Greetings, Being old in age and getting back into bikes or rather a Bent Trike I really don't know what all these terms and specs mean.
There is a thousand plus different combinations of parts that are on or can be upgraded
on most bikes.
This is a newbe question, and shows my not keeping up with the latest and new trends.
That's what life in general puts in front of you and your family, having time to do all the things you HAVE to do, and what you would like to do.

Anyway, are there any links that talk about the parts of a bike / recumbent?
Perhaps, it's the individual part OEM's web site would tell me the info I seek?

If your wondering why I want to get into this. Well simply I want to know about quality. You really can't tell that from the spec sheet of each bike builder, because
they put togetner a bike and all the components to make as much profit as they can.

Thanks, John

Wow, that's a huuuuge subject. It might be easier to ask some specific questions.

Each component manufacturer has their line broken out. So if you see a bike or trike with Shimano components, just check the Shimano site to see where they fall in the lineup. You should also keep in mind the weight/cost rules for bike components, and how you ride. The lightest components cost the most, but are not the most durable. If you are recreational or touring, durability will be a bigger issue for you. Also if you've been out of cycling for a while, anything manufactured today will beat your old stuff.

Darren