CYCLING GLOSSARY

Scroll to the bottom of the page to see an illustration of bicycle parts.

Aero Bar: A handlebar or extension to a conventional handlebar that extends forward to allow a low, aerodynamic riding position with arms resting on padded supports.

Aerobic: With oxygen as a fuel source. Level of effort is low enough to avoid buildup of lactic acid and exercise can be continued for prolonged periods.

Anaerobic: Without the presence of oxygen. Level of effort is above the anaerobic threshold and can only be maintained for a relatively short period of time.

Anaerobic Threshold (AT): The point at which your muscle efficiency falls off significantly. It is at this point that your body's energy production switches from aerobic to anaerobic. Interval training raises the heart rate at which the threshold is crossed. Also known as Lactate Threshold (LT).

Bonk: Run out of energy, tire. A state of severe exhaustion caused by the depletion of the main source of fuel in the muscles. Once it occurs, there is no means of quick recovery.

Bottom Bracket: The part of the frame where the Crankset is installed.

Cadence: The rate of pedaling, measured in revolutions per minute (rpm) of one foot.

Cassette: The set of gear cogs on the rear hub. Also called freewheel, cluster, or block.

Century: A 100‑mile ride.

Chainring: A sprocket attached to the right crankarm to drive the chain.

Cleat: A metal or plastic fitting on the sole of a cycling shoe that engages the pedal.

Clincher: Bicycle tire with a bead holding it to the rim. A separate tube within the tire holds air.

Derailleur: Gear‑shifting mechanism on a bicycle.

Drafting: Riding closely behind another rider to take advantage of slipstream, also known as sitting in or wheelsucking.

Drivetrain: The components directly involved with making the rear wheel turn: the chain, crankset, and cassette. Also know as power train.

Dropout: A slot in the frame into which the wheel axle fits.

Drops: The lower part of down‑turned handlebars typically found on road bikes. The curved portions are called the hooks.

Endurance: The ability to last.

Glucose: A simple sugar, used for energy by the body.

Granny Ring: Slang term for the smallest inner chainring on a triple chainring cassette.

Glycogen: A complex sugar, A form of storage energy in the body.

Hammer: To ride hard and fast.

Hanging In: At the back of the pack, barely maintaining the pace.

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

Hoods: The covers of the brake handles where riders frequently rest their hands.

Intensity: Load or speed of work.

Interval: Riding hard for relatively short periods.

Isolated Leg Training: Training technique using only one leg while riding to improve performance and spin.

Jump: A quick, hard acceleration.

Lactic Acid: A by‑product of anaerobic exercise that accumulates in the muscles, causing pain and fatigue.

Leg Speed: How fast one can turn the cranks.

Mash: To push a big gear.

Metric Century: A 100-kilometer (62-mile) ride.

Overtraining: Deep-seated fatigue, both physical and mental, caused by training at a volume higher than that to which the body can adapt.

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.

Pull, pull through: To take a turn at the front of a paceline.

Pull Off: To move to the side after riding in the lead so that another rider can come to the front.

Recovery: Period of training time when not working hard; rest period.

Recumbent: A bicycle on which the rider is in a reclining, feet‑first position.

Repetitions: The number of times a task or interval is repeated.

Road rash: Any skin abrasion resulting from a fall.

Rollers: Stationary training device composed of three cylindrical tubes (rollers) on which a bicycle sits. Works like a treadmill for bicycles.

Support and Gear (SAG) wagon: A motor vehicle that follows a group of riders, carrying equipment and lending assistance in the event of difficulty. Also know as broom wagon.

Sit-in: To rest, not pulling or working; to draft.

Sit on a wheel: To ride in someone's draft.

Soft-pedal: To rotate the pedals without actually applying power.

Spin: Often used to mean high cadence, it more accurately refers to the fluidity or suppleness of the pedal stroke.

Spring: Acceleration to a high speed.

Spun-out: Unable to increase cadence, spinning as fast as possible, this implies the need for a bigger gear.

Stationary Trainer: Training device that does not move. Three types of stationary trainers are wind trainers, magnetic trainers, and fluid resistance trainers.

Tempo: Pace. Normally implies hard, steady riding.

Tops: The part of a drop handlebar between the stem and the brake hoods.

Training Effort: The body's response and adaptation to physical demands.

Tubular Tire: A lightweight tire that has the tube permanently sewn inside the casing, and which is glued to the rim. Also called a sew-up.

V02 max: The maximum amount of oxygen your body can use at full exertion. It is a measure of the ability of muscles to use oxygen and an important determinant of fitness and success.