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Introduction

The purpose of this article is to provide a basic introduction to the components that make up a bicycle. The article has been split up into multiple systems that make up an entire bike to keep things clear and easy to digest. These include: the frame, the steering and braking, the drivetrain, the wheels, and the saddle area.

The Frame

• Head Tube: Houses the components needed for steering (fork, headset, etc.).
• Top Tube: Sloped downwards toward Connects the seat tube, connected between the seat tube head tube and the head down tube.
• Down Tube: Connects the heat tube to the bottom bracket shell.
• Seat Tube: Contains Houses the seat post.
• Seat StayStays: Connects the Seat seat tube to the rear fork dropouts.
• Chain StayStays: connects Connects the bottom bracket shell to the rear forkdropouts.
• Bottom Bracket Shell: Houses the bottom bracket to allow for pedaling.

The Steering and Braking System

• Handlebars: The handlebars are used by Enables the rider to steer the bicyclebike. 
• Stem: Connects the handlebars to the head steerer tube of the fork.
• Fork: Holds the front wheel, the steerer is attached to tube of the fork passes through the head tube and connects it to the handlebars allowing the rider to steer; this allows for the front wheel to rotate with the handlebars.
• Integrated Shifter/Brake Lever: Uses hydraulic fluid to transmit the force from your hand to the brake
• Cable Housing: Holds the cables in place and give it something to push against.
• Brake Cable: How the hydraulic fluid gets to the brakes
• BrakeRoad bikes typically combine the shifter and brake levers into one component. The brake levers allow the rider to apply the brakes.
• Front and Rear Rim Brakes: Reduces the speed of the bicycle to a gradual stop by clamping the brake pads onto the bike rims.

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The Drivetrain

• Integrated Shifter/Brake Lever: Mechanism to control the gear ratio
• Front Derailleur: Mechanism that shifts the chain on the bike when the gear is changed
• Crank Arm: Uses the rotational motion produced by the pedals to drive the chainRoad bikes typically combine the shifter and brake levers into one component. The shifters allow the rider to adjust their drivetrain gear ratios.
• Chain: Utilizes the power provided by the crank arm to drive the wheels of the bicycle.
• Chain Rings: Part of the crankset, attached to the crank arm.Chain: Utilizes the power provided by the crank arm to drive the wheels of the bicycleIs a set of one or more sprockets attached to the crankarm.
• Cassette: Also called the cogset, is a set of multiple sprockets attached to the hub of the rear wheel.
• Front Derailleur: Shifts the chain to a different sprocket on the chainrings.
• Rear Derailleur: Mechanism that shifts Shifts the chain to a different sprocket on the bike when the gear is changed
• Cassette: the set of rear sprockets that attaches the hub on the rear wheel

Wheel System

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• Spokes: Connecting rods between the bicycle cassette.
• Crank Arm: Drives the bike chain by converting the pedaling motion from the rider into a rotational motion.

The WheelsImage Added

• Spokes: Rods connecting the hub and rim to transfer loads caused by the weight of the rider and the bike.
• RimRims: Outer edge of the wheel holding the tire.
• TireTires: Locked into the rim allows the bike to grip the surface it is riding on, ride smooth
• Rear Dropout: Where the axle of the rear wheel is attached, allows the rear wheel to be removed without derailing the chain
• Fork Dropout: Where the axle of the front wheel is attached.
• Surrounds the rims to provide traction over the surface the wheel travels.
• Rear Dropouts: Attaches the rear wheel by hooking onto the rear axle of the bike.
• Fork Dropouts: Attaches the front wheel by hooking onto the front axle of the bike. The fork dropouts are welded to the fork.

The Saddle Area

• Saddle: SeatOften referred to as the seat, allows the user to sit on the bike.
• Seat Rails: Supports the SaddleAttached underneath the saddle, connects the saddle to the seat post.
• Seat Post: Supports the SaddleInserted into the seat tube to support the saddle of the bike.
• Seat Clamp: Locks the seat post into position to prevent it from rotating or sinking into the seat tube.

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