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Cycling Road Equipement and History

Equipement

History

Chainring

A large toothed ring (part of the chainset) that drives the chain via the pedals and cranks.

Chainstay

The two horizontal parts of the bike frame that join the bottom bracket to the rear wheel.

Cogwheel

A less commonly used term for a sprocket.

Cranks

The arms which drive the chainwheels. Cranks are bolted to the crankshaft.

Crankshaft

Derailleur

The mechanism which moves the chain from one chainring or sprocket to another.

Gloves

Handlebars

The part of the bicycle which the rider takes hold of.

Helmet

Saddle

The seat of a bicycle.

Race Bike

"Vélo de contre la montre"

Bicycle Pants

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All the medallists since 1896

Glossary

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Attack
A sudden acceleration to move ahead of another rider or group of riders.

Block
In road racing, an attempt to disrupt a chase by slowing down a paceline.
Bottom bracket
A hole in the base of a bike frame where the axle unit is attached.
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.

Caliper brakes
A brake consisting of two brake blocks which are drawn towards each other through a central pivot and which grip the rim of the wheel.
Chainsuck
The chain getting caught between the chainstay and the rear wheel.
Chasers
Riders trying to catch a breakaway group.
Cornering clearance
The amount of lean angle a bicycle can have without digging a pedal; also called pedal clearance or road clearance.
Countersteering
A manoeuvre used by expert riders to control a skid, executed by steering the bike momentarily in the opposite direction from which they want to turn.

Digging a pedal
A pedal hitting the ground while the rider is leaning into a turn.
Draft
To ride closely behind a competitor, saving energy by using that racer as a windbreak.
Drift
The bike slipping sideways while going forward, usually as a result of taking a corner too hard.

Echelon
A staggered line of riders, each downwind of the rider ahead, allowing them to move considerably faster than a solo rider or small group of riders.

Feeding station / zone
Terms for areas where riders in mountain bike or road races can pick up both food and liquid refreshments.
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.
Force the pace
To increase speed to make the group to go faster.

Gregario
A team rider who will sacrifice his / her individual performance to help a designated team-mate.

Highside
Being thrown from the bicycle in a direction counter to the turn.
Hook
To suddenly move one''s back wheel to the side, forcing the following rider to slow down to avoid running into it.

Jump
A quick acceleration which usually develops into a sprint.

Kick
A burst of acceleration for the final sprint.

Lap
One loop of the track, course or circuit.
Lapped
A rider who has fallen behind another rider by one lap of the track, course or circuit is said to have been lapped.
Lead-out
A racing tactic whereby one rider races at high speed to give a head start to the rider on his /her wheel.

Mass start
A race start in which all racers start at the same time.
Mechanical
Slang for a mechanical problem with the bicycle.

Neutral support
The support given to a rider by a neutral party, i.e. a mechanic in a follow vehicle.

Off-camber
A curve in the trail that throws riders to the outside of the turn.

Paceline
A string of riders that moves at high speed with each individual taking turns setting the pace and riding in the draft of the others.
Pedal clearance
The amount of lean angle a bicycle can have without digging a pedal; also known as "cornering clearance" or "road clearance".
Peloton
The main group of riders; also called the pack, bunch or field.
Pits
Stations along the course where repairs can be made.
Pull
To take a turn at the front of the group, maintaining the same speed of the group.

Road clearance
The amount of lean angle a bicycle can have without digging a pedal; also known as cornering clearance or pedal clearance.
Rock dodge
To steer the handlebars quickly to one side to avoid small road hazards.

Sitting in
Drafting, or sitting closely behind the rider immediately in front.
Slipstream
The area of least wind resistance behind a rider.
Snakebite
The most common type of flat tyre, caused by hitting an obstacle so hard that the innertube is pinched against the rim.
Spokes
The arms inside a wheel rim.
Sprint
1. a high-speed race, usually over a short distance. 2. the final high-speed dash for the finish line in race of any distance.

Time trial
A race in which riders start individually and race against the clock.