Mountain Biking Parts 1 - 12

Click Here for Mountain Biking Parts 13 - 24

 

1. Bottom Bracket - mountain biking parts

This part connects the cranks and pedals to the frame of the bike.  The bottom bracket has a spindle that rotates in the middle using the bearings that are also included.  This is an important part of the bike, and should be installed by a professional.  One of the reasons you want to purchase your bike at a bike shop is because you can be assured the bottom bracket is assembled by a professional.

2. Brake System - mountain biking parts

There have been many kinds of brakes developed over the years, but the two best performers at this point are rim brakes and disc brakes.  Both kinds of brakes use cables that attach to the brake levers on the handle bars. 

This bike in the above chart has a rim brake system which uses brake pads that apply pressure to the tire's rim when engaged.  Many rim brake bikes are compatible with disc brakes should the rider choose to install disc brakes at a later time.  Rim brakes are less expensive and lighter than disc brakes but require the rim to be straight to function properly.  They also tend to be more effected by trail conditions since the rim has closer contact with the trail than the say a disc system.

Many mountain bikes use disk brakes.  Disk brakes have a small disk mounted at  the tire's hub  that spins with the tire.  When the brake lever is pulled, pads apply pressure to the disk which causes the bike to slow down.  Disk brakes perform better in cold, wet, and, muddy conditions because the brake pad contact is further away from the path, and less manual pressure is needed to stop or slow down.  They also tend to be a little heavier, they put more strain on the spokes, and they are more expensive. 

3. Brake Lever - mountain biking parts

Mountain bikes have two brake levers attached to the handle bars.  The right brake lever engages the rear brakes, and the left brake lever engages the front brakes.  Your brake levers should be adjusted to comfortably fit your hands. 

Disc brakes use a hydraulic braking system that includes an integrated fluid reservoir.  The reservoirs need to maintain the right amount of fluid to work properly.  Also, hydraulic brakes/disc brakes do not require as much manual pressure to the brake lever as do rim brakes.

Click here for mountain biking techniques - braking

4. Chain - mountain biking parts

The chain transfers the rotation and pedaling power of the pedals, bottom bracket, cranks, and front chain rings to the rear chain rings.  This obviously causes the rear tire to spin accordingly. 

The chain requires regular lubrication to function properly.   Liquid lubricants penetrate the hard-to-get-to inside of the chain, but they attract more grime and dirt that in turn wear down the chain.  Dry lubricants keep the chain cleaner, but they tend to lubricate the outside of the chain more than the inside. 

To prolong the life of your bike chain, first clean it and the sprockets well (with a chain brush and perhaps some soapy water), let it dry, and then lube it with a lube of your choice.  Lastly, wipe off the excess lube from the outside of the chain.  It's time to get a new chain (they are fairly inexpensive) when you experience the following symptoms:

• The chain "skips" when shifting gears
• A noticeable reduction in power transfer
• You see rust or hear squeaking after a lube
• The chain is old, stretched-out, and worn down

5. Chain Ring or Chain Sprocket

The picture to the right is a rear sprocket set without a spider attached to it. 

Your bike's chain is designed to fit around the sprocket teeth, making chain care an important part of bike maintenance.  The various sprocket sizes are essential to mountain bikers who like to climb and descend hills because they make it possible to change the gear ratio.   

When you change gears using your front and rear derailleurs, the chain moves to a sprocket with a different diameter.  If your bike has three front sprockets and eight rear sprockets, your bike has twenty-four possible gear combinations (3 x 8 = 24 right!?).  A low gear ratio will allow you to climb steep terrain, and a high gear ratio allows you to gain even more speed while descending a steep hill. 

Dirt and grime wear down your sprocket's teeth, and dull teeth cause gear shifting problems.  Prolong the life of these parts by keeping your sprockets and chain as clean as possible.  I recommend using a sprocket brush to get the grime out of those hard to get places.             

6. Cranks mountain biking parts

The cranks are the two arms that connect the pedals to the bottom bracket.  They are a part of your bike's whole drivetrain system (the chain, chain rings/sprockets, bottom bracket, spider, and cranks).

Many mountain bike cranks have a spider integrated into the right crank (top-right) or the front sprocket, or they are a separate part altogether (bottom right).  A spider is the part that connects the right crank to the sprockets.  Spiders have anywhere from 3 -10 arms to attach it depending on the design.       

7. Derailleur - mountain biking parts

Your mountain bike has more than one gear option in the front and back, it will also have two derailleurs.  These mechanisms need to be lubricated because they have moving parts, and they need to be adjusted periodically to insure proper gear shifting results.  The rear derailleur (right) is especially prone to damage and maladjustment due to it's protruding location on the back hub.  The idler pulley makes up the lower portion of this part.

Mountain bikes usually have cables that pull upwards unlike road bikes that usually pull down.  There are many kinds of derailleurs, but they all have the same purpose:  to reposition a moving chain to a different sized sprocket.      

8. Frame - mountain biking parts

The bike frame is the skeleton of your bike.  It makes up the majority of your bike's mass, and it's important that you have the appropriate frame for the kind of riding you plan on doing.  The main two categories for cross country mountain bike frames are hardtail and full-suspension.  You also need to have the right size bike frame for your body type. 

For more information on selecting the right bike size click here. 

9. Front Shock - mountain biking parts

The front shock absorbs rough terrain for the front tire.  The technical term for measuring front suspension is travel.  The amount of travel (the blue triangle on the right) your mountain bike has helps to determine what kind of mountain bike it is.  For example, dirt jump and cross country bikes have less travel than trail, freeride  and downhill bikes.  Click bike types for clarification on the different kinds of mountain bikes.

Another technical term you may want to know is "trail".  Trail refers to the angle of the front fork, the offset from the center of the hub, and the point of contact the wheel has with the ground.  The width of the red box to the left is the bike's trail measurement.        

10. Handlebar - mountain biking parts

Flat bars or riser bars are the standard handlebars used for mountain biking.  Mounted on the handlebars are usually grips/tape, gear shifters, brake levers, and end plugs.  Since they are the most accessible part of the mountain bike, aftermarket accessories are often mounted to them such as gps devices, speedometers, lights, and bar ends. 

NOTE: If you don't use your mountain bike for commuting around traffic, you may want to consider removing the stock reflectors.  I am afraid reflectors often communicate to others that you are a "novice mountain biker".  Just keeping it real!   

11. Headset - mountain biking parts

The headset includes the set of parts that connect the front fork to the bike frame's head tube.  Bearings allow the handlebars and front fork to turn side to side and may need adjustment from time to time.  Like the bottom bracket, it is best if the headset is adjusted or installed by a professional unless you know what you are doing.  If you are experiencing problems with turning your handlebars, the bearings may be worn down, or the bearing cups may need to be tightened down. 

12. Hub - mountain biking parts

The hub is basically the center of the wheel that the spokes are attached to.  This is called the flange.  The hub is made up of three basic parts: the axle, the bearings, and the hub shell.  Most bikes today use a quick release system that enables the tire to be detached from the bike without using any tools.  This really comes in handy if you have a car rack that requires you to remove the front tire before you load it up.     

13 - 24. Mountain Biking Parts

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