40
votes
Why do we say we "ride" and not "drive" bicycles?
I imagine the difference has to do with the relevant analogy from when bikes and automobiles first started.
One "rides" a bike because it is very similar to what one does when one rides a ...
- 501
31
votes
What is an SUV bike?
This is a marketing term and means whatever the marketer wants it to mean.
- 29.2k
21
votes
Accepted
18
votes
What does 'campy' mean?
"Campy" is an affectionate name for Campagnolo, an Italian bicycle parts manufacturer. The reason why you see it specifically mentioned in many cases (whereas you don't see Shimano/SRAM mentioned) is ...
- 46.1k
15
votes
What is an SUV bike?
As pointed out by Adam, it's a "marketing" term and can be used the way the marketer wants. Some people in this group also consider that gravel bikes are the SUV of the bike world. The trend ...
- 17.6k
14
votes
What is the origin of BSO - and is it internationally recognized?
In German, I have never heard anything similar. I think one reason is that everyday cycling is more common and many people have a cheap, battered bike to get to the railway station or the local shop, ...
- 2,172
14
votes
Who is actually responsible for the bicycle classification?
No one is "responsible" for it. It's basically community consensus.
If a company releases a new category of bike - an "SUV" bike, for example - and customers pick up on the name ...
- 11.7k
12
votes
Accepted
What does 'tire clearance' mean?
Basically its the gap between the tyre and any non-wheel part of the bike frame.
Static clearance is almost exactly the same as the clearances you have while riding, as long as the wheel axle ...
- 121k
11
votes
Accepted
What to call bike brake levers with two gripping points?
I was hesitating to flag this post as a duplicate of Why don't brakes come with 'Safety Levers' any more?, but the other post is rich in the names of those "dual-pull" brake levers which ...
- 4,281
11
votes
Who is actually responsible for the bicycle classification?
To a large extent, bikes are categorized by their intended use. If a bike is labeled as a "road-racing bike," it probably meets UCI rules for road-racing bikes and is well-suited to that ...
- 29.2k
10
votes
Terminology: coaster brakes vs free wheel?
It doesn't make much sense to insist on one thing being the opposite of another, so let's just focus on what these things are, and you can decide for yourself what, if anything, is "opposite" of what.
...
- 17k
10
votes
Accepted
What are these parts of the frame called?
Those are cantilever or V-brake bosses. In cycling, a boss is a bump or protrusion. They are usually mounting points, and in this case the brake boss holds the post that your brake caliper is bolted ...
- 29.7k
10
votes
Accepted
What is this metal cage covering the rear derailleur?
It's known as a derailleur guard. It is designed to protect your derailleur against side impacts that may damage it.
It's not a problem to remove it, i've never had one myself, nor do I know anyone ...
- 18.3k
10
votes
What is an SUV bike?
They look like E-bikes built along the lines of MTB (wide tires, schock absorbing fork, hydraulic disk brakes, frame also looks similar maybe slightly longer, MTB drivetrain and gear ratios) but most ...
- 7,462
10
votes
Accepted
Pass/route/thread a chain? (Terminology)
FWIW, Shimano, in their Dealers Manuals discussing the installation and set up of their rear derailleurs use the term, "pass(ing)." As in, "When passing the chain through the derailleur....
- 9,747
9
votes
Accepted
What is the origin of BSO - and is it internationally recognized?
Just answering the first question, google says the first use was in January 2001 in the UK:
They link to WhyCycle which refers to a page by TheCyclingExperts titled "The Bicycle Shaped Object." Since ...
- 29.1k
8
votes
Accepted
What are these cable "unions" called
Not sure if there is a tradition term for these. At the time of writing I found Some products simply called cable splitters or separators and Ritchey quick disconnectors
- 75.5k
8
votes
Why do we say we "ride" and not "drive" bicycles?
This is an interesting question, but realistically better on English.SE than Bicycles.SE
I suspect it is the difference between being enclosed vs seated on-top or astride the vehicle. You would ride ...
- 121k
7
votes
Terminology index - a list of bike part names and cycling concepts
Pump Peg
A pump peg is a small protrusion on a bike frame which is intended to facilitate the mounting of a "frame pump". Depending on the style of the frame, the peg may be positioned to ...
7
votes
Terminology index - a list of bike part names and cycling concepts
Welded Frame
A frame made by melting the tubes it is built from at the joins, typically with a similar metal added as filler. For steel bikes, welding is more amenable to mass production than brazing ...
7
votes
Terminology index - a list of bike part names and cycling concepts
Dropper Posts
Dropper posts are more commonly found on mountain bikes and on some gravel bikes. They allow the rider to quickly lower their saddle height, and thus their center of gravity. This is ...
7
votes
What is the origin of BSO - and is it internationally recognized?
In Russia, the term for BSO is "ашанбайк" (ashan-bike).
It's named after one big supermarket which primarily sells food, but also BSOs.
There are a lot of places in Russia where it's possible to find ...
- 171
7
votes
Accepted
Where does the name "B-Tension" come from?
The B-screw is for "Body screw", since it affects the body angle of the derailleur.
B-Tension is Shimano's term for B-screw -- as Sheldon points out, on Campagnolo, the screw behaves the opposite of ...
- 46.1k
7
votes
What is the technical name for the push-on type of wheels that are found on some bicycle trailers?
As various people have noted, wheelchair hub is the correct term for these one-sided, push-button release hubs.
It goes without saying that this type of mechanism is now being widely used in cycle ...
- 29.1k
7
votes
Accepted
Shimano model number abbreviations
Shimano publishes archived Portable Document Format (PDF) documents on their website at:
https://productinfo.shimano.com/#/archive
For example, the 2019-2020 specification is at:
https://productinfo....
- 221
6
votes
Terminology index - a list of bike part names and cycling concepts
Bonk
An expression used by cyclists to describe sudden fatigue or loss of energy while exercising. Also known as crashing, blowing up, or running out of steam/gas/fuel, or empty tank. The phenomenon ...
6
votes
Terminology index - a list of bike part names and cycling concepts
Thru Axles / Through Axles
Through axles (TAs) are large-diameter threaded fasteners that secure the bike's wheels to the frame and fork, serving the same role as Quick Release Skewers. They ...
6
votes
Terminology index - a list of bike part names and cycling concepts
Brazed Frame
see also lugged frame and welded frame
A method of joining frame parts together by melting brass into the joins between frame tubes. Frames can be fillet brazed or use lugs, which are ...
6
votes
What does 'tire clearance' mean?
Tire clearance is measured with respect to something(s) (by default, the frame in the rear and the fork in the front and the brakes if there are rim brakes; if anything between the frame/fork/brakes ...
- 46.1k
6
votes
What is the origin of BSO - and is it internationally recognized?
In Poland "BSO" term is not widely recognized, nor used. This site is the very first place I've encountered it. I guess in non-english speaking world the situation is similar.
If one will translate ...
- 2,693
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible