Crankset

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The set of pedal arms and toothed chainrings that drives the chain on a bicycle when the rider pushes the pedals
2. The component assembly on a bicycle made up of crank arms, pedals and front chainrings that transfers pushing force to the chain
3. The drivetrain part of a bike comprising the cranks, pedals and chainwheels that convert leg power into chain motion

Etymology: The crankset is named for the crank, the lever arm that a cyclist's pedal is fixed to and that turns the spindle connecting to the chainrings. A crank, in its older sense, is a bent or angled piece of metal used to convert straight motion into rotation, which is why the same word also names the handle that turns a jack or a hand-operated machine. The set is the complete assembly: the crank arms together with the chainrings bolted to them, which is the part that actually drives the chain. The compound itself is plain English, built from "crank" and "set," with "set" here meaning a collection of parts sold and fitted as one unit. Nothing about the word has changed much from its components, so its meaning is essentially the sum of its two halves.

Synonyms: chainset