BIKES By Ilya Feinstein And Michael Liber

Extraction  A Bicycle is made of many materials. Below are lists of materials by certain parts.  Metal Parts like Gears, Chains, Pedals, and the Bike Frame are made from multiple types of medal including: Titanium, Iron, and Aluminum. These all are made by mixing different combinations of mined materials.  Plastic and Rubber Parts like the Seat, Tires, and Brake Pads are made from Petroleum, (which is made from un-refined oil), and a mix of various other mined materials like Marble and Clay.  Glass Parts like the Mirrors and Reflectors are made from Sand and other minerals.

Processing  The different metals, minerals, and elements are merged together to make the metals, plastics, and other materials required to make the bike parts.  The crude metals that have been mined from the ground are often melted down into mixtures that result in the metals used for bike parts like Pedals, the Frame, Gears, and Chain.  The petroleum and other materials like clay and Marble are all mixed to make the plastic and rubber parts like the Seat, Brake Pads, and tires.  The glass is made from heating sand and other materials for reflectors.

Manufacturing  Professionals put together the parts using items such as screws, bolts, quick-releases.  Also people weld the frame of the bicycle.  The seat and handlebar are inserted into the frame.

Usage  Bicycles are used all around the world for transportation.  They are the most economical and green.  Bicycles have been used since the early 1900’s.

Disposal Bikes are usually never completely trashed and can often be repaired to function properly again. If they are really badly damaged, they are often disassembled, and the still functioning parts are saved for repairs to other bikes. For the most part, totaled bikes are thrown away in a landfill, because few parts are completely recyclable.

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