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These terms will help you get up to speed and help you understand conversations and stories in the cycling world. Even the more seasoned riders will
need to review this page from time to time.
Attack
A sudden acceleration to elude another rider or group of riders.
Blocking
When one rider or a group of riders disrupts a chase by slowing down a paceline.
Bonk
Total exhaustion caused by lack of sufficient food during a long race or ride.
Break, Breakaway
A rider or group of riders that leaves the main group behind.
Bridge
To leave one group of riders and join another group that is farther ahead.
Bunny-hop
To jump the bike, without dismounting, over a log or a big rock on a mountain bike, or over a pothole or a curb on the road.
Chainsuck
When the chain becomes caught between the chainstay and the rear wheel, whether due to mud buildup or poor frame design.
Chasers
Riders who are trying to catch a breakaway group.
Circuit race
A multi-lap event on a course usually two miles or more in length.
Criterium, Crit
A multi-lap event on a course usually a mile or less in length.
Cross-country, XC
A mountain bike race, either point-to-point or over a long circuit, contested over trails, jeep roads, single-track, etc.
Derailleur
The mechanism which moves the chain from one chainring or sprocket to another.
Domestique
A team rider who will sacrifice individual performance to work for a designated teammate.
Drafting
Riding closely behind another rider to save energy by using that racer as a windbreak.
Echelon
A staggered line of riders, each downwind of the rider immediately ahead. Can move considerably faster than a solo rider or small group of riders.
Feeding
A member of the team's support crew in a designated area on the course hands up a small bag containing liquid and food to riders during the race.
Field
The main group of riders. Also known as the "pack," "bunch," or "peloton."
Field sprint
A sprint at the finish among the main group of riders.
Force (the pace)
When one rider increases the tempo to cause the group to go harder.
Flyer
A surprise attack, usually done alone.
Gap
The distance (usually measured in time) between individuals or groups. Gaps are "opened" and "closed."
Granny gear
The third and smallest chainring on a mountain bike, combined with the biggest sprocket. This is the lowest gear, used for extremely steep climbs. Also called "pixie gear" or "weenie gear."
Hammer
Riding hard, going all out.
Hammered
Exhausted, beaten to a pulp, wiped out.
Hanging on
Barely maintaining contact at the back of the pack.
Hook
To suddenly move one's back wheel to the side, forcing the following rider to slowdown to avoid running into the front rider's bike.
IMBA
International Mountain Bicycle Association, the Colorado-based advocacy organization that monitors and mediates trial access issues.
Jump
A quick acceleration usually developing into a sprint.
Kick
A final burst of speed which provides acceleration for the sprint.
Lead-out
An intentional sacrificing tactic whereby one rider races at high speed to give a head start to the rider on his wheel. That rider comes around the leader at an even faster speed for a finishing sprint.
Mass start
Any race in which all the racers start at the same time.
Mechanical
Slang for a mechanical problem with the bicycle.
Mountain Bike, Moto, Clunker, Cruiser, Beater, Bomber, Fat Tire Flyer
Terms used to express your bike when discussing mountain
biking in the extreme.
Neutral support
If a rider crashes or has a flat tire during a road race or time trial, a mechanic riding in a follow vehicle will provide a new wheel or do other adjustments to get the rider quickly back into the race. During mountain bike races, riders are responsible for doing their own repairs, and receiving assistance from another person results in disqualification.
NORBA
National Off-Road Bicycle Association. The licensing body responsible for mountain bike racing in this country; it functions under the umbrella of USA Cycling.
Paceline
A string of riders that moves at high speed by each individual taking turns setting the pace, and riding in the draft of the others the rest of the time.
Peloton
The main group of riders. Also known as the "pack," "bunch," or "field."
Pole line
The innermost line on the velodrome surface. This line is used to measure the length of the track. The Olympic velodrome at Stone Mountain measures 250 meters at this line.
Pretzel or Taco
To wreck a wheel.
Pull
To take a turn at the front of the group, maintaining the same speed of the group.
Push climb or Hike-a-bike
A section of trail with inadequate traction, or too-steep pitch, that forces cyclists to dismount and push or carry their bikes up the grade.
Rainbow jersey
The coveted rainbow-striped jersey awarded to world champions in each of cycling's disciplines.
Repechage
Usually used in sprint competitions, this term describes a round of the competition in which losers of previous heats are matched against each other. The winner of the repechage gains re-entry in to the main competition.
Single-track
A path or trail wide enough for only one rider at a time.
Sitting in: Drafting, or sitting closely behind the rider immediately in front.
Slipstream
The area of least wind resistance behind a rider.
Snakebite
Most common type of flat tire. Caused by hitting an obstacle so hard that the innertube is pinched against the rim. Results in a double puncture that resembles two fan holes. Also called a "pinch flat."
Suspension
A system designed to absorb shock on a mountain bike; mountain bikes can have motorcycle-like front forks, or "full suspension" with shocks front and rear. Front suspension has also been used by some road racers who must tackle severe cobblestone-paved courses in Europe.
Switchback
A tight, zigzag turn on the face of a mountain. Can be negotiated either uphill or downhill.
Take a flyer
To ride off the front suddenly.
Technical
A section of trail fraught with obstacles that test a rider's bike-handling skill, balance, finesse.
Time trial
A race in which riders or teams start individually and race against the clock. The winner is the individual or team covering the course in the fastest time.
Track bike
A bike with a "fixed" single-speed gear and no brakes.
Track stand
A sprint maneuver in which neither rider wishes to lead, resulting in both remaining motionless and balancing on the track.
UCI
Union Cycliste Internationale, the international governing body of cycling.
USA Cycling
America's national governing body for cycling, which is responsible for establishing the selection criteria for the U.S. Olympic Cycling Team. USA Cycling supervises the activities of the USCF, NORBA, and USPRO.
USCF
U.S. Cycling Federation. The organization responsible for amateur road and track racing in America; it functions under the umbrella of USA Cycling.
USPRO
U.S. Professional Cycling. The organization responsible for professional road and track racing in America; it functions under the umbrella of USA Cycling.
Velodrome
A bicycle racing track with banked turns and flat straightaways.
Waterbar
A sharp-sided trench that cris crosses a descent.
Wind-out
A sprint that develops from a gradual acceleration. Usually initiated with more than a lap to go.
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