Bicycle Parts & Their Functions

Summary: Bicycles, or bikes--human-powered vehicles with steering mechanisms and pedals--were invented in Europe in the late 1700s or early 1800s. Though the exact history of the origins of the bicycle are somewhat ambiguous, most historians agree that the first bicycles came from France or Germany. Early bicycles appeared in many forms and operated without pedals; riders pushed along the ground with their feet. Bicycle production and refinement boomed in the 1800s, and improvements regarding ease of use and safety made the bicycle perhaps the most popular form of transportation in the world by the 20th Century. Nowadays most people take their bikes for granted, but the engineering that went into the bicycle's conception is truly fascinating. In this free how-to video series, our expert explains how a bike is put together. He discusses the points of movement--the ball bearings, chain, cogs, wheels, spokes and tires--and he demonstrates how bicycle frames are constructed. He also discusses the materials used to build modern bikes. These instructional free video clips help us understand the parts that constitute our bicycles.