Bicycle how does it work

In their lab, researchers build all kinds of crazy bike designs to investigate how physics and cycling interact. Who knows? Have something to say about this article?

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It is rare that most people appreciate the bicycle, but it is quite an extraordinary machine. Push a riderless bike, letting it roll freely at high enough speeds, and it can withstand pushes from the side — it will wobble a little, but quickly recover. In the conventional analysis, that is because the gyroscopic force of the front wheel, its mass and the spontaneous turn of the handlebars all act together to keep the bicycle rolling forwards.

This has something to do with the gyroscopic effect, the force that keeps a spinning top upright. You can feel this by removing a wheel from your pushbike and spinning it while you hold the axle spindles. The rear derailleur has two small cogs on it that both spin freely.

The purpose of the arm and lower cog of the derailleur is to tension the chain. The cog and arm are connected to a spring so that the cog pulls backward at all times.

As you change gears, you will notice that the angle of the arm changes to take up or let out slack:. The top cog is very close to the freewheel. When you adjust the gears with the lever on the handlebar, this cog moves to a different position on the freewheel and drags the chain with it.

Everything about a bicycle is simple. That's what makes it such a great machine to ride -- and also a great mechanical work of art! For more information on bicycles and related topics, check out the links on the next page. Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe. Outdoor Activities. How Bicycles Work. See more extreme sports pictures.

Bicycle Parts In order to talk about bicycles, it's good to start by naming all of the parts. Here's a picture of a typical bicycle: Bicycle Image Gallery Bicycles were first introduced in 19th-century Europe.

See more bicycle pictures. Each tube has a name, as shown here: The front fork is the movable part of the frame that holds the front wheel. The wheels - The wheels are made of a hub, the spokes, the metal rim and the rubber tire. The seat and seat post The handlebars and the handlebar stem that connects the handlebars to the frame The cranks and the pedals The brakes , consisting of the actuators on the handlebars, the brake cable, the brake calipers and the brake pads The chain and gears , consisting of the front chain wheels, the rear freewheel, the front and rear derailleur, the shift levers on the handlebars and the cables That is all there is to a bicycle!