The frameset of your bike is the foundation. Some frames are lightweight, some are more durable. They can differ quite a bit depending on the bike and what it is intended for, and are typically made from carbon-fibre, aluminium alloys, steel, or even titanium. It’s good to know what kind of frame you have and how to describe each of the parts, so you can get replacements and repairs as they wear.
Fork: The part of the frameset that connects to your front wheel and stem, allowing you to steer. Not to be confused with the one you use at the dinner table!
Head Tube: The part of your frame that the stem and handlebars attach to, the head tube connects to the fork that moves the front tyre.
Top Tube: The near-horizontal tube of the frame that connects the head tube to the seat tube.
Down Tube: The tube of the frame that connects the head tube to the bottom bracket shell.
Bottom Bracket: The shell at the bottom of the frame that bearings are mounted in, allowing the cranks to rotate freely. Often abbreviated as BB.
Seatstays: The pair of tubes of the frame that run diagonally downward from the top of the seat tube to the rear dropouts to help stabilise your saddle.
Chainstays: The pair of tubes of the frame that run from the BB shell to the rear dropouts, alongside the chain.
Seat Tube: The tube of the frame that runs from the top tube down to the BB. The seat post is mounted inside the seat tube.
Seat Post: A fairly simple one, the seat post is the part of the bike that the saddle is mounted to. It can be adjusted to better fit your body geometry.
Axle: The axles are what hold the wheels in place. They could be quick-release "skewers" or, more commonly on modern bikes, thru axles.
If you’d like to learn more about bike parts, be sure to check out our comprehensive guide right here, which covers the bike frameset, drivetrain and wheel parts!
