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Jargon Buster

A list of some of the jargon used in the cycle world and what it means to help you understand what it is you need.

 

  • 360 Degree Gyro- A mechanism that lets the handlebars on a BMX turn a full 360 degrees – great for certain stunts.
  • Alloy Frame - Made from lightweight aluminium, more common in road and racing bikes, which need to be more aerodynamic and lightweight.
  • Calliper Brakes - Found on all types of bike.
  • Dial style - A mechanism for tightening and loosening your cycle helmet.
  • Disc Brakes - More common on mountain bikes as they last longer and perform better in all kinds of weather.
  • Dual Suspension - Suspension over both wheels, meaning they have more contact with the ground for a smoother, more responsive ride.
  • EN1078 - The European safety standard for cycle helmets, specifying the requirements and test methods for bicycle helmets.
  • Front Suspension - Suspension forks cushioning the front wheel only.
  • Gears - Different sized sprockets that your chain latches onto – the more gears (and sprockets) your bike has, the easier it is to pedal up hills.
  • Halogen Lights - Bike lights with bulbs containing halogen gas, producing up to 150% more light than normal vacuum bulbs.
  • Inside leg - The distance from the floor to the top of the inside of your leg.
  • Krypton Lights - Bike lights with bulbs containing krypton gas, which produce 50% more light than normal vacuum bulbs
  • LED Lights - Lights containing light emitting diodes. These don’t have filaments and never need replacing. They use a lot less power than normal bulbs and are much smaller.
  • Lever Mechanism - Lets you change gears by flicking a lever mounted on your bike’s handlebars or fixed to the frame.
  • Steel Frame - Stronger but heavier than alloy frames, found on more robust bikes (e.g. mountain bikes and BMXs).
  • Stunt Pegs - Pegs that stick out a short distance from both sides of one or both wheels on BMX bikes, for riders to jump onto or grind on when they’re doing tricks.
  • Twist Mechanism - Lets you change gears by twisting a dial on the handlebars.
  • V-Brakes - Pivots for the brake arms are mounted to the frame on the bike, making a V shape.