Cycling Jargon

 

Commonly used words in the cycling fraternity.

Attack - A sudden acceleration in an attempt to break free from a group of riders.

Bidon - Water bottle.

Block – Second last bunch to leave in a handicap.

Cadence - The speed at which the rider turns the pedals.

Combine – Race open to riders from participating clubs.

Commissaire - A race official with the authority to impose penalties on the riders for infractions of the rules.

Crack - When a rider runs out of strength or energy.

Creeping – Not riding to usual form.

Criterium (Crit)- A bike race around and around a short road course, often a city block.

Dropped - When a rider cannot keep up with a group.

Echelon - When the riders are hit with a side wind they must ride slightly to the right or left of the rider in front in order to remain in that rider's slipstream, instead of riding nose to tail in a straight line.

Kermesse - A lap road race much like a criterium but the course is longer, as long as 10 kilometers.

Limit – First bunch to leave in a handicap.

Open – Race open to riders from all over Australia.

On the rivet - Describes a rider who is riding at their maximum speed. When riding at their limit a cyclist often sits on the front tip of the seat where an old style leather saddle would have a rivet.

Peloton - The main group of riders traveling together in a race.

Scratch – Last bunch to leave in a handicap.

Time trial - A race in which either an individual or team rides over a specific distance against the clock.