Vocabulary question

[LauraPaura]

Ok, I've reading this forum for a while now and I still haven't figured out what a century is.. Could somebody please tell me.. :confused:

I was just thinking that would it be a bad idea to make a vocabulary for these words and make it like a sticky thread or something or am I just the only one who doesn't know all these words. Like earlier I was very confused with clipless and clip-in pedals. And how about that LBD (local bike dealer?) or LBS (local bike shop??)?? And STD and SPD .. :p:D No, but seriously, it would make my life that bit easier again..
thanks girls, you are great! :)

[Tuckervill]

A century is a 100 mile ride, I think, which I gleaned from my last year of reading Bicycling magazine. I've never ridden one, so don't go by me!

I have yet to be clear on what a peleton is, but I think I've figured out it's Italian for "pack" or "group".

It is rather difficult to figure out the lingo. I learned a lot from Sheldon Brown's site. A good glossary would be great!

Karen

[mtkitchn]

A century is a hundred mile ride. Good idea on the vocabulary thread...

[SadieKate]

A century is only 100 miles in the good ol' US of A. In other countries it is a 100 kilometer ride.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=4102&highlight=imperial+century

[Runner13]

But 100 k is shorter than 100 miles.

[annie]

I have yet to be clear on what a peleton is, but I think I've figured out it's Italian for "pack" or "group".

Is it Italian of French? Not sure. An "echelon" is a peloton that is strung diagonally across the road in order to draft in a crosswind. :rolleyes:

Here's a _short_ list of biking lingo (found by googling). Just scratches the surface. :p There's so much out there! And MTB'ers have quite a bit of their own language, apart from roadies.

Allen wrench: A hexagonally-shaped tool that fits into the recessed allen bolts common on bicycles today. There are L-shaped allens and ones with screwdriver-like handles. Common sizes and uses for bicycle maintenance include: 2 mm (brake adjustments), 3 mm (some cleats, water bottle cage bolts), 4 mm (cage bolts, cleats, brake shoes), 5 mm (seatpost binder bolts, chainring bolts, derailleur and brake anchor bolts), 6 mm (stem bolts), 7 mm (crank bolts) and 8 mm (crank bolts).

Attack: To pedal rapidly away from a group of riders to gain an advantage.

Bonk: Slang for running out of energy due to low glycogen levels usually coupled with dehydration.

Bridge: To leave one group of riders and pedal rapidly to the next group up the road.

Cadence: The average rate you pedal when riding. Cadence is counted by how many revolutions of a pedal you do in one minute. Accomplished cyclists average about 90 to 100 rpm.

Cage: Used most commonly to refer to that part of the front derailleur (shifting mechanism near the pedals) through which the chain passes. And then there's that thing that holds your water bottle, also called a cage.

Century: Any 100-mile ride. Since the 1880s, it's been considered prestigious to be able to ride a century in a day. Today, many clubs hold century rides, which include a great route, rest stops at regular intervals with food and drink and a bunch of great folks to ride with. Also: metric century (100 kilometers or 62.5 miles), half-century and -- gulp -- double-century.

Chain: That grimy thing toward the rear of your bike that inexplicably manages to smear your leg with a black tattoo every time you even think of going riding. More importantly, it connects the crank (shaft to which the pedal is attached) with the rear wheel so the bike goes somewhere when you turn the pedals.

Clincher tire: Tire held on rims by a mechanical fit between the edges of the tire and the edges of the rim. It's the common tire found today on most mountain and road bikes.

Clipless pedals: For efficient pedaling, you must attach the feet to the pedals. Of course, you also want to be able to get your feet down in a hurry. For a long time, everybody used pedal add-ons called toe clips and straps, basically a bolt-on cage and strap that formed a harness to hold the feet. These are still available. A better option, however, is clipless pedals. Two parts make up the typical clipless system: the pedal and the cleat. The pedal attaches to the crankarm, and the cleat attaches to the shoe sole. Then, much like a ski binding, you simply step on the pedal to click in and ride. To exit, you twist your heels sideways, which causes the pedal to release the cleat. It takes a little practice to get used to clipless pedals, but when they've mastered them, most riders feel clipless are easier to ride with and safer than clips and straps.

Draft:To follow another cyclist closely, so he is forced to break the wind. Drafting at speeds of 15 mph and higher can save 10 to 20% of the energy required to ride alone.

Field: A group of bike riders in a race.

Hammer: To ride hard. You can also "get hammered" by a stronger rider.

Noodle: To ride very slowly to aid recovery. (I LOVE this description of an easy ride! - annie's comment)

Quadricep: The large muscle group on the front of the upper leg. Cyclists rely heavily on quads and typically have big ones.

Road rash: Abrasions from falling off a bicycle and sliding on the road or dirt.

Roadie: Someone who prefers road riding, on a road bike, as opposed to a mountain biker.

Rollers: A device with three or four cylinders in a frame. You can balance a bicycle on them and ride indoors to maintain fitness and work on pedal stroke.

SAG: A vehicle that patrols a ride route, offering food, mechanical assistance, etc. No one's quite sure what the letters stand for, if anything.

Snakebite: A type of inner tube puncture characterized by two small adjacent holes. Typically caused by hitting a curb or rock.

Spinning: Pedaling rapidly and smoothly. Also, an indoor cycling workout available at some gyms and aerobic centers.

Wind trainer: An indoor trainer for cycling. The bike is mounted on a stand that holds the rear wheel. When the bike is pedaled, the rear wheel turns a fan that provides resistance. Other models create resistance with magnets or with a smaller fan turning in an enclosed fluid bath.

-- Scott Martin,

[Runner13]

Peloton is French and it means squad.

[Trek420]

we had another vocabulary lesson here:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=4806&highlight=vocabulary

[KnottedYet]

Oh, Trek, that was beautiful! Thanks for posting the link! I laughed out loud and dropped some of my chips!

(Bean especially liked that part, and asks that you post more funny stuff so I drop more food on the floor.)

[Quillfred]

The STP is a popular west-coast race/ride between Seattle and Portland - its about a double century (Yankee measurements).

SPD is Shimano pedal dynamics--basically the clipless Shimano system.

As far as I know STD still only means --sexually transmitted diseases.

What is like like to ride in Finland? I tried a search but only turned up defunct links.

[RoadRaven]

Yeah... in Middle Earth a century is a 100km ride... though we do have 100 mile rides too - the 1 day "fun" ride round Lake Taupo - the Wattyl Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge is probably the most well-known internationally (though I stand to be corrected, and realise it is a fun ride - not a world event!!) with over 10,000 cyclists in 2005!

As for glossary words... bonk is the one I had most difficulty with - particularly when my partner first started and the word became part of his vocab... and I was wondering ... "What? Whose he been out bonking with? And... why is he telling me in such a relaxed way????"
...because outside of cycling circles, in this country bonking is actually something two consenting adults do in the boudair! (or other places...:cool: )

[KnottedYet]

Here that version of bonk is "boink".

[Pedal Wench]

'Cage' also is a derogatory term for cars - metal 'cages', and drivers are sometimes called 'cagers'.

And, I always thought that a SAG vehicle stood for 'Support And Gear' vehicle.

Not 100% sure though.

[KnottedYet]

I always thought it was "support and gear", too.

SAG wagon.

[Tuckervill]

Peloton is French...okay, filing that away.

Endo is another interesting cycling word, especially popular in Mountain Bike magazine. I think it means to go end over end (over the handlebars). Which I did when I was 9, during which I broke my nose on the headset of my big blue Schwinn.

Karen

[LauraPaura]

So many great answers already while I was sleeping :D

but again what´s 100k or 200k compared to 100 mile/km ride?

So now I can tell that I'm going to do a 3/4-century (70 km) and a 5/4-century (134 km) in June and that's about all the organized rides back here. Riding in Finland is cool because there are not that many cars or people and the bike roads are usually kept in pretty good condition and they are all over the place. Finland is pretty flat country but we do a just a couple or decent hill even in my hometown. The riding season for me at least is from mid-April to mid-October. Rest of the year is too snowy.

thanks for the clarifications to everybody :)

Oh btw peloton is a Finninsh word as well! I got a bit confused since here it means fearless.

[DirtDiva]

1.6km to the mile.
0.625miles to the km.

Get out your calculator. ;)

[madisongrrl]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"]Yeah... in Middle Earth a century is a 100km ride... though we do have 100 mile rides too


In the states....

100k = metric century

100m = century

[Melody]

but again what´s 100k or 200k compared to 100 mile/km ride?

Laura, if you need to do a metric to imperial conversion you can get google to do them. Go to http://www.google.com and in the search field type
100 kilometer to miles and google will give you an answer. :) You can do this for most measurements. I use it quite a bit when I'm cooking and having to change portion sizes. :)


So now I can tell that I'm going to do a 3/4-century (70 km) [...]

You can also just say "I'm doing a 70k". :) Also, when talking centuries, if you're in the US, typically they're 100 miles and to differentiate between 100 kilometers you'll here the term "metric century" instead.


Oh btw peloton is a Finninsh word as well! I got a bit confused since here it means fearless.

Believe it or not everyone, peloton is also an English word. From the Oxford English Dictionary



I. Simple uses.
b. Cycling. A group or cluster of cyclists in a cycle race; esp. the main body of competitors, the pack (PACK n.1 7d)


The etymology of the word, however, is French



[< French peloton little ball, esp. of thread (1417 in Middle French), small body of soldiers (1616), group of competitors in cycling (1884; 1855 in a sporting event in general) < pelote (see PELLET n.1) + -on (see -OON). With sense 1a cf. earlier PLATOON n. and also Spanish pelotón (1737 or earlier in this sense).
N.E.D. (1904) indicates the stress as pelo{sm}ton.]


It looks like the very base root of the word comes from a small body of soldiers. Someone probably, at some point, said that the group looks like a peloton of soldiers and the saying stuck. :)

Mel the mad OED user ;)

[SnappyPix]

Riding in Finland is cool because there are not that many cars or people and the bike roads are usually kept in pretty good condition and they are all over the place.

Sigh. I'm so jealous!

[HipGnosis6]

Believe it or not everyone, peloton is also an English word. From the Oxford English Dictionary



The etymology of the word, however, is French



It looks like the very base root of the word comes from a small body of soldiers. Someone probably, at some point, said that the group looks like a peloton of soldiers and the saying stuck. :)

Mel the mad OED user ;)

That's right. The word was originally a French root, and still technically exists in the English language. However, the form we're all more familiar with is "platoon".

And this is what you get for a degree in linguistics - Trivial Persuit wins, mostly.

[Popoki_Nui]

The riding season for me at least is from mid-April to mid-October. Rest of the year is too snowy.

No kidding! I have a friend in Toijala who has been griping loudly about not being able to ride....sounds like the snow has hung around there longer than usual this year...he's been going completely loopy waiting for clear roads and trails.
Finland's a fascinating and beautiful country, though. One of the places on my must-visit list.

~Sherry.

[margo49]

- ...because outside of cycling circles, in this country bonking is actually something two consenting adults do in the boudair! (or other places...:cool: )

Where, pray tell, is this boudair to which you refer? :confused:
And where do I find the other consenting adult? All ready and waiting there?

[Geonz]

The derivation of SAG is unknown - so it's wahtever you want it to be.

We've had a few peole look at us funny when they ask "why did I suddenly lose all my energy? What is that?" and we say, "You're bonking..." Then there was the time we were talking about how long it had been since the last time we bonked...

[li10up]

Just to elaborate on the "clipless" pedals...Even though you are clipped in to the pedals the system is called clipless. Toe clips were the norm before clipless....so pedals without toe clips were called clipless.

[KnottedYet]

Now that I've switched from clips to clipless, I've started referring to pedal styles as "toe-cages" and "cleats" and "flat pedals" cuz I just can't keep it straight otherwise. :confused: :rolleyes:

[kiwi girl]

...because outside of cycling circles, in this country bonking is actually something two consenting adults do in the boudair! (or other places...:cool: )

heh heh heh I like that one too.

A few years ago I read an article in a cycling magazine that had the theory that bonking would teach you valuable lessons about nutrition.

The cover had the headline 'Bonking: why everybody should try it once' - you have no idea how funny that is to a kiwi - I think I still have that magazine somewhere

[Deanna]

In the states....

100k = metric century

100m = century


I've also heard a 100 mile century referred to as an imperial century. Not very frequently, but enough for me to cram another random fact into my brain.

[Duck on Wheels]

SAG: A vehicle that patrols a ride route, offering food, mechanical assistance, etc. No one's quite sure what the letters stand for, if anything.
I thought SAG stood for Support And Gear, but maybe the acronym source was an afterthought ...?

Meanwhile, here's another vocabulary question. What, in web forum parlance, is a "troll"?

[Lise]

What's a "hardtail" bike?

[Popoki_Nui]

What's a "hardtail" bike?

"Hardtail" refers to a bike with a suspension front fork, and a rigid rear frame triangle. (as opposed to "full rigid"..a bike with no suspension, and "full suspension"...a bike with suspension fore and aft).
~S.

[Dianyla]

Meanwhile, here's another vocabulary question. What, in web forum parlance, is a "troll"?
The usage of the word troll came about in the late 90's on usenet, to refer to someone who is posting merely to inflame, anger, or bait other users.

For more info:
http://www.help.com/wiki/Internet_troll
http://www.urban75.com/Mag/troll.html

[stella]

fixie: a fixed gear bike or the rider of a fixed gear bike

conversion: making your bike a geared bike to a fixed or singlespeed bike.

beater bike: the old bike you love that looks like you took it off a trash heap but ride it anyway...generally to run errands...

weight weenie: person who watches grams/weight of their bike (I've got to focus on my own weight before I go there :))

someone asked about the term: endo: I believe it is short for "end over" the front of the bike. a mtn bike term

Can someone tell me what "Fred" means? I get the impression it is an insult, but I do not know how nor where it came from.

[CR400]

The Finnish word peloton is likely accurate in its own right, I mean you have to be fearless to desend a moutian at those speeds in a group. Not to mention just riding around a 30+mph with 50 other people.

As far as Fred, it's a bad thing to call someone. It basically means they are a person that rides their bike anyway they want not caring about what they look like,and they ride everywhere not paying attention to any trends in cycling. Think of the odd person that rides around town all the time on a road bike, or commuter, Fred. It is often used by bike snobs to belittle someone not like them.

[Bad JuJu]

I've also heard Fred used of someone who's not "in the know" about cycling trends in general, whether they ride at all or not. But it's still a pejorative term, and still used to identify who's "in with the in-crowd"--supposedly.

[Robbin_G]

I sometimes get lost in some other acronyms.... being straight, it took me a second when someone referred to their DP. Who? Ohhhhh.... Dorkette! :D There was another one I couldn't figure out and forgot what it was....

[profàvélo]

Actually, I think there are some people who are Freds on purpose, so it isn't necessarily an insult. It's almost the opposite of 'poseur,' the one with all the 'right' gear and clothing, but no ability to back it up.

And as for 'peloton,' it most generically just means 'group of people' in French. It was used for a pack of horses in a race before it was extended by analogy to a compact group of racers in motorcycle or bicycle races.

Since cycling is practically the national sport of France, it's not surprising that some of our cycling vocabulary is French in origin: échelon, dérailleur, vélodrome, tour de ____, pannier (Fr. panier), pédale (Latin-->Italian-->French-->English). I think that 'bidon' (water bottle) is used in English (as opposed to American).

Voilà!

[stella]

I've also heard Fred used of someone who's not "in the know" about cycling trends in general, whether they ride at all or not. But it's still a pejorative term, and still used to identify who's "in with the in-crowd"--supposedly.


thanks for the clarification! I got the distinct impression it was an insult when I heard one rider say it about someone that didn't "dress correctly" or have "the right equipment."

[Eden]

The legend that I heard is that "Fred" was this guy who would show up at the local fast group ride on an old beater bike, with tennis shoes on, ripped up shorts and knees scraped from his last crash, etc. No one really liked to have Fred around - he was a dork and he didn't shower often enough, but the really really frustrating thing about Fred was that he could hang with the A group without any problems.

So a "Fred" became a derogatory term for people who aren't cool - they don't have all the latest gear, fanciest bike, hairy legs, whatever, but watch out for Fred, cause he just might dust you.....

I've also heard chainring marks on the calf refered to as Freds

[Lise]

I know how to shift. I just don't know which is called "down" and which is "up" shifting. Is it "down" shifting to make it easier for the wheels to go around, and "up" shifting when you have to work harder? This maybe the dumbest question yet in this thread! :rolleyes:

[Eden]

I know how to shift. I just don't know which is called "down" and which is "up" shifting. Is it "down" shifting to make it easier for the wheels to go around, and "up" shifting when you have to work harder? This maybe the dumbest question yet in this thread! :rolleyes:

Warning I think I may actually confuse this matter more!

I think that it may actually depend on what "bike generation" you belong to. I have always thought of shifting up as going to a harder gear and down as to an easier gear. Mind you I started with down tube shifters and if you moved the shifter up you went to a harder gear and down to an easier gear.

With integrated shifters you are now essentially shifing sideways rather than up and down. Now I've heard at least one person referring to shifting up as up to a larger ring on the rear cluster, which is an easier gear, and vice versa.

In any case this is just speculation - maybe the up and down designations spring from gear ratios? or something else all together. Most of the people that I know refer to shifting up as going to a harder gear and down to an easier one and its the odd one out that uses it the other way around.

[uk elephant]

I have a question too....
Several of you people are doing brevets, but what are they? From what I understand it is something impressive that I'm not anywhere near ready to try myself, but I have no idea what it entails....

[Tuckervill]

It took me a long time, but I finally found a definition for brevet that was cycling related:


A brevet or randonn饼/span> is an organised long-distance bicycle ride. Cyclists - who, in this discipline, may be referred to as randonneurs - follow a designated but unmarked route (usually 200km to 600km), passing through check-point controls, and must complete the course within specified time limits. These limits, while challenging, still allow the ride to be completed at a comfortable pace - there is no requirement to cycle at racing speeds or employ road bicycle racing strategies.
Randonn饼/span> is a French word which loosely translates to 'ramble or 'long journey'. Brevet means 'certificate' and refers to the card carried by randonneurs which gets stamped at controls; it is also used to refer to the event itself, ie: a certificated ride.

http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Brevet_%28cycling%29

Sounds interesting...but 200km? Are there shorter ones?

Karen

[Geonz]

I think 200 is the shortest (with a name like "brevet" it *should* be somethng short!)

Yea, Fred can be said insultingly... but the recipient gets to choose whether or not to be insulted. I have great respect for Freds. I'd like to become a Frieda...

[bcipam]

I know how to shift. I just don't know which is called "down" and which is "up" shifting. Is it "down" shifting to make it easier for the wheels to go around, and "up" shifting when you have to work harder? This maybe the dumbest question yet in this thread! :rolleyes:

Generally when someone says "down" they mean make it easier and "up" means harder - ie you shift up to sprint and down to climb.

And yes I started out way back when with down tube shifters. I will never go back to those! Ugh!

[SnappyPix]

Originally Posted by Lise
I know how to shift. I just don't know which is called "down" and which is "up" shifting. Is it "down" shifting to make it easier for the wheels to go around, and "up" shifting when you have to work harder? This maybe the dumbest question yet in this thread!

I always remember it by the expression "top gear". When I'm in my top gear, I'm flying on the flat and in my biggest chainring at the front - changing up to top gear means it's getting harder, changing down means it's getting easier.
Works for me, but has probably confused everyone else!:)

[SnappyPix]

I think that 'bidon' (water bottle) is used in English (as opposed to American).

Unless this is used in pure racing circles, I must admit that I've never heard water bottles referred to as bidons in general conversation in the UK.

Incidentally, found this very good site with a glossary of terms:
http://www.torelli.com/raceinfo/glossary.html

[DirtDiva]

Yea, Fred can be said insultingly... but the recipient gets to choose whether or not to be insulted. I have great respect for Freds. I'd like to become a Frieda...
I believe it was etablished in a previous thread that the correct feminine derivative of "Fred" is "Fredwina." ;)

[arnaew]

[QUOTE=SnappyPix]Unless this is used in pure racing circles, I must admit that I've never heard water bottles referred to as bidons in general conversation in the UK.

Bidon is very commonly used in Australia. And here, we also tend to bonk in private. If you know what I mean.
A

[profàvélo]

Unless this is used in pure racing circles, I must admit that I've never heard water bottles referred to as bidons in general conversation in the UK.

Incidentally, found this very good site with a glossary of terms:
http://www.torelli.com/raceinfo/glossary.html

It was used in a book (_French Revolutions_) written by a British guy, definitely not a racer, so that's what made me think it might be generally used there. Oh, well...

[profàvélo]

[QUOTE=SnappyPix]Unless this is used in pure racing circles, I must admit that I've never heard water bottles referred to as bidons in general conversation in the UK.

Bidon is very commonly used in Australia. And here, we also tend to bonk in private. If you know what I mean.
A

I almost died laughing when one of my riding buddies claimed, in all seriousness, that she had boinked on a long ride. I wanted to ask how she had managed such a feat, but instead, I just said, "Um, I think you mean 'bonk'..."

[Quillfred]

[QUOTE=Eden

So a "Fred" became a derogatory term for people who aren't cool - they don't have all the latest gear, fanciest bike, hairy legs, whatever, but watch out for Fred, cause he just might dust you.....[/QUOTE]


Well, as a QuillFRED, I can relate to most of that--still waiting to dust the "A"s :D

I actually find it kind of cool when I get dusted my a nerdy-looking guy with jeans on, a beater bike, etc. Reminds me of a good pool hustler. I might add that I've still plenty of momentum to gain. I did have a younger patient set me straight re: not wearing team jerseys if you're not a member, or nowhere near being a member.

[RoadRaven]

I have never heard of "bidon" before - but my partner has - says it is used all the time in tour de France coverage (shows how closely I listen to the commentators, huh?) - apparently its a French word??

[Duck on Wheels]

I did have a younger patient set me straight re: not wearing team jerseys if you're not a member, or nowhere near being a member.

Well then why do they friggin' sell them if we're not supposed to wear them?!?!?! Just to separate out us dummies who don't know enough not to break the "rules"? :confused:

I think my unobtainable but worth-striving-for goal will be to become a Fredwina the Athena. :cool:

[DirtDiva]

Rotflmao!!!

[KnottedYet]

Oh! Oh! We need team jerseys that say that!

(if it's an imaginary team, are we allowed to wear the jerseys? What would Style Man say?)

[Duck on Wheels]

Oh! Oh! We need team jerseys that say that!

(if it's an imaginary team, are we allowed to wear the jerseys? What would Style Man say?)

That say what? The Fredwina Athena Phantasy Bike Club? I'd buy one. Hey, Trek420 -- you following this thread? And if so, any ideas for the graphics?