Definition:
A bicycle is a two wheeled machine that is steerable and pedaled by the rider’s feet.
Typically, two wheels are mounted on a frame, and the rider steers by turning handlebars
attached to the front wheel. Bikes are vehicles, with their main purpose being transportation, but
are also used as a form of exercise, or can be used simply for the rider’s enjoyment.
Technologically speaking, bikes are relatively simple as far as vehicles go, but they are still a
cost-effective method of transportation. Because it is not an automated vehicle and is instead
propelled by the rider pushing the pedals, it reduces the emission of gas, and can provide many
health benefits to the rider after consistent use.
When operating a bike, the rider sits on the seat/saddle, with their hands on the handles
that are attached to the front wheel. The rider then pushes one pedal forward to start moving, and
after balancing themselves with the handles, use the other foot to push the other side of the pedal,
moving their feet in a circular motion.
Overview:
The appearance of a bicycle can vary depending on the model, the company that made it,
the kind of bike it is and what the purpose of that specific model is, among other things. In
general, a basic bike has a frame, which has two wheels mounted on it in line with each other, a
seat, pedals, gear components connecting the pedals to the back wheel, and handlebars, which
are mounted on the fork, which is the component that holds the front wheel. From there, different
models can have additional features or alterations, but the aforementioned components are the
essentials to the structure of any bike.

Components:
-Frame
The frame is the primary structural component of the bike that all other components are
connected to. The material used to make a frame can vary, but typically it’s, “made of steel,
aluminum, titanium, or carbon fiber”(Steadcycles 2019). The frame consists of a top tube, head
tube, down tube, bottom bracket shell, seat tube, seat stays and chain stays.

Labeled Frame[Picture Not Shown]

-Fork/Handle Bars
The fork connects the front wheel to the frame. The front wheel is mounted onto the fork,
which holds the front wheel and allows the rider to steer and balance the bike using handlebars
attached to the top of the fork.

-Wheels
The wheels of the bike consist of a hub at the center, a rim which is the metal that forms
the outer circle of the wheel, the spokes which, “connect the rim to the hub and are distributed
evenly along both” (Berto 2021), and the tires which are a layer of rubber attached to the rim and
filled with air. The tires are the part of the wheel that make contact with the surface of the road.
(Visible in image of frame above)
-Seat
The seat or saddle is what the rider sits on and is designed to support the rider’s back and
buttocks. The seat is usually slightly reclined, placed above and slightly in front of the back
wheel as described in Steadcycles’ 2019 article. It is connected to the frame through the seat
tube.

-Pedal/Gear components
The pedal is what the rider’s feet pushes to move the entire vehicle forward. The pedals
and the back wheel are connected by chains. The chain is what rotates the back wheel when the
pedals rotate. When the pedal is pushed, it moves in a circular motion, and the chain pulls the
back wheel so that it also rotates.

Explanation:

When operating a bike, the rider sits on the seat/saddle, with their hands on the handles
that are attached to the front wheel. The rider then pushes one pedal forward to start moving, and
after balancing themselves with the handles, use the other foot to push the other side of the pedal,
moving their feet in a circular motion

Conclusion:
The bicycle is a very old mechanism, with the basic design being traced back to 1493.
But the first practical application was in 1817 Karl Von Drais, a German civil servant. The
design had gone through many iterations, with Von Drais’s first bike being made of a wooden
frame with no pedals. The first bike also had wooden wheels with iron rims and leather tires.
Evidently, the design of the bicycle has seen many innovations to improve its practicality in the
last 200 years.
The cost of a bike can vary greatly, often falling in a range of 800 dollars to 3000 dollars.
But typically, serviceable bikes will cost you anywhere from 350 to 700 dollars It is important to
note that bikes have many important safety precautions to consider, and these cost ranges do not
reflect that. Riders must wear the appropriate equipment to safely operate a bike.