Why are all bicycle parts described with the word "set"?

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jimster99
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Joined: 18 Jun 2012, 7:00pm

Why are all bicycle parts described with the word "set"?

Post by jimster99 »

I've noticed that if you need to buy bicycle parts, you'll be looking at the word "set" a lot, e.g.
  • Headset
  • Wheelset
  • Frameset
  • Groupset
  • Cogset
  • Chainset
  • Crankyset (at least, that's how I feel when trying to fix my crankset)
  • Bottombracketset (not too sure about that one)
Is there any interesting history behind this most overused of words? Other than the obvious explanation that "bike parts are literally 'sets' of things". And is a complete bike called a "bikeset" or a "set of sets" and if not why not?

So many questions.
Jdsk
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Re: Why are all bicycle parts described with the word "set"?

Post by Jdsk »

Set is the word with the most meanings in the Oxford English Dictionary.

Jonathan
Nearholmer
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Re: Why are all bicycle parts described with the word "set"?

Post by Nearholmer »

Bicycles are often used as the first example when learning the rudiments of systems engineering, because they are familiar, because they consist of very obvious sub-assembles (aka “sets”), because they exhibit “emergent properties”, single points of catastrophic failure, redundancy, and a whole load of other things. So, I think “set” is used because it’s less of a mouthful than “sub assembly”, but also sometimes as a marketing tool that helps sell sub-assemblies, when buying fewer components might allow what the purchaser’s objectives to be achieved.
Manc33
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Re: Why are all bicycle parts described with the word "set"?

Post by Manc33 »

If it's a cheap bike:
  • Heavyset
We'll always be together, together on electric bikes.
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simonineaston
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Re: Why are all bicycle parts described with the word "set"?

Post by simonineaston »

Because they’re all assembled from a set of parts eg in the case of say, a frame, if you could see it before it became one piece, you’d see a large number of separate parts - tubes, lugs and sundry small parts, often referred to as braze-ons. Tens of pieces, altogether, hence a set of parts. We only see the item as one piece after all the works been done.
Photo of frame tubes
Photo of frame tubes
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(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
Jdsk
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Re: Why are all bicycle parts described with the word "sett"?

Post by Jdsk »

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Cowsham
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Re: Why are all bicycle parts described with the word "set"?

Post by Cowsham »

Manc33 wrote: 10 Oct 2024, 1:21pm If it's a cheap bike:
  • Heavyset
:lol:
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Cowsham
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Re: Why are all bicycle parts described with the word "set"?

Post by Cowsham »

jimster99 wrote: 9 Oct 2024, 4:38pm I've noticed that if you need to buy bicycle parts, you'll be looking at the word "set" a lot, e.g.
  • Headset
  • Wheelset
  • Frameset
  • Groupset
  • Cogset
  • Chainset
  • Crankyset (at least, that's how I feel when trying to fix my crankset)
  • Bottombracketset (not too sure about that one)
Is there any interesting history behind this most overused of words? Other than the obvious explanation that "bike parts are literally 'sets' of things". And is a complete bike called a "bikeset" or a "set of sets" and if not why not?

So many questions.
I often wondered why my cube acid is advertised as having an XT groupset yet in reality it's a mix of XT and Deore parts as are many "groupsets" -- mixtures of different hierarchies. Also thought a groupset was the set of brakes, gears, hubs from a certain same range or hierarchy of bits but most bikes are bitsas
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oaklec
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Re: Why are all bicycle parts described with the word "set"?

Post by oaklec »

Bike with rim brakes..... set in its' ways
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rjb
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Re: Why are all bicycle parts described with the word "set"?

Post by rjb »

That's the badger. :lol:
At the last count:- Peugeot 531 pro, Dawes Discovery Tandem, Dawes Kingpin X3, Raleigh 20 stowaway X2, 1965 Moulton deluxe, Falcon K2 MTB dropped bar tourer, Rudge Bi frame folder, Longstaff trike conversion on a Giant XTC 840 :D
Barrowman
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Re: Why are all bicycle parts described with the word "set"?

Post by Barrowman »

Headset : A set including 2 lots of Bearings, 4 bearing surfaces ("races") locknut and often a spacer.
Wheelset : A collection (set) of parts including Hubs, Spokes, Rims.
Chainset : A collection of cranks,rings, bolts, usually axle/ balls/bolts/cups ( or a cassette bottom bracket)
Frameset : A bit 'old school' , a collection (set) of tubes, assembled (usually) by brazing into a collection (set) of Lugs and adding front and rear fork ends . (I do know about 'bronze welding' ( No Lugs)
(I also realise the majority of frames these days are Alloy )
Etc etc :D
Utilising the word 'set' implies it will all work together.
Like Simonineaston has already commented on . :)
Blondie
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Re: Why are all bicycle parts described with the word "set"?

Post by Blondie »

Bottom bracket
Pedal
Wheel
Chain
Mudguards
Forks
Handlebars
Stem

Just a few examples that falsify your premise in the subject title.
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Cowsham
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Re: Why are all bicycle parts described with the word "set"?

Post by Cowsham »

Blondie wrote: 27 Oct 2024, 8:31pm Bottom bracket
Pedal
Wheel
Chain
Mudguards
Forks
Handlebars
Stem

Just a few examples that falsify your premise in the subject title.
Ah no that's for a cheap bicycle --- a dear bike will have set after each part -- makes all the difference. :lol:
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