A good part of understanding your triathlon training and performance is having a grasp on the lingo. Here is a guide to cycling terms that you should know in order to get the most out of your experience.
Aero Bar – An aero bar is a type of handlebar that juts forward to increase aerodynamics by allowing the rider to assume a lower profile.
Attack - An attack is a tactic to pass another rider, or a group of riders with an abrupt burst of speed, it can also be used as a verb, meaning to try to make an attack.
Biff - In cycling terms, the word biff is used in order to describe a crash.
Block - Blocking is a method of breaking up a chase through slowing down the cadence of the pace line. This can be performed by a single ride or by a group of riders working together. This action is generally used as a way to protect the position of a teammate that is in the lead.
Bonk - The term bonk refers to the state of exhaustion that can be caused by a lack of food while doing a particularly long stretch worth of bike riding.
Break Away – A break away is when a rider makes a successful attack and pulls ahead of the main group.
Bridge - Bridging is the action of leaving one group of riders to catch up to another group of riders farther ahead.
Bunny-Hop - Bunny-hopping refers to jumping over an obstacle with the bike without dismounting.
Cadence – Cadence is the rate at which a cyclist is pedaling, this is measured in revolutions per minute (RPM) of one of the two cyclist’s feet.
Chain suck - Chain suck is the unfortunate occurrence when the bike chain manages to get jammed in between the chain stay and the rear wheel.
Chase - A chase is an effort, most often by a group of cyclists, to catch up with another group of riders that is ahead of them. Often, the group being chased is making a breakaway.
Chasers - Chasers are cyclists that are actively involved in a chase or chases.
Circuit – Like a lap in track racing, a circuit is one trip around a track that will be run through more than one time during a road race.
Circuit race - A circuit race is a race with multiple laps, known as circuits, in which the course is at least two miles long.
Cleat - A cleat is an attachment on the soles of specialized cycling shoes that connect the shoes to the pedals using an opening in the pedal.
Criterium - A criterium is a race held on a track of a mile or less in length with multiple laps.
Cross Country – A cross-country bike race is a type of mountain bike race that crosses over jeep roads, trails and other types of difficult terrain, requiring that the bicyclists competing have a certain level of skill in order to participate.
Photo Credits: /charlene
Originally posted 2009-10-26 03:16:48. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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