What Lingo Do I Need To Know For A Group Ride?

Hey, we get it. You are showing up for your first-ever group ride and people are throwing around all kinds of words. Should I have brought a dictionary, will someone please tell me how the heck I say chamois, what bibs are and why would I want a pair? You don’t need to worry about studying any flashcards at NKC, but we are here to provide a little more insight into what the lycra-clad finance bro is rambling on about at the front of a group ride.

Rolling: This one is pretty easy to figure out, typically it’s used when coming up to a stop sign or light in an intersection. The group leader will give this command to the group if the intersection is clear or if a green light just turned yellow, etc.

Dropped: We’ll tell you one thing, you won’t get dropped at No Kit Club. Getting dropped means you fall off the group during the ride or race. If you’re new to cycling or are looking for a casual cruise you’ll want to find a No Drop ride. These types of rides have someone who is a dedicated sweeper. Their goal is to communicate with the ride leader if the group is separating too much.

Bonk: Have you ever started out strong on a ride and then out of nowhere you hit a wall? Congrats! You’ve experienced a bonk. Typically you haven’t fueled yourself enough before hand or during your ride. Looking for the perfect things to give you energy on your ride? Check out The Feed. for some of my favorite treats!

Chamois: There are two sides to this, we have the American pronunciation of Sha-Mee or the British of Sha-Waa. You know, kinda like fries vs. chips or color vs. colour. It’s the pad inside of cycling shorts, they’re a little cumbersome at first, but you quickly forget about them when you realize how grateful your entire crotch is to have some cushion in between a saddle and your most vag/ butt/ ween/ whatever you’ve got. There are some significant differences in the cushion and design of chamois depending on your anatomy, so find the correct fit for your body.

We’ll talk more about cycling terms and understanding how to throw around some of the lingoes that you’ll hear at bike shops. Never fear, at NKC you don’t have to be fluent in cycle chat to join!