Dictionary

abandon: Quitting a race.

aero bar: A handlebar, or sometimes a handlebar attachment, that allows riders to lower their upper body position, sacrificing some bicycle control for speed.

allrounder: A cyclist who is strong in both climbing and time trials, as well as other categories.

arrivee: French term meaning "finish line."

attack: A sudden increase of speed to overtake a rider or riders.

baroudeur: A cyclist who rides at high speeds in time trails. Also called a rouleur.

bead: A hoop of steel or Kevlar forming one edge of a bicycle tire.

bidon: French for "water bottle."

block: Disrupting a race chase by slowing the paceline.

bonification: Time bonuses of five to 10 seconds awarded to cyclists in time trail races.

bunny-hop: Jumping obstacles with a bicycle.

cadence: How fast pedals turn, measured in RPM (revolutions per minute).

carbon: A light but strong material used to make bicycle frame tubing.

cassette: A grouping of sprockets and spacers attached to the rear wheel.

chainring: Sprockets mounted on the crank (the area on which the pedals are mounted).

chainsuck: Occurs when the chain jams between the rear wheel and the frame tubes that attach to the rear wheel.

Champs-Elysées: A broad, cobbled avenue in Paris, and the traditional final leg of the Tour de France.

cleat:A shoe attachment that helps the foot cling to the pedal.

cog: A rear sprocket.

col: French term for "mountain pass."

contre-la-montre: Against the clock; a time trail race.

coureur le plus combatif: The most aggressive rider, one who attacks the most. Recognized by a red number.

cross-country: An off-road bicycle race. Also a bicycle designed for off-road riding.

crosswind: A wind that hits cyclists from the side.

cyclocross: Off-road racing on light, thin tire bicycles. A precursor to mountain biking.

danseuse, a la danseuse: French for "dancing." Describes pedaling while standing. Sometimes used to provide a change in position, more often occurs because a rider's saddle is too low.

derailleur: The mechanical system that moves a multi-speed bicycle chain from one sprocket to another as gears are changed.

disk wheel: A wheel with solid sides. Although heavier than spoked wheels, disk wheels are more aerodynamic, so are often used in racing.

domestique: French term for "domestic servant." A domestique is a member of a cycling team who is in the race not to win, but to help the team leader. He or she may carry extra water bottles, give up their own bicycle if the leader has mechanical problems, or prevent other cyclists from passing the leader.

doping: The use of performance-enhancing substances in bicycle racing.

draft: To ride in the area of low wind resistance behind another rider. Drafting makes it easier to maintain speed, as the cyclist is not working against as much wind resistance.

drift: Occurs when the bicycle slips sideways as the cyclist goes forward. Drifting is common when turns are taken too hard.

drops: Term used to describe the lower, straight portion of a turned-down handlebar.

echapée: French term for "breakaway," when one cyclists pulls away from the rest of the group.

echelon: A staggered formation used by riders when hit by a crosswind, formed for shelter from the wind.

endo: A front flip over the handlebars, short for end-over-end.