Glossary of Cycling Terminology

abandon- to quit during a race or ride.
Ackermann steering- geometric principle for three- and four-wheel vehicles which states that the axis of front steering wheels must intersect the rear axle at the same point.
acro-brat -. little kids who use their bikes like pogo sticks, with pegs coming out of the front axle. Should be confined to the Circus or other freak show reviews. air - space between the tires and the ground. (Both tires must be off the ground or it isn't "air".) Said to be caught or gotte- See .
agrupado- [Spanish] in racing, the peloton riding in one or more groups.
anchor - your child, or children (anchors) that keep(s) you from riding. "Wait till you anchors grow up, you'll have road rash for breakfast and prunes for dinner!" To be used as an endearing, not demeaning, phrase.
ano - frequently-misspelled abbreviation for "anodized". See purple.
ANSI Z90.4- bicycle helmet safety standard of the American National Standards Institute.
arc-en-ciel- [French] in cycling, the rainbow colors of the world champion's jersey.
arcobaleno- [Italian] in cycling, the rainbow colors of the world champion's jersey.
arrêté- [French] standing start, in track racing, usually beginning a time trial.
arrivée- [French] finish line.
ATB - All-Terrain Bike or Biking. A synonym for MTB.
attack- to accelerate or break away from other cyclists.
audax- special touring events with checkpoints.
auger - to involuntarily take samples of the local geology, usually with one's face, during a crash. See face plant.
autobus- [French] in stage racing, group of slow climbers left behind on a mountain, riding together to finish within time limit; also grupetto, and laughing group
axle- central fitting for bearings in hubs and bottom brackets; also Achsschenkel [German].
azzurri, squadra azzurra- [Italian] blue team; members of the Italian National sports team.
babyheads pl. - roundish rocks which tend to be found in a loose jumble on hairpin corners or other difficult-to-negotiate sections of trail. Similar to death cookies, but bigger.
bacon - scabs on a rider's knees, elbows, or other body parts.
bagger - one who always agrees to ride, party, gather, etc. but rarely shows. bag - to fail to show.
bail- 1. to jump off a bike before crashing. 2. to quit a ride or race; also abando-
balai- [French] last vehicle in race caravan for cyclists who abandon on course.
balance- a name given to high-wheel bicycle.
balance blackout - that short time during almost every ride when you start to fall, lose your balance without reason, or seem to be unable to clean even the simplest obstacle.
ball bearing- hard round spheres, usually steel, set in series between two bearing races with cups and cones, or in a sealed cartridge bearing, ranging from 1/4 to 5/32 inch.
balustrade- the outer limit of a cycle track, consisting of a solid, closed low wall and a railing.
banana scraper - low hanging branches, the kind that smear the guts of that banana you put in the pouch on the back of your camelback when you don't duck low enough.
baroudeur- [French] a cyclist capable of high speeds on flat and rolling roads and in time trials; also rouleur.
base- in training, a preparatory period usually consisting of long hours of riding; also base miles, base work.
basket case- [slang] a name for a person or bicycle with a basket.
beartrap 1) - to slip off a pedal, causing it to slam one in the shin, when one gets cracked with a pedal. 2) - the tooth like scars resulting from being bear trapped.
beater- an old well-worn bicycle, an additional bike for rugged use.
beef it- to fall or crash.
betty - any female rider.
bicycle-friendly- people and places that accommodate cycling.
bidon- [French] water bottle.
biff - a crash. Synonyms: wipeout. - "I biffed and then wiped away the blood."
bike boom- historic period of cycling popularity beginning around 1970.
bike pollution- [Japan] clutter of bikes parked at train stations.
bike-a-thon- fund-raising bike tour based on donations pledged according to the amount of miles cycled.
biopace - a now-discredited Shimano techno-fad where the chain rings were made intentionally not circular -- instead, they were elliptical, in order to (allegedly) smooth the power delivery, by giving the rider an effectively lower gear for part of the spin cycle. Now used to describe any uneven pedaling motio- Also used as a synonym for pogo-ing.
biopacing- arhythmic or bouncing pedaling, caused by elliptical chainrings (attributed to Shimano Biopace chainrings) or suspension systems on bikes; also pogoing.
block- 1. to slow or disrupt the progress of another cyclist, to disrupt the chase of a breakaway. 2. a cassette or multi-speed freewheel.
BMX- bicycle moto-cross, racing on short dirt tracks.
boing-boing - a bike with full (front and rear) suspensio- Might possibly be considered offensive by certain owners of said bikes.
boink - same as bonk.
bolt-on - a woman with breast implants. Derived from the term for after-market bicycle parts that are literally bolted o-
bomb - to ride with wild disregard to personal safety.
bombers - the earliest mountain bikes, converted from cruiser road bikes to race down mountains.
boneshaker- name given to velocipede and its bone-shaking ride.
bonification- time bonus awarded to winner of race in stage race, usually five to ten seconds subtracted.
bonk - to run out of energy; to exhaust stored glycogen on a ride . "I bonked so early it was embarrassing."
boot - to expel pre-ride stomach fillers due to extreme physical exertio- "That climb was hairy, I think Brian had to boot back there."
boxed (in)- to be trapped in a group of riders, unable to move forward or sideway.
bra - the rubber strip placed inside the rim to protect the tube from the nipples.
brain bucket - helmet.
brain - a biking computer, usually featuring an odometer, speedometer, clock, and other "important" display modes.
brain sieve - a helmet featuring more vents than protective surface.
brand whore - a rider that will only buy high-end parts/gear with name recognitio- Wouldn't be caught dead using LX level parts or wearing a pair of Nashbar shorts.
break, breakaway- one or more cyclists leading and separated from the main group.
bridge- to cross from one group of cyclists to a group ahead; to bridge a gap.
bring home a Christmas tree - to ride (or crash) through dense bushes, so leaves and branches are hanging from your bike and helmet. See prune.
brodie- to brake and skid the rear wheel so as to make a sharp turn; also broadie [Australian].
broom wagon- a support vehicle in a ride or race that follows last rider or group on the course; vehicle that picks-up abandoned riders; also voiture balai.
BSG - acronym for "Bike Store Guy".
bunch- main group of cyclists; also field, pack, or peloto-
bunny hop - to lift both wheels off the ground by crouching down and then exploding upward, pulling the bike with you. Useful for clearing obstructions, such as curbs, potholes, logs. Differs from its older BMX & trials meaning -- see jump.
bunny - 1) same as betty, but used to emphasize the female rider's body; could be considered insulting to some. 2) female novice rider.
burrito - a rim braking surface that's bent inward towards the tube, forming a section that looks rolled like a burrito.
buzz - euphoric feeling. Commonly used after a particularly hard passage is successfully completed.
cadence- rate of pedaling measured in revolutions per minute.
camber- the angled or beveled cross-section of a road, path or track, usually designed for drainage
campy- knickname for Campagnolo [Italian] a manufacturer of bicycle racing components; also Campag.
capo- [Italian] mountain pass.
captain crash - to "go down with the ship". Usually the result of a novice spud-user failing to clip out in time.
captain- front steering cyclist on a tandem.
carbo loading- method of increasing energy supply for specific athletic events.
carve- to cut a fast line through a turn; to cut a groove in dirt while turning.
cashed - to be too tired to ride any farther; bonked.
cat, category (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)- 1. a ranking system for cyclists in amateur racing, from elite (Cat 1) to beginner (Cat 5). 2. a ranking system for hills and mountains based on difficulty, from cat 1 (more severe) to cat 4 (less severe).
century- a one-hundred-mile ride (161 kilometers); metric century is one hundered kilometers (62 miles).
chain ring tattoo - the dotted-line scar you get from gouging your shin on the chain ring. See rookie mark.
chaingang- a group of cyclists, club riders, who meet for training sessions, usually in pacelines.
chainsuck - condition when the bike chain gets jammed between the frame and the chain rings, or when the chain ring is so worn that it holds onto the chain and lifts it up to meet the incoming part of the chain.
chamois- padding in shorts to prevent saddlesores, traditionally derived from goat ski-
chase- in racing, an individual or group in pursuit of a leading breakaway.
chi-chi - extravagant parts used to dress up a bicycle to make it more impressive looking.
Chinese toe cuffs - see toe clips.
chunder - to crash.
CKD- completely knocked down, disassembled bike for shipping.
classic- 1. a cycling event with a long history, usually more than a few years. 2. the oldest European professional road races, including Het Volk, Milan-San Remo, Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Amstel Gold, Paris-Tours, and Tour of Lombardy. 3. a vintage, collectable bicycle that represents a type and time period, including American cruiser bikes, Italian racing bikes, and French touring bikes, among others.
clean - to negotiate a trail successfully without crashing or dabbing. "I cleaned that last sectio-"
cleanie - one who desires to remain clean; a wimp who will not have fun, stays on the clean trails.
clincher- tire with separate tube, fits to rim by beaded belt
clip out (or, sometimes, click out) - to disengage one's spuds.
clipless - misleading name for a pedal-and-shoe system where the clips or cleats clip onto the soles of special shoes. Called "clipless" because they replaced toe clips.
cloon - slamming into the ground, resulting in a ringing head, or a delay in the actio- Term used in biking, skiing, and snow boarding.
clotheslined - the act of catching an upper body part (e.g. the neck) on a low piece of vegetation, resulting in separation of the rider from the bike.
club ride- group rides formed by cycling clubs for regular, dedicated touring and training, usually categorized by speed and distance (i.e. A+, B-, C+). club rider is usually an experienced cyclist.
clunker- 1. an old, well-used beater bike. 2. an original ballon-tire cruiser bike converted for all-terrain clunking, or mountain biking; also klunker.
coast- to glide while not pedaling but moving forward as on a coaster-brake bike; also freewheeling.
cob clearer - the lead rider who has to clear out all the spider webs for following riders. May experience wang chung while trying to get the spiders off his face. Similar to spider patrol.
cockrotter - one who allows his bike to fall in disrepair, and whose bike invariably fails him at some point in every ride. These people don't know why their bike always breaks, and often would rather buy new parts than keep their bike in good condition
col- [French] mountain pass.
condom - the little plastic or rubber thing that protects your tube's valve stem from rim damage.
contre la montre (CLM)- [French] against the clock; a time trial race in which individuals or teams against the clock, as opposed to a massed-start head-to-head race.
copsicle- a police officer on a bicycle.
corndog - to become covered in silt, usually after a fall.
côte d'azur- [French] blue coast; a light blue band on the inside of the cycle track, serving to access the track surface, not of the official cycling surface.
countersteer- a method of turning or changing cornering angle to prevent a skid, slide, or crash, quick steering in opposite direction of turn
cranial disharmony - how one's head feels after augering. "When my lid nailed that rock, I had a definite feeling of cranial disharmony."
criterium- [French] judgement; a multi-lap bike race on a short course; also circuit race.
critical mass- group ride for cyclists' solidarity, usually in traffic.
cross frame- bike frame design with down tube and chain stays crossed by seat tube.
crotch-testing - sudden impact between a male rider's private parts and something very hard and pointy, such as a handlebar stem or seat.
curb grind - expensive erasure of low-hanging, shiny parts of the bike on a curb or rock.
curb slide - to place the front wheel up on a curb and allow the rear tire to scrape along the curb, usually resulting in a loud tearing sound.
cycle path- road or trail dedicated for cycling, often shared with pedestrians, joggers, skaters, equestrians, etc.; also bikeway, bike path, cycleway and veloway.
cycle track- the cycling surface itself, including subconstructions, from inside côte d'azur to outside balustrade.
cyclephernalia - the parts used to upgrade/dress-up a mountain bike". See also chi-chi.
cycletouring- touring by cycle; bicycle camping with camping gear and luggage, or credit card touring with little or no luggage.
cyclo-cross- 1. a type of off-raod racing, similar to steeplechase, with a short multi-lap course combining cycling and running. 2. a cyclo-cross bicycle, designed for cyclo-racing and touring.
dab - to put a foot down in order to catch your balance on a difficult section of trail. "I made it without crashing, but I had to dab once."
dance (on pedals)- to ride out of saddle, usually on hill climb, with a quick cadence.
death cookies - fist-sized rocks that knock your bike in every direction but the one you want to proceed in
death march- a ride that is longer and harder than expected; see: three-hour tour
derny- 1. motorpaced race on track or raod course. 2. a special motorcycle used to pace cyclist.
development- [French] 1. gear measurement in meters, the distance traveled in one cycle or revolution of pedals
DH- downhill race.
dialed in - when a bike is set up nicely and everything works just right.
diamond frame- common bike frame design forming a diamond shape.
differential- gear system for axle with two drive wheels, allows proper turning.
digger - a face plant. "Look at that guy on that gnarly single track... he's going to go over the bars and do a digger."
digging (a pedal)- a cyclist hitting a pedal on the ground while leaning in a turn
directeur sportif- [French] race team manager or coach.
dirt bike - an off-road motorcycle. Usually louder than MTBs.
dishrack- bike parking rack with slots for wheels.
D-lock- commonly used d-shaped bike lock; same as u-lock.
DNF- did not finish; a cyclist who abandons a race.
DNS- did not start.
domestique- [French] servant; team rider who sacrifices individual ambition to assist team leaders.
dossard- [French] competitor's race number.
drafting- riding behind another cyclist or vehicle for aerodynamic advantage.
drift- turning or sliding sideways, as a result of entering a corner too fast with wrong line.
drillium - any part with lots of holes drilled in it to make it lighter.
drop anchor- 1. slower riding on steep hill. 2. in cycletouring, stopping to set camp.
drop, dropped- failing to keep pace, loosing contact with the main group of cyclists.
drops- the lower part of the handlebars, usually below the brake levers.
dual boinger - a full-suspension bicycle.
dual-track - a dirt road used by four-wheeled vehicles rarely enough that their tires have made ruts that became parallel singletracks. Also called doubletrack. See singletrack.
eat it- to fall or crash.
echelon- a paceline of drafting cyclists grouped in two staggered lines, one moving forward into wind, the other moving backward sheltered downwind by the others.
endo - the maneuver of flying unexpectedly over the handlebars, thus being forcibly ejected from the bike. Short for "end over end". "I hit that rock and went endo like nobody's business." See "superman". In BMX riding, "endo" used to be a synonym for front wheelie.
engine - the rider.
enscarfment - a food break at the edge of a cliff.
epic - a ride that must last for at least six hours and include at least three mechanicals that add at least an extra hour to the ride time. Epics are usually started with a statement like "the trail is buff, should only take three hours." Similar to death march.
ergometer- device that measures human power output.
étape- [French] single stage of a multi-stage race.
face plant - hitting the ground face first. "Joe hit a tree root and did a spectacular face plant." Synonyms: auger, digger, soil sample, spring planting.
factor of safety- measurement of materials' strength for bike components.
fair grunt - an expression exclusively used nonchalantly by others to describe a death march, in hopes others will try it, fail, and revere them as bike gods.
fairing- a part of bicycle designed to shelter the cyclist from wind or wet, often used to reduce wind drag in human-powered vehicle competition
false flat- a difficult uphill section of road or trail that would appear to be an easier level gradient.
false start- an unofficial start of a race, usually re-started because someone jumped the gun; also mis-start.
fat tire- name for a mountain bike, with wider tires than those of road and touring bikes.
feed zone- location on race course where cyclists receive food or drink offered by support crew.
field sprint- sprint at finish with main group of cyclists.
field- whole or main group of cyclists.
first blood - credit to the first rider in a group who crashes and starts bleeding as a result.
fixed gear- a type of bicycle with direct drive, no coasting or freewheeling.
flamme rouge- [French] red triangular sign marking the final kilometer of a road race.
flyer- 1. short breakaway, an acceleration ahead of a group of cyclists. 2. to fall.
flying trapeze - when you endo into a clothesline.
flywheel- a heavy wheel that can store and supply energy, from the inertia of its spinning mass, usually used on stationary exercise bikes.
FOB- freight on board, bike's cost at port of origin
foot fault - when a rider can't disengage his cleats from the pedals before falling over. See horizontal track stand.
fred - 1) a person who spends a lot of money on his bike and clothing, but still can't ride. "What a fred -- too much Lycra and titanium and not enough skill." Synonym for poser. Occasionally called a "barney". 2) (from road riding) a person who has a mishmash of old gear, doesn't care at all about technology or fashion, didn't race or follow racing, etc. Often identified by chainring marks on white calf socks. Used by "serious" roadies to disparage utility cyclists and touring riders, especially after these totally unfashionable "freds" drop the "serious" roadies on hills because the "serious" guys were really posers. According to popular myth, "Fred" was a well-known grumpy old touring rider, who really was named Fred.
freewheel- to glide or coast on
front wheelie - what endo used to mean in BMX: a trick where the rider applies the front brake and lifts the back wheel off the ground; this is the basis for many BMX tricks. Most riders cannot pedal effectively while doing a front wheelie. Also called a "nose wheelie" or "stoppie."
FS or F/S - an ambiguous term, can mean Front Suspension or Full Suspension Not used by anyone who wishes to be understood.
funny bike- name given to aerodynamic bikes made in 1980s.
gear inches- a relative measure of bicycle transmission, gear ratio times wheel diameter; see development.
gear masher - someone who always rides in too high a gear, stomping on the pedals.
general classification, GC- overall standings in a stage race, based on accumulated time of each stage, rider with lowest time leads the GC.
gevert - (regional) a really long period of time. Derived from the name of a LBS that was a little slow getting work done. "Man, that roadclimb to the trailhead was almost a gevert long."
giblets - all the colorful parts and pieces that you can add or change out on a bike.
gnarl - extreme technical sections. Characterized by very rough, rooty, slippery, or rocky sections. Commonly found in the Pacific Northwest and New England. "He has got some great bike handling skills and can really scream through the gnarl."
gnarly- anything rough or treacherous.
Golden Age- bicycle craze- historic period in 1890s when bicycles were extremely popular.
gonzo - treacherous, extreme. "That vertical drop was sheer gonzo." anything fun, crazy, extreme, or cool.
gradient- steepness of road or trail, measured in percentage; 100 meter rise in one kilometer = 10% gradient.
grand tour- one of the highest ranked national stage races, ranked hors category (beyond category), three-week competitions including Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, and Vuelta a Espana.
granny gear - the lowest gear available on a bike, which only a grandmother would need to use; designed for steep uphill climbing, but extremely easy to pedal in on flat ground.
gravity check - a fall.
gravy dog- a bike messenger who makes high-paid deliveries.
gregario- [Italian] see domestique.
grinder - a long uphill climb.
grindies - e.g., "All that dried mud and sand left me with a loud case of the grindies in my drivetrain"
grunt- a hardened cyclist; also a very difficult climb.
grupetto- small group of riders, usually left behind the leaders and main group on a climb, riding slow as possible within stage race time limit.
gruppo- [Italian] group of bike components, including hubs, gears, cranks, brakes, etc., usually of the same model and make.
gutter bunny - a bicycling commuter.
half-track - a trail so narrow and/or overgrown that you'd hesitate even to call it singletrack.
hamburger - the condition of skin, post auger, when geological contact was made with sharp rocks such as on a shale skree slope.
hammer- to pound the pedals, accelerate and ride as fast as possible, as in "put the hammer dow-"
handicap- a race start in which riders begin in a staggered line or at different times, based on each riders competitive ranking, making an fair and exciting race with the slower ones starting first and faster ones in pursuit.
handsling- an exchange or relay of a teammate in a madison or "american" track race, in which one teammate (that rested for a lap or two) begins accelerating to link hands of exhausted teammate and get slingshot into race.
hanging in- keeping pace with a group of cyclists, not leading, usually to save energy or because of fatigue.
hardtail- a bike without rear suspension, usually a mountain bike with front shocks and a solid rear end.
header- falling on one's head, to "take a header."
headwind- a primary resistance that limits the speed of cycling; measured as the speed of wind (the air pressure) that hits a cyclist in a frontal position, in the face, see sidewind.
heart rate- HR, bpm- heart beats per minute.
high-wheel, high-wheelers- type of bicycle, and the cyclists who rode them, first made in the 1870s, designed with a big wheel (over 40-inch diameter) to pedal a big gear, and a small wheel (under 20-inch) for steering; first made in the 1870s; also named ordinary, penny farthing, grand-bi, hoge-bi, Hochrad.
hiker log - an obstacle (e.g. a log or boulder) placed in trail by biker-hostile trail users.
HOHA - Hateful Old Hikers Association "HOHA members hate mountain bicyclists with a fervor exceeding that of rabid wolverines."
honk- acceleration by standing on pedals, out of the saddle, pulling on handlebars, moving the bike side to side; to vomit due to cycling exertion
hook- elbowing or wheel movement which impedes the progress of another cyclist, usually illegal.
horizontal track stand- a failed track stand, a fall caused by a stopped cyclist unable to disengage a foot from its pedal.; a foot fault that happens at a stop signal
horsepower- hp- measure of power output, one hp equals 746 watts.
HPV- human-powered vehicle.
hydroplaning- riding on the surface of water, when tires skim on wet road.
IMBA - International Mountain Biking Association An organization for trail advocacy.
impedimentia - all the junk on a bike that impedes performance and looks bad.
intermodal- transport system that allows for different modes, e.g., in U.S., ISTEA (1992) grants funds for bike and transit.
involuntary dismount - a crash.
ISO- International Standards Organization; group that sets world standards for bicycle materials, component sizes and threadings.
jersey- shirt or pullover worn by cyclists.
jet - to accelerate quickly; to go very fast.
John boy'ed - when a riders face gets covered with spots of mud, making him look like "John Boy" on the Waltons. "I hit that mudhole and got John boy'ed big time."
JRA - acronym for "Just Riding Along," a phrase universally uttered by people bringing both halves of their frame and the remains of their fork in for warrantee replacement.
jump- a quick acceleration that may develop into a breakaway or sprint, usually standing on the pedals out of saddle; where we now say bunny hop, BMXers used to say "jump".
kack - an injury to the shin received while doing trials, a kack can be the result of any injury receive during technical riding.
keirin- (say Kay-rin) a track race led by a pacer on bike or motorcycle that develops into massed sprint; a UCI world championship event and pari-mutuel-style of bicycle racing in Japan; see NJS.
kermesse- a circuit road race with laps of about three to ten kilometers, popular in Belgium and Holland.
kick- a sudden acceleration, that may be at the beginning or end of a sprint, as in finishing kick.
kick-out - a bunny hop in which the rider pushes the back tire to one side.
kinetic sculpture- mobile art works, human-powered vehicles.
klunker- 1. old, well-used bike suitable for rough use; also clunker, beater, trasher. 2. A cyclist who rides in a rough, playful, or destructive manner; klunking.
knobby- tire tread with studs for off-road traction; as a pair of knobbies.
l'mericaine- [French] the American; an endurance track race in which teams of two riders relay one another, one in the fray the other resting, usually a massed-start points race, often within a six-day race; named for its American origin at Madison Square Garden in 1890s; also madison
lancé- [French] flying start.
lantern rouge- [French] red tail light on train's caboose, last finisher in a race, last in general classification
lap, lapped- the distance of one complete loop of a track or a circuit course; to be lapped is to lose a whole lap, "taking a lap" is to gain a lap.
laughing group- a group of cyclists far behind the leaders, usually the last group, or grupetto.
LBS - acronym for Local Bike Shop.
leadout- tactic where team rider accelerates to maximum speed so leader can draft and sprint past, see slingshot.
license (Trailer, Bus, Ambulance)- among racers, symbolic license earned by competing in a grand tour. Trailer License for Tour de France because racers are pulled along, Bus License for Giro d'Italia because racers are grouped until finish, Ambulance License for Vuelta a Espana because racers are exhausted at end of season
lid - helmet.
line - the desirable path or strategy to take on a tricky trail section
loafing- tactic of slow riding in preparation of a sprint, also jockeying, waiting game.
low rider- 1. recumbent bike or HPV with ultra-low position for aerodynamics. 2. classic bike with ultra-low position for show.
madison- an endurance track race in which teams of two riders relay one another, one in the fray the other resting
maglia rosa- [Italian] race leader's pink jersey for Giro d'Italia.
maillot jaune- [French] race leader's yellow jersey, usually for Tour de France.
male blindness - when a male rider watches a beautiful female ride over rough terrain and stares intensely at all the jiggling parts, making him too dizzy to see straight when it's his turn to ride the same terrain
mandibular disharmony - how one's jaw feels when it and the handle bars attempt to occupy the same space and time. "Fuck!" "Pray, whats wrong?" "I've got mandibular disharmony."
mantrap - hole covered with autumn leaves, resembling solid earth and effective at eating the front wheel of the unsuspecting rider.
Marin - (muh RINN') the county in Northern California where MTBing is said to have been invented. Just north of the Golden Gate Bridge.
massed start- a race start in which riders begin together at same time and compete head-to-head; points race, often within a six-day race; named for its origin in Madison Square Garden in 1890s; also l'american
mechanical- a problem with the mechanical function of a bicycle, often causing a cyclist to lose a race.
metal head - see organ donor.
mini-bike- [British] a small-wheel bicycle; [American] a small moped; [Japanese] a moped.
minuteman- cyclist preceding another in a time trial, usually by a minute or two.
mo - momentum. "If you don't get in gear at the bottom of that hill, you'll lose your mo."
modal split- the ratio or percent that different modes of travel are used.
mojo - charm or icon worn by a biker or attached to the bike.
monkey-motion - magazine writer speak for a full-suspension bike.
monococque- one-piece construction
monocycle- one-wheel cycle, with cyclist inside wheel; also unicycle, with cyclist on top of wheel.
moto- BMX race.
motorhead- selfish motorist; a auto-centric system of values that manifests on the road and in the world at-large, that excludes and endangers cyclists.
motorpace- riding in the draft of a motorcycle, car, van, or sometimes another cyclist.
MTB- mountain bike.
mud diving - what happens when a bike slows abruptly in mud, throwing the rider into wet goo.
mud-ectomy - 1) a shower after a ride on a muddy trail. 2) the act of becoming clean
musette- [French] cloth shoulder bag for carrying food and drinks, usually handed off to racers in feed zone.
nard guard - used to prevent wang chung.
neutral- 1. neutral support is mechanical help given by fair and neutral party; neutral zone is non-racing section of course, usually starting "parade laps;" neutralization occurs in special sitautions of rail crossings or mass crashes, in which riders must slow and maintain their relative positions.
nipple - the nut at the end of a spoke that nobody knows the real name for.
nirvana - the state of being in absolute control and totally in tune with your bike, the trail, and your physical strength. "I was just doing it all so smoothly and delicately and quickly, it was nirvana!" Synonym for The Zone.
NJS- [Japanese] Nihon Jitensha Shinkokai; Japan keirin cycling organization, promotes parimutuel-style bicycle track racing.
NORBA - National Off-Road Bicycling Association They organize most of the larger races.
nose wheelie - see front wheelie.
nosepickium - the crusties you pick from your nose after a ride in a dusty enviro-
OEM- original equipment manufacturer, maker of parts for name brand bikes.
off the back- getting, dropped, where cyclists find themselves after failing to keep pace.
OHV, ORV - Acronyms for Off-Highway Vehicle and Off-Road Vehicle. These have motors and are not bicycles.
omnium- track meet with a variety of races.
ordinary- high-wheel bicycle.
organ donor - someone who rides without a helmet. Also called a "metal head".
over-the-bar blood donor - a rider who is injured while doing an endo.
overuse injury- ailment due to hard training or improper gearing.
pace- average speed; to set the pace at the front of pack; also tempo, cruising speed.
paceline- chain-like formation of cyclists sharing the pace by taking turns at lead breaking the wind, then pulling aside and soft pedaling to the sheltered rear position for recuperation, see drafting, echelon
pack- a close-knit group of cyclists, or peloton
palmares- [French] a list of honors, noting a cyclist's career winnings, placings and awards.
panic skid - to try with all one's will and strength to prevent an impending stack by attempting to implant one's heels as deeply as possible in the ground. Usually a dumb idea.
pannier- [French, bread basket] bike-mounted storage bags.
pavé- [French] cobblestone road surface.
pedicab- cycle rickshaw or pedal-powered taxi.
peloton- the whole or main group of cyclists; also pack, field, bunch.
penny farthing- a high-wheel bicycle, a name that derives from wheel size, the large front wheel being a penny, the tiny rear wheel a farthing.
pimp - a Bike Store Guy who is always trying to sell stuff on the trail. "Blow off, pimp. If I want your opinion, I'll give it to you."
Pirelliology - the noble art of being able to identify tires from the tracks they leave on the ground.
pits, pit stop- designated location on race course where cyclists can receive equipment repairs.
pixie gear- a very low gear ratio, one to one or less; also granny gear and weenie gear.
POD - Potential Organ Donor..
pogo - to bounce on a full-suspension bike like a pogo stick. Also, for a full-suspension bike to bounce annoyingly and uncontrollably.
pole line- the inner line on a bicycle track that measures the distance of a lap.
pole position- 1. inner lane of bicycle track bound by pole line and sprinter's line. 2. front line starting place in massed-start race, rear line starting place in handicap race.
POS - Piece Of Shit. The antithesis to real bicycles, typified by Huffy, Murray, and any of a number of other bicycles that are poorly designed, manufactured, and assembled.
poser - derogatory term for people with $7,000 bikes that never see an actual trail. Usually found near a trail head and never dirty. Seinfeld may be an example. Synonym for fred.
potato chip - a wheel that has been bent badly, but not taco'd.
power- measure of the rate of energy transformation needed to move a body in time and space, as in force times distance divided by time, in watts and horsepower.
powerslide- a two-wheeled sideways slide, usually with one foot on the ground.
prang - to hit the ground hard, usually bending or breaking something.
presta valve- air valve commonly used on high-pressure tubes and tubular tires.
prime- (say preem) mid-race sprint for prize, points, or time bonuses.
prologue- [French] beginning of stage race, usually a time trial, may not count in general classification
prune - to use one's bike or helmet to remove leaves and branches from the surrounding flora. Usually unintentional.
pull- to ride at the front of a group in the wind, taking a pull, as in an echelon or paceline.
purple ano - anodized aluminum in purple. Some riders need to obtain as much of this as possible. It comes in other colors, but they are of no consequence here.
push- pedaling with a large gear.
pushbike- [British] a pedal cycle as opposed to a motor cycle.
pushclimb- a very steep or unrideable section of road or trail that forces a cyclist to dismount and walk with bike.
push-push - 1) a novice's pedaling motion, consisting of alternately pushing each foot down, instead of spinning. 2) a Shimano techno-fad shifting system.
R&D - Rip-off & Duplication, or Research & Development.
RA# - Return Authorization number. A number a vendor gives you to return the "defective" part you broke while JRA.
RAAM- Race Across America; transcontinental ultra-marathon 3,000 mile round-the-clock bike race.
rag dolly - to wreck in such a way that one's person is tossed like a flimsy scrap of cloth. "Did you see me rag dolly back there? I think I pierced my ear on a tree branch."
raid- semi-competitive touring event, usually held on rugged terrain
rail- to ride fast and smooth through a corner.
rainbow jersey- jersey awarded to winners of annual UCI World Championship events, with colored bands in blue, red, black, yellow and green
rando, randonneur, randonnee- [French] special touring event with checkpoints.
recumbent bike- type of bicycle with a seated cycling position
redsocks - hikers who always block the best singletracks, so named because they're always wearing those funny red socks. Also known as HOHAs.
relay- events with cyclists exchanging places with teammates, to share the workload, e.g., a handsling in a madison race.
repechage- [French] second chance; a round in a track racing series that allows a second chance for losers of early qualifying heats.
retro-grouch - a rider who prefers an old bike with old components and isn't fond of new, high-tech equipment; someone who insists on tradition
'rhoid buffing - going down a hill so steep that your butt touches the rear wheel.
Ride On! - a parting phrase used by riders with out much else to say.
rigid - a bike with no suspension
road rash - contact dermatitis; an allergic reaction of skin to moving asphalt.
roadie - a rider who prefers riding on paved surfaces.
rock-ectomy - removing rocks, dirt, gravel from one's person after a yard sale. "Some betty stopped by and performed a rock ectomy on my knee after the wreck, I think she digs my scene."
rocket fuel- a high-energy food or drink; the mandatory pre-ride coffee.
rockwell - an unintentionally performed hardness test rendered by a trial side object on your anatomy or possessions. Requires the use of a number to rate the event. "I 50 Rockwelled on that last buster." "No way, dude, it was at least a 60!"
rookie mark - chain grease on a rider's pant leg. "Give that guy extra points for his rookie mark. It's even on the wrong leg!" See chainring tattoo.
roost - to go fast or accelerate quickly. Or, to stop suddenly.
rouleur- [French] a cyclist capable of high speeds on flat and rolling roads and time trials; also baroudeur.
saddle time- time spent actually riding.
saddlesores- painful abrasions, pimples, blisters, and swollen hair follicles that often occur around the sit bones of a cyclist's crotch.
safety bike- common bike design, dating from 1880s, with upright position
sag wagon, broom wagon- motor vehicle following cyclists in tours or races that carry equipment, clothes, food, medical supplies, and tired or injured cyclists.
schmooz -the act of reaching a trail head and not riding. What is done when one really can't stand the thought of starting a ride. Talking. Bullshitting.
schraeder valve- air valve commonly used on low-pressure tubes and car tires.
schwag - free stuff. "Hey, they're handing out schwag over at the Rock Shox booth."
scorcher- name given to fast cyclists of the 1890s.
scream 1) - a real biker's dream ride. 2) - a long, straight, and deceptively steep hill. 3) - to bomb so fast one can't pedal fast enough to make a difference.
sew-up- tubular tire with casing sewn around inner tube.
shake `n bake, whiplash- an evasive racing technique where a lead cyclist swerves across road to drop drafting cyclists.
sharkbite - the mark that your large chainring makes in your calf or other exposed body part when you fall.
singletrack- a trail wide enough for one person, usually five feet wide or less.
sitting in, sitting on- sitting in another cyclist's slipstream to save energy, see hanging in
six-day race- week-long track race with daily and nightly events.
skid lid- a cyclist's helmet.
skid row - that section of trail that nobody ever expects or remembers that always appears too suddenly when riding too fast. Usually switchbacks. Named after all the skid tracks left there from previous riders.
sky - to jump extremely high. To get big air.
slingshot- using another cyclist's slipstream to gain speed and sprint past, see leadout.
slipstream- wind shelter provided by leading cyclist or group.
snake bite - a double puncture of an inner tube, caused by hitting an obstacle too hard or by under-inflation of tires.
snap- muscular speed used to accelerate quickly.
sneakers - tires.
snerd- one who sniffs bicycle seats.
snowmine - an object hidden by snow on the trail. "Be careful of the snowmines -- you know, rocks, logs, hibernating bears..."
softpedal- half coasting, half pedaling, turning the pedals with minimal force to save energy.
soigneur- [French] racer's attendant, taking care of food and massage.
soil sample - a face plant.
solo- bicycle built for one, as opposed to tandem.
souplesse- supple or loose muscles.
spider patrol - lead rider, or first rider to run into a mongo banana spider. Similar to cob clearer.
spike - to obtain a chainring tattoo on the back of the calf, usually the result of a newbie trying to dab or panic skid at high speeds.
spin- pedaling at a rapid cadence.
spoke poker- game of finding cards in the street, putting them in your spokes, and someday hopefully finding a poker hand.
spring planting - a face plant.
spudded - crashing as a result of not being able to unclip from spuds in time to avert disaster.
spuds- clipless pedals, usually Shimano SPD-compatible.
squirrel- a swerving, unstable, nervous cyclist.
stack - crash. - crash.
stage race- a multi-day point-to-point race, usually with road races, time trials, and criteriums.
stayer- 1. type of bike and motorcycle used for paced racing. 2. cyclist with the ability to maintain a high speed for long periods, usually on flat roads; also pacer or rouleur.
steed - your bike, the reason for your existence.
STI - "Shimano Total Integration" -- a marketing ploy that forces you to buy new brakes when you replace your shifters.
stoked - euphoric feeling of enlightenment, caused by adrenaline rushing to the brain during a gonzo clea- stoned - describes a rider after a crash which imbeds stones into the rider's ski-
stoker- rear cyclist on a tandem.
stoppie - see front wheelie.
straight- two straight sections of a cycle track, e.g., home straight is straight where the finish line is situated, back straight is straight opposite the home straight.
superman - a rider who flies over the handlebars and doesn't hit the ground for a long time. This may result in injury, but when it doesn't, it's really funny for everyone else.
surplace- [French] technique of balancing in place, motionless on a bike; also called trackstand.
swag - the stuff that manufacturers and vendors donate to be given away at bike related events. When you race, go to bike shows, help put on events, write bike articles, you are often rewarded with swag. Sometimes called "schwag".
sweet spot- special moment of euphoria brought on by cycling.
switchback- one of many sharp turns in roads that go up steep mountains.
table-top - a jump in which the rider throws the bike sideways in mid-air. Less commonly, a jump made over a hill that reaches a plateau and goes back down
taco - to bend a wheel over on itself, in the shape of a taco. "I taco'd my wheel, and it cost me a hundred bucks." Worse than a potato chip.
tandem- bicycle built for two, usually both pedaling.
tea party - when a whole group of riders stops and chats, and nobody seems to want to ride on
team time trial, TTT- in racing, a time trial on road or track, usually with four-person teams.
technical - a section of trail that is difficult to ride because of rocks, tree roots, steep drops.
techno-fad - a screwy or unique technology that a dominant company (usually Shimano) tries to foist upon the innocent cycling public. Past techno-fads include Biopace chainrings, and overly complex "thumb-thumb" or "push-push" shifters.
techno-weenie - a rider who knows more about the newest MTB parts and techno-fads than about the trails. Someone who buys lots of gadgets to add supposed iotas of performance to the bike. Greeting a friend whom we haven't seen in a year, I might say "Hi, Marta!" A techno-weenie might say "Oooh, you got White Industries hubs on that bike now?"
tempo- moderately high rate of cadence or speed; also cruising speed.
The Zone - a state of mind experienced while riding. You don't think, you just do. A truly mystical experience that can't be fully explained, but when you get there you'll know it and strive to reach it again
thrash 1) - to cause severe ecological damage to a trail, usually during the wet season 2) - a damaged trail "That trail's really thrashed after last winter."
three-hour tour - a ride that looks like a piece of cake at the outset but turns out to be a death march. Derived from the theme song to "Gilligan's Island."
throwing the bike- technique of pushing the bike forward in a close sprint so the front wheel crosses the finish line first.
Ti - titanium. Some riders would replace their watches, rings, glasses frames, and gold tooth-fillings with titanium if they could afford to.
tifosi- [Italian] super-enthusiastic bike racing fans; derives from typhus patients suffering from fever and delirium.
time trial, TT- an individual, unpaced race against the clock over a specific distance.
toe clips - a clip-and-strap system that connects a rider's feet and toes to her pedals. Toe clips usually don't require special shoes.
tombstone - one of those damn little rocks protruding out of the trail which you don't notice because you are having a heart-attack climbing the hill.
topo map- topographical map showing elevations, see gradient.
tornado - to balance on your front wheel while turning your back wheel 90-180 degrees in either direction
track bike- special type of simple, lightweight bike designed for track racing, usually with fixed-gear transmission
track stand - (from road-cycling) a maneuver where the rider stops the bike and attempts to remain standing.
trail- 1. off-road path. 2. measurement of steering geometry, distance that vertical line from wheel axle falls behind line from steering tube.
trail mix - the involuntary release of last night's dinner by the way it came in, usually with the assistance of too many adult beverages and accompanied by a long grinder.
trail swag - equipment or accessories dropped by other bikers and found on the trail.
trailhead- entry point of off-road trail.
trial- any kind of cycling test, stunt, or race.
tricked out - when a bike has the latest and hottest components.
tuck- extremely aerodynamic position used for descending and time trials.
turkey- a slow, awkward, or novice cyclist.
turn- a curve or bend section of a cycle track, e.g., two 180 degree turns, or four 90 degree turns in direction in one lap of a cycle track.
turn sheet- route map indicating turns, stops, stores and landmarks.
tweak - a jump during which the rider twists the handlebars back and forth in mid-air, the more times the better. - 1) to slightly injure a part of the body or the bike in a crash. "I tweaked my wrist when I fell." 2) to make a minor adjustment. "My brake pads were rubbing but I tweaked the cable and it went away."
u-lock- commonly used u-shaped bike lock.
unobtanium - describing a bike or accessory made from expensive, high-tech material. A play on "unobtainable" and "titanium." - a piece (of god knows what) that has come off from the inside of something else and rattles around, impossible to retrieve to stop the rattling. E.g. a piece of weld comes off of the inside of a bike frame.
vegetable tunnel - a singletrack that is heavily overgrown with foliage, so a rider must duck and bend to get through it.
velocipede- [French] (1817) 1. a lightweight wheeled vehicle propelled by the rider. 2. a bicycle with pedal cranks fixed to the driving wheel; see boneshaker.
velodrome- a venue in which a cycle track is installed for cycle racing, including infield, safety area, tunnel or bridge, grandstands, changing rooms, etc.
veloway- a bike path with few intersections.
void - 1) to empty the contents of one's bladder. "Where were you, man? We waited for at least two minutes." "Sorry, dude, I had to void, my back teeth were floating." 2) a deep chasm that you have to clear or you will die.
VTT - Velo Tout-Terrain, the French term for mountain biking. Velo = bike, Tout = all, and don't even ask me about terrai- :-)
vultures - spectators who line up at dangerous obstacles in hopes of seeing blood.
wang chung - what you might get when your stem has no nard guard. See crotch-testing.
wannabe- a cyclist who wants to be better but is somehow lacking.
wash out - to have the front tire lose traction, especially while going around a corner.
washboard- a rough riding surface that has small bumps or undulations.
weight-weenie - a MTB owner (not even necessarily a rider) who is more concerned with how many milligrams a certain component saves off the bike's total weight than with how to be a better rider.
wheelbase- distance from front to rear wheel axles; influences a bike's steering.
wheelie drop - a combo of a wheelie and a jump, used to negotiate a large drop with little speed due to a limited run-out.
wheelie- to ride with the front wheel off the ground; to "pop a wheelie."
wheelspray- dirty rainwater that sprays off fenderless wheels (as on race bikes) into other cyclists' eyes, faces, arms, and legs.
wheelsucker- a cyclist who does no work in a paceline or peloton
whoop-de-doos - a series of up-and-down bumps, suitable for jumping.
wicking- function of clothing material.
wild pigs- squealing brakes.
windshield view- see motorhead.
wind-up- gradual acceleration leading up to an all-out sprint.
winky- a reflector. "Nice winky set, fred!"
wipeout - a crash. - ("wipe out") to crash.
WOMBATS - "WOmen's Mountain Biking And Tea Society", a Marin-based organization founded by writer and former MTB racer Jacquie Phelan
wonk- any person or bike that does not function properly.
wonky - not functioning properly. "I bailed, and now my wheel is all wonky and all I hear are wild pigs."
work- measure of the energy needed to move a weight a distance, as in force times distance, in foot-pounds, newtons, or ergs.
wrench - to work on one's steed, to adjust or repair. - a bike shop mechanic. "I blew my shock but the wrench at Charlie's dialed it back in for me."
XC- cross-country mountain bike race.
Yard sale - (from skiing) a horrendous crash that leaves all your various "wares" -- water bottles, pump, tool bag, etc. -- scattered as if on display for sale.
zone out - a state of mind where you think you've reached The Zone, but you really just stopped paying attention to what you're doing. Usually used as an excuse for a particularly embarrassing biff.
zonk - same as bonk.