- 6061 aluminum
a) An aerospace-grade aluminum alloy that is a great material for bicycle frames when used with great care. b) Beware! Not all 6061 T6 aluminum frames are created equal. c) Each Fisher aluminum frame undergoes extensive testing for strength and fatigue resistance, allowing us to offer a limited lifetime warranty.
- 7005 aluminum
a) Another great material for bicycle frames. b) Fisher utilizes 7005 aluminum for its Silver Series frames as it can be welded without requiring an expensive heat-treating process.
- 700c wheel
a) The wheel size found on a Fisher City/Path bike. b) Also the standard for most road bikes.
- Attack
A sudden acceleration to move ahead of another rider or group of riders.
- Baby head
Slang for a trail-interrupting rock about the size of a baby’s head.
- Block
In road racing, an attempt to disrupt a chase by slowing down a paceline.
- bottom bracket drop
The vertical distance the bottom bracket is below an imaginary horizontal line drawn through the axles. The greater the bottom bracket drop, the lower the rider’s center of gravity.
- bottom bracket height
The vertical distance from the center of the bottom bracket to the ground. Expresses clearance of the frame over obstacles.
- Bottom bracket
A hole in the base of a bike frame where the axle unit is attached.
- Bottom bracket
Can refer to either the short threaded tube that runs perpendicular to the rest of the frame tubes where the cranks attach, or the actual set of spindle and bearings that threads into the frame.
- Break/breakaway
A rider or group of riders that has left the main group behind.
- Bridge
To leave one group of riders and join another one that is further ahead.
- Brodie/broadie
In mountain biking, a locking up of the rear brake to force the rear end to skid around so as to make a sharp turn.
- Bunny-hop
To jump the bike, without dismounting, over an obstacle.
- Caliper brakes
A brake consisting of two brake blocks which are drawn towards each other through a central pivot and which grip the rim of the wheel.
- Carbon fiber
a) A bicycle frame material made from woven carbon strands. b) The woven carbon material impregnated with high tech epoxy resins and then layered and molded into the appropriate shapes. c) Can feature a very high strength-to-weight ratio.
- Carve
1. to make a hard turn with a smooth, clean line. 2. to gouge a groove or rut into dirt by sliding or spinning the rear tyre.
- Cassette
The set of toothed rings or cogs that make up the gears attached to the rear wheel - usually 7, 8 or 9 cogs of different sizes make up the cassette.
- center to top
The distance from the center of the bottom bracket to the top of the seat tube. Because some people still feel they need to know.
- Chainrings
a) The set of toothed rings (usually three) that are bolted to the right crankarm. b) An integral part of the drivetrain, as the chainrings move the chain.
- Chainstays
Frame tubes that connects the bottom bracket to the rear dropouts, where the rear wheel is attached. Run the same path as the chain, thus the name.
- Chainsuck
The chain getting caught between the chainstay and the rear wheel.
- Chasers
Riders trying to catch a breakaway group.
- City/Path
The grafting together of a road bike and a mountain bike in a model equally suited for road and trail riding. See also Hybrid
- Clunking
The original term for mountain biking, when the practice involved stripping down cruiser bicycles and racing them down fire roads, trails etc.
- cockpit length
The horizontal measure from the center of the handlebar to the center of the seatpost. This is where you spend your time. (The next two measurements show how it can be adjusted.)
- Cornering clearance
The amount of lean angle a bicycle can have without digging a pedal; also called pedal clearance or road clearance.
- Countersteering
A manoeuvre used by expert riders to control a skid, executed by steering the bike momentarily in the opposite direction from which they want to turn.
- crank length
The distance from the center of the bottom bracket to the center of the pedal axle. A rider with long legs can benefit from longer cranks.
- Crank
The two-armed mechanism that connects the pedals to the front chainring.
- Cro-Moly
a) Short for chromium-molybdenum. b) A very high technology steel blend, using small amounts of chromium and molybdenum to add strength.
- Cross country
A mountain bike race contested over trails, bush or forest roads, tracks etc.
- Cross-Country
a) Derived from the most popular discipline of mountain bike racing, it describes a course or ride that includes all types of terrain, uphill and down. b) Also describes a bike suited for such a course.
- Derailleur, front
Device that moves the chain between the chainrings, making larger gear ratio changes of the drivetrain when compared to the rear derailleur.
- Derailleur, rear
Device that moves the chain between the cogs of the cassette, changing the gear ratio of the drivetrain.
- Digging a pedal
A pedal hitting the ground while the rider is leaning into a turn.
- Disc brakes
Similar to a motorcycle, a braking system that has a dedicated disc for the braking surface. Can substantially improve the braking modulation and control over traditional brakes.
- Down tube
Frame tube which connects the bottom bracket and the headtube.
- Downhill
a) A mountain bike event that challenges the rider to get down a hill as quickly as possible. b) Also traditionally describes especially durable, long-travel bikes.
- Downhill
A non-Olympic mountain bike event in which riders race down a hill one-by-one, the winner being the rider with the fastest time.
- Draft
To ride closely behind a competitor, saving energy by using that racer as a windbreak.
- Drift
The bike slipping sideways while going forward, usually as a result of taking a corner too hard.
- Drivetrain
The system that transfers pedaling power to the rear wheel. Includes the cranks, chainrings, bottom bracket, chain, derailleurs, and cassette.
- Dropouts
The hook-shaped pieces of the frame which contact the hub of the front and rear wheels. The dropouts attach the wheels to the bike.
- Echelon
A staggered line of riders, each downwind of the rider ahead, allowing them to move considerably faster than a solo rider or small group of riders.
- effective chainstay length
The distance of a line parallel to the ground from the centerline of the bottom bracket to the centerline of the rear hub.
- effective top tube
The horizontal measure from the center of the headset to the center of the seatpost. The most important measurement when buying a bike, because it cannot be changed.
- Fat-tyre
A term for a mountain bike, so called because of their comparatively wide tyres.
- Feeding station / zone
Terms for areas where riders in mountain bike or road races can pick up both food and liquid refreshments.
- Field sprint
A sprint at the finish among the main group of riders in a road race.
- Flyer
A surprise attack, usually by a solo rider.
- Force the pace
To increase speed to make the group to go faster.
- Fork
Attaches the steering system (handlebars and stem), to the front wheel.
- Frame
The heart of the bicycle — all parts of the bicycle are attached to the frame.
- Full suspension design
a) Refers to shock-absorbing suspension systems for both front and rear bike wheels. b) Also called dual suspension.
- Genesis Geometry
a) First designed in 1996, Genesis Geometry was a new approach to building mountain bikes. b) Genesis Geometry changes a rider’s weight distribution to better handle the terrain of off-road riding. c) Can actually improve climbing, descending and steering.
- Geometry
a) Refers to the angles at which a bike’s frame tubes are connected to one another. b) Drastically affects a rider’s weight distribution, comfort level and handling ease.
- Gold Series tubing
a) A straight gauge 6061 T6 version of the Fisher performance frame. b) the tubing wall diameter is a consistent thickness throughout the entire length of the tube. c) Each frame still undergoes the special Fisher double heat treat process after handwelding in the USA.
- Granny gear
The smallest chainring on a mountain bike, combined with the biggest sprocket to make the lowest gear; also called pixie gear or weenie gear.
- Gregario
A team rider who will sacrifice his / her individual performance to help a designated team-mate.
- Gusset
a) Frame-strengthening device found on Fisher aluminum bikes welded on the down tube just below the head tube. b) Maximizes strength while minimizing added weight.
- Hammer
To ride hard.
- Hardtail
a) A mountain bike without rear suspension. b) The traditional mountain bike.
- Hardtail
A mountain bike with no rear suspension.
- head angle
The angle of headtube to the ground. Tailored to optimize steering precision on each frame size.
- Head tube
a) Forward-most tube of the frame, which runs perpendicular to the ground. b) Connects the front stem to the fork in combination with the headset.
- Headset
The headset is the pair of bearings and bearing races (races are things that bearings sit in) at each end of the head tube that allow the fork to steer the bicycle smoothly.
- headtube length
The distance between the upper and lower headset. Affects how high your handlebar is relative to your saddle.
- height range
If your height is within this range, this size of bike should fit you.
- Hi tensile steel
a) A grade of steel tubing that has exceptional fatigue life. b) A good material for bicycle frames but not as lightweight as Cro-Moly.
- Highside
Being thrown from the bicycle in a direction counter to the turn.
- Hi-Ten
a) A grade of steel tubing that has exceptional fatigue life. b) A good material for bicycle frames but not as lightweight as Cro-Moly.
- Hook
To suddenly move one’s back wheel to the side, forcing the following rider to slow down to avoid running into it.
- Hybrid
The grafting together of a road bike and a mountain bike in a model equally suited for road and trail riding. See also City/Path
- inseam range
If your inseam is within this range, this size of bike should fit you.
- Jump
A quick acceleration which usually develops into a sprint.
- Kick out
1. a cornering technique in mountain biking that involves putting weight on the front wheel and shifting the body to one side so that the back wheel slides outwards. 2. the airborne lateral movement of a wheel when it loses contact with the riding surface in a turn.
- Kick
A burst of acceleration for the final sprint.
- Klunking
a) Gary’s term (circa 1974) for riding cobbled-together bikes with heavy-duty brakes and a wide gear range up, down, and around Mt. Tam in Marin County, CA. b) The pastime that led Gary Fisher to the creation of the mountain bike.
- Lap
One loop of the track, course or circuit.
- Lapped
A rider who has fallen behind another rider by one lap of the track, course or circuit is said to have been lapped.
- Lead-out
A racing tactic whereby one rider races at high speed to give a head start to the rider on his /her wheel.
- Mass start
A race start in which all racers start at the same time.
- maximum cockpit
The longest the cockpit can be made by changing the stem to one which is 30mm longer than original. The maximum recommended to retain optimum handling.
- Mechanical
Slang for a mechanical problem with the bicycle.
- minimum cockpit
The shortest the cockpit can be made by changing the stem to the shortest one available.
- Mountain bike
a) A bike that you can ride off the beaten path. b) The kind of bike invented by Gary Fisher.
- Neutral support
The support given to a rider by a neutral party, i.e. a mechanic in a follow vehicle.
- NORBA
a) National Offroad Bicycling Association. b) The sanctioning body behind mountain bike racing in the United States.
- Off-camber
A curve in the trail that throws riders to the outside of the turn.
- Paceline
A string of riders that moves at high speed with each individual taking turns setting the pace and riding in the draft of the others.
- Paola Pezzo
a) The two-time Olympic gold medal winner in Mountain Biking (1996 & 2000). b) Also the only woman to have won a gold medal in Mountain Biking. c) Both times she won, she was riding a Fisher.
- Pedal bob
a) The undesirable rear bobbing motion that occurs in a traditional full suspension bike as a result of pedaling. b) A factor that has kept many professional XC racers away from full suspension until the introduction of the Sugar in 2000.
- Pedal clearance
The amount of lean angle a bicycle can have without digging a pedal; also known as “cornering clearance” or “road clearance”.
- Pedals, clipless
Similar to ski bindings, clipless pedals contain a mechanism which attaches to a cleat in the bottom of dedicated cycling shoes. Creates an efficient pedaling motion that allows the rider to pull up as well as push down on the pedals.
- Pedals, platform
Simple two-sided flat pedals that work well with standard footwear.
- Peloton
The main group of riders; also called the pack, bunch or field.
- Pits
Stations along the course where repairs can be made.
- Pivot
a) Any hinge on a full suspension bike. b) Usually, the fewer pivots the better, as they reduce lateral stiffness and often require maintenance.
- Pivot-free dropout
While most Full Suspension designs need a hinge or pivot where the rear wheel attaches, the Fisher Sugar series was engineered to eliminate this pivot as well as the associated maintenance and ?exibility.
- Pixie gear
The smallest chainring on a mountain bike, combined with the biggest sprocket to make the lowest gear; also called granny gear or weenie gear.
- Platinum Series tubing
a) Fisher’s finest aluminum frame material mix. b) Utilizing a mix of Zirconium 9000 aluminum alloy and 6061 T6 aluminum, each Fisher Platinum series frame has double-butted main tubes and undergoes an expensive two-step heat-treating process.
- Pull
To take a turn at the front of the group, maintaining the same speed of the group.
- Pushclimb
A section of a mountain biking trail with inadequate traction or too-steep a pitch, that forces cyclists to dismount and carry their bikes.
- Rail
To ride fast and cleanly through a corner.
- Road bike
a) A bike with narrow tires best suited for paved roads. b) Usually noted by drop style bars.
- Road clearance
The amount of lean angle a bicycle can have without digging a pedal; also known as cornering clearance or pedal clearance.
- Rock dodge
To steer the handlebars quickly to one side to avoid small road hazards.
- Seat Stays
Frame tubes that connects from the frame near the seatpost to the rear dropouts, where the rear wheel is attached.
- seattube angle
The angle of seattube to the ground. Tailored to optimize power transmission on each frame size.
- Silver Series tubing
a) Fisher’s midlevel aluminum frame material. b) Designed to maintain the same great riding characteristics of the Fisher Gold and Platinum Series frames, but at a lower cost. c) This is achieved through using 7005 aluminum, which requires less expensive heat treating while still surpassing our strength and durability standards.
- Single track
A path or trail wide enough for only one rider at a time.
- Singletrack
a) Usually a narrow trail best suited for mountain bikes, as opposed to a double track, which is usually a trail intended for truck use. b) Singletrack trails are known as the most challenging and fun trails in mountain biking.
- Sitting in
Drafting, or sitting closely behind the rider immediately in front.
- Skid
To lose tyre traction, causing the bike to slide off course.
- Slipstream
The area of least wind resistance behind a rider.
- Snakebite
The most common type of flat tyre, caused by hitting an obstacle so hard that the innertube is pinched against the rim.
- Softtail
A mountain bike with rear suspension.
- Spin out
To lose rear wheel traction in a turn and have the rear of the bike slide outwards so that the bike turns completely around.
- Spokes
The arms inside a wheel rim.
- Sprint
1. a high-speed race, usually over a short distance. 2. the final high-speed dash for the finish line in race of any distance.
- standover
The vertical distance from the ground to the point on the top tube where you straddle the bike.
- stem length
The original stem measured from the center of the steerer tube to the center of the handlebar.
- Sugar
Gary Fisher’s unique and revolutionary lightweight design which makes “Full Suspension Cross-Country race bike†a true statement.
- Sweeper
A wide turn.
- Swingarm
On full suspension bikes, the mechanism where the rear wheel is attached which moves as the rear suspension is activated. Usually made up of the chainstays and seatstays of the bicycle.
- Switchback
A tight, zigzag turn on the face of a mountain, either uphill or downhill.
- T6 aluminum
a) A gauge of hardness for aluminum frame material. b) The T6 standard makes a very strong, structurally sound frame.
- Technical terrain
a) Synonymous with challenging – the more technical terrain, the more difficult. b) Traditionally involves singletrack trails with multiple obstacles and variance in terrain.
- Technical
A section of trail fraught with obstacles designed to test a mountain biker’s skill.
- The Countersteering
A manoeuvre used by expert riders to control a skid, executed by steering the bike momentarily in the opposite direction from which they want to turn.
- Time trial
A race in which riders start individually and race against the clock.
- Travel
a) The distance a suspension system allows the wheel to move. b) The greater the travel, the greater the ability to absorb bigger bumps.
- Tube butting
a) A process that varies the wall thickness of the bicycle tubes. b) Usually engineered to have more material (thicker tubes) near the welds where strength is needed – thinner walls are more appropriate towards the center of the tubes where stresses are less. c) The butting process saves weight and can provide a more resilient ride.
- Tubeless
a) Similar to a car tire, where the no tube is needed to keep the tire inflated. b) Relatively new to the mountain bike world, tubeless tires can reduce the number of flats experienced due to hitting a hard object that may pinch and puncture an innertube.
- UCI
Union Cycliste Internationale. The world’s governing body for all competitive cycling — road, mountain, cyclocross, track and bmx.
- Wheel system
An integrated wheel structure where the spokes, rims and hubs are specifically designed to work together.
- wheelbase
The distance between the axles. Tailored to optimize weight distribution on each frame size.
- World Cup
a) Sanctioned by the UCI, the World Cup is a series of mountain bike races, usually 7-9 per season, throughout the world. b) Through an accumulation of points through the series, an overall World Cup Champion is crowned each season.
- XC
a) Derived from the most popular discipline of mountain bike racing, it describes a course or ride that includes all types of terrain, uphill and down. b) Also describes a bike suited for such a course.
- Zirconium 9000 alloy
A new aluminum alloy that uses a percentage of zirconium mixed in with the aluminum alloy to create a stronger bicycle tube. Also known as ZR9000
Nov 16th, 2006 at 4:06 am
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