Compared to cars or other motorized vehicles, bikes may seem like pretty simple machines - you push the pedals and you go forward, right?
In reality, modern cycles are a lot more complex than one would assume simply by looking at them. While recent years have seen a renaissance in the popularity of the back-to-basics “fixed gear” setup, most bicycles these days rely on the interplay of several highly specialized parts and systems.
A safe, comfortable ride depends on all these systems working in harmony, from the brakes to the gears to the action of the wheels and tires.
Just as professional car drivers are well-versed in the nitty-gritty details of their automobiles, avid bikers tend to have a firm grasp on how to keep their sleek machines running smooth and true. However, even the most casual of cyclists can benefit from a quick rundown on the more important features of their street cruiser, BMX, or mountain bike.
Helpful Definitions
Although we might be familiar with what certain bike components look like, learning what they are actually called is always a good idea. Indeed, walking into a bike shop and asking about “that round thing with the spikes on it” can earn you some well-deserved looks.
For starters, those “round things” around which the bike’s chain moves are known as sprockets. In most cycles, the front sprockets are both larger in size and fewer in number, while the back set of sprockets (known collectively as the cassette) involve a variety of smaller-sized pieces.
On multi-geared bikes, the shifters or gear selectors control the chain’s movement over the different-sized sprockets, which determines the gear ratio.
Contact Us
For more information on bike components, and for all your biking needs and questions,
contact the experienced team of bike lock experts at A & J’s
bike locks today at 708-460-2999.
