Glossary
New to the sport, or just want to double-check what someone means by "bonking on a KOM"? Here's a plain-English glossary of the terms you'll see across CyclingSingles.co profiles, chats and rides.
The main pack of riders in a group ride or race, riding close together to save energy.
Riding closely behind another cyclist to shelter from the wind and use less energy.
Hitting a wall of sudden exhaustion mid-ride when your body runs out of stored energy (glycogen).
A rider or small group that rides ahead of the main pack, trying to gain a lead.
A diagonal riding formation used in crosswinds so each rider gets shelter from the one ahead.
A mass-participation, non-competitive long-distance ride, usually on closed or marshalled roads.
Italian for "big ride" — a long-distance timed cycling event, often used interchangeably with sportive.
A fast-paced race held on a short closed-loop circuit, usually in an urban setting.
A ride covering 100 miles (or, informally, 100 km) in a single outing.
Long-distance, unsupported endurance rides completed within a time limit — typically not a race against other riders.
Multi-day, self-supported cycling trips that combine touring with camping gear carried on the bike.
A narrow off-road trail, wide enough for one rider, common in mountain biking.
The collective name for a bike's gears, brakes, chain, cranks and derailleurs from one manufacturer.
The cluster of gear sprockets mounted on a bike's rear wheel.
The mechanism that moves the chain between gears at the front or rear of the bike.
A cyclist's water bottle, usually carried in a frame-mounted cage.
The padded insert in cycling shorts that cushions and reduces friction on longer rides.
Pedals that lock onto special cleats on cycling shoes — despite the confusing name, there's no toe clip.
Cycling shorts with built-in shoulder straps instead of a waistband, for a more secure, comfortable fit.
A bike built for a mix of paved roads and unpaved tracks — wider tyres than a road bike, drop bars like one.
How fast you're pedalling, measured in revolutions per minute (RPM).
The highest average power, in watts, a rider can sustain for about an hour — a key fitness benchmark.
A defined stretch of road or trail on the Strava app where riders' times are automatically compared.
King or Queen of the Mountain — the fastest recorded time on a given climb or segment, often tracked on Strava.
A stationary device that a bike attaches to, turning it into an indoor exercise bike.
A popular indoor training app that lets cyclists ride and race together virtually on a smart trainer.
Informal term for a road cyclist, or someone whose main riding discipline is road cycling.
A tongue-in-cheek rule of thumb that the correct number of bikes to own is always one more than you currently have.
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