Glossary of BMX TERMS

Terms are listed in Alphabetical order

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ABA: American Bicycle Association

AMATEUR: Any non-pro rider.

AXLE:   The shaft on which the wheel revolves.

BEAD:  The outside edge of the tire, which is stiffened by a wire.

BERM:  An embankment on a track built up on the outside of a turn to create a banked curve.

BMX:  Abbreviation for bicycle motocross.  BMX indicates a style of bike and kind of race or competition.

BONUS POINTS: District points available at national events from, quarters, semi and main events. Get bonus points only after completing 10 local single points race events.

BOTTOM BRACKET:  The mechanism at the bottom of the bicycle frame, which holds the spindle and crank.

BRAKE SHOE: A rubber pad that stops the bike by pressing on the tire's rim, creating friction.

BRAKES:  Any bicycle braking system which works by opening and closing two brake shoes on the tire's rim in a clamping motion, like jaws.

BRAKE LEVER:  A lever mounted on the handlebar used for activating the brake by pulling the cable.

CABLES:  Steel wires braided into cables and sometimes covered with plastic coating.  Cables are used to connect the brake levers to the brakes.

CAGED PEDALS have an aluminum cages around the outside of the pedal with spikes that grip your shoe.

CALIPER BRAKES:  A braking system that is centrally mounted to the frame.  Two arms with spring mechanisms to provide the movement at the brake pads to the rim.

CANTILEVER BRAKES:  A dual post mounted brake where the brake spring is connected to the post.

CASE: Coming up short on a jump and the back wheel of the bike,hits the peak of the landing.

CHAIN STAYS:  The part of the bicycle frame that runs parallel to the chain.  It connects the bottom bracket to the rear dropouts.

CHAIN WHEEL:  A one-piece front gear.  The chain wheel is attached to the bottom bracket and crank.

CHAIN RING: Chain rings are lighter than full sprockets, but are not nearly as sturdy.  They require a spider that is either built into the crank arm, or an additional part.

CLASS BICYCLE: A bicycle with 20"wheels

CLASSIFICATION:  Skill level at which a rider competes.

CLIP LESS PEDALS: actually hook or “clip” to your clip less shoes.  They are the new technology that replaced toe clips on pedals.  Some clip less pedals have a cage around the outside of the pedals. 

CRANK:  The L-shaped metal arm to which the pedals are attached.

Too long of crank arms will make a rider swing their bike side to side, wag their tail, and or ride choppy at their hip line. If you’re swinging your bike to the side & someone bumps you, where do you think you’re going to go? DOWN! You don’t win that way & you can get hurt. Too short of crank arms and you don’t get enough leg extension, therefore not enough power.

CRUISER: A Bicycle  with 24 " wheel diameter.

DISQUALIFY: To officially move a rider to last as a result of any rule infraction.

DOWN TUBE:  Part of the bicycle frame, which slants downward at an angle.  It runs from the head tube to the bottom bracket.

DNR: Destination on a moto sheet that a rider "Did Not Race" in any particular event.

DNS:  Destination on a moto sheet that a rider "Did Not Start" in any particular moto or main.

DROPOUTS:  Small, slotted openings, which hold the front and rear wheel axles.  On many bikes the dropouts do not appear to be separate parts.  They are merely the opening at the ends of two other frame sections: the seat stays and the front fork

.

FORK:  The double-pronged section of the frame, which holds the front wheel in place.

One of the easiest ways to lighten your bike is with a lighter fork than comes stock

FOUL: Any flagrant or malicious move during competition resulting in disqualification.

FREE WHEEL or COG  A one-piece rear gear that allows the rider to back-pedal.  Bearings are built in.

G.E.A.R.: Group Effort Association for Riders. It is a "Not for Profit" Parent/guardian organization formed to operate Emery Park BMX. Sanctioned by the ABA , G.E.A.R. is made up of the parents/guardians and friends that operate the track and all of the jobs that go along with maintaining it. Want more information to join GEAR ?

 G.E.A.R .BOARD MEMBER: An elected member by other GEAR members. Whom agrees to commit to a term to help support and maintain Emery Park BMX track. Example of positions; President,

Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Race Director, Director of Maintenance.

Click here to contact current board members.
 

GHOST RIDER: Any rider fraudulently signed up to satisfy requirements in forming classes.

GRAND NATIONALS or " GRANDS": Finale to the national series held every year on Thanksgiving weekend.

GRIPS: Plastic cover who goes on the handle bars at the end , to aid in gripping handle bars.

GUSSET:  A triangle of reinforcing steel located between the top and down tubes on your bike.

 A brake that reinforces frame-tubing junctions.

GYRO:  A device that enable you to spin the handlebars a full 360 degrees without cable interference.

HEAD SET: Bearing set for which your front end  rotates on and your fork/handle bars slide into.

Headsets come in 1" and 1 1/8" sizes. They also come threaded and thread less. Today's new frames are made for thread less headsets, stems and forks. There are 2 sizes of 1" headsets, be sure & get the right one for your frame!!!

HEAD TUBE:  A short vertical tube at the very front or ?head? of the bike.  The front fork fits inside the head tube.

HELMET: Important and required item necessary for head protection.

HOLE SHOT:  Taking the lead position out of the starting gate and going into the first turn.

HUB:  Cylinder, which holds the axle of each wheel.

INTERMEDIATE: Skill level for riders with limited experience and ability.

LANDING: Where rider lands his bike on a jump from on area to another area.

LANE: Position 1 thru 8 on the starting gate.

LINEAR BRAKE:  A particular type of brake that utilizes a side or linear pull system in which requires a v-type or linear lever.  This system offers the most braking force available.  Generally used by racers.

LOCAL RACE: Any single points race at any ABA sanctioned track.

LOOP OUT: When the rider on a bike is on back wheel only, flips off the bike backwards.

MAIN EVENT: Final class race, after all qualifying has taken place, to determine class placing.

MANUAL:  The act of riding a wheelie without pedaling typically over the top section of various jumps.

MIXED OPEN: An open class that will consist of only Novice, Intermediate and girl riders

MOTO:   a.) A single racing heat. b.) Any riders specific race.

MOTO BOARD:  An area where the moto sheets are posted before and during the race.

MOTO NUMBER: Number corresponding with any specific race (moto).

MOTO SHEET: Paperwork displaying the days races in moto number order.

MOTOCROSS:  Originally a cross-country motorcycle race, the term is now also used to describe BMX races held on dirt tracks.

MULTI POINT RACE: Any race race offering more than single  district points.

NAG National Age Group: National Points ranking by specific age only.

NATIONAL EVENT: Any race offering national points.

NOVICE: New rider to the sport.

NOVICE GIRL: New female rider to the sport.

NUMBER PLATE: Displays riders earned or temporary number for identification purposes

OUT OF CLASS: Any rider not competing in his /her  correct class.

PLATFORM PEDALS: are the most commonly used pedals for trails, street, and ramps. They have a platform that your foot rests on with little pegs that stick to your shoe.

QUALIFYING SYSTEM: The method by which riders are transferred from motos into the main event.

QUARTER MAIN: An additional qualifying race for classes with multiple groups.

RECLASSIFICATION: Moving a rider back in classification.

REDLINE CUP( Previous called Gold Cup): is a 10-month BMX racing Series sanctioned by the ABA. The Series involves 49+ Qualifier races and three regional REDLINE CUP® FINALS. It is at these three Finals--held in the East, Central and West; where a rider can become Redline Cup® No.1 by winning his or her main event. But before heading to the Redline Cup® BMXers must first qualify for the Finals, to be invited to the Finals. All a rider needs to do to get an invite is make his or her main event at one of the many Redline Cup® Qualifiers. Sponsored by Redline Bikes.

Click here for more information on the Redline Cup series( Formerly called Gold Cup)

RHYTHM SECTION:  A series of jumps or rollers back to back on a track that pose as an obstacle.

RIMS: Round part of the wheel, that the tires attach onto.

REGISTRATION: Where you go to sign up to compete in a race ( moto)

ROLLER:  An obstacle on a track that is rolled over as opposed to being jumped.

SADDLE:  Another name for a bicycle seat.

SANDBAGGING/Slacker: Intentionally allowing other rider(s) to pass during a main event or within any round of a total points race so as not to gain wins towards classification advancement.

SAVER STAMPS: Alternative track award having cash value towards items at redemption centers.

SEAT STAYS:  Section of the frame, which runs from the seat tube to the rear wheel dropouts.

SEMI MAIN: An additional qualifying race for classes with multiply groups.( Follows quarters)

SERIAL NUMBER: Located on the bottom left of a membership card and is that riders official ABA

identification.

SEW-UPS:  A type of tire, which is actually sewn around the tube.  Also called tubular tires.  These are mostly used for youth racers.

SEAT POST:  The tube, which holds the seat and goes into the frame.

SINGLE POINTS RACE: A racing event that you earn single points in the main event.

STAGING AREA:  The area where the riders gather or are place in ?chutes? for loading into the gate.

STARTING GATE: Plat formed area with a hinged portion. This is where each race commences.

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP RACE (SCR): Formerly known as state championship qualifier (SCQ). Required event within each state championship series.

STEM:  The part connected to the forks that hold the handlebars.  Sometimes referred to as a gooseneck.

STEP-UP:  A jump in which the landing is elevated about the launch.

SPROCKET:  Same as a chain wheel or either the front or rear gear assembly.

 Sprockets are strong. They are a combination of a chain ring and a spider together

TABLE TOP:  A jump on a track that is completely level or flat all the way across it from the lip to the landing.

TEAM: Any number of riders with a sponsor'(s) or title name.

TEAM ROSTER: Listing of team members.

TEAM SHEET: The official entry and record keeping for particular event.

TOP TUBE:  The top horizontal tube on a bicycle frame, between your head tube and seat tube.

T.O.R.F or TRACK OPERATORS REPORTING FORM: Form that is to be filled out and sent to ABA after every race event with that events race results and ABA fees .

TWO MOTO TRANSFER: When the third round of motos is cancelled and the number of qualifiers from that round are combined and transferred with those of the second round.

U-BRAKE:  A U-shaped center pull brake that uses a ratcheting spring tension system.  Generally more of a freestyle brake.

X UP: When you turn your handle bars half way around in the air on your bike.

Abbreviations

Click here for the official ABA rule book online