Abbreviation of cross country. Type of geography which features surfaces unimproved for bicycle riding and/or running. In the most technical sense, this would even exclude hiking paths, and as such, it is a less general term than off road.

Five to twenty minutes of easy jogging/spinning/swimming before a race or a workout. The point of a warm-up is to raise one’s heart rate so the body (and its muscles) are looser before a tough workout begins.

A ripply patch of road or trail.

Derogatory term for cyclist who drafts behind others and doesn’t take his turn at the front. Also “parasite”.

An indoor trainer for cycling. The bike is mounted on stand that holds the rear wheel. When the bike is pedaled, the rear wheel turns a device that provides resistance.

Steady acceleration to an all-out effort.

“world best” – a recorded best time for an event in which formal world records are not kept. For instance, the fastest time at 150m, a non-standard distance, is a “world best” rather than a “world record”. Similar distinctions are made for road races which do not meet certain standards, such as races with excessive amounts of downhill.

WR – world record

A banked track for bicycle racing.

International term similar to “master” in the U.S. According to the IAAF, men become “veterans” on their 40th birthday; women, on their 35th birthday.

Less common than overpronation condition. The running shoes of underpronators show outsole wear on the lateral (outer) side not just at the heel but all the way up to the forefoot. Typically, underpronators tend to break down the heel counters of their shoes on the lateral side.

A team in adventure race that is allowed to continue without all their teammates, or having missed a portion of the race course. Such team may finish the race but will not be listed in the official rankings.

The leather or mesh material of the shoe that encloses the foot on the top.

The umbrella organization for U.S. bicycle racing.

USAT: USA Triathlon. The governing body of triathlon racing in the United States.

U.S. Cycling Federation, the organization that governs amateur road and track racing in America. A division of USA Cycling.

U.S. Professional Racing Organization, the organization in charge of professional bicycle racing in America. A division of USA Cycling.

Transition area (n.) where your stuff hangs out and waits for you while you’re doing other things. Sometimes, they’re in two places. At an Ironman, your stuff is in bags and thousands of volunteers grab it for you, help you change, put sunscreen on you and hand you your bike. It’s like being a tri-celibrity.

T1 (n.) transition #1. Where you go to switch from swim to bike.
T2 (n.) transition #2. Where you go to switch from bike to run.
T3 (n.) transition #3. Where you go to switch from run to massage or food. This term is not as well-knwn as T1 and T2, but is equally as important.

To whack something in such a manner that you bend your wheel in the shape of a taco. Your wheel is now tacoed.

The art of snot rocketing while on the bike. Cycling makes everyone have a runny nose. It’s physics. Place your hand on nostril opposite the snot-loaded one, and blow.

example:

You: Dang it! I just snot on myself!

Your friend: Gross! You gotta work on that.

Your friend then proceeds to snot on you, and in trying to avoid the gelatinous projectile, you swerve and hit something, tacoing your wheel.

Types of Running Shoes

Cushioning shoes provide elevated shock absorption and minimal medial (arch side) support. They’re best for runners who are mild pronators or supinators. Cushioning shoes are also good for neutral runners during off-pavement runs. Reason: Minor irregularities in surfaces such as dirt roads give feet a little variety from the repetitive, same-spot strikes they typically experience on hard surfaces.

Stability shoes help decelerate basic pronation. They’re good for neutral runners or those who exhibit mild to moderate overpronation. They often include a “post” (see Shoe Construction 101, below) in the midsole. Due to their extra support features, virtually all trail-running shoes fall in the stability category.

Motion control shoes offer features such as stiffer heels or a design built on straighter lasts to counter overpronation. They’re best for runners who exhibit moderate to severe overpronation.

Here are some general guidelines:

switchback – a 90-degree or greater turn.

swag – 1) prizes; 2) free products given out at races, festivals, or expos by manufacturers.

supination – the opposite of pronation. It’s an outward rolling of the forefoot that naturally occurs during the stride cycle at toe-off. Oversupination occurs when the foot remains on its outside edge after heel strike instead of pronating. A true oversupinating foot underpronates or does not pronate at all so it doesn’t absorb shock well. It is a rare condition occurring in less than 1 percent of the running population.

Race Director.

Recommended Daily Intake.

repetition, reps –

1. each hard effort / distance repeat in the interval workout;
2. one complete movement in a weight-training exercise (repetitions of a specific movement within a group of exercises called a set).

To work against resistance to build strength. The resistance can come from weights and other training devices, gravity, wind or rolling resistance in cycling.

Someone who is slow to accept new technology.

A mass-start bike- or running race that goes from point to point or covers one large loop on the surfaced roads.

Any skin abrasion resulting from falling off and sliding on the road or dirt.

A cyclist who prefers road riding, on a road bike, as opposed to a mountain biker.

rollers – 1) an indoor training device that works like a treadmill for bikes; 2) a series of short hills.

Related Links

• Read more at Wikipedia
• Check out How Stuff Works

Types of Running Shoes

Cushioning shoes provide elevated shock absorption and minimal medial (arch side) support. They’re best for runners who are mild pronators or supinators. Cushioning shoes are also good for neutral runners during off-pavement runs. Reason: Minor irregularities in surfaces such as dirt roads give feet a little variety from the repetitive, same-spot strikes they typically experience on hard surfaces.

Stability shoes help decelerate basic pronation. They’re good for neutral runners or those who exhibit mild to moderate overpronation. They often include a “post” (see Shoe Construction 101, below) in the midsole. Due to their extra support features, virtually all trail-running shoes fall in the stability category.

Motion control shoes offer features such as stiffer heels or a design built on straighter lasts to counter overpronation. They’re best for runners who exhibit moderate to severe overpronation.

Here are some general guidelines:

quick-release skewer – the shaft of a quick-release mechanism that goes through the wheel axle or seat clamp and connects the cam-lever on one side with the adjusting nut on the other.