A-Z of Cycling

Cycling has its own language, and if you're new to the sport—or even a seasoned rider—you might feel like you need a translator just to keep up. Fear not! Our A-Z of cycling is here to decode the jargon. This guide covers everything from the dreaded bonk to the coveted polka dot jersey.

Attack – When a single rider or group of riders attempt to break away from the main group (peloton). Also referred to as a breakaway.

Aero Bike - A road bike that's designed to create minimal wind resistance. Aero bikes are characterised by deep section wheels, lo-profile components and frames sculpted to carve the air with the minium possible aerodynamic drag.

Bidon - The french word for cycling water bottles.

Bonk – To bonk is to completely deplete your body’s glycogen stores to the extent that you hit the dreaded 'wall'. Your body literally runs out of all the available fuel sources required to provide energy, making even the effort of simply turning the pedals a seemingly herculean task. Keep cramming those carbs!

Chainring Tattoo – Ever bumped your bare leg or socks against the chain and been left with a perfect imprint of said chain on your person/clothing. Yep, that’s a chainring tattoo, which can easily be removed with a degreaser or detergent.

Chamois - AKA the trusty chammy. The pad found in cycling shorts, biknickers and some bibtights. Originally crafted from leather, but modern synthetic variants prove far more comfort for your delicate bits.

Chapeau - The French word for 'hat's off' - a mark of respect for someone who has done something suitably epic on a bike. Whether that's riding to victory or just having the mettle to complete a brutal race.

Dropped – When you are the unfortunate recipient of your cycling companion’s mammoth watt-bombs and are left far, far behind.

E-Bike - Any bike that features an electric motor to provide pedal assistance. Can be broken down into two groups, the pedelec which requires rider pedal input at all times and the twist and go variant. The former is road legal while the latter is most definitely not. E-bikes are becoming an increasingly popular sight on roads and trails, allowign new and established cyclists to transform their regular rides or venture further beyond the paved and predictable.

Fixie - A fixed gear bicycle, with only one gear and no freewheel. Stop turning the cranks and the rear wheel locks, acting as a rear brake. Beloved by cycle commuters and seasoned riders who value the fixies low maintenance requirements.

Flat – Possibly one of the most deflating experiences on a bike (sorry, not sorry). A flat describes a punctured tyre/tube. Typically cyclists will carry one or more spare tubes in a jersey pocket or saddle pack to replace a punctured tube rather than repairing it at the roadside.

Above Image: The Ribble Ultra SL R. Designed to be the fastest aerobike on the planet with a rider aboard.

Granny Gear – If grandma rode a bike, this would be the gear she’d ride in…probably. It describes the easiest gear available, namely the largest sprocket on the cassette and the smallest chainring at the front.

Gravel Bike - Similar to a normal drop bar road bike, yet sporting more tyre clearance, flared handlebars and a geometry that offers more stability for off-road riding.

Half wheel – To overlap your front wheel with the rear wheel of the rider in front. Not only is this dangerous but is also liable to provoke the ire of the person you are half-wheeling. Someone who does this can also be referred to as a wheelsucker because they really suck!

Hammer - To drop the hammer is to give it everything you have in the hardest gear possible (big chainring and smallest sprocket). Normally performed by someone looking to irk you just when you've settled to the current pace.

Jersey – A cycling jersey is made of stretchy, sweat-wicking material and features rear pockets for stashing essentials. Special jerseys are awarded in races, with the Tour de France boasting four iconic examples: the yellow jersey (overall leader), polka dot jersey (best climber), green jersey (top sprinter), and white jersey (best young rider).

KOM/QOM – Acronym for ‘King or Queen of the Mountain’. Originally coined for the rider who won the TDF’s polka dot climbers jersey but is now the primary obsession of many a rider who wants to be crowned the fastest of any Strava segment. Regardless of whether it’s a climb or not!

Lid – Your cycling helmet. Love them or loathe them, their benefits are undeniable. Never leave home without one. Not only could this potentially save your life during an accident, but they also prevent nasty road rash (see road rash below) in the event of a minor crash.

Above Image: Riders sporting the ubiquitous lid, because why wouldn't you?

Mountain Bike - A bike designed to be ridden on errr….mountains! MTBs come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, with clever gadgets like suspension to absorb the bumps and big 29” wheels to roll over almost anything daring to bar your way. Suspension at the front only makes it a hardtail, while a ‘full susser’ boasts it at both the front and rear. Truly rad!

Off the Back - A polite way of saying you’ve been dropped by the group. Often accompanied by heavy breathing, despair, and a determination to blame your bike setup next time.

**Pannier **– An item of luggage that is attached to your bike and carries cargo. Most typically clipped onto a pannier rack that is bolted to the bike. Used by commuters and touring cyclists.

Q-Factor – It may sound like something from Star Trek but is rather boringly used to describe the width of a pair of cranks, measured at the pedal eyes. Some riders, particularly the vertically challenged (sorry) may favour a shorter Q-Factor. May also be used to emphasise the distance between the outboard end of the pedal thread and the centre of the pedal axle.

Roadie - A die-hard road cyclist. Often seen doing what they love most come rain, shine or veritable hurricane!

Road Rash – The scrapes and abrasions suffered during a crash. It is commonly believed, rightly or wrongly, that hairy legs exacerbate the effects of road rash hence most cyclists favouring shaved legs. That and the fact that it's more 'aero' to not have drag-inducing leg hair!

Saddle Sores – Chafing that occurs due to saddle friction. Though a chamois does an admirable job, it can only do so much. Hours in the saddle, bumpy rides or moisture from sudden downpours can lead to painful sores in your sensitive areas – a true pain in the……! Bum butter or chamois cream applied to the nethers is the best way to avoid such sores.

Thru Axle - The modern method of securing your wheels in the bike. A thru axle screws into the frame dropouts, eliminating the possibility of wheel misalignment and providing a stiffer connection between the wheels and frame. This system is better able to withstand the unique braking forces of modern disc brakes.

Above Image: Sorry, we couldn't locate any graphic images depicting road rash or saddle sores, so you'll just have to make do with this rather delicious looking MTB instead.

Time Trial (TT) – A race against the clock. Time triallists are always searching for the aero advantage, so expect to see them decked out in one-piece skinsuits, helmets akin to something seen in Space Balls the movie (Google it, you'll see what we mean) and riding aerodynamic bikes.

Turbo - No, not a nickname you give yourself due to your outrageous speed. A 'turbo' is a type of indoor trainer that effectively turns your bike into a static exercise bike. The earliest turbos saw the bike clamped into a folding A-frame, with the rear wheel resting on a resistance unit. However, modern technology has advanced to the stage where you can now take part in virtual racing against cyclists from around the world. A far cry from the early days of switching on the tv and training whilst watching your favourite tv shows.

Up, Up, Up! - The rallying cry of supporters everywhere, shouted on steep ascents to motivate fellow riders. Usually met with grunts, eye-rolls, or muttered curses from the group.

VAM – Vertical Ascent in Metres – a metric used to gauge how quickly a rider ascends. Usually measured in metres per hour.

Watt – A unit of measurement for power or the rate at which energy is transferred over time. The more power generated through the pedals, the greater the wattage. In cycling, it’s more common to use a watts per kilogram (watts/kg) measurement, which takes into account a rider’s power per weight ratio or lack thereof!

X-Ray Vision - The uncanny ability of seasoned riders to spot potholes, stray dogs, or inattentive drivers from a mile away.

Yo-Yoing - The act of constantly losing and regaining contact with the group on climbs or descents, e.g he is yo-yoing off the back of the bunch. A great way to get extra intervals in..... apparently. 👀

Z – Zone 2 - The mythical training zone where you’re supposedly riding easy enough to chat but hard enough to make progress. Often misinterpreted as “Zone 3 but lying about it.”

Don’t let baffling cycle lingo distract you from your cycling journey. Whether you’re a local legend or an enthusiastic commuter looking to keep fit and reduce your carbon footprint, our guide should help you navigate the intricacies of cycling life.

If you love the idea of packing your bike with all your gear, enjoying open-air camping, and embarking on cross-country bikepacking adventures, then you’ll definitely want to take a look at our bikepacking essentials checklist!.

In the market for a road bike but aren't sure which to buy? Our road bike buying guide walks you through the key differences, helping you determine which best suits your cycling needs.