner cable of twisted steel wire and an outer cable housing. Cables transmit force by a combination of tension on the inner cable and compression to the housing. In many installations the housing doesn't run along the full length of the cable, but transmits the compressive part of the load to the frame by means of housing stops, fittings with holes small enough for the cable, but not small enough for the housing to pass through. Some cable stops feature adjusting barrels.

A cable guide is a frame feature that guides a piece of cable around a corner. Most multi-speed bicycles have cable guides to get the derailleur cables past the bottom bracket. Older bicycles used either brazed-on or clamp-on guides just above the bottom bracket, but newer bicycles have a guide under the bottom bracket. The below-the-bottom-bracket option has the advantage of being cheaper, and, for some bicycles with very small chainweels, it eliminates interference between the rear derailleur cable and the bottom of the front derailleur cage. It also makes it slightly easier to clean the frame. The above-the-bottom-bracket system is superior in that the cable is shorter and the loop of housing at the rear derailleur is not as tight, since the cable stop is atop the chainstay. Poor lubrication of bottom-bracket cable guides is a common cause of autoshifting!

The distance between the upper and lower jockey wheels of a rear derailleur is known as the cage length, and the ability of a derailleur to  take up chain slack is dependent thereon. It varies depending on the size difference between the largest and smallest rings on the crankset. Typical cross country mountain bikes with three front chainrings will use a long cage rear derailleur. Shimano and Campagnolo road derailleurs are available in either short, medium or long cage versions, for use with double or triple front cranksets and various cassette ratios. Some mountain bike derailleurs are also available in an extra-short cage length, typically used with a single fixed front ring such as found on downhill mountain bikes. 

An Italian manufacturer of bicycle components with headquarters in Vicenza, Italy, historically regarded as the most prestigious brand name. Founded by Tullio Campagnolo, the company began manufacturing in 1933 in a small Vicenza workshop. The founder was an accomplished bicycle racer in Italy in the 1920s, who had several innovative ideas which turned into such revolutionary fundamental cycling products as the wheel quick-release mechanism and derailleurs. Campagnolo focuses exclusively on road and track cycling, but is also known as a manufacturer of alloy automobile wheels for exotic cars, as well as a high quality wine bottle opener. A benefit of Campagnolo equipment is that they support their products with a massive range of replacement parts - for instance if you need one bearing cone for a rear hub, it can be ordered as a separate part. Campagnolo parts are so highly regarded that their proprietary dimensions have, in several cases, become adopted as de facto international standards. This is particularly true in the case of headsets, but also known for their derailleurs, shifters, brakes, cranksets, and bottom bracket sets.

Xenon - an entrylevel 10-speed groupset. Mirage is available in three versions to allow you to interpret your racing bike in the most appropriate manner to you.  Veloce is available with both the classic silver and the new black finish (Veloce Infinite). Centaur opens the door to high range groupsets with components designed for long-lasting high performance. Chorus is the most advanced competition groupset. Record is for pro-riding, incorporating the best materials, technology and technical solutions in an incomparably aesthetically pleasing jewel. Pista is a set of high-range components designed for the velodrome. Comp Triple is a 10-speed high-range groupset kit.  Race Triple  is a mid-range kit for 10-speed drivetrains dedicated to steep slopes and climbers.