| A bicycle or just cycle is a human-powered vehicle | | | | containing the headset of bearing to allow smooth |
| driven by pedals. It has two wheels which are | | | | steering, the top tube connects to the seat, and the |
| attached to a metal or in some cases hard plastic | | | | down tube connects the head tube and bottom |
| frame, one at the front and the other at the back. | | | | bracket. The rear triangle has the seat tube, seat |
| History of a bicycle | | | | stays and paired chain stays. |
| The bicycle was first introduced in Europe in the 19th | | | | Drivetrain - it consists of the pedals, which rotates the |
| century. Presently their number is exceeding one billion | | | | crank arms, which in turn are attached to a sprocket |
| throughout the world. They are used as a principal | | | | or chain rings which drives the chain and makes the |
| mode of transportation in some areas of the world, | | | | rear wheel rotate. |
| especially Netherlands and China. They have also | | | | Seating and Steering - steering is made possible using |
| developed as a very popular form of entertainment | | | | the handlebars which turns the front wheel. For seating |
| and recreation. Other fields of human activities that | | | | there are saddles on the top of the frame. The seating |
| they have been adopted are adult fitness, children`s | | | | can be designed for comfort or to make cycling |
| toys, police and military applications, cycle sports and | | | | smoother and faster. |
| courier services. Thus over the period of time the | | | | Brakes - the brakes used in modern bicycles are either |
| humble bicycle has assumed quite a few roles! | | | | rim brakes that uses pads to compress the wheel |
| The basic configuration and shape of a common | | | | from 2 sides and stopping it, internal hub brakes that |
| bicycle has been altered very slightly since the first | | | | has the pads inside the hubs or disc brakes. Braking in |
| model driven by chains was developed back in 1885. | | | | bicycles is hand-operated by pressing the brake levers |
| However, some subtle details have been made better | | | | installed on the handlebars on either side. |
| with the growing use of computer and improvement in | | | | Suspension - it is the system incorporated to make the |
| material technology. Using modern technologies have | | | | cycling experience smoother. |
| made it possible to produce specialized designs for | | | | Accessories - parts like mudguards to avoid spray |
| different kinds and uses of cycling. | | | | from puddles, chain guards to save clothes from oils, |
| Parts and Construction of a Typical Bicycle | | | | kick stands to keep the bicycle upright while parked |
| Wheels - it is the most important part of any vehicle. | | | | have become permanent features of a bicycle. Other |
| The initial wheels used a wooden hub with a steel axle, | | | | accessories like front baskets, rear racks, space for |
| spokes made of wood and an iron tire which is fitted | | | | head lamp, a pump, helmets, tool kit etc are also |
| on the outside. The wheels used today have a metal | | | | available as per ordered. |
| hub, metallic wire spokes, a metal rim to hold the | | | | The use and development of bicycles have affected |
| spokes and a pneumatic rubber tire on the outside. | | | | mankind in a bigger way than it seems. It has affected |
| Another important part of the wheel are the bearings | | | | history in both industrial and cultural realms. In the initial |
| which allows free movement of the hub on the axle. | | | | years, bicycles and its construction were dependent on |
| Frame - most of the bicycles used today has the | | | | the technology that existed; more recently, its |
| diamond frame. It`s made up of two triangles, the front | | | | technology in turn has given forth ideas in different |
| and the rear. The front triangle has the top tube, head | | | | areas. |
| tube, seat tube and down tube. Head tube is the part | | | | |