Parts of a Bicycle: Part 1 - What is a bike?

Everyone knows how a bike looks? YES.
Everyone knows how to ride a bike? MOST LIKELY.
Everyone knows how a bike works? MAYBE NOT.

This series introduces the basic parts of a bicycle and how these different parts make a bike work.

In a mechanical or technological perspective, a Bicycle is a vehicle, with two wheels, powered by a human being, through a pedaling motion. To make riding a bicycle possible there are necessary components. When I say necessary, I mean bare minimum. Without one of these a bike will not be functional or ride-able. These necessary components can be grouped into four categories: Frame, Wheels, Drivetrain and Cockpit.

Frame - The frame is what holds the whole bike together. This also includes the fork which holds the front wheel in place and allows for steering. This is where all the other components are attached. There are different names to the tubes on the frame like the head tube, seat tube, down tube, top tube, chain stays and seat stays.

Wheels - The wheels make moving possible. They transfer work done on the bike to actual distance covered riding the bike. Hubs, spokes, rims, tubes and tires are the building blocks for the wheel.

Drivetrain - The drivetrain includes components that propel the bike forward. This includes the crank, cassette/cogs and chain that transfer your pedal strokes to the rotation of the wheel. This not only include the parts that make you move but also the parts that make you stop like the brakes.

Cockpit - The cockpit is the contact points of the rider to the bike. Included are the handlebars, saddle (seat) and pedals. The cockpit is responsible for connecting the rider to the bike. It can also include accessories like the water bottle cages, cyclocomputers (speedometers for bikes), GPS, heart rate monitors, etc.


These is just a short introduction on the major component groups on a bike. Please stay tuned for Part 2 - The Frame.

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