It seems many people change their mode of transportation when their lifestyle changes. With the recent bicycle and health booms, bicycles can be considered a highly-watched mode of transportation.

The progress of national and prefectural governments in developing bicycle-only roads has also contributed to this trend.

If you're going to ride, you might as well ride a cool sports bike, but for a first-time sports bike owner, you might be curious about how it differs from regular bicycles.

So, we've summarized the differences between sports bikes (road bikes) and utility bikes (mamachari).

Difference in Weight

The biggest difference, and one with a significant effect, is weight.

A typical mamachari weighs about 15kg to 20kg.

In contrast, a cross bike, which is a type of sports bike, weighs about 10kg to 13kg.

Road bikes, on the other hand, can weigh as little as 6kg to 10kg, about half the weight of a mamachari.

Many people who are used to mamachari might wonder, "What's good about being lighter?"

This lightness dramatically reduces the effort needed to pedal, making the bicycle easier to propel.

In other words, if you pedal with the same force as on a mamachari, you can ride faster and further with less effort.

Difference in Shape

Most bicycles around the world have a triangular frame.

This is known as a "truss structure," and forming a triangle makes it easier to achieve strength.

This demonstrates its reliability, as it is also used in building construction.

On the other hand, based on my research, mamachari seem to be unique to Japan.

While the distinctive truss structure easily provides strength, it requires riders to step over the frame, lifting their leg high, when getting on the bicycle.

As the name suggests, "mamachari" (mama's bicycle) was developed for women, specifically mothers.

By eliminating the top tube of the frame and instead strengthening the V-shape where the horizontal bar would be, they ensured strength.

Prioritizing ease of riding without sacrificing strength resulted in a heavier frame.

This might have stemmed from the clear understanding that even if it's a bit heavy, mothers only use bicycles for local shopping.

While we live in a diverse world today, the prototype of the mamachari was developed around 1975, which is over 50 years ago.

Nowadays, many women also ride sports bikes, so it's best to choose a bicycle you like, one that fits your lifestyle, and one that suits you.

Tire Size and Thickness

Sports bikes like road bikes have a nearly fixed tire (wheel) size.

The wheel size for sports bikes is 700c, which is equivalent to about 27 inches in mamachari terms.

Even if the wheel size is the same, the frame itself has finely set sizes, and you choose one that suits you based on your height.

The sizing can be divided into about 8 stages based on height, or by sizes like SS, S, M, L, XL, and the display seems to vary by manufacturer.

The way to choose sports bikes like road bikes is to prioritize design and find one that suits you.

On the other hand, for mamachari, you'll likely choose from sizes like 20-inch, 24-inch, 26-inch, or 27-inch.

You'll select based on each wheel size, and whether both feet can touch the ground when you're seated.

It's rare to find the same design in both 20-inch and 24-inch sizes, so for mamachari, it's about prioritizing size and not emphasizing design as much.

Different Number of Gears

The number of gears dramatically differs between sports bikes and mamachari.

In the case of mamachari, some don't have gears at all, and those that do typically have about 5 or 6 speeds.

Since they're not designed for long distances, mamachari riders typically don't worry much about whether pedaling from a standstill is heavy or light.

Road bikes typically have 12 gears on the rear wheel and 3 gears (chainrings) on the crank side.

This means you can switch between 3 front gears × 12 rear gears = 36 different settings.

This allows you to use your preferred gear.

If you're used to mamachari, you might wonder "what do you do with so many gears?"

Even with 36 gears, I don't think many people use all of them.

You switch between gears suitable for starting, for climbing hills, and for riding effortlessly at speed.

With a mamachari, haven't you ever wished for a slightly stronger gear when accelerating, only to find it too strong after shifting, and then having to shift back down?

With a road bike, you might think of it as always having just the right gear for you.

Difference in Handlebars

Mamachari have unique M-shaped handlebars.

There's only one gripping point on each side.

On the other hand, road bikes have uniquely shaped drop handlebars.

It might seem unbelievable if you're used to mamachari, but there are at least three grip points on each side, and you can even hold them in different ways.

It's common to hold the same spot with both your right and left hands, but being able to grip in various places makes it easier to change your hand position depending on how you're riding.

When you want to go fast, you grip at a point that allows for an easier forward-leaning posture.

When you want to slow down and ride comfortably, you sit up and ride, gripping the straight part of the handlebars.

No Unnecessary Accessories

Things that are standard on mamachari are not included on road bikes.

Fenders, generators, rear racks, baskets, kickstands, and so on.

Some people might wonder why these are sold separately for such an expensive bicycle.

For road bikes, which specialize in riding easily, quickly, and far, anything that adds weight is considered unnecessary.

In the case of cross bikes, some people do attach fenders or baskets.

The beauty of sports bikes is that you can customize everything to your own convenience.

Summary

It seems easier to understand sports bikes like road bikes and cross bikes if you think of them as different vehicles from mamachari, even if they look similar.

Most people recognize that bicycles and motorcycles are different vehicles, even though they both have two wheels.

Similarly, it's easier to understand road bikes and mamachari as different vehicles.

Ultimately, a road bike is a vehicle designed for riding easily, quickly, and covering long distances with ease.