Bicycles Glossary
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| Adjusting barrel | |
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Hollow bolt that allows for adjustment of cable tension. | |
| Aero bars | |
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Handlebars that allows riders to streamline their upper body position. They are more aerodynamic than traditional handlebars. | |
| Aerodynamic | |
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Bicycle part, riding position, or clothing designed to decrease air resistance. | |
| Anodized | |
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Process of coating metal with a protective film or paint. | |
| Back pedal brake | |
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Hub that includes a brake, allowing riders to stop the bike by pedaling backwards. Also called coaster brakes. | |
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| Balaclava | |
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Hood worn under a helmet that covers a rider's head and neck. | |
| Banana seat | |
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Long, banana-shaped seat used on lowrider bikes. | |
| BMX bike | |
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Bicycle Motocross: Single-speed bicycle popular among children and teenagers that usually have 20-inch wheels and a freewheel. | |
| Bottom bracket | |
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Part of a frame where the pedals revolve. | |
| Brakes | |
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System that slows down or stops a bike by creating friction. | |
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| Cadence | |
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Ability to pedal at a constant pace. | |
| Caliper brakes | |
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Braking system that moves the brakes toward the rim to create friction. | |
| Cantilever brakes | |
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Braking system that uses two separate arms on each side of the rim to create friction. | |
| Chain | |
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Series of metal links that grips onto sprockets to move a bike when a person pedals. | |
| Chain guard | |
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Cover placed over a bike chain to prevent clothing from getting caught in the chain or on the sprocket. | |
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| Cleat | |
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Wedge-shaped fitting at the bottom of a cycling shoe that engages the pedal. | |
| Clipless pedals | |
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Pedals that have the ability to lock cleats into place. | |
| Coaster brake | |
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Hub that includes a brake, allowing riders to stop the bike by pedaling backwards. Also called back pedal brakes. | |
| Comfort bike | |
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Bicycle with a short top tube and adjustable handlebars that allow a rider to sit in an upright position. It also has smooth, wide tires and uses the same wheel size, brakes, and gear equipment as a mountain bike. | |
| Cruiser | |
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Basic bicycle with a curved top tube. It's built for comfort, not performance. | |
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| Damper | |
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Device that dissipates energy from a spring and prevents a seat from bouncing constantly every time the bike hits a bump. | |
| Derailleur | |
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Device that moves the bike chain from one sprocket to another in order to change gears. | |
| Disc brakes | |
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Hub brake that uses a caliper to squeeze a disk and create friction. | |
| Double pivot | |
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Sidepull brakes with two linked arms | |
| Downshift | |
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Process of shifting to a lower gear. | |
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| Drive train | |
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Parts of a bicycle that work together to generate forward motion. | |
| Drop handlebars | |
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Handlebars that have a high midpoint. | |
| Drop out | |
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Bike design that allows a user to remove the rear wheel without removing the bike chain. | |
| Dual suspension | |
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Suspension for both wheels. | |
| Fender | |
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Covering for the upper part of the wheel that protects a rider from water spray and mud. | |
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| Fork | |
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Two blades that hold a wheel. | |
| Frame | |
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Bicycle skeleton consisting of tubes. | |
| Freewheel | |
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Wheel that spins freely in one direction and locks in the other. | |
| Front derailleur | |
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Derailleur that moves the top part of the chain between the three front sprockets. | |
| Gears | |
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Mechanism that allows a rider to change the distance a bike can travel with each pedal stroke. | |
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| Handlebars | |
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Bar with grips on either end. | |
| Hub | |
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Middle part of a wheel that attaches to spokes and can include a brake. | |
| Hybrid bike | |
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Cross between a mountain bike and road bike that offers superior performance to a comfort bike. | |
| Inseam | |
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Measurement from the inside of the upper leg to the ankle. | |
| Lowrider | |
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Bicycle with high handlebars and a banana seat. | |
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| Mountain bike | |
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Bicycle designed for off-road use. It has treaded tires that can be more than 1.75 inches wide, and can have up to 27 speeds, toe clips, and a dense foam seat. | |
| Rear derailleur | |
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Derailleur that switches gears and keeps tension in the chain. | |
| Recumbent bike | |
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Bicycle featuring a chair-like seat that sits low to the ground. | |
| Rim | |
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Outer metal hoop of a wheel. | |
| Road racing bike | |
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Bicycle with a lightweight frame designed for use on paved roads. Riders usually sit at an incline, crouched toward the handlebars in a streamlined position. | |
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| Shifter | |
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Switch that allows a rider to adjust gears to increase or decrease cadence. | |
| Sidepull | |
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Caliper brake with a cable running along the side. | |
| Spokes | |
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Small bars inserted into the hub of a wheel to support the rim. | |
| Spring | |
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Coil that allows mountain bike suspension to move up when the bike hits a bump. | |
| Sprocket | |
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Cog that grips a chain. | |
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| Suspension | |
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System that helps a bicycle and rider absorb shock. It allows a wheel to move up and down while the tire maintains contact with the ground. | |
| Tandem bike | |
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Bicycle with front-to-back seats and pedals for two or more riders. | |
| Top tube | |
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Tube that makes up the top of the bike frame. | |
| Tricycle | |
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Three-wheel bicycle geared toward young children. | |
| Unicycle | |
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One-wheel bicycle. | |
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| Upshift | |
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Shift to a higher gear. | |
| Wheels | |
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Hub, rim, spokes, and tires. | |
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