It has happened to all of us, we started a new activity, and we do not know many of the technical words or the jargon used by those who have been practicing it for some time. Sometimes we do not want to sound new, and we do not ask what they mean and claim to understand what they are talking about. For example, the mongoose 26 mountain bike has a good body. Although in reality, we have no idea what they are talking about. Do not worry. Below we will leave you a short dictionary with some of the most used words in mountain biking.

Common terms in MTB

1. Singletrack

It refers to a narrow path. A small path that runs through the forest or mount, through which only one bicycle fits at a time, hence its name. So if you hear, “what good singletracks this place has,” you know what they mean.

2. Grip

The grip is the grip that the bicycle tires have on the terrain. If the ground is very loose, “you don’t have much grip,” and if the morning breeze freshly sprays the ground, “you will have excellent grip. ” At first, it can be a bit confusing since they can also refer to the handlebar grips or grips.

3. Drop

This term refers to a cut in the road that must be passed or crossed by jumping. If they are very low, you can choose to lower it as a step, but if they are very high, you can only jump or you will have to get off the bike. In phrases like “on the singletrack, there are three drops that you have to jump to go down the fluid.”

4. Flow

The flow is achieved when you travel a path with fluid speed, a thin down like you’re floating along the way. The flow is when you manage to pass the obstacles of the trail without stopping. A couple of examples of its use would be:

“Ugh, catch a flow on this descent like never before.”

“I ran into a cow on the road and I took off all the flow.”

5. Dropper

The Dropper is a component for the bicycle that allows the height of the saddle to be adjusted automatically. It works with a retractable tube with either a mechanical or hydraulic mechanism.

6. Bunnyhop

It is a cycling skill that is based on jumping with both wheels at the same time. It is a useful movement when there are obstacles on the path, such as logs or a stone.

7. Rocking horse or wheelie

This is another of the cycling skills that, in addition to serving your performance, will also make you look “Pro.” The movement consists of lifting the front wheel and, at the same time, pedaling to move forward.

8. Manual

Sometimes it is confused with the wheelie, but the big difference is that the manual only raises the front wheel and goes for a long time without pedaling. To achieve a manual, it is necessary to pull the handlebars in a standing position on the bike.

9. QOM or KOM

It comes from the “King of the mountain,” which means the king of the mountain and for the female category, we have QOM, “Queen of the mountain.” It is a prize that you obtain for exceeding the global time of a cycling application that automatically times both the descents and the ascents. Obtaining the KOM or QOM has become the challenge of every cyclist to show who climbs the fastest.

10. Bonk

The bonk is a sudden and intense feeling of tiredness or fatigue. It can be caused by an excess of carbohydrates, which gradually leave the muscle groups. So if you hear your friends say, “I bonked yesterday,” do not worry. It’s normal.

11. Flat tire

A flat tire is exactly what it says: a tire that has a hole, which causes the air to escape from it. In addition, it is worth noting that accidents have been known to cause flat tires as well as tire pressure that is too low.

12. Bail

To bail is to escape with the bike. The term appears in phrases like, “I’m going to bail out now” or “if I do not leave within 10 seconds, I have to bail.”

13. Pump track

The pump track consists of a path inside an open space without obstacles where your only job is to pedal as fast as possible to increase your cardio.

14. MTB or bike

The MTB is the most commonly used term when referring to a mountain bike, but it can also be replaced by the word “bike.” So, if they say, “I’ve been biking since I was 6,” you know what they are talking about.

15. Endo

The endo is a type of fall that is very dangerous because it is done without always knowing it. It consists of rotating the pedals around the axis of the bike, causing the back tire to lift up next to you.

16. Strava

Strava is a platform for cyclists that records data by GPS through an application that can be downloaded on smartphones or other devices. Once recorded, this data can be used to improve your performance or simply compare it with other cyclists.

17. Wheelie

The wheelie is a type of cycling in which you raise the front wheel of the bike and keep it in that position while you pedal. It is a trick that is often used in show competitions and is also very useful when you want to cross an obstacle on the path quickly.

18. Track stand

The track stand is a movement that allows you to stop completely without putting your foot on the ground. It is done by balancing the bike on the rear wheel and keeping the front wheel in the air.

19. Climb

When we talk about climbing, we are referring to ascending a mountain or any other obstacle with our bike. It is one of the most feared activities for cyclists because it tests their physical condition and their technical skills.

20. Descent

The descent, on the other hand, is the activity that we perform when going down a mountain or any other obstacle. It is where we use all our speed and braking to control the bike and avoid accidents.

21. Stomp

Stomp is a technique that we use to increase the speed of the bike in a descent. It is done by pressing hard on the pedals to get more traction and, therefore, more speed.

22. Sufferfest

The sufferfest is an event or competition in which cyclists challenge themselves to the limit. It can be a race or simply a ride where the only goal is to test your physical and mental condition.

23. Aero

The aero position is a cycling position that allows you to reduce the air resistance and, therefore, improve your speed. It is done by leaning forward and stretching your body as much as possible.

24. Shred

Shred is a term used to describe the act of riding a mountain bike in an aggressive and risky way. It is usually used when we are talking about descending and involves doing tricks and jumps.

25. Dropper post

The dropper post is a type of Seatpost that allows you to lower or raise the saddle quickly while cycling. This is very helpful when you want to change your position on the bike quickly.

26. Grit

Grit is a term that is used to describe the mental toughness that cyclists need to have in order to overcome difficult challenges. It is what allows them to keep going even when they are tired and their body is screaming for them to stop.

28. LBS

LBS is an acronym that stands for “Local Bike Shop.” It is a term used to describe small businesses that are dedicated to selling and repairing bicycles.

29. Loose

Loose is a term used to describe the condition of your equipment or bicycle when you can feel that they are not working properly? For example, if you cannot use the brakes, but you hear the sound of metal rubbing against metal, it means that there is sand or mud in them and it makes sense to go back to the LBS.

30. Dab

A dab is a term used to describe the act of putting your foot on the ground to stabilize yourself while cycling. It is often used in extreme conditions, such as during descent or when you are riding in very rough terrain.

Conclusion

These are just some of the mountain biking terms that you should know. They will help you to better understand this sport and to communicate with other cyclists. Keep in mind that there is always something new to learn, so don’t be afraid to ask around or search for information online.

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