A mountain bike is a relatively straightforward vehicle that still contains several intricate pieces of technology and machinery that must work in harmony for you to use the bike as a whole effectively. When all of the different parts are working in concert, you can use a mountain bike to do incredible things and have endless hours of fun out on the trail. However, when even just a few parts stop working the way you need them to, the result can be hours of frustration as you try to repair things yourself or have them repaired for you so you can get back out on the trail. This article will discuss some of the key mountain bike parts to keep in good working order so you can spend less time in the shop and more time on the mountain. Even if you are not at risk of having things break down on you, it is still a good idea to have some knowledge of the various parts of machinery that are key to the functioning of a mountain bike so you can help your friends or riding buddies out if anything goes wrong on their bikes.
One of the first key parts of a mountain bike that you should know about is the bottom bracket. The bottom bracket is an essential part of any bike, whether it is specifically a mountain bike or not, and it is the part of the bike where the axle connects to the crank of the pedal. Without a bottom bracket, you cannot turn the pedals, which means you cannot propel your bike, which means a bottom bracket is something that always needs to be in good working order for you to make any use of your mountain bike.
Another key part of a mountain bike that you should know about is the crank. The crank is the primary connection between the pedal of the pedals of your mountain bike and the axle of the bottom bracket. Typically you will find two different sets of cranks available. The first involves two cranks while the second involves chain rings and sprockets with the chain designed to pass through them. Without a crank, you cannot pedal the bike, which makes it another crucial aspect of your bike’s functioning. Unlike the bottom bracket, which is singular, there are two cranks on a typical mountain bike; one can be found on either side of the bottom bracket. They are the wrench shaped objects that connect the pedals to the bottom bracket.
Another key part of a mountain bike that you should know about is the cassette. The cassette is the technical term for the chain rings or gear sprockets that are attached to your rear wheel; those sprockets are informally and commonly known as your bicycle’s gears. All of the sprockets turn at the same rate on your cassette; the speed of your bike when you are pedaling depends on whether your chain is transferring energy on a larger or a smaller sprocket. The smaller the sprocket your chain is attached to, the harder it is to pedal, but the farther and faster your bike goes with each pedal. The purpose of the cassette is to to contain your sprockets and attach your bicycle hub to the bicycle’s frame.
Another key part of a mountain bike that you should know about is the bike hub. The hub is a central and highly important part of your mountain bike wheel. The hub is composed of an outer shell and an axle is attached to the forks that are located on the front wheel while the outer shell is attached to the spokes of the wheel as well as to the bearings of the wheel. The outer shell connects the axle of the wheel to the shell of the hub, which allows the wheel to freely rotate.
If any of the aforementioned parts of your bike stops working or begins to function improperly, it will probably not take too long for you to find out, as each of these parts is essential to your bike being able to move when you want it to. Keeping them in good condition is vital.