This needs some editing, but has been posted for the purposes of accompanying my podcast episode:
Triathlon Jargon
A
A race
Your biggest, most important event. You can generally have up to two of these a year
“I have IRONMAN Nice as my A race this year”
Aero
See aerodynamic
“I’m trying to get as aero as possible”
Aerobic
Riding which uses oxygen as the primary fuel source, this is the majority of triathlon training, but tends to refer to easier efforts
“Today we’re staying aerobic at all times after yesterday’s ride”
Aerodynamic
The reduction of air resistance by lowering the rider’s profile and reducing drag by using components which are shaped like an aero foil. Improving aerodynamics is paramount to triathlon success.
“These wheels will have a huge impact on your aerodynamics”
Aero bars
Two bars which protrude from the front of the bike which your arms rest on. This places you in a more aerodynamic position by rolling the shoulders and extending the body forwards.
“I spent most of the ride on the aero bars”
Aid station
A table setup on course with a variety of food and drink, as well as services such as first aid and a mechanic
Anaerobic
Riding where the primary fuel source is that created without oxygen by your own body. Doing so creates a large oxygen debt which exhausts you, and riders can only spend a matter of seconds in this zone before slowing dramatically.
“My strong anaerobic system lends me to sprinting”
Attack
To surge suddenly off the front of the group in an attempt to leave others behind
“The attacks keep on coming, but the group keeps reeling them in”
Aquabike
An event that consists of a swim followed by a bike ride
“As I’ve picked up an injury, I’m going to switch to the aquabike.
Aquathlon
An event comprising of a swim followed by a run
“I’m focusing on aquathlon this year as I want to go to the worlds”
B
B race
A less important event which you include as preparation for your A race
“I like to throw in a few B races in the run up to an IRONMAN”
Back
See backstroke
Backstroke
A swim stroke performed on your back, where swimmers look up at the ceiling with an alternating arm action. Banned in most triathlons.
Bars
Often referred to simply as “the bars”, this normally refers to aero bars, but can also refer to the handlebars of a road bike.
“I’m getting better at cornering on the bars”
Base bar
This replaces handlebars on a triathlon/TT bike. Normally made out of carbon fibre and optimised for aerodynamics, at each end it has a brake lever.
“I’m upgrading my base bar to something lighter”
Base fitness
Fitness that an athlete has developed from non triathlon training such as rowing, walking, team sport or the gym
“I’m new to tri, but coming in with a strong level of base fitness”
Base training
A period of lower intensity training that lasts until around three months out from your race
“I’m starting my base training next week”
Bearings
Small metal or ceramic balls which reduce friction between moving parts, need to be replaced over time. They can be found in your bottom bracket, pedals, headset and hubs.
“I think my bearings are on the way out, my steering is a bit off”
Bidon
A bottle, normally filled with water or sports drink
“Make sure you take two bidons to stay hydrated”
Blowout
When your tyre explodes mid ride, normally followed by a long walk/taxi ride home. These are often caused by running pressure which is too high and/or cheap tyres, but can never be avoided entirely
“I had a blowout mid ride, thankfully there was a bike shop round the corner”
Bike in
Where athletes finish the bike and re-enter transition
Bike out
Where you run with your bike to start the bike course
Blips
Electronic, wireless gear shifters that allow you to change gears without having to run cables.
“I Installed some blips on my base bar”
Body position
How your body sits in the water when swimming.
“Your body position is very low in the water”
Bodyglide
A brand name, but broadly refers to lubricant designed to reduce chafing that is safe to use on wetsuits (unlike vaseline)
Bonk
When your body runs out of carbohydrate and cannot oxidate fat fast enough to meet the demands of exercise. Your body starts to shut down and requires immediate calories to avoid disaster. You start shaking and feeling light headed, it’s one of the worst feelings you can have on a bike
“I was feeling really strong but forgot to eat and bonked. I practically inhaled the contents of the next shop I came across”
Boot
As in tyre boot, a self adhesive patch you apply to a punctured inner tube.
“Luckily I had a boot with me to get me home”
Brake fade
When you apply your brakes for an extended amount of time on a downhill and they lose their functionality as they overheat
“I started to get some brake fade so pulled over”
Breast
See breaststroke
Breaststroke
The slowest competitive stroke, where the swimmer looks forward with a frog like kick and scoop the water with their hands.
Brick
A session consisting of a bike ride followed by a run
Build phase
A phase of your training that normally lasts for two months that consist of large amounts of race specific training
“I’m halfway through my build phase, looking forward to when all this is over!”
Bullhorns
The edge of your base bat where your brakes will be attached, which resembles bull horns
“I had to hop onto the bullhorns for the descent.
Butterfly
A very demanding stroke where the swimmer combines an undulating leg kick with arms sweeping over the top of the surface of the water.
C
C Race
A race of very low priority, that may not be executed at max effort.
“I’m running a 10K with my wife this weekend as a C race”
CO2
Normally refers to a CO2 tool or CO2 cartridge, which is a speedy alternative to a mini pump when you puncture on the road.
“I punctured, but thanks to my CO2 I only lost a couple of minutes.”
Cadence
How fast you are pedalling, measured in RPM (revolutions per minute)
“I struggled to maintain a high cadence as my legs tired”
Cardiac Drift
When you heart rate continues to increase exponentially while your pace or power remain steady
“You have high levels of cardiac drift, so improving aerobic fitness should be our priority”
Cage
Short for bottle cage, these sit on your down tube and/or seat tube and allow you to store bottles while you ride. An essential for rides longer than 20 minutes.
Callipers
1. Refer to brake callipers, the lever arms which is present on rim brakes.
“Hi mate, I noticed your callipers are open” (A rider informing you that your brakes aren’t closed, and the tiny level needs to be engaged)
2. Disc brakes also have callipers, although they are hidden and unlikely to have any impact on your riding
“Disc brake callipers are fit and forget.
Car Up
A call used by a cyclist in a group where a car has appeared an evasive action may be required, such as singling up
“Car up!”
Car Back
The opposite to car up, it normally means a car is stuck behind the group, and it would be courteous to let them through. Important not to overuse.
“Car back!”
Carbohydrate
One of the three macronutrients, the easiest, most digestible form of energy, and the favoured fuel source of a triathlete.
“I fuel all my long sessions with carbohydrate”
Carbon
Generally referring to carbon fibre, which is a lightweight and strong high performance material used in bike frames and running shoes.
“Getting a carbon frame was a real upgrade”
Carbon shoes
Cycling: A bike shoe with a carbon sole to provide improved fitness, and thus power transfer
Running: A running shoe with a carbon plate which improves power transfer
Carbs
Short for carbohydrate
“I’m bumping up my carb intake
Cassette
Made up of a series of smaller cogs, this sits on your rear wheel and is responsible for the majority of your shifting. Cassettes can be wide (have a large variety of gears), or narrow ((less range, but smaller incriminates). Cassettes are referred to by their toothing, a 28-11 has 27 teeth on its biggest ring and 11 teeth on its smallest. The more teeth, the easier it will be to ride up hills.
“I should have swapped cassette for this ride, I’m struggling on the hills”.
Cassette Tool
A tool which slots into the centre of your cassette allowing for easy removal.
“Make sure you purchase the right cassette tool for your groupset”
Catch
The phase of the swim stroke where the swimmer moves from the hand entry into the pull phase, pushing their hand down and back, while keeping a high elbow.
Chain
A series of metal links which connect you chainset and your cassette to allow for forward motion
“I need to clean my chain, it’s looking a bit grim”
Chaingang
A group ride at high speed where riders take regular turns on the front.
“Got dropped on the weekly changing last night”
Chainring
The large, toothed metal rings which your pedals turn as you pedal. Increasing the size of a chainring will make it harder to push the pedals around, allowing for more power.
“I have a larger chainring on my TT bike”
Chainrub
A metallic rubbing sound emitted when you are cross chaining, it slowly wears down your components over time, so it’s best to change into your big/small ring and choose a better gear combination
Chainset
This refers to both your big ring, small ring and spider. It also includes a large spindle which passes through your bottom bracket to connect to your left pedal.
“I installed a new chainset the other day”
Chain Whip
A tool with a small amount of chain links attached which allow you to hold the cassette in place while changing it.
“You won’t be able to change your cassette without a chain whip to hold it in place”
Chase
A group of riders trying to reel in a rider who had made a successful attack
“The chase is starting to lose momentum, I think they’re going to make it”
Chop
When you swerve in front of another rider, forcing them to slow down to avoid a collision. Normally an unintentional mistake, but can be used as an aggressive race tactic.
“He gave me the chop”
Swimming
Classic
A series of one day races, usually held in Europe
“Paris Roubaix is my favourite classic”
Clear
A call cyclists will make when approaching a junction or roundabout to indicate no other road users are
coming
“Clear!”
Cleat
A metal or plastic attachment to the bottom of your shoe which allows it to be clipped into the pedal, allowing for more efficient riding.
“Using cleats is a learning curve, but worth it”
Climb
A hill, or mountain.
“There’s a tough climb towards the end of the route”
Climbing
- Referring to the act of riding up a hill
“We’ve been climbing this for at least an hour”
2. Refers to the total amount of elevation gain in a ride
“There was 3000M of climbing”
Clincher
A tyre which uses an inner tube. Traditionally heavy and with poor grip, they have since come on a very long way
“You wouldn’t know you were riding clinchers”
Clipless Pedals
Pedals without toe clips, but confusingly this refers to pedals you can clip into with cleats
“Clipless pedals really come into their own when accelerating.
Clydestyle
A term for larger athletes, sometimes with their own category
“I participate in the clydestyle division”
Cranks
The piece of metal between your pedal and the bike itself
“I’m getting some shorter cranks which should help my cadence”
Cross Chain
This refers to a rider who is in the small ring at the front and the small ring at the back, or the big ring at the front and the big ring at the back. This places your chain under increased strain due to the angle and in most in cases will result in chain rub as it brushes the front mech
Cross Training
When an athlete undertakes non triathlon training, such as hiking or mountain biking
Cockpit
The area forward of the fork, normally used to describe very aerodynamic or TT setups
“I’ve optimised my cockpit to save 5W”
D
Deck
Cycling:The road, or whatever surface you’re riding on at the time
“Hit a patch of ice, ended up on the deck, but no harm done”
Swimming: The poolside, where coaches and lifeguards will be
“Swimmers need to be on deck at 6AM”
Deep section rims/wheels
A wheel with a very deep rim, designed to optimise aerodynamics
“I have some deep section wheels for race day”
Derailleur
A traditional (and hard to spell) term for mech. See front and rear mech.
Derny
A petrol/electric assisted bicycle which is used to pace other cyclists or provide a draft in track events
“Does anybody know an accredited derny rider?
Descent
The downhill portion of a hill or mountain
“I must have hit 30MPH on that descent”
Descending
The act of riding downhill
“We were descending, but had to slow down as the surface was bad”
Dig
A short, intense effort, or needing to call on energy reserves when struggling
“Had a bit of a dig on that climb, wanted to beat my PB”
Disc
A rear wheel which is completely solid to reduce drag and improve aerodynamics.
“I’ve swapped to a disc on the rear, it took 20 seconds off my PB”
Discs
Short for disc brakes
“I tried my mate’s disc brakes and now I’m converted”
DNS
Did not start. Appears next to an athlete who registered, but did not start the event
“I developed a fever overnight, so had to DNS”
DNF
Appears next to an athlete’s name when they fail to finish the course for any reason
“My chain snapped and the mechanic didn’t get to me in time, so I had to register my first ever DNF”
Dolphin Kick
A whole body, undulating kick performed underwater after pushing off the wall. This is the most efficient way to travel through the water for as long as you have momentum.
“He has such a powerful dolphin kick”
DOMS
Short for delayed onset muscle soreness. The stiffness and soreness you experience the day after a hard workout
“Suffering with DOMS especially badly today”
Draft
Riding behind a rider in a fashion which protects you from the wind, or simply makes the most of the hole they’re punching in the wind
“He spent most of the way home in my draft, I think he went too hard in the first half”
Drag
If something creates drag, it works against the aerodynamics of the bike. All bikes and riders create drag, but this normally refers to items which create excessive amounts.
“You could probably go down a couple of jersey sizes, it looks like it creates a lot of drag”
Drills
A very focused exercise to improve a specific area of technique.
“I have a drill heavy set this weekend”
Drop
Cycling: 1.The difference between the height of your saddle and your handlebars
“You have quite an aggressive drop on that bike, do you not get back pain?”
2. Generally referring to the act of a rider being dropped from a group
“This is a no drop ride”
Running: The height difference between the heel of your shoe and the toe box.
Dropped
When you are riding in a group cut can’t keep up and fall off the back.
“We were going pretty fast through there and accidentally dropped a few riders”
Dropped chain
When your chain slips off the drivetrain, requiring reattachment. Can generally be avoided by correctly setting limit screws on your front mech and avoiding shifting the front and rear mechs together.
“He was well placed for the sprint but dropped his chain in the last kilometre”
Drops
The curved portion of dropped handlebars, often adopted by riders pushing hard to becoming slightly more aerodynamic
“I spend the last 10KM on the drops as I was running late”
Downtube
Normally the largest, thickest tube on your bike which runs from just above your forks to you bottom bracket.
“I have a small chip on my downtube”
DSQ
Short for disqualified, an athlete who is not featured on the official results for a infringement such as course cutting, accepting outside help or abusing a official
Duathlon
An event consisting of a run followed by a bike, then a second run.
“I’m doing some duathlons over winter”
E
Echelons
A race situation where crosswinds force the group to break into smaller, diagonal groups across the road to try to save energy
“The wind is causing echelons to appear”
Elastic laces
Self tightening laces which allow for lightening fast transitions
Electrolytes
Minerals that are lost through sweat, and need to be replaced when training. Includes sodium, magnesium, calcium and more.
“You need to make sure you get some electrolytes in during longer sessions”
Energy bars
Oat based bars designed to provide athletes with more energy when racing
Elevation
1. How high you are above sea level, often referred to simply in metres
“We’re at 2000M”
2. Total elevation gain in a ride
“There’s under 1000M of elevation”
F
Fartlek
An interval session where an athlete runs at a variety of paces in an unstructured fashion
“I popped out for a fartlek run”
Fit
Refers to a bike fit, where a professional will spend a couple of hours getting you in an ideal position on your bike
“Have you got a fit for that bike? You don’t look comfortable”
Forks
The two large prongs which support your front wheel
“This bike has carbon fibre forks”
Fins
A pair of mid length fins that provide additional propulsion through the water. These can be used to develop your kick, or to provide enough propulsion during a drill that you can focus on the upper body.
Flat
1. A portion of the ride without any hills
“After this we’ve got 20KM of flat and then we’re home”
2. A tyre with no air in it
“I’ve got a flat guys, can we pull over when safe?”
Flats
Cycling: Pedals with no toe clip or cleat system, the kind of pedals you grew up using.
“I just use flats when riding round town”
Running: Shoes with little to no drop between the heel and toe
Flip Turns
These are turns that swimmers make at the end of pool where they do a somersault and push off of the wall. This is the fastest, and most efficient way to turn at the wall, but requires a lot of practice.
Fly
See butterfly
Free
See freestyle
Freestyle
Freestyle is a swimming competition where competitors can swim any stroke they with. In almost every case, they will be swimming the stroke some refer to as front crawl, where swimmers have their face in the water, an alternative arm action and leg kick with pointed toes. This is the stroke the vast majority of triathletes use in competition, as it is the most efficient use of energy and also the fastest.
Freewheel
This is found inside your rear wheel and allows the wheel to spin when you’re not pedalling, normally accompanied by a clicking sound.
“You have a very noisy freewheel!”
Freewheeling
Riding along without pedalling
“I love freewheeling down long hills”
Front crawl
A term used in some countries to describe the freestyle stroke
“My front crawl really isn’t very good”
Front Mech
A metallic swinging arm that sits above your chainset and pushes the chain between the big and small ring.
“I struggled to get the cable tension right on my front mech”
FTP
Short for functional threshold power, this is the highest power you can hold in a quasi steady state without fatiguing. In plain English, this is the power output at which things really start to hurt, and you feel you can’t push much harder without blowing up. Depending on how well trained a cyclist is, they may be able to hold this for anything between 35 and 70 minutes.
“I must have been at FTP for the last 40 minutes of that race”
Full distance
Used to refer to a triathlon with a 3.8KM swim, 180KM bike and 42.2KM run.
G
Gels
A semi solid sports nutrition product which is made primarily of sugar. Designed to be easy to transport, eat and digest for a quick pick me up.
Glide
A phase of your stroke where between strokes, where a swimmer will continue moving without pulling any more water.
“You have too much glide in your stroke”
Goggles
Eye protection worn in the pool that creates a seal around the eyes, allowing you to swim with your face in the water.
“I’ve struggled to find goggles that work for me”
Grand Tour
A three week professional bike race, refers to the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta España
“I love watching a grand tour play out”
Grind
To push a big gear at a low cadence
“He’s really grinding his way up that hill”
H
Half distance
A triathlon that consist of a 1.9KM swim, 90KM bike and 21.2KM run
Half wheel
The act of riding alongside another rider with you wheel ahead of theirs in an effort to push the pace. This can also be dangerous and will make you unpopular.
Hand Entry
How your hand enters the water at the front of the stroke
Hand of god
When a rider sees another struggling and places a hand on the small of their back to help push them up a hill. Do not do this without permission, especially if the rider is of the opposite sex.
Hardtail
A bike with rear suspension
“Got myself a hardtail to have a play on some trails”
Headset
This sits above your forks, and contains the bearings required to allow for smooth steering
Heart rate
How many beats your heart takes each minute, measured in BPM
“My heart rate was through the roof in that last kilometre”
Heel strike
When a runner strikes the ground with their feel first. Not as disastrous as some would have you believe
“You have a bog old heel strike there”
Hole
A shout used to announce the presence of a pothole, hopefully accompanied by a hand gesture pointing you in the direction of it
“Hole!”
Hoods
The top of your shifters, and where your hands will spend most of their time while riding a road bike
“I don’t feel comfortable on the drops, so stick to the hoods”
Hoops
Colloquial term for wheels
“I’m looking to get a new set of hoops”
I
Individual Medley (IM)
An event at a swim meet consisting of butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle back to back
“We’re going to perform a 200M IM at the start of the main set”
Individual pursuit
A track discipline where two riders start on opposite sides of the track and try to catch the other. Riders who compete in this discipline are known as pursuits and have excellent power output around the four minute mark.
“I’ve decided to try the individual pursuit at the next track meet”
Interval
A times period of a training session at a specific (usually high) intensity
“I have a big interval session tomorrow”
IRONMAN
A company known for putting on full distance and half distance races
“I’ve got an IRONMAN lined up”
K
Kick
- The leg action during swimming
- A sharp acceleration, generally to put some distance between yourself and other athletes
Kilo
A cycling event held in the velodrome where athletes ride 1000M as fast as they can
L
Lid
Colloquial term for helmet
“Hey man, nice lid”
Links
Individual components which make up your chain
“My chain was too loose so I removed a couple of links”
Long course
Generally refers to a pool which is 50M long
“Long course pools are much more tiring”
Lube
See lubricant
Lubricant
A synthetic substance applied to you chain to reduce friction through the components. This is essential for smooth running and longevity of your bike
“I think your bike needs a bit of lube”
M
Madsion
A track event where teams compete in pairs, with one rider taking part whilst the other recovers off of the racing line. The riders switch places with a hand sling, and aim to win by scoring as many points as possible in the sprints.
“The highlight of the night will be the Madison final”
MAMIL
Middle aged man in lycra, often used as a slur by drivers
“The roads are full of MAMILS in this weather”.
Man with the hammer
The mythical being who appears when you are exhausted, can often arrive suddenly
“I was feeling really strong until the final climb when I had a visit from the man with the hammer”
Masters
A non-junior or elite swim session/competition held in a pool.
“I swim with the local masters squad”
Mechanic
An individual who fixes your bike for you
“Thankfully there was a mechanic on course who helped me out”
Middle distance
See half distance
Mid foot strike
When a runner strikes the ground with their mid foot first.
“I’ve developed more of a mid foot strike lately”
Mini pump
A small pump which sits in your jersey pocket/saddle bag for replacing punctured tubes.
“I forgot my mini pump once and got stranded, won’t make that mistake again”
N
Nail
This refers to the saying ‘Some days you’re the hammer, some days you’re the nail’.
“Tough ride, guess I was the nail today”
Negative split
When the second half of your race is faster than the first
“I managed to negative split my last race”
Neutral shoe
A running shoe which has no support or stability elements
“I recommend a neutral shoe for you”
NGB
National Governing Body, a national organisation which oversees the provision of professional and amateur cycling activity on a domestic level.
“Some NGBs just don’t have the resources to adequately support professional riders”
O
Olympic distance
A triathlon consisting of a 1500M swim, 40KM bike and 10KM run. The distance raced at the Olympic Games.
“I’m booking in an Olympic distance for the summer”
On rails
When a bike has large amounts of grip on a smooth surface and it feels like you can’t crash
“The bike felt like it was on rails”
Off black top
A term used by swimmers to let you know they will be starting their next interval when the black hand of the pool clock reaches the 1 O’clock position.
“I’m swimming hard 100s off black top”
Overpronation
When a runner’s foot pronates to the point it affects the biomechanics of the stride
P
Paddles
Cycling: A term used to refer to gear shifters
“My paddles were a bit stiff, but a bit of GT85 loosened them right up”
Swimming:: Hand paddles which are placed on your hands to increase resistance in the water
Peaking
When someone is fresh and at their fittest and hard efforts feel easy
“I’m peaking ahead of next week’s race”
PB
Short for personal best, which refers to your best ever performance over a distance or duration
“I would love to take ten minutes off of my marathon PB”
Physio
An professional who diagnoses and treats injuries
“I’ve got knee pain I can’t shift, so it’s off to the physio for me”
Peloton
French for “small ball”, it refers to the main group of riders in a race
“The peloton will hit the climb in 10KM”
Plateau
When an athlete stops improving
“I’ve hit a real plateau in the pool lately”
Power
Cycling: A measure of cycling effort, calculated as a measure of cadence and torque, measured in watts
General: The ability to develop high force quickly
Pronation
When your foot lands on the outside, and rolls inwards. A natural part of the run stride.
“A level of pronation is normal”
Protein
One of the three macronutrients, responsible for growth and repair of tissue
“You need to ensure you get enough protein after a session”
PSI
Pressure square inch, a measurement of tyre pressure.
“I’m running my tyres at 90PSI”
Pull
Cycling: When a rider sits on the front of the group and puts in an effort.
“She really put a big pull in there to shed some of the weaker riders out the back of the group”
Swimming:
- Swimming with a pull buoy, using only their arms
- The phase of a stroke where a swimmers pushes the water behind them
Pull buoy
A float that is placed between a swimmer’s legs to lift them up in the water, improving their body position and allowing them to focus on their upper body. You should not kick with a pull buoy.
“I am so much faster with a pull buoy”
Q
Quick Link
A link which can be used to repair a chain while out riding. They’re a little fiddly but can be lifesavers
“These quick links aren’t that quick are they?”
R
Race week
The week before your race
Rails
On the underside of a saddle, these are what on next the saddle to the bike. Can be made of aluminium or carbon fibre.
“I’m switching to carbon rails to save weight”
Rear mech
A large component which sits under your groupset, and shifts your chain up/down your cassette.
“My rear mech isn’t shifting as well as it used to, think it might be time for a service”
Recovery
Swimming:
1. A portion of the swim stroke where the arm exits the water and returns to enter the water
2. A period of rest between intervals, or a very easy effort
Cycling: A period of very easy cycling to recover from an effort.
Running: A period spend between intervals, usually at a light jog, walk of maybe even total rest
General: The process of allowing your body to repair and recover from an effort, which takes place after a session. Encompasses nutrition, sleep and other important areas to allow our body to adapt to the session, and get ready for the next.
Rim
The large, metal part of your wheel which your tyre sits on. Different widths allow different tyres to be mounted.
“I’ve gone for wider rims to allow me to run 32s”
Rivet
Riders will say they’re on the rivet when pushing really hard. This comes from when saddles were manufactured out of leather and a rivet would be on the nose of the saddle, suggesting the rider was in a low, aggressive position.
“He’s really on the rivet here and the gap has stabilised”
Rollers
A series of smaller hills.
1.“They’re coming into the rollers now, which should shake things up a bit”
2. An indoor training device which your bike sits on without support, teaching your balance
“It took me a few rides, but I’ve finally got the hand of rollers”
Rotation
Used to refer to a gentle roll the body makes when swimming
“You swim very flat, and could use a bit more rotation in your stroke”
Rotor
The large, disc shaped part of a disc brake.
“I think my rotor might be bent”
RPE
Short for rate of perceived exertion, a measure of how easy or difficult a session/effort will be, or was.
“I’d like you to swim 50M reps at an RPE of 9”
Run out
Where runners exit transition to start the run
Running vest
A vest which allows a runner to carry water, nutrition, extra clothing and anything else they may need when running.
“I always take my running vest on long runs”
S
Saddle
What your bum sits on.
“I’ve trying a new saddle to improve comfort”
Scissor kick
A very wide kick the body executes when you are off balance in the water to avoid
Seatpost
This is what your saddle clamps onto, and can be lowered/raised to change saddle height
“My seta post has seized in the frame”
Seat stay
This is the thin tubing that runs from your saddle towards the rear of your frame which your rear brake is mounted to
“I think my seat stay might have picked up a fracture from hitting that pothole”
Seat tube
The tube which runs vertically from your saddle to your bottom bracket.
“I’m mounting a bottle cage to my seat tube”
Shift
Changing up/down a gear, either on the front or rear.
“You might want to shift into your big ring for this next bit”
Shifters
The area of the bike you use to change gear. Road bikes integrate these with the brakes, but on TT bikes they’re found on the end of the bars.
“My shifters are playing up”
Shocks
Colloquial term for suspension.
“Got my shocks serviced on my mountain bike the other day, can’t wait to hit the trails”
Short course
A pool that is 25M (or yards). Generally resulting in faster times due to more time spent pushing off the wall.
“Is that time based on short course or long course meters?”
Single Up
When a group is riding two a breast, and they filter in to single file instead.
“This road is narrow and twisty, let’s single up”
Skewer
The metal rod which passes through the hub of your front and rear wheel, which you loosen to remove the wheel.
“I upgraded to titanium skewers to save weight”
Skins
Swimming in open water without a wetsuit
“I much prefer swimming in skins”
Slam (that stem)
To remove all of the spacers underneath your stem to get as low and aerodynamic as you possibly can. Not generally recommend.
“If you want to get faster you need to slam that stem!” (Don’t listen to these people)
Slippery
See aerodynamic
Slow (or slowing)
A call made when a group needs to start slowing as an obstruction or junction is ahead.
“Slow!”
Smash
To ride really hard, close to max effort.
“We smashed it up the last couple of climbs”
Smash fest
A ride which was punctuated by several hard sections, usually with riders trying to drop each other.
“It was meant to be an easy one, but turned into a bit of a smash fest”
Spacers
1. Small discs which sit between your headset and stem and determine how high your handlebars are.
“I’m going to take out a couple of spacers to get more aero”
2. Tiny metal shims which sit between your hub and cassette to ensure proper shifting
“You might need to pop a 1mm spacer in to ensure optimal shifting”
3. Small plastic discs which sit between the cogs in your cassette
“Where did I put that spacer…”
Spin
1. Heading out for a (normally) easy, short ride
“Just taking the new bike out for a spin”
2. To ride with a high cadence and very little force, normally to recover from an interval
“Take a few minutes to spin out your legs”
3. To ride with a high cadence
“He’s spinning his way up this climb and away from the group”
Splits
Timings referring to how long it took you to swim, cycle or run a distance.
“Looking at my splits, I really slowed down towards the end of that session”
Spill
A crash, normally referring to a light one with minimal injuries.
“Had a bit of a spill on a roundabout, but the bike’s fine”
Spokes
The long thin pieces of aluminium or carbon fibre which run from your hub to your rim. These provide the tension and support for your wheel.
“I’m running a wheel with a lower spoke count to save weight”
Sprint
A short, sharp effort, normally all out.
“There’s no point in me entering that Zwift race, my sprint is awful”
Sprint distance
A triathlon consisting of a 750M swim, 20KM bike and 5KM run
“I’m entering my first sprint soon”
Stability shoe
A heavy, specialised running shoe designed to help correct more serious gait issues
“A stability shoe may be the answer to your problems”
Stem
A thick, horizontal component which attaches the top of your fork to your handlebars.
“A longer stem will help you to get lower”
Stride
A short running interval where
Super sprint
A beginner friendly distance consisting of a 400M swim, 12KM bike and 2.5KM run.
Support shoe
A shoe designed to help athletes connect issues with their gait such as pronation
Sweetspot
A training zone just below threshold which provides the majority of the benefits of threshold training but with significantly lower fatigue.
“Today I want you to ride ten minutes at sweetspot, repeated four times with three minutes rest between each rep”
T
T1
Transition 1, where you will change from the swim to the bike
T2
Transition 2, where you will change from the bike to the run
Take a turn
When someone rides on the front for a period, working hard to pull the group along behind them.
“Make sure you take a turn on the front”
Tankslapper
When you lose grip on your rear wheel and it starts sliding around behind you from left to right.
“I got a massive tankslapper after hitting a wet drain cover, but just managed to catch it”
Taper
A period of training close to a race where volume drops to allow you to be well rested by the time ran day comes around
“I’m coming into my taper, I hope I’ve done enough work”
Team Pursuit
A track event where two teams of four riders work together to chase down another team starting on the opposite side of the track to them.
“They won a bronze in the team pursuit”
Tempo
A training zone which is used to develop muscular fitness, well trained cyclists can maintain it for approximately 3-5 hours.
“We spent most of the ride at tempo”
Threshold
Generally refers to the point at which the production of lactic acid becomes unsustainable. Generally an intensity that can only be sustained for hour an hour without exhaustion. May also refer to an aerobic threshold where the body starts creating lactic acid, at the top end of zone 2.
“I spent most of that ride at threshold”
Thru-axle
A new standard which replaced the traditional skewer, normally associated with disc brakes.
“Is this turbo compatible with thru-axels?”
Timing chip
A small chip worn on your ankle which triggers at each timing mat to record your time
“Make sure you don’t lose your timing strap
Timing mat
A mat laid across the course which registers your timing chip as you pass over it, giving you splits
“There are lots of timing mats at this event for accurate splits”
Top tube
This is the tube you have to lift your leg over when you mount your bike.
“Luckily there was no damage to my top tube”
Tops
These is the flat, horizontal portion of the handlebar which runs through the stem. Riding on the tops doesn’t provide you with much control, but can be comfortable on long climbs.
“We were al tired at the end so just spun up the final climb on the tops while chatting”
Torque
Force applies in a rotational plane
“Your torque is very high when cycling”
Torque wrench
A tool used to measure how tightly you are installing a component
“You need a torque wrench to safely install these aero bars without cracking your frame”
Track
See velodrome
Track Bike
A bike with only a single fixed gear and no brakes, used almost solely for racing on velodromes.
“I rent a track bike every time I ride at the velodrome, but I’m thinking of buying my own”
Track Pump
Simply a floor pump rather than a mini pump which sits in your jersey pocket.
“I think I’ve got a slow puncture, can we find a bike shop in the next town? See if they have a track pump I can use.
Trainer
See turbo trainer
Tri
Short for triathlon
“I\m going to dabble in tri”
Tri bars
See aero bars
Tri suit
A fast drying race suit, with a chamois pad, normally one piece with short sleeve legs and arms, that you keep on for the entire race.
“I’ve got a new tri suit for the season”
Toe box
The space at the end of your shoe where your toes sit
Touch Turns
The turns made by newer swimmers, who will touch the wall with their hand, turn around and push off the wall. Executed well these can be faster than a poor flip turn, but will never be as fast as a good flip turn.
Tow
Usually a term referring to someone who is getting an easier time of things by swimming/cycling/running behind another
“She gave me a tow al the way home”
Trail
An off road route, generally muddy and with hills
“I\m going to hit the trails later with my friends”
True
Refers to whether a wheel is straight, if it is not then it is “out of true”
“My rear wheel is slightly out of true and rubs my brakes”
TT
1. Short for time trial, an event against the clock where riders try to put in the fastest time, with riders set off in 1 minute intervals.
“Riding a TT on the weekend, hoping to crack the top ten”
2. Refers to a time trial bike. Largely interchangeable with triathlon bike, though true TT bikes will be UCI legal and more aggressive, where triathlon bikes aren’t restricted by the UCI and the geometry will be optimised to allow for an easier transition to running.
“Sorry, I can’t join you tomorrow, I’m taking the TT out for a spin”
Tubes
A colloquial term for inner tubes, used with clincher tyres
Tubeless
A new standard of tyre which involves a tyre filled with sealant that self seals in the event of a puncture. The setup can be fiddly, but many riders have been converted.
“I’m going to try a tubeless setup for my next ride”
Tubular
A tyre which is glued onto the rim, and cannot be easily repaired in the event of a puncture. Still favoured by some pros, but definitely a dying medium as clincher tyres become lighter and grippier. Also known as tubs.
“The tubular version of the tyre is 5g lighter”
Tumble turn
See flip turn
Turbo
See turbo trainer
Turbo trainer
A device your bicycle attaches to, allowing for indoor riding. An invaluable training aid, the word turbo reflects how quickly it can improve fitness.
“I’m thinking about getting a turbo trainer for winter”
Twitchy
A bike where even small movements of the handlebars create large movements through the wheel, potentially to the point of becoming dangerous.
“Since changing to a shorter stem, my bike is very twitchy”
Two Abreast
When two road cyclists ride side by side, legal in most countries, but can cause aggravation from drivers.
“Do you want to ride two abreast here?”
U
UCI
Union Cycliste International, the international governing body for cycling. They oversee professional racing, providing guidelines on everything from race organisation to bike design and sock height.
“Unfortunately, the bike isn’t UCI legal”
V
Velodrome
An oval shaped cycling track featuring steep banking where track cycling events are held.
“I’m attending a velodrome taster session on the weekend”
W
Wetsuit
A neoprene suit that covers almost the entirety of your body. In triathlon you will be looking for a swimming specific wetsuit rather than one for surfing or recreation.
“It takes me about ten minutes to get into my wetsuit!”
Wettie
A colloquial term for a wetsuit used in some circles
Wipe Out
To crash, normally in the wet due to a lack of grip.
“He completed wiped out in that corner”
Weight weenie
Someone who obsesses over weight on their bike, spending obscene amounts of time and money on reducing weight.
“He spent £250 on a new bottle cage to save 50g, he’s such a weight weenie”
Wheel Sucker
A cyclist who sits on your rear wheel. Can be used to refer to a ransomer who decides to draft you, or a member of the group who never takes a turn.
World Tour
The height of professional cycling, made up of 19 teams in 2020.
“He’s bagged himself a contract with a World Tour team next year”
Z
Zone
These are used to dictate intensity, with pace, power or heart rate bands. There are lots of different zone systems, with no system being right or wrong.
Zwift
A piece of turbo training software which provides you with an immersive experience. Has become shorthand for riding indoors in some circles
“The weather was horrendous, so I decided to Zwift instead”
Numbers
Swimming
In swimming, numbers will nearly always refer to distance. 100s, 50s, 400s, these are all distances swimmers can cover in racing or training.
Cycling
If a number is between 19 and 50, chances are it refers to tyre width, such as “I prefer the comfort from riding 28s”. Sometimes this will be suffixed by mm to make it obvious, but not always.
If a number end with T, such as 11T, that’s referring to the number of teeth on a cog, so an 11T would have 11 teeth.
If two numbers follow each other in close succession they’re probably referring to a gear combination such as 34-28 referring to 34T on the front chainring and 28T on the rear chainring. This is probably a rider expressing the smallest gear they have available.
