Okay, Newbies…Listen up!  More cycling terms for you to learn….

Green Up-   This is a heads-up given to riders when the red light that the group is approaching turns green.  This phrase is to warn the fellow riders that they need to speed up, so that the entire group can make it through together. This also helps remind the riders that have already stopped and clipped out to get a “move on”.  If this is the case….for God’s sake get through the intersection quickly first, and then fool with getting yourself totally clipped back in so the rest of the group can get through  safely.

On the Rivet- Back in the “Olden Days”, the leather on the saddles was attached by rivets placed along the side and also on the very tip or nose of the saddle.  When a rider is working very hard, and going as fast as he possibly can, he tends to scoot up on the saddle….practically sitting on the rivet at the end…hence the phrase, “on the rivet”.

The List- Contrary to belief, this mysterious Big Dawg list is not a “Who’s Who of Big Dawgs”; rather it is more like “You’re in Big Trouble Now!” kind of list.  In fact, when I inquired about this mysterious phenomenon, I got the distinct impression that merely writing about “said list” could possibly land my name right smack at the top.  And since I see the author of “The List” in the carpool line at school everyday…I decided that it might be in my best interest not to pursue it any further.  I figure that some Big Dawg mysteries are best left…mysteries.

Bonk- This is when the rider’s body shuts down on a ride and refuses to go any further because he is low on fuel.  It is very important to eat and hydrate properly before a big ride so that your body can maintain an optimum performance level.  Drink plenty of fluids such as water or Gatorade.  No soda….OR BEER!  I learned the hard way several years ago at a PBA ride/picnic, that not only is beer a poor way to hydrate after a ride, but it is also not practical.  I didn’t take in to account that the carbonation from this so called liquid would create pressure that would not be conducive for a water bottle with a lid.  Unfortunately for me, my ticking time bomb of a water bottle “outed” me and decided to spew the “non sanctioned” liquid as I was sitting next to the “Greatest PBA  Guru” of them all.  (Needless to say THAT won’t happen again)  And that is how I met the infamous Chris Mathews!

While I truly appreciate all the cycling terms that have been sent in for me to research as of late, I also get the feeling that some of these terms may not quite be on the up and up…I think some of these have been sent in just to yank my chain, so to speak.  I will do my best to research all of them. And if I can’t find an answer…I of course, will make something up!

Here are just a few:

Horizoned- I have no idea how this relates to cycling.  I researched, and researched…I even consulted some of my top secret Big Dawg Advisors and they even gave me the “Pfffft!” reply.  So, I am going to take a wild guess and say that horizoned is when the rider is dropped so far off the back that the group disappears over the horizon and the rider has no hope of ever catching up to them again.  (And if anyone has a better definition- I’ll be more than happy to change my answer)

Souplesse- I haven’t got a clue.  It’s a French word…I know that much.  When I googled the word, this video popped up. http://youtu.be/12QFZaP7LGk

My best guess is that this is the contortion ritual that George Markus goes through every week when trying to put on his bike shorts.  That’s all I can figure.  If anyone else wants to interject any additional info on this “so-called” cycling term…feel free to do so.

There are many more terms that have been sent in that I haven’t gotten to yet, and I look forward to researching all of them…the real ones….and the not so real ones.