The top-level domain (TLD) .BIKE is a dedicated Domain Name Extension utilized primarily by organizations, businesses, and individuals operating within the biking industry. The term “top-level domain (TLD)” refers to the last segment of a domain name, or the part that follows immediately after the “dot” symbol.
TLDs are generally divided into two categories: generic TLDs (such as .com, .org, .net) and country-specific TLDs (like .uk, .cn, .au). However, the expansion of the domain name system a few years back has led to the creation of more specific, industry-oriented TLDs, such as .BIKE.
The .BIKE TLD is quite appealing to a variety of entities – from companies that manufacture bicycles and bicycling accessories, professional and amateur cyclists blogging about their experiences, biking events, to retail stores selling biking gear. This TLD presents opportunities for creating more defining and memorable online identities. For instance, a site like johnsbikeshop.com could possibly opt for johns.bike as their domain name. This move might not only sound more catchy but could also improve search engine optimization (SEO) efforts for companies seeking to rank higher in bicycle-related searches.
The introduction and administration of .BIKE, like other TLDs, are overseen by the Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers, ICANN. It is an approved generic top-level domain (gTLD) which is offered to the public. The .BIKE domain, among others, was released as a part of ICANN’s New gTLD Program, aimed to enhance competition, innovation, and consumer choice in the domain name space. Launched in 2013, this program expanded the internet’s domain name system from 22 gTLDs to more than 1,200 in just a few years.
Donuts Inc., a domain name registrar specializing in new domain extensions, won the rights to .BIKE, and it’s among the hundreds of gTLDs the company manages. It is important to note that while you can buy .BIKE domains from many different registrars, the official registry is Donuts Inc.
In summary, the .BIKE TLD is a domain extension that serves the biking industry’s needs. As ICANN makes the web more customizable, personal or business websites can now uniquely identify themselves with their audience.
Sources:
1. Gallagher, S. (2013). Welcome to the Internet of bikes and wedding: ICANN posts list of new TLD applications. Retrieved from https://arstechnica.com/uncategorized/2012/06/welcome-to-the-internet-of-bikes-and-weddings-icann-posts-list-of-new-tld-applications/
1. ICANN.org (n.d.). New gTLD Program. Retrieved from https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/about/program
1. Donuts Inc. (n.d.). Our Domains. Retrieved from https://donuts.domains/what-we-do/our-domains/
1. Moz (n.d.). What are top-level domains (TLDs)? Retrieved from https://moz.com/learn/seo/domain
