pedal types    

Plain pedals rely on the rider's coordination to keep the foot properly located on the pedal. Cage pedals (sometimes known as "rat trap", or "quill”) work with stirrup-like clips and adjustable straps to hold the foot in place. These were the near-universal choice of knowledgeable cyclists until the 1980's. Toe-clip pedals, especially "platform" pedals, may be used either with normal street shoes or with special cleated shoes. They remain popular with entry-level bicycles and mountainbikers. Clipless pedals provide a connection between the shoe and the pedal, without straps.

Sheldon Brown

pedalling squares

pedals

Sheldon Brown

A high-wheel bicycle. This term comes from old English coinage, where the penny was a very large coin, the farthing a very small one. Also the 'ordinary'. A boneshaker with enlarged frontwheel to fit the rider - basically the velocipede at speed, in 1881.

 The synchronization of a tandem's cranks. Most tandems are set up so that the cranks are "in phase", that is to say, that the pilot's and stoker's pedals go up and down together at exactly the same time. Tandemists sometimes like to experiment with different phasing of the cranks. One alternative is "90 degrees out of phase", where one set of cranks is horizontal while the other is vertical. This produces a smoother power flow, although it is a debatable whether this matters. Out of phase cranks complicate high-speed cornering, since both riders cannot have their cranks horizontal at the same time. Out-of-phase cranks disrupt the unity of a tandem team, since the two riders are not moving in the same direction at the same time. As Osman Isvan says: "There are essentially three entities riding a tandem: the captain, the stoker, and the spirit. It is the spirit who likes in-phase cranks." Some tandemists prefer a setup that is only slightly out-of-phase, typically with the pilot's chainwheel one or two teeth ahead of the stoker's.

Phil Liggett (born 1943) (the "Voice of the Tour de France") is the most popular English-speaking international cycling commentator. A former amateur cyclist who turned to sports journalism (having declined a professional contract in 1967),  Liggett initially wrote for Cycling magazine and moved on to freelance for The Guardian and The Observer. At age 29, Liggett became the youngest ever UCI International Commissaire. Liggett is one of few sports journalists to work for the "Big Three" networks (ABC, CBS, & NBC), and was appointed Cycle Sport magazine's international editor ('97). His involvement in cycling led to him becoming vice president of the Association Internationale Organisateurs des Course Cycliste. For the ten years leading up to Jan 2007, Liggett was president of the Cyclists' Touring Club (Britain's national body). Liggett has written several books on cycle racing, scripted & hosted an Emmy award winning prgram on the Paris Roubaix classic, and spends most of his leisure time in South Africa (where he has a house in the Southern Cape's Gordon's Bay). Ligget's poetic comments are affectionately referred to as 'Liggetisms', of which a bundle has been published.

When a round part is held inside another round part, but adjustability is desired, the outer part will often have a slot or gap. This gap will be bridged by a bolt that can squeeze or "pinch" the outer part so that it will clamp onto the inner part. Such a bolt is called a pinch bolt. Most bicycles use pinch bolts to secure the seatpost into the seat tube of the frame, and to secure the handlebars to the stem. Threadless stems usually use pinch bolts to secure the stem to the steerer. Many tandems use pinch bolts to secure their eccentric bottom brackets. The bolt may fit through "ears" that are attached to the outside of the outer part, or it may close the gap of a split collar that surrounds the upper part of the seat tube. A few older bicycles used a collar and pinch bolt to secure a handlebar stem inside of the steerer. This system is particularly common on folding bicycles to allow the use of a quick-release for the handlebar stem. This required a compression slot to be cut into the steerer, which could constitute a stress riser.

A hole in an inner tube caused by getting the tube pinched between the rim and a another object, such as a rock, curbstone or the edge of a pothole. Pinch flats (also known as "snakebites" because there are usually two small holes in the tube, as if made by the fangs of a snake) are usually caused by carelessness or riding under-inflated tyres. They can also be caused by the use of a tyre which is too narrow for the weight it is asked to carry. If the tyre is too soft, or too narrow, it is easy for it to bottom out when striking an obstruction. If the tyre is hard enough and plump enough to carry the weight, the air will keep the tube from being pinched between the rim and the road hazard.

Pins & Ramps. Modern chainrings intended for derailleur use commonly have special features on the sides to improve upshifting . These are pins usually rivetted to the sides of the larger chainrings, and ramps cut or stamped into the inboard sides of the chainrings. These pins and ramps help catch the chain to help it climb from a smaller to a larger chainring. The smallest chainring will usually not have these features, because you never upshift to the smallest ring. Steel pins are used in aluminium chainrings for improved wear resistance. The pins do the actual lifting of the chain, and take the most stress. The ramps just provide a smooth path for the chain to climb once it has been lifted by the pins.

i) Chain/Sprocket Pitch. The pitch of a chain is the distance between adjacent drive rollers. All modern bicycles use 1/2" pitch. Some older chains, especially those used on track bicycles used 1" pitch chain (see skip link and block chain.) For a while, Shimano experimented with a 10 mm pitch for track use, but it never caught on. Sometimes people mistakenly refer to "track pitch" vs. "road pitch" when they are really referring to the wider (1/8") sprockets used on single-speed bicycles, instead of the 3/32" thick sprockets used on derailleur-equipped bicycles. An 8-tooth sprocket for 1" pitch chain (left) is equivalent to a 16 for standard 1/2" chain. ii)  Nut/Bolt Thread Pitch The pitch of a nut or bolt is the distance between threads. S.A.E. fasteners have the pitch specified in terms of how many threads there are per inch (T.P.I.). Metric threads are specified by the distance between threads, in millimetres.

A planetary gear train consists of a stationary "sun" gear, surrounded by several (usually 3 or 4) identical "planet" gears that mesh with it. The planet gears, in turn, mesh with a hollow "gear ring" which has teeth on the inner surface. The gear ring rotates faster than the planet gears. If the drive sprocket is connected to the gear ring, and the cage that holds the planet gears is used to turn the wheel, the wheel will turn slower than the sprocket, thus providing a lower gear, compared with a simple hub driven by the same size sprockets. If the drive sprocket is connected to the planet cage, and the gear ring drives the wheel, the result is a higher gear. Most three-speed internally-geared hubs use these two configurations, along with the direct drive to provide the three speeds. Internally-geared hubs with more than three speeds use multiple sun pinions and sometimes multiple planet gears in the same manner.

Platform pedal. A pedal intended for use with toe clips and soft-soled shoes. Platform pedals are usually single sided, and intended exclusively for use with toe clips. One side has a large flat surface to support the rider's foot, spreading the pressure over a wide area for comfort. The other side usually has only the structural support ridges that hold the platform, and is not intended to be used for pedalling. The best known platform pedal was the French Lyotard "Marcel Berthet" model 23, one of the most elegantly designed bicycle parts ever. Platform pedals have superior ground clearance to double-sided pedals, and provide easier, faster entry to the toe clip than other styles. There is a current tendency to misuse the term "platform pedal" to refer to plain pedals that have no provision for holding the foot in place.

A specific brand of luggage carrier that mounts above the rear wheel. Packages are tied to this flat aluminium alloy rack, even though it has a spring clamp. The clamp is not strong enough, or general-purpose enough for most packages. Many savvy bicyclists cut the steel spring clamp out to save weight and reduce rattling.

Power measurement is  a handy tool to gauge your output. One can also check your power output by riding a given distance measuring time (a time trial), but this does not allow for wind influence. A power meter measures output very accurately, allowing training focus points. Power meausrement simply ensures that you waste less bullets, hitting the target more often.

Shimano's original system of indexed shifting. Positron placed the detents in the derailleur, which had no return spring. Some versions of Positron used a double cable to push and pull the derailleur back and forth, other versions used a solid, push-pull cable. Most other indexing systems place the detents in the control lever.

Power measurement is  a handy tool to gauge your output. One can also check your power output by riding a given distance measuring time (a time trial) but this does not allow for wind influence. A power meter measures output very accurately, allowing training focus points. Power meausrement simply ensures that you waste less bullets, hitting the target more often.

The power output of a rider is tempered by his weight. It is a very usefull technique to check whether your power (output) is enough to be competitive when coupled with your weight, but even more important is your sustainability of the output. Power to weight refers to 'watts per kilogram', and a very good ratio is constituted by the magical number 7.00. Watts per kilos becomes exponentially more important as the grade gets steeper. On a flat or sprint, the weight of the rider and bicycle have relatively little effect and aerodynamic drag become much more important than weight. (That's why time trialists and sprinters use heavier, aerodynamic wheels.)

Powertraining is a form of preparation (and training) using a number of watt-based measurements (over time). The simple benefit of powertraining is that it takes a lot of the guesswork (and subjective opinion) out of the training regime. Heart rate monitors do provide an indication of how hard your heart is working (of the load that the body is under),  RPE (rate of perceived exertion) and HR (heart rate) are good starts in improving the quality of an athlete's training in past years, however, both limit the potential in training, as power-meter training technology provides an objective measure of 1) exercise intensity without regard to a) health issues or b) external conditions (wind) influencing the readings, and also indicates 2) responses to the training regimen. Powertraining can be likened to tuning a car by using a dynamometer - you can still tune your car by ear (training untill you are tired) or by measuring how fast it goes over a given distance (time trailing), but powertraining allows for the best possible adjustment to your training schedule within a variety of fields of concise, objective data.

The narrow valve used on most high-performance bicycles, and all tubulars. Also known as a "French valve". The wider Schrader (automotive style) valve is used on children's bicycles and utility bicycles. Presta valves have built-in valve caps, which must be opened before you can pump them up. These caps are "captive" nuts, which cannot be removed. Since there is no spring in a Presta valve, this knurled nut must be retightened after inflating the tyre, or the valve may leak slowly. Presta valves are light, and don't require as large a hole in the rim. Since they don't use a spring, they can be easier to pump with a hand pump. There is a third type of valve, very rarely seen in the U.S., which has a bottom similar to a Schrader and necks down to about the size of a Presta. This is a Woods valve, formerly popular in the British Isles and Asia. These low-tech valves work with rubber tubing and spit. This is also sometimes referred to as a "Dunlop" valve.

After a wheel is built or trued, the spokes may have a bit of ‘windup’ or may not be entirely seated in the holes in the hub or rim. When you first ride such a wheel, you may hear some assorted pops and pings, which disappear after a few revolutions. The best wheel builders pre-stress their wheels and then re-true them, so that the customer gets a stable, solid, quiet wheel right from the start. Synonym - stress relieving.

A French cycling term for a 'internal' TdFcompetition - a subjective assessment by race officials - that determines who has the honour of wearing a red race number as the leader in the Most Aggressive Rider competition - the"prix de combativité"  –  and it is awarded to the most stubborn of the break-away specialists / the rider who has done most to animate the day's racing usually by trying to break clear of the field.

To facilitate wheel changes, most high-performance road bicycles have a quick release mechanism that allows the brakes to be temporarily opened a bit wider than usual, so that the tyre can fit through the brake pads. Some brake quick releases are located in the brake levers, which is the best place for them. This type of quick release allows the brakes to work normally even if the user forgets to reset them after use. Other quick-releases are located at the calliper or on the cable hanger. These must be manually reset after use, or the brakes may run out of travel. The better calliper-mounted QR's feature a cam which allows a variable setting. This is of use to racers who may knock a wheel out of true, because they can temporarily loosen the QR as much as it takes to get the bent wheel to clear the brake shoes.

French held road race from Paris to Roubaix. Also known as I'Enfer du Nord / Hell of the North as a result of 52km of bone jarring cobbelstones. It constitutes the the most prestigious  monument of cycling, and is referred to as 'The Queen of the classics'. Riders can be stopped by crossing trains during the race, running the risk of disqualification in not stopping.

In the early days of the mountain bike, West coast riders often liked to ride up their mountains with the saddle set at a normal height for efficient pedalling, then drop it down low for the descent. Going down the mountain, they didn't need to pedal, and the lower saddle made it easier to move their weight around for maximum control and shock absorbency. This feature was carried over when mountain bicycles made it into the mass market.

Remove and replace, a term sometimes used by bicycle professionals which refers to the concept of replacing damaged parts with no consideration of repairing them. R & R makes sense in many modern situations from a purely economical point of view, where the labour cost of repair exceeds the cost of the part plus the lesser labour of removing and replacing it. In other times and places, many things we throw away today were repaired.

Race Across America - An annual  3000 mile transcontinental race from the West - to East coast of North America, finishing traditionally in Atlantic City. A short name for a very long event. Pete Penseyres completed the race in 1986 at an average of just over 25 km/p/h, completing the gruelling 3107mi ( 5188km) in just over 8 days.

The oldest and simplest of spoke patterns. The spokes run straight outward from the hub to the rim. This is called "direct" or "radial" spoking. This pattern is not well suited for transmitting the torque of pedalling, or of a hub brake, but is suitable for front wheels.

Rake refers to the amount that a front fork curves forward (from a line drawn down the stem/steerer). 'More rake' absorbs shock and adds stability to the front wheel, at the cost of maneuvrability. The "rake" or "offset" of a fork is the distance between the wheel axle and the extension of the steering axis. It is accomplished by either 'bending' the fork blades, by attaching the fork ends to the front of the blades, or by tilting the blades where they attach to the crown. Rake is one of the three factors that affect the trail of the bicycle, which has a considerable influence on the handling qualities. Increasing rake decreases trial. Less trail gives more sensitive handling, more trail gives less responsive steering but increased stability.

The Raleigh bicycle company of Nottingham, England, was, for many years the largest cycle factory in the world. Over the first two-thirds of the century, Raleigh absorbed most of the independent bicycle manufacturers in Britain. Raleigh had its own standards for threading and other dimensions, which were different from standard British dimensions. In particular, they used 26 threads/inch, rather than 24 for headsets and bottom brackets.

The rim style used on higher end Raleigh 3-speeds. The Raleigh pattern rim was similar to the Westwood rim, except that it had flat sides and square corners & could be used either with calliper - or rod brakes. It may have been the strongest rim ever made. This style of rim is most commonly found in the 590 mm (26 x 1 3/8) size and smaller. Raleigh pattern rims are sometimes also referred to as "Westrick", which is a made-up word combining "Westwood" with "Endrick." Westwood rims were only for use with rod brakes; Endrick rims were only for use with calliper brakes, but Raleigh Pattern, a.k.a. "Westrick" rims can be used with either type and combined the raised (or dropped, depending how you look at it) centre that keeps rod brake shoes free from the risk of hitting the spokes, with the flat sides required for rim brakes. Strong rims!

A French cycling term. The French word "randonnée" is not exactly translatable into English. The closest is probably "hike", which is not commonly used in bicycle contexts. A randonnée is an organized group ride, with some emphasis on speed, but it is not a race. Riders will typically be on road-racing or light-touring bicycles. Randonnées are often quite long, but do not normally involve stopping for the night away from the start. Some randonnées run all night. One of the most famous (and most rigorous) is the quadrennial Paris-Brest-Paris ride, 1200 kilometers, (750 miles) stopping only for meals and catnaps.  To be eligible to ride in major randonnées, a rider must qualify by riding a series of shorter randonnées called "brevets."

A French cycling term. A cyclist who participates in randonnées, or a type of drop handlebar, similar to the Maes bend, except for an upward sweep on either side of the stem, which provide a somewhat more upright riding position. This type of handlebar was formerly very popular on French touring bicycles, but has fallen out of fashion.

Shimano below-the-bar shift levers for upright handlebars. The original version of Rapidfire, introduced in the early '90's, had two thumb buttons, one above the other. One was for upshifting, the other for downshifting. Since the motion was the same for shifting in either direction, riders found it confusing, and it was quite unpopular. The newer generation, known as "Rapidfire Plus" uses a thumb button to shift to a larger sprocket, and an index-finger trigger to shift to a smaller one. This is a great ergonomic improvement, and Rapidfire Plus has been widely accepted.

A mechanism which will rotate freely ("freewheel")in one direction, but either will not turn the other way, or will drive some other part when turned the other way. A bicycle's freewheel has a ratchet which causes the sprocket to turn the wheel forward when the rider pedals forward, but allowing the wheel to turn forward even when the pedals are not being turned. Ratchet wrenches turn a nut or bolt only when moved in one direction, leaving the nut or bolt in place when turned the other way. This allows the wrench to be used by swinging it back and forth, without having to lift it off the nut or bolt for the backswing. A ratchet was also part of the Sun Tour Power Ratchet shift levers. Most ratchets use spring-loaded pawls to engaged a toothed ring for forward drive, while the teeth in the ring slide over the ends of the pawls when freewheeling.