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Major Parts and Components
The following is a brief description of major parts and components and
their functions.
FORK AND HANDLEBAR
The fork is the primary support for front wheel and handling of a bicycle or
tricycle. The fork should pivot on its steer tube freely and without any
resistance. The fork is connected to the frame by a set of bearings and
cones known as headset. If a headset is too tight, steering becomes
difficult. If it is loose, the fork will wobble resulting in damage to the
bearings and poor handling. If you lift the front wheel by the handlebar
and notice a play in the fork’s steer tube connection to the frame, tighten
the head set lock nut at the base of the stem, but do not tighten too much
or it will lock the fork and steering will be difficult.
headset
The handlebar is designed so that you can enjoy riding your bicycle
without having to bend or lean forward, thus reducing pressure on back
and neck muscles. The position of the handlebar can be adjusted to raise
or lower the grip for maximum comfort.
Handlebar needs to be firmly attached to handlebar stem. You can tilt the
bar forward or backward to adjust to your riding preference.
The stem is attached to the frame head tube by a stem expander bolt. To
adjust the height of the handlebar, loosen the bolt about 3 or 4 turns.
Using a rubber mallet, tap the loosened bolt down to release the expander
wedge from the head tube. You can now raise or lower the stem to the
desired height. When tightening the expander bolt, make sure that the
handlebar is straight and squared with front wheel.
CAUTION: Never raise the stem beyond the maximum level
(insertion mark) stamped on the stem.
