How to Draw a Bike

In this article, we will learn how to draw a bicycle. It is a familiar object that is ultimately quite simple, at least at first glance. So I will admit that I have no penchant for straight lines, but to "play the game," although I work with digital media, I used no tools that would have allowed me to draw straight lines or perfect circles (with the exception of illustrating the spokes of a wheel).

Here we will discuss the "classic" bike, the small city bike. Other types of bikes, cross or more stylized, follow the same structure but have variations in proportions and distribution.

Let's start by observing three bicycles. [A] is a very simple model, in [B] a chain guard and a small rack at the back have been added, and [C] is a true city bicycle with a basket and added lights.

On all these bikes we can see that:

• The centers of the wheels are at the same height (blue axles and orange axles aligned with the blue line/arrow 1).
• The crankset is located slightly below the axle line (red circle under dark blue line).
• The handlebar (in cyan blue) and the saddle bar (in light green) are parallel.
• The purple bar and the orange bar are almost parallel.
• The handlebar is slightly above the saddle (arrow 2).

We find on all models:

• A bar (in purple) that connects the handlebar (blue) to the seat bar (green). Variations occur on the bar above (in pink).
• There are also guards over the front and rear wheels (very light blue lines).
• The chain connected to the chainset is always present (in brown). On models [B] and [C], there is a guard on the top and a small structure opening the angle at the rear wheel axle.
  
  

The real major difficulty with the bicycle will be the wheel. It is possible that you may need some practice to draw a fairly regular circle. Obviously, you could use tools, but first, this would limit you to front-facing representations of the wheels, and secondly, it would not really make you practice, and as a result, would not make you improve.

So, you can use a compass [A], which is the simplest solution if the viewing angle is suitable. If you don't have this tool at hand, you can "make" one. To do this, take a pencil (or any other object that is not too thick, straight, and rigid, like a stick) and tie it to a pencil with a string [B].

If you want to draw a freehand wheel but you feel uneasy, you can help yourself by drawing marks from the central axis corresponding either to the spokes or to the diameters [C]. To do this, you can use a ruler, a playing card, a post-it, etc. The more spokes/diameters you draw, the easier it will be to reconstruct the circle around them.

Finally, remember that, as a guide, you can always draw a reference from your center to limit the edges of your circle a bit.

When you draw your wheel with an offset point of view, be careful of the distortion due to perspective. Here, for example, in [D], I've drawn my reference point knowing that the green radius will be shorter than the blue radius because of perspective.

Generally, placing a reference point at the center of your circle is a good idea, as it is easier to judge the length of a line than the distance of a point relative to another (which is the case of a point located on the line of your circle relative to its center).

Be careful with the spokes, they are not lines that emanate from the center of the wheel (drawing A) but pairs that originate around the axle (drawing B).

The bike is an element that will tend to be situated on a single main plane, unless the wheels are not aligned with the bike's axis, of course. Applying perspective distortions to it will not be too complicated, you will mainly need to manage the deformation of the wheel circle, as mentioned previously.

Here the perspective makes the diameter of the front wheel (1) appear longer than that of the rear wheel (2).

 

If you want to learn more about perspective, feel free to check out our free course on the Basics of Drawing: https://www.dessindigo.com/drawing-courses/drawing-basics/easy-perspective.

Before we start the step-by-step drawing, I'd just like to show you a handlebar model for reference. Here is a very simple handlebar, without any frills. We have the grips with the brake mechanism below them. You’ll notice the four cables, two on each side.

You can certainly brighten up the handles with tassels or add a horn. This handlebar can be a versatile reference for city bike models.

 

DRAWING A BIKE STEP BY STEP

No surprise, we will draw a city bike, which is quite simple. As the bike will be stationary, the only difficulty will be the slight distortion due to a very slight bird's-eye view because the bike is a bit tilted.

Indeed, a bike on its stand is not perfectly straight, it leans a bit.

 

Step 1: We will start with the front wheel to build our bike. I mark a reference point, tilting it slightly forward. The intersection of the horizontal line and the vertical line will be the axis of our wheel.

Step 2: I trace my front wheel. We previously saw that the axles of both wheels align. Then, a question arises: where should we place the second wheel? Well, if we look at the three bicycles in the first diagram, we notice that the distance between the edges of the two wheels is slightly longer than a radius. Therefore, the two axles will be spaced at about 3 radii (a tiny bit more, in fact).

Step 3: I have the axle of my rear wheel and I am marking a new reference point to help me draw my circle. Note that this wheel is slightly more "in front of us," so it will be very slightly less distorted (it's subtle, I admit).

Step 4: Now I need to position the front bar, the one with the handlebars. Note that I do not draw a straight line from the axis of the front wheel, instead, I bend it a little. I know that the chain is slightly below the line that "connects" the two wheel axes. I place the cover on the other side of the bike. I opt for a cover that completely covers the chain.

Step 5: Parallel to the handlebar (1), I draw the element that will support the saddle (2), starting from the crankset.

Step 6: Now I connect points (1) and (2) with a straight line that joins the crankset. For the top bar, I opt for a gentle curve that slopes down nicely. I also add an element that connects the rear wheel axle to the top of the seat post bar.

Step 7: For the saddle, there isn't really a fixed rule, but try not to place it too high. The handlebar will be higher than the saddle line (red line).

Step 8: I'm drawing the fenders above the front and rear wheels, adding a rear light, a basic rack, a front light, and the handlebars.

Step 9: I trace neatly over my construction lines.

Step 10: I am adding details to the wheels, including a dynamo for the lights (in green) and lines that attach to the wheel guards (red line on the rear wheel, also present on the front). Next, I draw the small light at the handlebar level. I dress the handles with tassles. Then, I add the pedals (in green) and the rear structure bar on the other side (in dark blue).

 

CLEANING UP AND COLORING THE BICYCLE DRAWING

Drawing A: The clean tracing.

Drawing B: I'm adding three small bars on the rear support (red arrows).

Drawing C: Finally, I simply color the drawing in, and add just a bit of shadow to place my bike on the ground.

If you want a very detailed and realistic drawing, you will need to focus more specifically on certain details, such as mechanisms and small structures present on the wheels, and around the axles and chains.

Then there will be another challenge, placing a character on your bike!!! But start by having some fun with just the bike alone. You shouldn't try to rush things.

 

Illustrator and writer: Elo Illus