When I decided to take cycling more seriously, the hardest thing wasn't improving my fitness, toughening my resolve on climbs, or getting comfortable with clipless pedals. Rather, it was deciphering the vocabulary I needed—specifically Romance language-infused jargon—to get a basic understanding of the sport and its technology.

It's easy to forget how hard it is to understand cyclists when you're not one, or just starting out; the words involved in discussing our sport are often just as obscure as the rules that govern it. We asked non-cyclists to define a few bike-related words, and their answers were smart, funny, and reminded us just how inaccessible cycling language can be. (Challenge: Ask your non-cyclist friends for their answers, and let us know the results!)

RELATED: 8 Cycling Terms You're Pronouncing Wrong

The Words

1. Bottom Bracket

2. Peloton

3. Merckx

4. Hardtail

5. Criterium

6. Chamois

Definitions at bottom of page.

The Answers

"1. Bottom Bracket: The losers' half of the tournament.

2. Peloton: A big Spanish ball.

3. Merckx: Big pharma.

4. Hardtail: *Peach emoji, winking emoji.*

5. Criterium: What they mine in Avatar.

6. Chamois: A French orca."

—John M., Santa Fe, New Mexico

"I have LITERALLY zero idea, other than Hardtail is a company where I've bought yoga pants." —Evin M., NYC

"1. Bottom Bracket: The one under the top bracket (duh).

2. Peloton: A big/heavy ball (in Spanish).

3. Merckx: Those consonants don't appear together in English...

4. Hardtail: The calcifying effect excessive bike riding has on your tailbone.

5. Criterium: The necessary stuff for making a bike.

6. Chamois: A cloth to wipe it all down."

—Allen F., Honolulu, Hawaii

RELATED: 14 Awesomely Funny Bike Shop Names

"Uhhhh... Here goes!

1. Bottom Bracket: No idea.

2. Peloton: That's something to do with groups of cyclists in a race, right?

3. Merckx: No idea.

4. Hardtail: Oh, I know this one! A mountain bike with only front suspension, right?

5. Criterium: No idea.

6. Chamois: This is some type of bike-specific undergarment, yeah?"

—Eva H., Whitehorse, Yukon Territory

"Padded crotch pants!! That's all! The rest sound like Harry Potter characters." —Brandon A., NYC

Editor's Note: We're possibly shopping a book of fan fiction entitled Chamois, Hardtail, Padfoot, and Merckx.

"I GOT THIS.

1. Bottom Bracket: Where I fall in most categories.

2. Peloton: Some sciencey term that makes me think that I shouldn't have dropped out of high school.

3. Merckx: A pill freshmen in college would pay $17 a pop for to help them try and pass their finals even though they haven't opened a book all semester, or, something a wealthy housewife would take with wine at 2 p.m. on a Wednesday.

4. Hardtail: You know what I think this means.

5. Criterium: A principle or standard by which critters may be judged.

6. Chamois: A fancy white wine that I will probably never be able to afford."

—Suzanne S., Chicago, Illinois



"1. Bottom Bracket: Being in the bottom group in a race.

2. Peloton: Sounds like some weird tire brand?

3. Merckx: Some fancy gear part.

4. Hardtail: Building up an endurance for pain in your tailbone region because you're on a bike all day.

5. Criterium: How you qualify for a race.

6. Chamois: Fancy clothing material."

—Emma W., San Francisco, California



The Real Definitions

1. Bottom Bracket: The assembly that connects the crankset to the frame and allows the pedals to turn.

2. Peloton: The main pack of cyclists in a race.

3. Merckx: Last name of Eddy Merckx, legendary Belgian road and track cyclist.

4. Hardtail: A mountain bike with only front suspension.

5. Criterium: Closed-circuit, multi-lap road races. Also, crit.

6. Chamois: Padding found in cycling shorts that helps alleviate saddle pressure.

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