help w/ bicycle terminology

What is the correct terminology for these parts:

1) the crank area that has ball bearings where the pedals attach to
the frame.

2) the large cogs for the chain that are attached to the same place as
above, AND if there are 3 of these cogs (little, medium and large) is
there correct terminology for each? Maybe not "technical terminology",
but colloquial.


thanks

On 15 Aug 2003 12:10:24 -0700, jman wrote:

What is the correct terminology for these parts:

1) the crank area that has ball bearings where the pedals attach to
the frame.

Bottom bracket.

2) the large cogs for the chain that are attached to the same place as
above, AND if there are 3 of these cogs (little, medium and large) is
there correct terminology for each? Maybe not "technical terminology",
but colloquial.

Chainrings. I just call them the small, medium, and large chainrings. Or,
more spefically, the "thank gosh I have this little sucker," "the one I'm
always in," and "the big ring."


thanks


See also:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/glossary.html

--
Bob M in CT
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"jman" wrote in message
om...
What is the correct terminology for these parts:

1) the crank area that has ball bearings where the pedals attach to
the frame.

Bottom bracket.

2) the large cogs for the chain that are attached to the same place as
above, AND if there are 3 of these cogs (little, medium and large) is
there correct terminology for each? Maybe not "technical terminology",
but colloquial.

"Crankset" -- consisting of two crank arms and (usually) 2 or 3 chain rings
(small/middle/big).

Bill "Sheldon...not!" S.

15 Aug 2003 12:10:24 -0700,
,
(jman) wrote:

What is the correct terminology for these parts:

1) the crank area that has ball bearings where the pedals attach to
the frame.

Generally referred to as the "bottom bracket" but there are lots of
parts there. The part of the frame where the seat and down tubes meet
the chain stays is the "bottom bracket shell". That carries either
cups (fixed and adjustable with a lock ring) for the ball bearings or
sealed bearings carrying the crank axle. (sometimes called a spindle)

2) the large cogs for the chain that are attached to the same place as
above, AND if there are 3 of these cogs (little, medium and large) is
there correct terminology for each? Maybe not "technical terminology",
but colloquial.

Chainrings are referred to by their size, as you've done, or their
position. (inner, middle and outer)

thanks

This page is Sheldon Brown's bicycle glossary with pictures:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/glossary.html
--
zk

15 Aug 2003 12:10:24 -0700,
,
(jman) wrote:

Maybe not "technical terminology",
but colloquial.

Additionally, the smallest of three chainrings is sometimes called a
"granny gear" or more rarely, "fairy gear".

The terms "chainring" and "chainwheel" are acceptably interchangeable
though technically they are sprockets

Sprockets at the rear are also called cogs.
--
zk

Zoot Katz writes:

Maybe not "technical terminology", but colloquial.

Additionally, the smallest of three chainrings is sometimes called a
"granny gear" or more rarely, "fairy gear".

The terms "chainring" and "chainwheel" are acceptably interchangeable
though technically they are sprockets

Sprockets at the rear are also called cogs.

I'm not a fan of bicycle jargon, most of which is a type of lingo that
young people use to differentiate themselves from others, the
uninitiated. In that vein, a cog is a tooth on a cogwheel.
Bicyclists often call the whole cogwheel a cog. A sprocket is a
special cogwheel used with chains. In English the expression "he's
only one cog in the machinery" implies insignificance. In bicycle
jargon he would be a larger component.

We inherited the bottom bracket from England, the home of the first
bicycle as we know it today (the Rover) and the shaft connecting the
cranks is a spindle although it could as well be an axle since both
have nearly the same dictionary definition. The difference usually
being whether the part rotates or has rotating parts running on it.
Again, neither is specifically one or the other.

Shafts that turn with wheels or ones on which wheels rotate are
equally referred to as axles. Lathe spindles are a rotating part of
the machine no different from BB spindles. Pedal spindle/axle seems
to be used both ways.

Most BB spindles run in ball bearings that ride on cups threaded into
the BB shell, the part of the bicycle frame to which down-, seat-, and
Chainstay tubes are fastened.

These components are shown in:

http://www.shimano-europe.com/cycling/index.phtml
http://www.campagnolo.com/groupsets.php?gid=1&cid=all

Shimano wants you to search a bit but under Catalog, parts are shown
and named. Campagnolo wants you to learn Italian.

Jobst Brandt

Palo Alto CA

On Fri, 15 Aug 2003 13:03:29 -0700, Zoot Katz
wrote:

15 Aug 2003 12:10:24 -0700,
,
(jman) wrote:

Maybe not "technical terminology",
but colloquial.

Additionally, the smallest of three chainrings is sometimes called a
"granny gear" or more rarely, "fairy gear".

[cut]

Fairy gear? I call it "the saving my knees chainring." I've bought a bike
with a triple front and I've been watching my cadence. If my cadence falls
below 60, I switch gears until I'm at 70 or 80 rpm. I find that I can go
as fast up the hill but my knees complain less. Everytime I forget (like
this morning), and I end up pushing large gears up steep hills, my knees
let me know.

--
Bob M in CT
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