Terminology

admin — Tue, 25 May 2010 15:28:05 +0000

Attack – A sudden acceleration to move ahead of another rider or group of riders
Bell, Bell Lap – A bell is rung to signify the last lap before the finish or a prime
Big ring – the largest of the front cogs
Break, Breakaway – A rider or group of riders that has left the main group behind
Bridge – To leave one group of riders and join another one that is further ahead
Cadence – the speed at which you pedal
Cat, Category – Rider competition levels in USCF races. Cat 5, Cat 4, Cat 3, Cat 2, Cat1
Chase, Chasers – Riders trying to catch a breakaway group or rider
Cleats – the mechanism that is screwed to the sole of the shoe to fit clipless pedals
Clipless pedals – your shoe is attached to the pedal with cleats Computer measures your speed, distance travelled, cadence etc
Domestique – A team rider who will sacrifice his/her individual performance to help a designated teammate. Duties can include giving up ones bike for another rider, supplying refreshments to teammates, catching breakaway riders. French for “servant.”
Draft – To ride closely behind a competitor, saving energy by using that racer as a wind break. Riding in front is very strenuous but affords a great energy-saving advantage to the rider behind
Drop, Dropped – When a rider has been passed by another
Groupset – collective term for all the main components of the bicycle
Field sprint: A sprint at the finish among the main group of riders in a road race
Flyer – A surprise attack, usually by a solo rider. Also a rider who gains speed within the peloton attempting to reach the front
Gap – The amount of time or distance between a rider or group of riders and another rider or group of riders
Hammer – To ride hard. Also, to “put the hammer down.”
Jump – A quick acceleration which usually develops into a sprint
Lead out – To intentionally sacrifice ones chances in order to create a windbreak, thus creating an opening for a rider behind. A racing tactic whereby one rider races at high speed to give a head start to the rider on his/her wheel
Off the back – When a rider or riders cannot keep pace with the main group and lag behind
Off the front – When a rider takes part in a breakaway
Peloton – The main group of riders; also called the pack, bunch or field. French
Presta valve – the long thin valve found on road, touring and hybrid bikes
Prime – An award given for the rider to reach a certain point mid-race in a sprint. Pronounced “preem.” French
Pull – To take a turn at the front of the group, maintaining the same speed of the group
Quick release (QR) – skewers a means of tightening and releasing a wheel quickly
Rotating – The action of each rider going to the front of a group and riding at the front in turn to keep the pace high
Schraeder valve – the fat valve, mainly found on mountain bikes
Sitting in, Sit on a wheel, Sitting on – Drafting, or riding closely behind the rider immediately in front to save energy. Also known as wheelsucking. See wheelsucking
Sitting up – When the rider is no longer tucked, or riding in the most aerodynamic fashion
SPD ‘Shimano Pedalling Dynamics’ – Shimano’s term for its clipless pedal
Stage race: A bike race held over successive days, with a different course each day. Stage races often feature a combination of long road races, a criterium and a time trial. The rider with the lowest total time (or most accumulated points) after completion of all the stages wins the overall race
Velo – Bike. French

Mirage Cycling Team » Terminology

Terminology