Brakes

What makes wheels strong?

 

There are a variety of things that makes wheels strong like spoke tension, spoke lacing, Single or double wall rims, nipple designs, eyelets, wheel material, and even the type of tire can influence the strength of the wheel.

Chain rings

Cassette/Freewheels

Single speed: Easy to operate. Fun. Good for training.

Multispeed: Different gears for different terrains

Racing: Higher geared for speed.

Climbing: lower geared for climbing.

H/bars

Racing: light weight and aero.

Comfort: Will have some sort of raise to push you upright.

Cruising: upright

Drop bars: Available in many degrees of drop and reach these are most common on road bikes.

 

Shoes

Spinning: Stiff bottomed shoe with a sole just flexible enough to walk in. This shoe will have the capability of clipping into pedals for maximum spinning performance.

Road: Light weight and stiff. These shoe are not really walk able. Different models will have varying designs for ventilation, heat reflection, breakaway heal support, orthodics and strap features.

Mountain: Stiff like the road shoes but these will have knobs for getting in the mud if needed.

Recreational: similar to the spinning these will be walk able usually in more of a mainstream street style design.

Derailluers

Hydraulic Disc: Easier than mechanical less maintenance. Works in all conditions with ease.

Mechanic Disc: Easier than v-brakes, Wheel does not have to be true to use these. Dependent upon cable integrity.

V-Brakes: Better than cantilever still relying on strait wheels and dry conditions.

Cantilever: Old school barely good for stopping. Requires a kung Fu grip in some conditions.

Front: Keep  pivots oiled. Use trim feature to eliminate chain rub. Outer

Plate should be in alignment with chain rings.

 

Rear: A quarter turn counter clockwise usually eliminates any noise from this one.

Saddles

Racing: Light weight. Minimal design. Good for about 50 miles.

Cruising: Big and comfortable. Good for about 10 miles.

BG Saddles: Designed for the human body. These saddles are more comfortable and make for a healthier lifestyle. Good for all miles.

Wheels

Tires

Road specific: These tires are skinny so that they have low resistance on the road. They also hold a higher air pressure for the same purpose of low resistance.

MTN: These tire run anywhere from 1.8 to 4 in diameter with a wide variety of tread patterns for all uses.

Slicks: These refer to tires that are usually found on a mountain bike that is getting a lot of road use. Without the knobs they can simulates a smooth ride on the road.

Sizes.

Tube less: These tires can be used for mountain biking or road because they come in different sizes. For mountain bike they can be used with a lower air pressure without worrying about punctures or pinch flats. For Road the can exceed the max pressure of typical clinchers to reduce resistance and gain responsiveness.

Pedals

Speed Play: Light weight on the bike and contains more float than look.

Look: Bigger platform provides  maximum power transfer to pedals

BMX: Flat design favored by those who will be removing their  feet often to do tricks or catch balance.

SPD: Metal cleats used in spinning. Minimal design fits most style shoes.

Toe straps: Old school simple design with a cage and a strap. Not a lot of control.

Triple: Most variety of gearing for all conditions.

Double: Efficient gearing and clean not as many gearing variety.

Compact: This one gives you similar gearing as a triple but the simplicity of a double. You lose your highest and lowest gear ratios in comparison to a double

Metal device used to push and pull a chain into different gears.

PARTS 101