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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