The Parts of the Mountain Bike | Fat Bike and Its Functions

The Parts of the Mountain Bike | Fat Bike and Its Functions

If you’re new to cycling or maybe you’re just wondering what makes a mountain bike or a fat bike– you have probably been very keen to learn some seems-to-be foreign terminologies that may initially not make sense to you in your first encounter.

Maybe you are a newbie, while you have been trying to develop the biking skills and technique, you start getting these technical-like terminologies about bikes.
Relax, you are not the first one to experience it. And there’s no need to learn everything from the get-go.

Over time, the more you ride, the more frequently you keep hearing these, and the more conversation you have with other riders, you’ll learn and will pick these up naturally.

It’s equally important in this the sport of cycling though, aside from developing the skills, is knowing your bike’s anatomy. After all, you will be the one responsible for maintaining it.

How you’ll be able to keep it in great condition and do proper maintenance, replace parts whenever necessary, and explain problems to the mechanics at the local bike shop if you don’t know the basic parts.

If you want to know more about what are the bicycle components and functions, the below list will be a good help to start getting to know more about mountain bikes or fat bikes parts.

Essential Bicycle Parts

The frame is the very foundation and main component of the bike, with which wheels and other components are fitted. Commonly made of steel, aluminum, titanium, or carbon fiber. Each has its pros and cons but depends on your budget and intended use.

A bicycle fork is a part of the bicycle on which the front wheel is mounted and which is turned via handlebars in order to steer the bicycle. Above the crown, a steerer tube attaches the fork to the bicycle and the handlebars (via a stem) allowing the rider to steer the bicycle. The steerer tube of the fork interfaces with the frame via bearings called a headset mounted in the head tube. At the bottom of the fork, the fork ends to hold the wheel. Usually, either the axle is bolted to the fork, or a quick-release skewer passes through a hollow axle, clamping the axle to the fork.

The head tube is the part of a cycle’s tubular frame within which the front fork steerer tube is mounted. Tube using ball bearings to transmit the steering movement to the fork.

The stem is the component on a bicycle that connects the handlebars to the steerer tube of the bicycle fork. Part whose height is adjustable; it is inserted into the head tube and supports the handlebars.

A bicycle handlebar is the steering control for bicycles. The device is made up of two handles connected by a tube, for steering the bicycle.

Lever attached to the handlebars for activating the brake caliper via a cable.

A bicycle brake reduces the speed of a bicycle or prevents it from moving. The three main types are rim brakes, disc brakes, and drum brakes. It’s a mechanism activated by a brake cable, comprising a caliper and return springs; it forces a pair of brake pads against the sidewalls to stop the bicycle.

A bicycle shifter or gear control or gear lever is a component used to control the gearing mechanisms and select the desired gear ratio. Typically, they operate either a derailleur mechanism or an internal hub gear mechanism. In either case, the control is operated by moving a cable that connects the shifter to the gear mechanism.

A mechanism for changing the gears is by lifting the chain from one chain wheel to another; they work by shifting the chain. It’s a bicycle gearing system consisting of a chain, multiple sprockets of different sizes, and a mechanism to move the chain from one sprocket to another.

A bicycle chain is a roller chain that transfers power from the pedals to the drive-wheel of a bicycle, thus propelling it. Most bicycle chains are made from plain carbon or alloy steel, but some are nickel-plated to prevent rust, or simply for aesthetics.

The crankset (in the US) or chainset (in the UK), is the component of a bicycle drivetrain that converts the reciprocating motion of the rider’s legs into rotational motion used to drive the chain or belt, which in turn drives the rear wheel. It consists of one or more sprockets, also called chainring or chainwheels attached to the cranks, or crankarms[to which the pedals attach. It is connected to the rider by the pedals, to the bicycle frame by the bottom bracket, and to the rear sprocket, cassette, or freewheel via the chain

This is the part that a cyclist places their feet on. The pedal is the part of a bicycle that the rider pushes with their foot to propel the vehicle. It provides the connection between the cyclist’s foot or shoe and the crank allowing the leg to turn the bottom bracket spindle and propel the bicycle’s wheels. A pedal usually consists of a spindle that threads into the end of the crank, and a body on which the footrest is attached, that is free to rotate on bearings with respect to the spindle.

The central part of the wheel from which spokes radiate and which provides the axis of rotation. Inside the hub are ball bearings enabling it to rotate around its axle. Within each hub, front and back is the axle that attaches the wheel to the bike.

A thin metal spindle connects the hub to the rim. A spoke is one of some number of rods radiating from the center of a wheel (the hub where the axle connects), connecting the hub with the round traction surface. Most commonly spokes are made with steel wire but can vary greatly in shape and diameter.

The metal circle constitutes the wheel’s circumference and on which the tire is mounted. Metallic bicycle rims are now normally made of aluminum alloy, although until the 1980s most bicycle rims – with the exception of those used on racing bicycles – were made of steel. The wheel’s rim has two main functions; to hold the tire and provide a braking surface (for rim-brake bikes, not disc-equipped bikes).

Tires and inner tubes are essential components of any bicycle. Structure made of cotton and steel fibers coated with rubber, mounted on the rim to form the casing for the inner tube. Bicycle tires provide an important source of suspension, generate the lateral forces necessary for balancing and turning, and generate the longitudinal forces necessary for propulsion and braking.

A bicycle saddle, often called a bicycle seat is commonly attached to the seat post and the height of the saddle can usually be adjusted by the seat post telescoping in and out of the seat tube.

A bicycle seat post, seat pin, saddle pole, saddle pillar, or saddle pin is a component supporting and attaching the seat, inserted to variable depth into the seat tube to adjust the seat’s height.

Part of the frame leaning slightly to the rear, receiving the seat post and joining the pedal mechanism.

You may want to check our next blog which will guide you through the basic bike maintenance, detailing for each part of the bike, what are the checkpoints, recommended action, and frequency.

Enjoy your ride and keep safe!

References:

Albert Maunelli., B.Eng,The Parts of the Mountain Bike and Its Functions, accessed 31 May 2022,

Momentum Mag, October 6, 2021, Bike Check – Getting to Know the Parts of Your Bike, accessed 31 May 2022,

Wikipedia, Bicycle, accessed 31 May 2022, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle