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TERM |
DESCRIPTION |
| Attack | A sudden acceleration to elude another rider or group of riders. |
| Blocking | When one rider or a group of riders disrupt a chase or attack by slowing down a paceline or rider. |
| Bonk | Total exhaustion caused by lack of sufficient food during a long race or ride. Glucose depletion of the muscles. |
| Brain Bucket | A cycling Helmet. |
| Break, Breakaway | A rider or group of riders that leave the main group of riders behind. |
| Bridge | To leave one group of riders and join another group that is farther ahead. |
| Cadence | The revolutions per minute of the crank. A casual rider may have a cadence of 50-60rpm vs. a racer having a cadence of 100-120rpm. |
| Century | A bike ride or tour that is 100 miles. |
| Chain ring | The teethed ring that is located on the crank portion of the drive train. There are generally 1-3 chain rings located on the crank. |
| Chain suck | When the chain becomes caught between the chain stay and drive wheel. |
| Chasers, Chase Group | 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 | A multi-lap event on a course that is usually a mile or less in length. |
| Derailleur | The mechanism which moves the chain from one chain ring or sprocket to another. There is a front and rear Derailleur. |
| Domestique | A team rider who will sacrifice individual performance to work for a designated teammate. |
| DNF | Did Not Finish. When a rider fails to complete the designated course. |
| Drafting | Riding closely behind another rider to save energy by using the front rider 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. |
| Field | The main group of riders. Also known as the "pack", "bunch", or"peloton." |
| Field Sprint | A sprint to the finish amongst 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." |
| Gear Cassette | The set of sprockets that are located on the drive wheel. There are generally 7-8 gear sprockets per cassette. May also be called a "gear cluster." |
| Gear Inch | The amount of distance that a wheel rotates forward for a single full revolution of the crank. |
| Granny Gear | The third (or forth) and smallest chain ring on a Handcycle, combined with the biggest sprocket on the drive wheel. This is the lowest gear, used for steep climbs. Also called a "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 a pack of riders. |
| Head Tube Steering(Pivot Steering) | This steering system is used on Handcycles that steer via moving the crank side to side. The steerer tube is usually located between the legs of the rider. This form of steering can be less stable at high speeds than lean type steering. |
| Headwind | An unfortunate part of cycling. When there is a noticeable wind coming from the direction that you are going. Causes more air resistance. Usually slows your speed. Can make you stronger or break you. |
| 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. |
| IHPVA | International Human Powered Vehicle Association. The governing body that monitors official speed records for human powered vehicles such as Handcycles. |
| IMBA | International Mountain Bicycle Association, the Colorado-based advocacy organization that monitors and mediates trail access issues. |
| Internal Hub | An enclosed gear system within the drive wheel hub that would replace a gear cassette. |
| Jump | A quick acceleration usually developing into a sprint. May also be used to disrupt the rhythm of the pace line or breakaway. |
| Kick | A final burst of speed which provides acceleration for the sprint. |
| Lead-out: | An international 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 lead-out rider at even a faster speed for a finishing sprint. |
| Lean Steering | To Steer a Handcycle with lean steering, the rider leans side to side. The steering system usually uses two pivot points that determine the frame steering geometry of the Handcycle. Lean steering is currently available on three wheel Handcycle. |
| Mass Start | Any race in which all the racers start at the same time. |
| Mechanical | Slang for a mechanical problem or failure with the handcycle. |
| Metric Century | A bike ride or tour that is 100 kilometers or 62 miles. |
| NORBA | National Off-Road Bicycle Association. The licensing body responsible for mountain bike and downhill racing in the United States. It functions under the umbrella of USA Cycling. |
| Paceline | A string of riders that move at high speed by each individual taking turns setting the pace, and riding in the draft of the others the rest of the time. |
| Pretzel or Taco | To wreck a wheel. May also be called "potato chipping the wheel." |
| Peloton | The main group of riders within a race. |
| Pinch Flat | Most common type of flat tire. Caused by hitting an obstacle so hard that the inner tube is pinched against the rim. Resulting in a double puncture that resembles two fang holes. Also called a "pinch flat." |
| Pivot Steering | This steering system is used on Handcycles that steer via moving the crank side to side. The steerer tube is usually located between the legs of the rider. This form of steering can be less stable at high speeds than lean type steering. |
| Pull | To take a turn at the front of a group, maintaining the same speed of the group. |
| RAAM | The Race Across America. It is an annual event that goes from the west coast to the east coast as fast as one can ride. The Cycling Record is just a little over 8 days. Yeah that is fast. |
| Race of Truth | A Time Trial. |
| Rainbow Jersey | The coveted rainbow-stripped jersey awarded to the world champion in each of cycling's disciplines. |
| Road Rash | The remains of your body after a crash. Usually resembling meatloaf. |
| Single-track | A path or trail wide enough for only one rider at a time. |
| 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 inner tube is pinched against the rim. Resulting in a double puncture that resembles two fang holes. Also called a "pinch flat." |
| Suspension | A system designed to absorb shock on a Handcycle. |
| Switchback | A tight, zigzag turn on the face of a mountain. |
| Tailwind | A gift from God. When there is a noticeable wind at your back. It assist your speed. |
| 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, finesse. |
| Time Trail | 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. Also called the "Race of Truth". |
| UltraCycling | Marathon Cycling. Can be a Double, Triple, or Quad Century up to the RAAM. |
| UMCA | The Ultra Marath on Cycling Association. The governing body over the sport of Marathon Cycling Events. |
| 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 activities of USCF, NORBA, 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. |
| USHF | U.S. Hand Cycling Federation. The official governing body that is responsible for amateur handcycling rules and racing in America; it functions under the parent governing group of Wheelchair Sports USA. |
| 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. |
| Wheelchair Sports USA | The former NWAA-National Wheelchair Athletic Association. The parent governing body of the USHF. They also govern other sports such as Track & Field, Swimming, Archery. |
| Wheelsucker | A rider who only drafts and will not take his share of pulls in a pace line. |
| Wind-out | A sprint that develops from a gradual acceleration. Usually initiated with more that a lap to go. |
