Frame Terminology

[ren531]

Anyone know where/how the naming of parts of a cycle frame came from ,what I am interested in is the term "stay" as in seat stay and chain stay ,could it have come from the maritime world being as the bicycle came into being at a time when huge sailing ships ruled the waves the term "stay" is used in the standing rigging ,as in backstay, forstay and are used to support the mast forming a similar shape and function to the chain stays and seat stays on a bicycle ,or is it perhaps just a general engineering term ,I would love to think our fantastic 2 wheeled machines had some forgotten past link to these incredible magnificent shining examples of craftmanship ,efficiency and beauty .

 

[Racing roadkill]

The term ‘stay’ comes from the French word ‘estayer’ meaning ‘to support’, because that’s what they do. It’s the same for bikes, and ships.

 

[FrankCrank]

How about bottom bracket - I mean, it's hardly a bracket is it? Bottom bearing I could understand. On recumbents they still call it a bottom bracket, even though it's way out in front. Funny old world.

 

[Drago]

On some very, very early bike designs it would indeed have been a bracket or a couple of large lugs/bracket.

 

[ren531]

How about bottom bracket - I mean, it's hardly a bracket is it? Bottom bearing I could understand. On recumbents they still call it a bottom bracket, even though it's way out in front. Funny old world.

Very true

 

[sleuthey]

How about bottom bracket - I mean, it's hardly a bracket is it? Bottom bearing I could understand. On recumbents they still call it a bottom bracket, even though it's way out in front. Funny old world.

According to Wikipedia:

The term "bracket" refers to the tube fittings that are used to hold frame tubes together in lugged steel frames[1] which also form the shell that contains the spindle and bearings; the term is now used for all frames, bracketed or not.