6061 aluminum: An aerospace grade aluminum alloy that is a great material for bicycle frames.
7005 aluminum: Another great material for bicycle frames that can be welded without requiring an expensive heat treating process.
700c wheel: The standard wheel size for most road bikes.
Baby Head: Slang for a trail-interrupting rock about the size of a baby's head.
Bottom Bracket - Either the short threaded tube that runs perpendicular to the rest of the frame tubes where the cranks attach, or the actual set of spindle and bearings that threads into the frame. back to top
Carbon Fiber: A bicycle frame material made from woven carbon strands. The woven carbon material impregnated with high tech epoxy resins and then layered and molded into the appropriate shapes. Can feature a very high strength to weight ratio.
Cassette: The set of toothed cogs that make up the gears attached to the rear wheel - usually 7, 8 or 9 cogs of different sizes make up the cassette. The number of cogs on the crank multiplied by the number of cogs on the cassette equal how many gears a bike has. back to top
Chainrings: 1: The set of toothed rings (usually three) that are bolted to the right crankarm. 2: An integral part of the drivetrain, as the chainrings move the chain. back to top
Chainstays: Frame tubes that connects the bottom bracket to the rear dropouts, where the rear wheel is attached. Run the same path as the chain, thus the name. back to top
City/Path or Hybrid: The grafting together of a road bike and a mountain bike in a model equally suited for road and trail riding.
Crank: The two-armed mechanism that connects the pedals to the front chainring. back to top
Cro-moly: Short for Chromium-Molybdenum. A very high technology steel blend, using small amounts of chromium and molybdenum to add strength.
Cross-Country: (also refered to as XC) Derived from the most popular discipline of mountain bike racing, it describes a course or ride that includes all types of terrain, uphill and down. Also describes a bike suited for such a course.
Derailleur, Front: Device that moves the chain between the chainrings, making larger gear ratio changes of the drivetrain when compared to the rear derailleur. back to top
Derailleur, Rear: Device that moves the chain between the cogs of the cassette, changing the gear ratio of the drivetrain. back to top
Disc Brakes: A braking system that has a dedicated disc for the braking surface. Can substantially improve the braking modulation and control over traditional V-brakes. back to top
Down Tube: Frame tube which connects the bottom bracket and the headtube. back to top
Downhill: A mountain bike event that challenges the rider to get down a hill as quickly as possible. Also traditionally describes especially durable, long-travel bikes.
Drivetrain: The system that transfers pedaling power to the rear wheel. Includes the cranks, chainrings, bottom bracket, chain, derailleurs, and cassette.
Dropouts: The hook-shaped pieces of the frame which contact the hub of the front and rear wheels. The dropouts attach the wheels to the bike. back to top
Fork: Attaches the steering system (handlebars and stem), to the front wheel. back to top
Frame: The heart of the bicycle all parts of the bicycle are attached to the frame. back to top
Full Suspension: Refers to shock absorbing suspension systems for both front and rear bike wheels. Also called dual suspension.
Hardtail: A mountain bike without rear suspension. The traditional mountain bike.
Head Tube: 1: Forward-most tube of the frame, which runs perpendicular to the ground. 2: Connects the front stem to the fork in combination with the headset. back to top
Headset: The headset is the pair of bearings and bearing races (races are things that bearings sit in) at each end of the head tube that allow the fork to steer the bicycle smoothly. back to top
Hi-Ten or Hi Tensile Steel: A grade of steel tubing that has exceptional fatigue life. A good material for bicycle frames but not as lightweight as Cro-Moly.
NORBA: National Offroad Bicycling Association. The sanctioning body behind Mountain bike racing in the United States.
Pedal Bob: The undesirable rear bobbing motion that occurs in a traditional full suspension bike as a result of pedaling
Pedals, Clipless: Similar to ski bindings, clipless pedals contain a mechanism which attaches to a cleat in the bottom of dedicated cycling shoes. Creates an efficient pedaling motion that allows the rider to pull up as well as push down on the pedals.
Pedals, Platform: Simple two-sided flat pedals that work well with standard footwear.
Pivot: Any hinge on a full suspension bike. Usually. the fewer pivots the better, as they reduce lateral stiffness and often require maintenance.
Road Bike: A bike with narrow tires best suited for paved roads. Usually noted by drop style bars.
Seat Stays: Frame tubes that connects from the frame near the seatpost to the rear dropouts, where the rear wheel is attached, on a hardtail bicycle.
Singletrack: Usually a narrow trail best suited for mountain bikes, as opposed to a double track, which is usually a trail intended for auto use.
Swingarm: On full suspension bikes, the mechanism where the rear wheel is attached which moves as the rear suspension is activated. Usually made up of the chainstays and seatstays of the bicycle. back to top
T6 Aluminum: A gauge of hardness for aluminum frame material. The T6 standard makes a very strong and structurally sound frame.
Technical: Synonymous with challenging The more technical terrain, the more difficult. Traditionally involves singletrack trails with multiple obstacles and variance in terrain.
Travel: The distance a suspension system allows the wheel to move. The greater the travel, the greater the ability to absorb bigger bumps.
Tube Butting: 1. A process that varies the wall thickness of the bicycle tubes. 2. Usually engineered to have more material (thicker tubes) near the welds where strength is needed. Thinner walls are more appropriate towards the center of the tubes where stresses are less. 3. The butting process saves weight and can provide a more resilient ride.
Tubeless: Similar to a car tire where no tube is needed to keep the tire inflated. Tubeless tires can reduce the number of flats experienced due to hitting a hard object that may pinch and puncture an innertube.
UCI: Union Cycliste Internationale. The world's governing body for all competitive cycling- road. mountain. cyclocross track and bmx.
Wheel system: An integrated wheel structure where the spokes. runs and hubs are specifically designed to work together.
Zirconium 9000 alloy: Aluminum alloy that uses a percentage of Zirconium mixed in with aluminum alloy to create a stronger bicycle tube.
