help w/ bicycle terminology

jman said:

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.

Quoted message said:

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."

Quoted message said:

thanks

See also:

sheldonbrown.comglossary.htmlOpen ↗

--
Bob M in CT Remove 'x.' to reply

"jman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

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.

Quoted message said:

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,

Quoted post said:

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)

Quoted message said:

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)

Quoted message said:

thanks

This page is Sheldon Brown's bicycle glossary with pictures:
sheldonbrown.comglossary.htmlOpen ↗
--
zk

15 Aug 2003 12:10:24 -0700,

Quoted post said:

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

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

jman said:

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.

Quoted message said:

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."

You'll also see the term "granny" for the small one, especially when used in conjunctio with the
largest rear cog.

--
David Kerber An optimist says "Good morning, Lord." While a pessimist says "Good Lord,
it's morning".

Remove the ns_ from the address before e-mailing.

Zoot Katz said:

Quoted message said:

Maybe not "technical terminology", but colloquial.

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

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:

shimano-europe.comindex.phtmlOpen ↗
campagnolo.comgroupsets.phpOpen ↗

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

Jobst Brandt [email hidden] Palo Alto CA

Zoot Katz said:

15 Aug 2003 12:10:24 -0700,

Quoted post said:

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 Remove 'x.' to reply

Bob M said:

Zoot Katz said:

15 Aug 2003 12:10:24 -0700,

Quoted post said:

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 Remove 'x.' to reply

I'm convinced you are on the right track. Drop into lower gears, stay seated, spin up the hills. No
extra stress on the so very important knees, plus you can climb anything. Best regards, Bernie