Alloy
a mixture of a pure metal such as iron and a small amount of another metal or metals, all
metals are alloys. Alloy is sometimes used when describing aluminium.
Aluminum
a lightweight, tarnish-resistant material, which some frames and components are made from;
aluminium will oxidize just like steel, if it is unprotected or has poor surface
finish. It will also fail without warning unlike steel which will bend and/or crack before
failing.
ASS (Above-Seat Steering)
handlebars are located above the seat, knees or bike frame, generally in front of the
rider; also may be referred to as OSS (Over-Seat Steering).
Barends
handlebar extensions which are fastened to the end of a handlebar to provide more hand
positions, often found on mountain bikes, and USS-styled recumbents (may also be confused
with barend shifters, like the old Suntour Barcons).
Bottom bracket
the pedal axle and bearings, usually contained inside a piece of frame tubing on a bike
(on a diamond-frame bike, usually at the junction of the down tube, seat tube and
chainstays; on a SWB recumbent, often found at the end of a boom)
Brazing
a method of fastening bike frame tubing during construction, much like soldering, but at
1982°C, by flowing molten brass (or bronze, silver or nickel alloy) into the joints where
the tubing meets. When the brass cools, it forms very solid joints, which are then filed
to a smooth finish and may then be ready for painting.
Calipers
the arms on the brakes, which press the brake pads against the wheel rim to provide
stopping power
Cantilever brakes
a type of brake with the cables pulling directly on each caliper, generally found on
mountain bikes, quite popular on recumbents
Carbon fibre
a high-tech, extremely strong composite material, similar to fibre glass, except that the
fabric is made up of strands of carbon as opposed to glass; may be used for high-end bike
frames, hard shell fairings, aero wheels, seats and suspension leaf springs
C.G.
centre of gravity
Century
a ride of 100 miles (a metric century is a ride of 100 kilometres)
Chain idler
a modified skateboard wheel, derailleur pulley or other wheel that takes up chain slack,
generally on recumbent-styled bikes
Chainring
the large toothed wheels, attached to the cranks (pedal arms), turned by the pedals,
to move the chain
Chainstay
the horizontal tubes which run from the seat tube to the rear axle, named so because they
run parallel and close to the chain on most bikes
Clincher
rubber tire with a steel or kevlar bead around both edges, this bead fits under the hooked edges of a clincher rim and holds the tire on the rim
Compact
CLWB or MWB recumbent bike
Components
the parts attached to the bicycle frame, especially those necessary for the bicycle's
operation
Computer
an electronic device used to measure the bike's speed, distance, cadance, time, cyclist's
heart rate, etc.
Coroplast
a plastic material, similar in design as corrugated cardboard, which is often used to
build homemade fairings
CLWB
Compact Long Wheelbase (47"-60")
Cog
the gears on the rear freewheel
Cranks
the arms that connect the pedals to the chainrings
Crankset
the unit that comprises 1 or more chainrings, cranks and possibly, pedals
CroMo
Chromoly steel, short form for chromium molyebdneum a common frame/component material,
lighter than mild steel; also known as 4130 steel
Delta
a trike design, with two wheels in the rear
Derailleur
front and rear devices that shift the chain between chainrings and cogs, to provide a
different gear ratio, generally controlled with cables and shifters on or near the
handlebar
Drop
ride faster, ahead of other riders, pulling ahead; the act of outpacing a fellow rider.
Dropouts
metal lugs that accommodate the front and rear wheels
Fork
the front part (usually!) of the bike frame that fits into the head tube and holds the
front wheel; usually attached directly or indirectly to the stem/handlebar, for steering
Frame
the skeleton of the bicycle, consisting of the often steel, chromoly, aluminum or carbon
fibre tubing, but not the components or wheels
Freewheel
the set of 5-9 cogs (toothed rings), usually on the rear wheel hub, which the
chain engages to provide fairly close gearing
FWD
Front Wheel Drive
Gear inches
the formula used to calculate the range of gears - front chainring (# of teeth) divided by
rear cog (# of teeth) multiplied by drive wheel diameter (in inches)
(ie. (42/28)*26 = 39")
GripShift
a line of twisting shifters, mounted on the handlebar, next to the grip; manufactured by
SRAM Corporation
Headset
the ball bearings inside the head tube, contained in a raceway, which allow for steering
Head tube
the short tube, often on the front of the bike, which holds the stem and forks
HiTen Steel
high tension or mild steel
HPV
Human-Powered Vehicle
Hub
central part of the wheel, which contains the axle and bearings (inside raceways), to
which the spokes are attached
Indirect or Linkage Steering
underseat steering using a rod linkage which connects the fork and the handlebar
Kevlar
a strong, bulletproof composite material, often fabric-like, used in tires and clothing
for durability
Lactic Acid
a chemical created by the body when one performs work aerobically or anaerobically.
Anaerobic activity may produce enough of this chemical to cause muscle cramping, which can
be alleviated by massage toward the heart
Linear pull brake
a new style of cantilever brake with long arms which form (sorta) a 'V' shape; considered
stronger than regular cantilever brakes, recommended for recumbents; V-brake is the
Shimano TM for their model of this style
LWB
Long Wheelbase (60"-71" or more); the crankset is generally lower than the seat,
and located behind the front wheel
Lowracer
a recumbent, built as low as possible, intended for racing; wheelbase may range from SWB
to shorter range of LWB
Lug
hollow pieces of metal which join tubes together
Mid-drive
a mid-ship mounted, 2-chain drive freewheel, shifted by a rear derailleur; often used to
avoid extremely long (& slack) chainlines. Also refered to as intermediate drive.
Mild steel
is heavier and less expensive than chromoly; also known as 1010 or 1024
steel.
MTB
mountain bike
MWB
the same as CLWB, previously the term used to describe Short Wheelbase recumbents;
sometimes describes SWB bikes. Lightnings have a wheel base of 45" which makes them
MWB bikes.
OSS (Over-Seat Steering)
handlebars are located above the seat, knees or bike frame, generally in front of the
rider; also may be referred to as ASS (Above-Seat Steering).
Panniers
bags, often hung of a rack on a bike, which are used for carrying items on a bicycle
Pedal Steer
a situation where exerting force on the pedals directly affects the steering, making it
difficult to keep the bike moving straight. This is often a problem on really short
wheelbased bikes, or those with a low head tube angle
Presta valve
smaller diameter tube valve, with locknut, instead of return spring, more common on high
performance bikes
Rollers
trainer, usually with 3 rollers, that a bike is placed upon and then ridden as if outdoors. Unlike other trainers it simulates actually road riding.
RWS
Rear Wheel Steering
Schrader valve
larger diameter tube valve, with spring mechanism, same as automobile tires
Spin
pedalling with fluidity, often at a high cadence, ie. >80 rpm
SWB
Short Wheelbase (33"-47"); the crankset is often higher than the bottom of the
seat, and ahead of the front wheel
Toe clips
metal cages and straps, attached to pedals, which allow the rider's shoe to be secured to
the pedal, for efficient pedalling
TIG welding
Tugsten Inert Gas, a no-lug welding process, often used to build mtb frames
True wheel
a wheel which appears motionless when viewed face-on while rotating on its axle
Sachs 3x7
an internally geared hub with 3 speeds, and a 7 speed freewheel, providing 21 speeds, with
no need for a front derailleur; manufactured by Sachs
Steering rod
a steel rod which connects the fork and handlebar
Tadpole
a trike configuration, with 2 wheels in the front
USS (Under Seat Steering)
handlebars are located below seat, often with bends or barends to allow for easier reach;
allows the rider to ride with arms relaxed, at his/her sides; considered less aerodynamic
than ASS
Wheelbase
the distance between the centre of the front and rear hubs
Wind drag
the force which results from a body moving through air
X-seam
a common measurement used to fit recumbent bikes; sit on the floor, with your back flat
against a wall, and have someone measure from the wall to the bottom of your feet; this is
the distance from the back of the seat to the pedals when fully extended
ZZipper
Zzip Design's lexan fairings, available for many different bike models
