| Word |
Description |
| Aero Bars |
Handlebar or handlebar attachments that allow the rider to get into a lower more aero position. |
| Alloy |
Alloy is a metal that is a blend of more than one kind of metal material. Commonly used as a synonym for Aluminum. |
| ATB |
All Terrain Bicycle - aka Mountain Bike. |
| Bar Ends |
Short extensions which mount on the end of mountain bike handlebars to provide additional positioning for hands. |
| Barrel Adjuster |
Or adjusting barrel – this is a hollow bolt that gear or brake cables run through. These bolts can be turned to adjust the amount of tension on the cable for fine tuning. |
| Bead |
The bead is the edge of the tire that is held in place by the rim. The bead can be made of wire, or Kevlar. |
| Bottom Bracket |
The section of the frame where the pedal cranks are located - area that houses the bearing and axle assembly - see bike anatomy section. |
| Brake Caliper |
Caliper brakes consist of a single assembly that moves the brake shoes toward the rim. These are the brakes found on most road bikes. Mountain bikes can have cantilever brakes or hydraulic brakes. |
| Brake Shoe |
A metallic structure that holds the rubber (or other compound) brake pad in place. Brake shoes are connected to the brake caliper, a hollow bolt that gear or brake cables run through. These bolts can be turned to adjust the amount of tension on the cable for fine tuning. |
| Carbon Fiber |
A material used for building bicycle frames and parts. Carbon fibers are strands of carbon that are placed on a sheet and held in place by a resin. Several sheets are layered to form a laminate, which is then placed into a mold. The mold is subjected to heat and pressure in order to compress the layers of carbon together. |
| Cassette |
The group of cogs, also known as a cluster, that make up the gear range on the rear wheel of the bike. |
| Chainring |
The chainrings are attached to the cranks in the middle of the bike. Most chainsets contain two or three chainrings. The front derailleur moves the chain between chainrings during shifting. |
| Clincher |
A type of tire and rim. Clincher rims ‘hook’ clincher tires in order to hold them in place. |
| Clipless Pedals |
A type of pedal system that is similar to a ski binding. A cleat on the bottom of the shoe locks into place on the pedal. |
| CO2 Cartridge |
A high pressure canister that contains carbon dioxide gas. Used for inflating tires. |
| Cog |
A single gear in the cogset, or cassette on the rear wheel. The rear derailleur moves the chain between cogs during shifting.
|
| Comfort Bike |
A hybrid-style bike that normally has a slightly wider saddle and a more upright ride position. Ideal for casual riders who are not looking for a high performance road or mountain bike. |
| Cranks |
Pedals are attached to crank arms. Cranks are what turn during the pedal action to make the bike go. |
| Degreaser |
A chemical used to remove dirt and grease from chains and drivetrains. |
| Derailleur |
Also referred to as ‘mech’, the derailleur is the mechanism that moves the chain from one chainring/cog to another when shifting. |
| Disengage |
Disengaging, in the case of bikes, means moving the part away, or releasing. |
| Disk Brakes |
A brake system that consists of a brake rotor that is mounted onto the hub of the wheel, and a caliper that is fixed on the frame or fork of the bike. The rotor fits in between the caliper and the pads compress against the rotor when the brake is activated. |
| Double |
A crank set having two chainrings. |
| Draft/Drafting |
A ride position whereby one rider rides directly behind a rider in front in order to gain an aerodynamic advantage. The rider behind expends around 30% less energy than the rider in front. Drafting is illegal in many triathlons. |
| Drive Train |
The transmission of the bike that consists of the chain, chainrings, cranks, bottom bracket, front and rear derailleurs, cassette, and rear hub. |
| Drop outs |
Located at the ends of the fork blades, and in the rear of the bike. Drop outs are where the wheels connect to the frame and fork. |
| Drops |
The lower part of a road handlebar below the brake levers. |
| Headset |
The bearing assembly that connects the front fork to the frame and allows the fork to rotate - see section bike anatomy. |
| Hub |
The center of the wheel that contains the axle. Spokes run from the hub to the rim. |
| Hybrid Bike |
A bike that retains some properties of road bikes, such as narrower tires, and some properties of mountain bikes, such as flat handle bars and cantilever brakes.
|
| Jockey Wheel |
The jockey wheel is the upper pulley on the rear derailleur. There are two pulleys on the derailleur, the jockey wheel, and the lower pulley. |
| Limit Screw |
Limit screws are located on both derailleurs and control how high or low the derailleur body moves. Limit screws that are not properly adjusted can cause shifting problems,and can cause the chain to drop. |
| Mountain Bike |
A bike used for riding off road. |
| Non-drive Side |
The side of the bike that does not have the drivetrain on it. If you are sitting on the bike, the non-drive side is the left side of the bike. |
| OCLV |
Optimum Compaction, Low Void. This is the name of the process that Trek uses to make carbon fiber bikes and components. |
| Pinch Flat |
A type of flat that results from the tube being pinched between the tire and the rim. Pinch flats are commonly referred to as ‘snake bites’ because of the 2 small holes that are seen on the tube. |
| Quick Release Skewer |
The retention system that is used to hold wheels on the bike, and in some cases, seatposts in the seat tube. |
| Rim |
The outer hoop of the wheel that holds the tire. Spokes connect the rim to the hub. |
| Road Bike |
A bike used for riding on paved surfaces. |
| S.W.A.G. |
Goodies or freebies that are given away. If you get some, then you can say cool things like “I scored some swag from the Trek WSD demo!” |
| Sprocket |
An individual gear in the cassette, or an individual chain ring. Also referred to as cog. |
| Stem |
The stem connects the handlebars to the fork, see section bike antomony. |
| Toe Straps |
Clips and straps were the original way to afix the foot to the pedal. There is a cage on the pedal that positions the foot, and a strap with a clip that runs over the top of the foot to hold it firmly in place. This system was a precursor to the more modern binding type pedal, hence the name ‘clipless’ for the newer style. |
| Triathlete |
A multi-sport athlete who competes in events that typically involve swimming, cycling, and running. |
| Triple |
A crank set having three chainrings. |
| Tubeless |
A tire system that does not require an inner tube for air pressure. |
| Wheel |
The combination of the hub, spokes, and rim. Wheels can also include tubes and tires. |
| Wicking |
A fabric action that moves moisture away from the skin to the outer layer of the garment. |
| WSD |
Women's Specific Design |
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