Complete Guide- 67 Parts of Bicycle: Names, Functions & Diagram

Overview of Bicycle Parts

A bicycle is a human-powered or motor-powered assisted, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. Its invention is the start of the revolution in the transport industry. Before the bicycle, there was no such suitable medium for transport. Its basic design was the same from an early age, but nowadays, there are some changes in the structure. So, there are changes in the arrangement of the parts of a bicycle from a safety point of view. But how many of you know the parts of a bicycle? Of course, we know, but not all of them. So before buying a bicycle, you need to see the bicycle’s parts and location. It will help you to get a good quality bicycle that fulfills your needs. This article helps you to understand the bicycle anatomy and its names & functions.

Nowadays, riding a bicycle is the key to good health. It helps to make you fit and healthy.

Parts of Bicycle Diagram

Bicycle Parts Names

Handlebar
Handlebar tape
Bar ends
Bar plugs or end caps
Side view mirror
Bell
Brake lever
Bicycle brake cable
Stem
Steerer tube
Headset
Fork
Shock absorber
Fork end
Wheel
Hub
Hub dynamo
Hub gear
Bearing
Axle
Rim
Skirt guard
Spoke

Nipple
Tire
Valve stem or simply a valve
Brake
Fender or mudguard
Down tube
Frame
Bottom bracket
Basket
Bottle cage
Crankset or chainset
Pedal
Chainring
Chain
Chainguard
Chainstay
Chain tensioner
Chaintug
Cogset/Cassette
Inner tube
Freehub
Sprocket
Jockey wheel or Pulley wheel

Derailleur
Derailleur hanger
Peg
Dropout
Head tube
Saddle or Seat
Seat rails
Seat lug
Seat tube
Seat bag
Seatpost
Rack
Indicator
Kickstand
Locknut
Lock ring
Dustcap
Dynamo
Gusset
Reflector
Cyclo-computer

Parts of a Bicycle and their Functions

Handlebar

It is a metal tube attached to the front fork through the steerer. It sticks out at a right angle and lets you steer the front wheel when needed. The handlebar has a bell and brake levers on it.

Handlebar Tape

The tape on the handle serves as a grip to enhance your control while riding the bicycle.

Bar Ends

These extensions on the handlebar offer versatility in both appearance and ergonomics. By experimenting with different shapes, you can enhance their aesthetic appeal and explore various hand positions to find the most comfortable grip for you.

Bar Plugs or End Caps

These caps serve as protective covers for the handlebar ends, preventing dust, water, and other particles from entering.

Side View Mirror

The function of the mirrors is to get visibility of the rear portion or see the other riders coming from the back. There are right-side and left-side mirrors.

Bell

It is a mechanism of plates and gears. Its function is to create a sound to give a signal to any person in front of you. So you will have space to travel in a crowded area.

Brake Lever

This component is designed for brake actuation and can be made from either plastic or metal.

Bicycle Brake Cable

The cable passes through the brake handle to the wheel braking mechanism. Its steel material has a plastic cover to protect it from dust and water.

Stem

It is a metallic bracket that attaches the steerer tube of a fork to the handlebar.

Steerer Tube

The steerer tube is on the top of the fork, inserted through the frame to steer the bicycle handle.

Headset

The headset is the portion in the frame bearing on the front interface between the frame and the front steerer tube.

Fork

The fork in a bicycle refers to the front component consisting of two tubes that securely hold the wheel in place. It acts as a crucial connection between the handlebars and facilitates the bike’s steering in alignment with the road direction.

Shock Absorber

Its function is to absorb the shocks when we ride on bumpy roads. These shock absorbers are either available on the front wheels or rear wheels. In today’s bicycles, shock absorbers are available on both wheels.

Fork End

It is the end part of the fork where we fit the front wheel axle.

Wheel

A wheel assembles the tire, tube, valve, rim, spokes, and hub.

Hub

It is the middle portion of the wheel that contains the bearing. Also, it has hole driller flanges on the periphery attached to connect spokes.

Hub Dynamo

It is a generator inside the hub that develops power and supplies it to various bicycle parts.

Hub Gear

It is a gearbox or gears inside the hub to get the variation in speed.

Bearing

The bearing is part of the wheel and pedal assembly to reduce friction and give smooth rotating motion. So we can travel long distances with less effort.

Axle

It is a metallic rod that holds the bicycle wheel, and the wheel rotates around the rod. Axle material should have a higher strength to bear the rotating, friction, and jerk load due to the rough riding of riders on bumpy roads.

Rim

The rim is a metallic circular frame of the wheel to attach the tire. It is made of robust material and strengthened by the spokes. It holds the tire to get a good grip while riding the bicycle.

Skirt Guard

It is a device fitted over the rear wheel of a bicycle to prevent a long skirt, coat, or other trailing clothes or luggage from catching in the wheel or the gap between the rim and the brakes.

Spoke

Spokes are the metallic rod that connects the rim with the hub. It is threaded from one end and connected to the rim, whereas another end is swaged to form the head and connected to the hub. Typically, the rim has 36 spokes.

Nipple

The nipple is a nut attached to the rim to hold the spokes.

Tire

It is made of rubber with metal wires inside it. Due to the metallic wires, they have the strength to sit on the rim and have a good grip. Inside the tire, the tube is present and filled with air.

Due to the better grip of the tire on the rim, the tub does not come outside. Tires create better friction between roads for better stability while riding.

Valve Stem or Simply Valve

Its function is to add and release the air inside the tube. Two types are commonly used: Presta and Schrader.

Brake

The function of the brake is to slow the speed of the bicycle. Motion to stop the bicycle transfers from the brake lever on the handle through the cable to the disc or rim brake.

When we press the brake lever, brake pads apply the pressure on the rim in case of rim brake and on the disc in case of disc brake to stop the bicycle. A drum brake is a choice for the rear wheel brake.

Fender or Mudguard

The function of the fender is to protect the rider from mud and wastewater. It is a curved shape and made of metal or plastic. There are front and rear mudguards available.

Down Tube

It connects the head tube with the lower bracket. Its angle is necessary to distribute the stress and improve the aesthetics.

Frame

It is a fabrication of the tubes that help attach all the remaining bicycle parts. With this frame, we can connect the front steering assembly, middle transmission assembly, seat assembly, and rear-wheel assembly. It is a central part of the bicycle.

This tube has enough strength to bear the whole load of the bicycle with stress.

In the modern frame, the suspension is built to absorb the vibrations due to heavy riding.

Bottom Bracket

A bracket at the bottom of the bicycle frame fits inside the bottom bracket shell. It holds the bearing system and spindle with a crankset.

The spindle comes out from the bearing to connect the crankset. The outer bearing cage is inside the bottom bracket portion, and the inside cage holds the spindle.

Basket

A basket is an arrangement to store the cargo or luggage during a ride. Its material is metal or plastic and also depends on the manufacturer.

Bottle Cage

It is a metallic or plastic cage in the bicycle that holds a water bottle.

Crankset or Chainset

The crankset is the assembly of the crank and chainring.

Pedal

It is a metal and rubber member connected to the crank arm. When we apply the pressure on the pedal through our foot, the crankarm transfers this motion to the rear wheel through the transmission (Chain).

Chainring

It is a round ring of steel attached to the crank. Over the chainring, the chain passes and transfers the motion to the rear wheel.

Chain

It assembles rollers, plates, and pins to transmit the motion from our legs to the rear wheel. It connects the rear wheel with the front sprocket to run the bicycle. Chain material should have enough strength to bear the rider’s high load.

Chainguard

It is a metallic cover on the bicycle’s transmission system (Front sprocket, chain, rear sprocket). There are two types.

Fully enclosed- It covers the whole transmission system & sometimes contains oil.
Semi-enclosed- It partly covers the entire transmission system.

With chainguards, we can protect our clothes from fouling in the transmission.

Chainstay

It is a metallic part that connects the bottom bracket to the read-wheel axle frame.

Chain Tensioner

Its function is to maintain the tension in the chain to get a good grip while riding. Sometimes, repetitive use of the bicycle chain becomes loose. So, to avoid any accident, a chain tensioner helps to protect.

Chaintug

Chaintug moves to maintain the tension in the chain.

Cogset/Cassette

It is a sprocket assembly of different sizes that attaches to the rear wheel hub.

Inner tube

It is a rubber tube inside the tire of the wheel. It is filled with air to give a better grip and make it comfortable to drive on the street.

Freehub

Freehub is a ratchet assembly that holds the cassette and allows the bicycle to run without pedaling.

Sprocket

Sprockets are threaded rotating members connected to the rear wheel. When we need to run the cycle, we apply pressure on the legs of the crankset, and the teeth of the sprocket engage with an outer cage to get a motion.

When the cycle runs due to its weight and road inclination, the sprocket disengages with the outer cage threads to run ideally.

Jockey Wheel or Pulley Wheel

Jockey wheels are the small sprockets on the rear derailleur to guide the chain while riding.

Derailleur

It is a cable-actuated lever assembly that moves the chain in different cassette sprockets to get the variation in speed with less effort.

Derailleur Hanger

It is a hanger of the derailleur, which helps operate it.

Peg

Peg is the additional arrangement on the rear wheel axle to rest the foot of the extra rider. It comes 6 inches from the axle and is available on both sides. Its material is strong metal to sustain the load of the additional rider.

Dropout

Dropout is at the U-shaped notch at the rear side of the frame where the rear wheel is attached. With this, we can remove the rear wheel by loosening the nut.

Head Tube

It is the top horizontal tube on the bicycle frame on which the headset fixes.

Saddle or Seat

The saddle is a rubber platform on which the rider sits. It is present on the top of the frame. The seat helps the rider maintain balance while riding the bicycle. It is available in various shapes and designs.

Seat Rails

Seat rails are the metallic framework over which the saddle covering is stretched. The seat post attaches to the seat rails using a clamp.

Seat Lug

These are the points of attachment to clamp the seat post securely.

Seat Tube

It is a vertical tube in a bicycle frame running from the seat to the bottom bracket.

Seat Bag

It is a small storage accessory hung from the back of a seat.

Seatpost

Seat mounts on the seat post. It slides inside the seat tube to adjust the height as required.

Rack

The rack is the additional arrangement on the rear side of the seat. It is also called a carrier.

Indicator

These are the lights that indicate the turning signal to the other riders.

Kickstand

A kickstand is an attachment on the bicycle that can stand up in any location. It is usually fixed to the bottom of the bottom bracket. We can fold and open it as required.

Locknut

The function of the locknut is to prevent the loosening of the nut due to the vibration.

Lock Ring

It is a metallic ring that helps to retain part in its place. There is variation in their design as per the geometry of the components.

Dustcap

It shields the various parts and assemblies from dirt and contamination.

Dynamo

It is a power source of the bicycle, which transforms the rotating power of the wheel into electricity. It is also known as a generator.

Gusset

The function of the gusset is to increase the strength of the existing structure or frame by welding plates. In the bicycle, plates are welded to the framing to improve stability.

Reflector

These are the attachments on the bicycle to reflect the light. When light falls on the reflector, it glows and indicates to other people the existence of the bicycle rider.

Cyclo-computer

It is an additional electronic arrangement to measure the speed, distance, and heart rate.