Bike Components

How to choose the components for your bicycle?

At Santafixie you can find bicycle components to build or upgrade your bike, from the frame to the handlebar tape. To choose them, you first need to be clear about the use you are going to give the bicycle, whether road, MTB, gravel, urban, track velodrome or cyclocross, and then choose each component according to its material, measurements and compatibility. In the category you will find brands such as Miche, FSA, PRO and Massi.

In our online shop you can buy all the components you need, but as you may not know where to start, we are going to help you with this mini guide to choosing the components for your bike:

Frames

First of all, we need to be clear about what type of bike we want to build and, consequently, choose the right frame. You can find fixie and single-speed bicycle frames for urban use, urban bicycles and gravel bicycles. If we want a fixie, we can choose between carbon frames, aluminium or steel. It is also important to take the bicycle size into account, with options such as 49 cm, 51 cm, 52 cm, 54 cm, 56 cm, 57 cm and 58 cm.

Wheels

Once we have the frame, we need to choose the rest of the components. We can start with the wheels. If what we are looking for is minimum weight and greater impact absorption, carbon wheels are a good option, but at the same time they are fragile.

The best option for urban use is aluminium, as they keep the weight down while also being very resistant. They are also more affordable than carbon ones. You can buy them as a set or separately if you want to combine colours or models.

Tyres and inner tubes

You will also need to choose the rest of the components of the bicycle wheel: tyre and inner tube. The tyre is one of the most important components, as it is the only element of your bicycle in contact with the surface you ride on.

If you want better efficiency at the expense of grip, you should choose tyres with little tread, whereas if you prefer safety and grip both in dry and wet conditions, it is better to buy tyres with tread. Sooner or later you will get a puncture, so we recommend always having spare inner tubes, as well as other bicycle spare parts.

Headset

When it comes to handling the bike, you will need a handlebar, that's clear. But the rest of the parts that make up the headset are also necessary. We are talking about the part that connects the handlebar to the fork, allowing us to turn the wheel.

To adjust the height of the handlebar to the correct position, you will need to use headset spacers, as well as a stem suitable for your height. The headset can be integrated, semi-integrated, threaded or A-head, depending on the type of headset on the bicycle. Returning to the handlebar, to improve comfort for our hands it is essential to have good handlebar tape. There are many materials: synthetic, cork, leather, silicone, and an endless variety of finishes and designs.

Saddles and seat posts

Another basic bicycle component for your comfort is the saddle. They come in different qualities, prices and uses. For example, there are specific ones for men or women, or according to the type of use we are going to give them. Road saddles tend to be thinner and harder than urban ones, which tend to be more comfortable but less aerodynamic.

One component where you can save a few grams on the bicycle is the seat post, replacing it with a carbon one. In addition to providing a little more comfort by absorbing imperfections in the terrain, a carbon seat post is lighter than an aluminium one.

Drivetrain

We have almost everything, but something very important is missing: the bicycle drivetrain. On the one hand we have the cranks, connected by the bottom bracket, which allow us to turn the chainring, which in turn moves the chain. The force transmitted to the chain moves the cog, which provides movement to the rear wheel.

If we have a fixie/single-speed, it is important to choose a suitable chainring and cog ratio for the area where we normally ride. A large chainring with 48 or 49 teeth combined with a small cog with 14 or 15 teeth will allow us to achieve high speeds on flat areas or inside a velodrome.

On the other hand, a small chainring with 44 or 45 teeth combined with a large cog with 18 or 19 teeth will make it easier to climb gradients, at the expense of lower speed on flat sections. The drivetrain can also vary according to the number of speeds, from 1 speed to 12 speeds.

Straps

Straps are not usually a bicycle component in high demand among more conventional cycling circles, but at Santafixie they are one of the best-selling spare parts. On fixed-gear bicycles they are used for nothing less than braking. Straps are fabric bands with Velcro that adapt to the foot and keep the pedal secure. In this way, by applying force in the opposite direction to the movement of the crank with the pedal, the rear wheel stops turning, skidding and causing the bicycle to brake.

Brakes

If, on the other hand, we are not riding the single-speed bicycle in fixie mode, that is, with a freewheel and brakes, we will need brake pads, brake calipers, cables and levers. Brake pads are another component that wears out frequently, so it is always useful to have a spare bicycle part of this type to hand.

Pedals

Pedals are the point of connection between the cyclist and the bicycle, transmitting the force from the legs to the cranks. There are platform models, designed to be used with any footwear, and clipless models, which attach to the shoe via cleats to achieve more efficient pedalling.

The choice depends mainly on your discipline and experience: platform pedals are the most versatile for urban use or for beginners, while clipless pedals are mainly used for road, MTB or track, where the aim is to make the most of every pedal stroke.

Toe clips

Toe clips are an alternative to clipless pedals: they attach to the pedal and hold the toe in place with a strap, improving pedalling efficiency without the need for specific shoes.

They are common on fixie and single speed bicycles, where the aim is also to make use of the pulling phase of the pedal stroke, and they allow you to use any normal footwear to get around the city.

Derailleurs

The rear derailleur moves the chain between the different sprockets of the cassette, allowing you to adjust the gear ratio according to the terrain and the effort you want to make.

The more speeds your drivetrain has, the more combinations you can make between chainring and cog, which is especially useful on terrain with varied gradients or on MTB and gravel bicycles.

Cassettes

The cassette is the set of sprockets mounted on the rear wheel. The more speeds it has, the more combination options there are with the chainring to adapt the gearing to each section of the route.

You should choose one that is compatible with your derailleur and with the number of speeds in your drivetrain, as a cassette with more sprockets needs a derailleur and chain designed for the same number of speeds.

Bearings

Bearings allow the moving parts of the bicycle, such as the wheels, headset or bottom bracket, to rotate with minimum friction. Good maintenance extends their lifespan and improves the bike's overall performance.

There are different types depending on the part where they are fitted, so it is advisable to check compatibility with each component before replacing them.

Stems

The stem connects the handlebar to the fork and determines the distance and height of the hands in relation to the saddle. Choosing the right length directly affects your position and comfort on the bike.

A longer stem usually provides a more aerodynamic and stretched-out position, while a shorter one offers a more comfortable and upright posture, common on urban bicycles.

Improving and customising components

One way to improve your bicycle without replacing it with a new one, which would obviously cost more, is to upgrade the components. Some bicycles come from the factory with a good frame, but to reduce costs and therefore the final price, they are fitted with lower-quality components. Little by little, we can replace these bicycle parts with better ones as they wear out and need replacing. For example, good tyres make a difference in terms of grip and rolling resistance. We can also replace an aluminium fork with a carbon one, which will give us a lower overall weight and greater comfort over imperfections in the terrain.

When it comes to customising your bike, you can always change bicycle parts such as the handlebar tape, stem, saddle, straps or seat post and give it a unique touch.

Materials and finishes

Depending on the component, you can also choose between materials such as aluminium, steel, carbon, foam, rubber, synthetic, leather or gel, and features such as ergonomic, gel padding or breathable.

Aluminium and steel are usually the most resistant and affordable options, while carbon reduces weight in exchange for greater fragility. The materials used for contact parts, such as the saddle or handlebar tape, mainly aim to improve grip and comfort on longer rides.