Bicycle parts and their names

The bicycle has been popular for not even decades, but hundreds of years. Despite the development of the automotive industry, the two-wheeled environmentally friendly mode of transport does not lose its position. In addition, this unit is used in professional sports. Bicycle parts are improved every year, making the car safer, more convenient and faster. Consider the design features of the bike.

Types of bike machines

According to the type of construction, the parts of the bicycle, namely the frame, can be of a folding or rigid type. The first option is equipped with at least one joint, which allows you to fold the frame part of the device. This makes it easier to transport and store the bike.

However, folding models are inferior to full-size modifications in terms of reliability and running performance. This type is usually used for city and pleasure bikes, which do not require high strength and reliability. It is worth noting that any modern bike for convenient transportation can be disassembled in a few minutes. The reverse procedure takes the same amount of time. In this regard, folding options are not particularly popular.

Basic structure

Let's start studying the components of a bicycle from the frame. It is its type that determines the category of the machine, its reliability and working life. The frame consists of several main parts. Among them:

Upper and lower front tube.
Seatpost cylindrical element.
Top and bottom feathers.

Among modern types of frames, there are several categories:

Road frame.
City variant.
Mountain modification.
Sports and stunt models.

Between themselves, the frames differ in design, material of manufacture, the presence of reinforcements, and external design.

What are modern frames made of?

The material of manufacture of such a part of a bicycle as a frame is one of the most important parameters affecting the cost and characteristics of the machine. Modern bikes are equipped with frames made of carbon, aluminum or steel.

Steel alloys are used primarily in the manufacture of city bikes. The design is characterized by high strength and resistance to mechanical influences. The disadvantages of a steel frame include a lot of weight and poor flexibility, which negatively affects the dynamics of the bike.

Aluminum compares favorably with strength, flexibility and low weight. Such frames have excellent ergonomics, cushioning and dynamics. The cost of such material is also higher than that of steel counterparts.

(carbon) is used for the production of expensive bicycle frames. These products have high strength, even in comparison with metal counterparts. At the same time, they have a long service life, resistance to shock and wear, and good maneuverability.

Handlebar and fork

These parts of the bike are usually interconnected. The steering wheel is a pair of elements from a horizontal pipe, as well as a remote stem. According to the types of bending, steering elements are divided into several categories, namely:

Direct option.
Curved models.
The so-called "rams".
Curved up modifications.

The stem is an intermediate element between the horizontal and adjusting part of the steering wheel. It fixes the distance from the frame to the steering wheel. The longer the stem, the more horizontal the rider is while moving. On machines of conventional design, this element is not provided.

The steering part itself consists of the following parts:

Columns.
Forks.
Takeaway.
Rudder.

A bicycle fork is an intermediate unit between the handlebar and the front wheel. It has a structure that does not differ in complex structural features. By means of a rod, the part is mounted in the front glass of the frame. The steering wheel is placed in the middle of the fork, and the wheel interacts with it through special lugs.

For free rotation of the fork when cornering, the glass is equipped with a steering column. It includes a pair of bowls, bearings, retainer rings. The bowls are mounted by pressing or fastened with an internal thread, the rings are mounted on a stem firmly fixed in the steering column.

wheels

Considering which parts of the bike are the most important, it is certainly worth mentioning the wheels. They serve to hold the frame in a vertical position and set the equipment in motion. The wheel consists of a hub, rim, chamber and tire.

The central element is the bushing, which consists of the main axle, washers and bearings. The main purpose of this part is to activate and maintain torque. The rear hub is more complicated, since it serves to directly spin the wheel. On walking and road modifications, it is additionally equipped with a brake mechanism. In this part of the speed bike, a gearshift assembly is mounted in the form of sprockets of different sizes. The planetary bushings also provide for the installation of a device for switching speeds.

Other wheel components

The rim is a ring that aggregates with the hub by means of spokes. The spoke tension parameters and the rim geometry affect the resistance of the wheel to deformations and dynamic loads. The bicycle rim is made of aluminium, the spokes are made of a special alloy. Tension adjustment is carried out through the heads located on the side of the rim.

The tube is a hollow piece of rubber that is placed on the rim and inflated with air. A tire is installed on top of it. Air is blown through the nipple. To prevent damage to the tire by the spoke heads, the inside of the rim is equipped with a rubber pad.

The main purpose of the tire is to protect the camera from extraneous influences, as well as to create a reliable grip on the road surface. The design of the tire includes the beads, sidewalls and tread. Depending on the purpose of the bike, it can be “shoeed” in one of four types of tires:

Road option. The tread pattern is medium, suitable for highways as well.
Slicks. They are designed for use on road bikes and flat roads.
Aggressive type. Most often, these are parts of a mountain bike. They have a pronounced and deep tread pattern.
Hybrid tyres. These elements are a cross between mountain and road options.

Additional safety and visibility of equipment at night is provided by yellow and red reflectors mounted on spokes.

transmission unit

This block is responsible for moving the bike. The structure of the node is quite complex. It provides a wide variety of mechanisms. Consider the names of the parts of the bike included in the transmission:

Leading stars.
Connecting rods.
Carriage.
Pedals.
Chain.
Driven stars.
Coins.
Gear switches.

The carriage is located in the lower compartment of the frame. The knot is designed to connect the front sprockets and the connecting rod mechanism. Stable pedaling is ensured by fixed bearings on which a through axle is placed. There are two types of carriages: open and cartridge variation.

Cranks connect the bottom bracket and pedals, mounted on square or slotted clamps. Elements are supplied complete with front sprocket.

Pedals and chain

The pedals provide the transfer of mechanical energy to the carriage through the cranks and serve as a support for the cyclist's legs. These elements are divided into several types:

The classic version - is installed on amateur bikes, the engagement is carried out solely due to the force of friction.
Strap pedals.
Contact models - equipped with special inserts for shoes.
Extreme modifications - have a wide surface and clamps in the form of inserts.

The rear of the bike is equipped with sprockets that are attached to the hub. Several transmission rear stars are aggregated with the front star. Small diameter elements are responsible for high gears, and large parts for low speeds.

A chain is used to connect the driving and driven sprockets. High-speed bikes are equipped with several stars not only at the rear, but also at the front. Transferring the chain from one transmission element to another is carried out by means of switches that are controlled by coins placed on the steering wheel. The relationship between coins and speed controllers is made by means of cables. Switches can be drum or lever type. On bikes with one gear, there are no controllers, there is one sprocket front and rear.

Brake system

The brakes are responsible for driving safety. On bicycles, there are three options for this node:

Drum-sleeve version. It is considered an obsolete mechanism, but it is mounted on simple amateur bicycles. The drum is located in the rear hub. When pedaling, it acts on the pads, which move apart and lock the wheel, coming into contact with the working surface.
Rim construction. These brakes are equipped with pads that, when the steering lever is activated, clamp the wheel rim. The working part of the system is mounted on the place where the wings are attached, and can be used individually or in combination with other types of brakes.
The most difficult is the disk modification. It consists of a brake part mounted on the wheel hub, a clipper, a lever drive with a cable. The clipper is equipped with brake pads that clamp the disc when the handle on the steering wheel is activated. The mechanism under consideration can be of mechanical and hydraulic type.

shock absorbers

These bicycle spare parts help to soften the impact on the road and dampen the vibrations when riding. As a rule, shock absorbers are located in the front fork and are divided into the following types:

Spring option.
Elastomer with spring.
Air-oil system.
Spring-oil damping.

Fork travel along the length, blocking and rebound speed are adjusted using special regulators. Forks without a shock absorber are of a rigid type, used on highway and road modifications. Mountain bikes may have an additional rear shock absorber to provide comfortable overcoming of rough roads.

Saddle

This is one of the simplest parts of a bicycle. The saddle can vary in width, shape, material of manufacture and other parameters. Some models are equipped with additional lower springs. A “seat” is installed on the one that enters a special tube. The element is fixed in height using a special mechanism.

The parts of the bike and their names are discussed above. As you can see, the device of the bike is not as simple as it seems at first glance.