Real-Life Math
To build a bicycle perfectly, bike designers must be concerned with
dimensions, inches, velocity, weights and other measurements. Math is the
basic building block to the bicycle.
For example, says designer Brady
O'Hare, "You need to understand how everything works together -- the
structures and strengths of different things."
O'Hare says he
uses math every single minute of the day. "Trigonometry and geometry is ultimately
important because you are always triangulating things." In the same breath,
however, he says that math should not be an obstacle, but a tool to make your
work easier.
Richard Schwinn is an independent assistant bicycle designer
in Wisconsin. He says geometry is especially important. "Bike design typically
centers around fitting parts into a fixed set of relationships for proper
fit and assembly," says Schwinn.
You are an apprentice frame builder.
You are building a bicycle from the ground up. Of course, you will start with
the most basic bicycle component -- the wheel.
You need to attach spokes
to the rim. You have a tire with a diameter of 20.2 inches. The holes in the
rim are placed 1.5 inches apart. You need to figure out how many spokes are
required.
Remember: circumference = pi x diameter
How
many spokes are required?