Most of this stuff was nailed down as far back as 1896 (yes, over 100 years ago). Look for this book:
Bicycles and Tricycles -An Elementary Treatise on their Design and Construction
By Archibald Sharp (First Edition in 1896, but reprinted since)
A little simple mathematics shows the way.
There's also the much more recent Bicycle Science by Wilson.
I prefer the 1896 book because of the amount of stuff they have in it that has recently been re-invented and is being touted as the latest and greatest thing.
Last edited by datako; 10-08-08 at 03:23 AM.