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