Pedaling Through the Parts SIMPLE MACHINES     Click on the words around the bike to learn more. The laws of physics make bicycles work. To find out how, click here. We will give you a simple explanation about how tires and wheels, brakes, pedals and gears work, but check out Bicyclopedia and How Stuff Works for even more information.                   HOW THE PEDALS AND GEARS WORK Pedals and gears are simple machines. The chain of a bike goes in a continuous circle around one big sprocket wheel and any one of five small sprocket wheels of different sizes. When the rider changes gears, the selector mechanism called the derailleur moves the chain to the correct sprocket wheel. This picture shows the derailleur. The smaller sprocket wheel turns quicker than the big one, but needs more force to make it turn. In other words, the smaller the sprocket wheel, the harder it is for you to pedal. Back To The Top                   HOW THE BRAKES WORK The brakes are simple machines that slow the wheels down with your help. There are three different kinds of brakes. Long arm brakes are found on most mountain bikes and hybrids. The long arm brakes use two straight brake arms connected by a horizontal cable, and these brakes provide great stopping power. Cantilever brakes, otherwise known as short arm brakes, are on some hybrids and mountain bikes. The brake arms are shorter and they are connected by a triangular cable. They give plenty of stopping power, but not as much as long arm brakes. Caliper brakes are used generally on road bikes. They're very easy to regulate but they don't give enough stopping power. Back To The Top               HOW THE TIRES AND WHEELS WORK A wheel is a simple machine that helps us move things. In the highest gear the rear wheel turns many times for each rotation of the pedals. In low gear the wheel turns fewer times in relation to the pedal. In doing that they are trading speed for comfortable pedaling.  Back To The Top HOME | Preferences | Protection | Parts | Pros | Past | Pleasure | Performance | Puzzles | About Us | Bibliography | Links