air n. space between the tires and the
ground. (Both tires must be off the ground
or it isn't "air".) Said to be caught or
gotten.
bacon n. scabs on a rider's knees, elbows,
or other body parts.
cyclephernalia n. the parts used to
upgrade/dress-up a mountain bike."
death cookies n. fist-sized rocks that
knock your bike in every direction but the
one you want to proceed in.
engine n. the rider.
foot fault n. when a rider can't disengage
his cleats from the pedals before falling
over.
gear masher n. someone who always
rides in too high a gear, stomping on the
pedals.
hammer v. to ride fast and hard. n.
someone who hammers.
IMBA n. International Mountain Biking
Association. An organization for trail
advocacy.
John boy'ed v. when a riders face gets
covered with spots of mud, making him
look like "John Boy" on the Waltons.
kick-out n. a bunny hop in which the rider
pushes the back tire to one side.
lid n. helmet.
mantrap n. hole covered with autumn
leaves, resembling solid earth and
effective at eating the front wheel of the
unsuspecting rider.
NORBA n. National Off-Road Bicycling
Association.
organ donor n. someone who rides
without a helmet. Also called a "metal
head".
potato chip n. a wheel that has been bent
badly.
QUICK, Someone come up with a word
for "Q."
rag dolly v. to wreck in such a way that
one's person is tossed like a flimsy scrap of
cloth.
sneakers n. tires.
taco v. to bend a wheel over on itself, in
the shape of a taco.
unobtanium adj. describing a bike or
accessory made from expensive, high-tech
material.
vegetable tunnel n. a singletrack that is
heavily overgrown with foliage.
washboard n. small, regular undulations
of the soil surface that make for a very
rough ride.
XGames, n We just hope they mountain
bike at them.
yard sale n. (from skiing) a horrendous
crash that leaves all your various "wares"
— water bottles, pump, tool bag, etc. —
scattered as if on display for sale.
The Zone n. a state of mind experienced
while riding. You don't think, you just do.
Source: got.net/~landauer/mtb/slang
Off icialKidsMag.com • MARCH & APRIL 2018 • 43
