What are cranks?

The crankset, or chainset, is the component of a <A title=Bicycle href="/wiki/Bicycle">bicycle</A> <A class=mw-redirect title=Drivetrain href="/wiki/Drivetrain">drivetrain</A> that converts the reciprocating motion of the rider's <A title=Leg href="/wiki/Leg">legs</A> into rotational motion used to drive the <A title="Bicycle chain" href="/wiki/Bicycle_chain">chain</A>, which in turn drives the rear <A title="Bicycle wheel" href="/wiki/Bicycle_wheel">wheel</A>. It consists of one or more <A title=Sprocket href="/wiki/Sprocket">sprockets</A>, also called chainrings^{<A title="" href="#cite_note-0"><SPAN>[</SPAN>1<SPAN>]</SPAN></A><A title="" href="#cite_note-1"><SPAN>[</SPAN>2<SPAN>]</SPAN></A><A title="" href="#cite_note-Brown-2"><SPAN>[</SPAN>3<SPAN>]</SPAN></A>} or chainwheels^{<A title="" href="#cite_note-Brown-2"><SPAN>[</SPAN>3<SPAN>]</SPAN></A>} attached to the <A title="Crank (mechanism)" href="/wiki/Crank_(mechanism)">cranks</A> or arms^{<A title="" href="#cite_note-3"><SPAN>[</SPAN>4<SPAN>]</SPAN></A>} to which the pedals attach. It is connected to the rider by the <A title="Bicycle pedal" href="/wiki/Bicycle_pedal">pedals</A>, to the bicycle frame by the <A title="Bottom bracket" href="/wiki/Bottom_bracket">bottom bracket</A>, and to the rear sprocket, <A class=mw-redirect title="Cassette (bicycle part)" href="/wiki/Cassette_(bicycle_part)">cassette</A> or <A title=Freewheel href="/wiki/Freewheel">freewheel</A> via the chain.