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