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Road Bike Rider - Bike riding terms Category: Sport and Leisure > Biking Date & country: 01/02/2014, UK Words: 160

wheelsucker
someone who drafts behind others but doesn't take a pull.

wind up
steady acceleration to an all-out effort.

windchill
the effect of air moving across the skin, making the temperature seem colder than it actually is. A cyclist creates a windchill even on a calm day, a situation that must be considered when dressing for winter rides.

wheelie
to elevate the front wheel and ride on the rear wheel only.

USCF
U.S. Cycling Federation, the organization that governs amateur road, cyclocross, and track racing in America. A division of USA Cycling.

USPRO
U.S. Professional Racing Organization, the organization in charge of professional bicycle racing in America. A division of USA Cycling.

velodrome
an oval banked track for bicycle racing.

VO
the maximum amount of oxygen that can be consumed during all-out exertion. This is a key indicator of a person

watt
a measurement of power produced. It tells how much force is applied to the pedals.

upshift
to shift to a higher gear, i.e. a smaller cog or larger chainring.

USA Cycling
the umbrella organization for American. bicycle racing. Affiliated with the UCI.

unweight
the act of momentarily lightening the bike through a combination of body movement and position. It

Ultramarathon Cycling Association
the event-sanctioning, record-keeping and informational organization for ultra riders.

ultra cycling
used to describe the side of the sport involving the longest endurance events. Also called ultramarathon.

travel
in suspensions, the maximum distance a fork or rear shock can compress.

tubular
a lightweight tire that has its tube sewn inside the casing. Also called a sew-up. The tire is glued to the rim.

turkey
an unskilled cyclist.

turnaround
the point where the riders reverse direction on an out-and-back time trial course.

UCI
Union Cycliste Internationale, the world governing body of bicycle racing, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

time trial (TT)
a race against the clock in which individual riders start at set intervals and cannot give or receive a draft.

tops
the part of a drop handlebar between the stem and the brake levers.

training effect
the result of exercise done with an intensity and duration sufficient to bring about positive physiological changes.

throw the bike
a racing technique in which a rider thrusts the bike ahead of his or her body at the finish line, gaining several inches in hopes of winning a close sprint.

take a flyer
to suddenly sprint away from a group.

team time trial (TTT)
a race against the clock with two or more riders working together.

tempo
fast riding at a brisk cadence.

squirrel
a nervous or unstable rider who can't be trusted to maintain a steady line.

stage race
a multi-day event consisting of various types of races. The winner is the rider with the lowest elapsed time for all races (stages).

straight block
a cassette with cogs that increase in size in one-tooth increments.

suppleness
a quality of highly conditioned leg muscles that allows a rider to pedal at high cadence with smoothness and power. Also known by the French term, souplesse.

snakebite
see pinch flat.

snap
the ability to accelerate quickly.

soft-pedal
to rotate the pedals without actually applying power.

speed
the ability to accelerate quickly and maintain a very fast cadence for brief periods.

speedwork
a general term for intervals and other high-velocity training, such as sprints, time trials and motorpacing.

spin
to pedal at high cadence.

spinner
a rider who pedals in a moderate gear at a relatively fast cadence, relying on pedal rpm for speed.

slipstream
the pocket of calmer air behind a moving rider. Also called the draft.

singletrack
a trail so narrow that two cyclists can

sit on a wheel
to ride in someone's draft.

slingshot
to ride up behind another rider with help from his draft, then use the momentum to sprint past.

sag wagon
a motor vehicle that follows a group of riders, carrying equipment and lending assistance in the event of difficulty. Also called the broom wagon.

Schrader
an inner tube valve identical to those found on car tires. A tiny plunger in the center of its opening must be depressed for air to enter or exit.

seatstay
the thin frame tube that extends from the rear dropout to the top of the seat tube. There is a seatstay on each side of the rear wheel.

set
in intervals or weight training, a specific number of repetitions.

saddle sores
skin problems in the crotch that develop from chafing caused by pedaling action. Sores can range from tender raw spots to boil-like lesions if infection occurs.

saddle time
time spent cycling.

rollers
an indoor training device consisting of three long cylinders connected by belts. Both bike wheels roll on these cylinders so that balancing is much like actual riding.

resistance trainer
a stationary training device into which the bike is clamped. Pedaling resistance increases with pedaling speed to simulate actual riding. Also known as an indoor, wind, fluid, or mag trainer (the last three names derived from the fan, liquid, or magnet that creates resistance on the rear wheel).

road race
a mass-start race on pavement that goes from point to point, covers one large loop or is held on a circuit longer than those used for criteriums.

road rash
any skin abrasion resulting from a fall. Also called crash rash.

Randonneurs USA
the event-sanctioning, record-keeping and informational organization for American randonneurs.

reach
the combined length of a bike

repetition
each hard effort in an interval workout. Also, one complete movement in a weight-training exercise; rep for short.

quadriceps
the large muscle in front of the thigh, the strength of which helps determine a cyclist's ability to pedal with power.

RAAM
the Race Across America, contested from the west coast to the east every year since 1982.

randonnee
a long-distance event in which riders must navigate a prescribed course while passing through intermediate checkpoints within certain time limits.

randonneur
a rider who participates in randonnees.

pull, pull through
take a turn at the front.

pusher
a rider who pedals in a large gear at a relatively slow cadence, relying on the gear size for speed.

pull off
to move to the side after riding in the lead so that another rider can come to the front.

psi
abbreviation for pounds per square inch. The unit of measure for tire inflation and air pressure in some suspensions.

presta
the narrow European-style valve found on some inner tubes. A small metal cap on its end must be unscrewed before air can enter or exit.

protein
in the diet it is required for tissue growth and repair. Composed of structural units called amino acids. Protein is not a significant energy source unless not enough calories and carbohydrate are consumed. One gram of protein equals four calories.

preload
the adjustable spring tension in a suspension fork or rear shock. It determines how far the suspension compresses under body weight and how much travel remains to absorb impacts.

power
the combination of speed and strength.

pinch flat
an internal puncture marked by two small holes caused by the tube being squeezed against the rim. It results from riding into an object too hard for the air pressure in the tube. Also called a snakebite.

periodization
the process of dividing training into specific phases by weeks or months.

peloton
the main group of riders in a race or large event.

panache
flamboyance, verve, daring, style as displayed in road racing. See

panniers
large bike bags used by touring cyclists or commuters. Panniers attach to racks that place them low on each side of the rear wheel, and sometimes the front wheel.

peak
a relatively short period during which maximum performance is achieved.

oxygen debt
the amount of oxygen that must be consumed to pay back the deficit incurred by anaerobic work.

paceline
a group formation in which each rider takes a turn breaking the wind at the front before pulling off, dropping to the rear position, and riding the others' draft until at the front once again.

overtraining
deep-seated fatigue, both physical and mental, caused by training at an intensity or volume too great for adaptation.

orthotics
custom-made supports worn in shoes to help neutralize biomechanical imbalances in the feet or legs.

overgear
using a gear ratio too big for the terrain or level of fitness.

metric century
a 100-kilometer ride (62 miles).

minuteman
in a time trial, the rider who is one place in front of you in the starting order. So called because in most TTs riders start on one-minute intervals.

motorpace
to ride behind a motorcycle or other vehicle that breaks the wind.

mudguards
fenders.

off the back
describes one or more riders who have failed to keep pace with the main group. Also referred to as OTB.

LBS
local bike shop.

leadout
a race tactic in which a rider accelerates to his maximum speed for the benefit of a teammate in tow. The second rider then leaves the draft and sprints past at even greater speed near the finish line.

LSD
long, steady distance. A training technique that requires a firm aerobic pace for at least two hours.

mass start
events such as road races, cross-country races and criteriums in which all contestants leave the starting line at the same time.

jam
a period of hard, fast riding.

jump
a quick, hard acceleration.

lactate threshold (LT)
the exertion level beyond which the body can no longer produce energy aerobically, resulting in the buildup of lactic acid. This is marked by muscle fatigue, pain and shallow, rapid breathing. Also called anaerobic threshold (AT).

lactic acid
a substance formed during anaerobic metabolism when there is incomplete breakdown of glucose. It rapidly produces muscle fatigue and pain. Also called lactate.

intervals
a structured method of training that alternates brief, hard efforts with short periods of easier riding for partial recovery.

hybrid
a bike that combines features of road and mountain bikes. Also called a cross bike.

headset
the parts at the top and bottom of the frame's head tube, into which the handlebar stem and fork are fitted.

hammer
to ride strongly in big gears..

hamstrings
the muscle on the back of the thigh, not well developed by cycling.

hanging in
barely maintaining contact at the back of the pack.

gorp
good ol' raisins and peanuts, a high-energy mix for nibbling during rides. Can also include nuts, seeds, M&Ms, granola, etc.

granny gear
the lowest gear ratio, combining the small chainring with the largest cassette cog. It

granny ring
the smallest of the three chainrings on a triple crankset.

glycogen window
the period within an hour after exercise when depleted muscles are most receptive to restoring their glycogen content. By eating foods or drinking fluids rich in carbohydrate, energy stores and recovery are enhanced.