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