Lingo lesson for the masses: saddles, seatposts, clipless & lycra...

I know, I said I would give a new term each week leading up to the Tour of California. I have been negligent, and had a lapse last week. To make up for it, since I know you all depend on this so, so much, I will present you with four terms this week. For the most part these terms fall into the category of misnomers, a wrong or inaccurately used name or designation. Correct use of these terms will help you fit in, or at least make it sound like you possess, at the least, a more than rudimentary cycling background.


So, remember these: In official cycling parlance a seat is a saddle, but a seatpost is not a saddlepost; we clip into clipless pedals; and lycra, not spandex, is the generally accepted term of what we wear.


The first term, saddle, is relatively easy to understand. The connection to horses is an old one, and other examples of this connection continue to this day. You may often hear riders referring to their bikes as steeds, with each new bike they purchase being added to their stable. When bikes were developed and first became widespread, the view was that they would replace horses, especially in urban areas; they did not require food, maintenance and care was minimal, there was nothing to clean up after, they were fast and efficient. Differences aside, it was easy to perceive the saddle on a horse becoming a saddle on the bicycle. Early bicycle saddles would have been made of leather, as many of the most sought after to this day continue to be made of that material. Beyond this, though, is a more technical reason: Saddles, be they on horse or bike, only support a portion of the riders' weight. Other contact points provide weight support roles as well; pedals and handlebars on a bike, stirrups on a horse. Seats, on the other hand, are intended to support the full weight of a person.


Second term: So why then to we call the part that connects the saddle to bike frame a seatpost? If the thing we perch upon is a saddle and not a seat, why seatpost and not saddlepost? I confess, I have no authoritative answer for you. It just is. Who knows, languages are in constant states of flux, and any number of years down the line we may figure this out or gain some enlightenment, and the two terms become aligned. For now though we have to accept that saddles and seatposts go together.


Third term: How can one clip into a clipless pedal? Doesn't really make much sense. The confusion, I think, has to do with the fact that there are two different things going on here. The first is an action, whereby we clip into our pedals using cleats attached to the bottom of our shoes, in order to maximize pedaling efficiency (see Turning Circles). The second refers to an object. Before technology changed the game, the goal of pedaling efficiency was accomplished through the use of toe-clips and straps in order to secure shoes and thus feet to the pedal. Same goal, just different means. Anyway, once ski boot technology was applied to bicycle pedals, it rendered the old toe clips obsolete (at least within the racing world). Certain sub sects in the cycling sphere continue to use clips and straps. Excluding them, however, pedals used by racers lack toe clips and are thus clipless. So, you see, you really can clip into clipless pedals. 


Fourth term: Lycra vs Spandex. If you search to internet for the difference between these two terms you will find something saying that for all intents and purposes they are the same thing, same material at the least. The difference being that spandex is the generic term, and lycra is a brand name. I have taken this opportunity to examine some of the bibs I have to compare what is noted on their tags. 

nylon, elastane (European name for Spandex)

nylon, spandex, polyester

nylon, lycra

nylon, lycra, polyester

Naturally, and as you can see, they are all composed of multiple materials; two use the generic Spandex, two the brand name Lycra. Anyway, what has happened in cycling is that the brand name has become the accepted term, much like the brand name Kleenex has become the defacto term for all nose tissue. I am sure this makes the Lycra people happy, just as it probably makes the Kleenex people happy. You will have to kind of take my word on this one, or listen around for yourself. Most of us who actually wear the stuff will use the term lycra. Spandex has been relegated to the past, 80s disco dancers, glam rock and roll, and to certain non-cycling applications in more recent times. 

Until next time, when I tell you what a bib is, choose your words wisely.

Lingo lesson for the masses: Squirrel...

Squirrel (n) this term is used to refer to an individual in the peloton who rides in an unpredictable manner, possibly as a result of nervousness or inexperience. Riders new to the peloton and unfamiliar with riding in close proximity, and perhaps unsure of their own bike handling skills, may most often be categorized as squirrels. However, a squirrel is not unique to the class of newer, less experienced riders. Long-time riders in the professional peloton can, time to time, suffer from a case of ragged nerves. The first week of a major tour, such as the Tour de France, is often riddled with crashes as anxious racers adjust and settle in. Even the early miles of single day races may serve as an adjustment period. 

If the term squirrel refers to an individual rider, then squirrely (adj) refers to the act of riding in an unpredictable manner. "Watch that Wagner guy, he's riding really squirrely today" or "man, things were really squirrely out there today" are a couple examples of how to use the term. If someone should call you a squirrel, don't take it too personally, it is something that most people experience at some point, and it will most likely pass within a short period of time as you gain more experience and familiarity with the workings of the peloton, and as your own handling skills improve.


Why squirrel? I suspect it has to do with the apparent nervous nature of the little creatures. Their constant running around, and sudden changes of direction. Additionally, anyone who rides for any length of time will eventually acquire a squirrel story such as the time a squirrel ran out into the road, got itself in a wheel of a rider out front, and was flung up into the air, and over the head of a rider behind. Nothing else would provide quite as apt a description.

Lingo lesson for the masses: Peloton...

One of the things I recommended (earlier post) you do in preparation of the Tour of California visiting Claremont this May, was to learn the lingo of the cycling world. That way when the race becomes the talk of the town, you will be able to impress your friends and neighbors, or at least converse with all the racing types who will invade for a day or two. One way to do this might be to find a glossary of cycling terms; they are around, in books or online, and not too difficult to find. Short of that, you can check in here, and I will present you with a new term (at least one) each week - how to pronounce it correctly, define it, and explain how to use it. This method is time consuming and a bit of a pain in the a**, but it is a quick and easy post for me.

For the first term we might as well start big and basic - peloton. The word peloton is a three sylable noun, pronounced as pel-ɘ-tån. The word is of French origin, apparently dating to the 1950s, although that seems a bit late to moi. The peloton is the main group of racers in any given race. I say main group because the peloton can fracture at multiple times during a race, with smaller groups in front or behind. In fact, the peloton is usually in a constant state of flux.

Peloton is not the only word used to describe this group - if you have an Italian bent, rather than French, you might use the term groupo, you might even just call it the group. But, peloton seems to be the most widely accepted term. If you choose to use the term groupo, you should be aware that groupo also refers to a group of bike components, all of the same model and manufacture, such as Campagnolo Record, or Shimano Dura-Ace. If you find someone saying he has a full Chorus groupo on his latest bike, it does not mean that he carries around a lot of people with great voices; it just means all his components are Campagnolo Chorus. Also don't confuse groupo with groupie - the one is inside looking out, the other is outside wanting in. Best just to stick with peloton or group (without the 'o'), less confusion that way. Another thing to consider is that peloton usually, if not always, refers to a road event. For instance a group of mountain bikers up in the hills, no matter how large the group is, and to the best of my knowledge, will never be referred to as a peloton. Similarly, a group of cyclocross racers may be a peloton at the very start of a race, but before one lap as been completed, the racers will be so completely spread out around the course as to make the use of the term, well, useless.

So, how do you use the word? Simply put, I recommend sparingly. Some common times and ways to use it include when something happens to the group, such as "that crosswind absolutely decimated the peloton today" or, "the hills will quickly take their toll on the peloton." Additionally, mix up its use with the word group, which is a perfectly acceptable word. They are interchangeable. Keep in mind that, although the term peloton has become the most widely accepted word to call the larger group of racers, it is not necessarily the most often used, especially in this country. Group will suffice in most occasions.