Bike Shorthand: Acronyms, Terms, Phrases We Use

We've covered quite a few in the Pet Peeves thread e.g. Salmoning, Shoaling, etc. and I was thinking it's a good time to think about building a Chainlink resource for these terms. What do you think? Do you have terms you use that your non-bike friends and family wouldn't understand e.g. n+1?

So share it here - give the term and the definition and we'll build an Urban Bike Terms resource for The Chainlink.

Huggers - Usually a newb who is afraid to be too close to the moving cars so they hug the parked cars, risking a dooring crash.

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Permalink Reply by Adam C. on August 2, 2017 at 11:47pm

Bonk - I know most of us seasoned cyclists know the term, but new riders, or those non-cyclists just checking out the ChainLink may not be familiar with the term...

"The symptoms of a bonk can vary, but on a physical side you will generally feel extremely weak and tired and you may shake, sweat a lot and feel dizzy or light-headed. You may also have heart palpitations and will probably be very hungry. Bonking can also affect the brain as that too burns glucose, and you may feel anxious, irritable, confused and emotional."

I was talking with my brother last week about I ride I did on the Old Plank Road trail a few weeks back when I came "this close" to the dreaded bonk. He gave me a funny look and said he had no idea what I was talking about. No, he doesn't ride, thus my having to explain the term to him.

:~)

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Permalink Reply by daWillinChi on August 3, 2017 at 3:54am

"Cat 6 Douche"

I didn't invent this, but oh boy, do I see a lot of those...

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Permalink Reply by Dave Jacque on August 3, 2017 at 5:35am

"Sharrows" and "PBLs"

"Rails to Trails." Old railroad rights-of-way converted to bicycling and hiking trails (e.g. Illinois Prairie Path). I've heard it used as an adjective to describe straight, flat, limestone trails, but could also apply to paved urban routes like the 606.

"Urban tumbleweed." Plastic shopping bags.

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Permalink Reply by Ernesto Lube on August 3, 2017 at 5:54am

"Retractable mud spanks"

People with dogs / retractable leashes - too busy looking at their phones, and lack the experience to retract the leash quickly when there are runners, pedestrians, cyclists, moms, uncles, beach balls, cops, etc., on the bike path.

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Permalink Reply by Alex Z on August 3, 2017 at 8:58am

"Bike Ninja" is mentioned here often.

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Permalink Reply by Carter O'Brien on August 4, 2017 at 5:56am

I call the goldbricking cyclists on the LFT who stay 6 inches behind you to draft "tailgaters", but on a lark I did a quick search and found they are also known as "wheel suckers":

https://quizlet.com/96811057/cycle-lingo-flash-cards/