A bike lover's dictionary

A

Aerodynamics

The science of detail and watts saved. Position, helmet, wheels, clothing: everything counts as speed increases.

Steel

The bike's historic material. Comfortable, durable, repairable anywhere in the world. Still beloved for touring and randonneur bikes.

Adventure Cycling

More a philosophy than a discipline: riding far, for a long time, often loaded, always free.

B

Gear ratio

The ratio between chainring and sprocket. Too big and it breaks your legs; too small and you spin out. The right gear ratio always depends on the context.

Bikepacking

The art of travelling light with soft bags attached to the frame. Born where gravel, ultra-distance and minimalism meet.

Tubular

The former racing standard. Light, high-performing, demanding. Still found on pro bikes.

C

Frame

The backbone of the bike. Its geometry defines how it behaves: stable, lively, playful or reassuring.

Cargo

The utility bike par excellence. Longtail, two-wheeler or trike: it replaces the car in everyday life.

Cassette

The set of rear sprockets. The more teeth it offers, the more accessible the mountains become.

D

Derailleur

The conductor of the drivetrain. Front or rear, mechanical or electronic, it turns effort into fluidity.

Descent

The reward. Pure sensations, handling, confidence. Where everything is decided… in a few seconds.

Drafting

Aerodynamic shelter behind another rider. The foundation of race strategy.

E

Endurance

The ability to keep going. More mental than physical over long distances.

Electric (e-bike)

The bike's modern revolution. It broadens the uses, the audiences and the places within reach.

Stage

One day, one distance, one story. A term borrowed from professional cycling.

F

Fork

Rigid or suspended, it guides your line. On a mountain bike, its travel changes everything.

Disc brake

Powerful, consistent, reliable in the rain. Now the norm, even on the road.

Fixie

A fixed-gear bike. Total simplicity, a direct connection between legs and wheel.

G

Gravel

The hybrid bike par excellence. Fast on the road, playful on trails, ideal for modern travel.

Geometry

Angles, lengths, wheelbase. Invisible to the naked eye, fundamental to the feel.

Groupset

Drivetrain + brakes. Shimano, SRAM, Campagnolo: three schools, three philosophies.

H

Seat stays

The rear parts of the frame. Their shape influences comfort and stiffness.

History of the Tour

Since 1903, the Tour de France has shaped the world's cycling imagination.

Winter ride

A cold, slow, often muddy ride. Loved by purists.

I

Wandering

Travelling with no precise goal. The bike as a compass.

Load index

Essential for cargo bikes. It guarantees safety and durability.

Isobaric

Constant tyre pressure: the key to comfort and grip.

J

Rim

What the tyre sits on. Aluminium or carbon, deep or shallow, every choice has an impact.

Off day

Even the best have them. Cycling teaches humility.

K

Kilometres

The silent trace of use. More than a number, a memory.

Kerosene avoided

Every bike journey is an ecological victory.

L

Longtail

A cargo bike extended at the rear. Versatile, agile, family-friendly.

Lactic

The burn. A sign the body is talking… sometimes too loudly.

Lanterne rouge

Last in the Tour's general classification. Often more popular than the winner.

M

Mechanics

Knowing how to repair, adjust, understand. The bike makes you self-reliant.

Single chainring

Modern simplicity. One chainring, a wide range of gears.

Mountains

Cycling's mythical terrain. Where legends are forged.

N

Night ride

Silence, light, heightened sensations. Often unforgettable.

Saddle height

A few millimetres change everything. A source of pain or pleasure.

O

Overnighter

A one-night bikepacking micro-adventure. Short, intense, addictive.

Oval chainrings

Chainring shape designed to optimise the pedal stroke.

P

Peloton

A collective body. Shelter, strategy, constant tension.

Pannier rack

The foundation of traditional touring. Still unbeatable.

Fixed gear

Direct drive. No cheating.

Q

Ride quality

The result of tyres, pressure, frame and surface. Comfort above all.

R

Randonneur

The historic touring bike. Elegance, robustness, timelessness.

Refuelling

The cyclist's fuel. Underestimated… until the bonk.

Rigidity

Power transfer. Too much is tiring; too little feels soft.

S

Bags

Front, rear, frame, saddle. Organising the world in fabric.

Sprint

The final explosion. Raw power and perfect timing.

Shimano

The global industrial benchmark of the modern bike.

T

Drivetrain

Chain, cassette, chainrings. The mechanical heart of the bike.

Tubeless

No inner tube. Fewer punctures, more comfort.

Time

In racing, it's an obsession. On a journey, it disappears.

U

Ultra-distance

Beyond 300 km. The bike becomes introspection.

Wear

Chain, tyres, brake pads. Proof that you ride.

V

Cargo bike

A social and ecological tool. It transforms the city.

Wind

Friend or foe. Never neutral.

Velodrome

The temple of track cycling. Purity of movement.

W

Watts

The modern measure of effort. Fascinating… sometimes obsessive.

Workshop

A workshop, mutual help, passing on knowledge.

X

XTR

A high-end mountain bike groupset. Performance without compromise.

Y

Yield

Managing effort. Knowing when to push and when to save energy.

Z

Zenith

The perfect moment when everything lines up: legs, bike, landscape.

Red zone

Where it hurts. You never stay long… but you always come back.