I’d like to make a confession. I’ve been cycling for 15 years. I’ve come 4th in the UK National hill climb and the UK National 100. I know a little about cycling, but here it is – For a long time, I could never be exactly sure where exactly on a bike are the top tubes, down tubes, seat stays. I go into bike shops and people talk about angles of head tubes, down tubes and I know what they are talking about. But, I wouldn’t want to bet my life I’d point to the right place on the bike. But, being a top cyclist, you could never possibly admit not knowing. So you never ask, but just nod your head and smile. Rather like when some-one starts talking about 60 inch gears and you pretend to know what they mean. So like many things cycling related you just bumble along with an 85% knowledge.
It’s also bit like trying to adjust you gears, you kind of know what you should do, you’ve read 5 maintenance books, and 4 youtube videos. But somehow every time I try to adjust my gears, you can never remember which way you’re supposed to tighten the screw (and of course, if you did ever remember, you’d get a new Shimano Dura Ace, who have to do it the completely other way around to everyone else- or is it Campag Record which does it the other way around?)
Anyway to make a long inconsequential story short. I’ll come mercifully to the point. Below is a lovely piece of bike art which caught my eye and also gives the definitive guide to which part of a bike is which.
The Typographical Bicycle
Reproduced permission of: Aaron
Actually, when I look at this diagram, it all make sense
- chainstay – next to the chain
- Seat tube – goes down from seat
- top tube – the tube on the top (even I knew that)
- head tube – by headset
- Down Tube – the one that slopes downhill
- saddle – the thing you sit on
Got it! Cycling is simple!
Related
Bottom Bracket?
So tell us where the steerer tube is.
It’s that bit between the ground and rider near the steering mechanism.