Do we have a word for it?

Cyclists seem to have developed an extensive vocabulary all their own. Words like "Fred" and "shoaling" have isolated me from bikeless friends time and time again (not to mention their transportation preferences). However, it occurred to me today that I didn't have a word for when one's tire gets grabbed by a train track or other monstrous hole in the street, for example, the tire eating gap between the Blue Island bike lane and the road. Is there a word for this? Perhaps it's time to expand our repertoire as cyclists and invent some new jargon. I'd like a word for the much hated stop sign wave-through, too.

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Permalink Reply by Glenn Bradford on July 12, 2013 at 4:05am

On the trail over to Wheaton from Oak Park, there are a lot of fissures in the trail - long cracks running the direction of travel. My wife and I are now in the habit of yelling out "Fish!" when we see one - mostly its fun to watch other people be confused...

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Permalink Reply by Gort 12-mile Pinklegneep on July 12, 2013 at 5:59am

anyone who uses Fred in conversation is a total splink.

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Permalink Reply by David P. on July 12, 2013 at 7:08am

My mom's husband was acquainted with the Ur-Fred and I'm pretty sure he woulda thunk the whole thing silly. I still like the term, though, if used light-heartedly.

Evan said:

Actually I believe that the the guys you describe as "Freds" here have their own description of what a "Fred" is and that is some one who is not like them (seriously). That is why these terms are a bit cliche.

Reply by Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) 2 hours ago

Fred: Someone who thinks they are a professional cyclist, dresses the part, owns a $5,000+ crabon fiber racing bike, etc. Commonly seen cutting people off on the Lake Front Trail.

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Permalink Reply by Brandon Moorhead on July 12, 2013 at 7:56am

I vote bead wedgee and Chicago Standoff.

Is there a term for adults that exclusively ride on the sidewalk?

Thunder Snow said:

Word.

Tire trap; tread gobbler; bead wedgee.

NoYuGo-NoUGo; Chicago Standoff; Idiot Stop.

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Permalink Reply by Bez on July 12, 2013 at 8:11am

I've always heard that referred to as sidewalk surfing, and the people as surfers. Less here and more commonly out west (, Colorado, California, Arizona)
Brandon Moorhead said:

I vote bead wedgee and Chicago Standoff.

Is there a term for adults that exclusively ride on the sidewalk?

Thunder Snow said:

Word.

Tire trap; tread gobbler; bead wedgee.

NoYuGo-NoUGo; Chicago Standoff; Idiot Stop.

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Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on July 12, 2013 at 8:20am

Road Roach

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Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on July 12, 2013 at 8:27am

Sidewalk Scofflaw.

Brandon Moorhead said:

Is there a term for adults that exclusively ride on the sidewalk?

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on July 12, 2013 at 8:32am

+1

Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) said:

Sidewalk Scofflaw.

Brandon Moorhead said:

Is there a term for adults that exclusively ride on the sidewalk?

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Permalink Reply by Joe Byrd on July 18, 2013 at 4:42am

Shoaling is one of those cross over concepts in Chicago because so many motorists do it. Usually in a way that uses up the bike lane. My favorite is southbound on Elston at Damen where cars shoal in the turn lane that should be taking them south on Damen.

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Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on July 18, 2013 at 5:04am

When cars to do this it really tests my fragile ability to keep my cool. I think I find it so infuriating because it is wrong on so many levels: it is a car cheating against a car (or more often, several cars) and it blocks the bike lane. To make things worse, in most cases one can't be sure if the violator is a shoaler or is actually there to make a turn, since using a turn signal is pretty much a lost art for chicago motorists.

Joe Byrd said:

Shoaling is one of those cross over concepts in Chicago because so many motorists do it. Usually in a way that uses up the bike lane. My favorite is southbound on Elston at Damen where cars shoal in the turn lane that should be taking them south on Damen.