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If you’re originally a runner (or cyclist, or swimmer) you’ll no doubt recognize
“your” sport’s lingo from our triathlon lexicon. But the other disciplines’
slang may leave you scratching your noggin. And then there are those tri-only terms: “I
hate bricks, so I’ll probably end up doing the Kona Shuffle.” Stumped? Read on.
Before you know it, you’ll be tri-lingual.
Allen wrench: A hexagonally-shaped tool that fits into the recessed allen bolts common
on bicycles today. There are L-shaped allens and ones with screwdriver-like handles. Common
sizes and uses for bicycle maintenance include: two mm (brake adjustments), three mm (some
cleats, waterbottle cage bolts), four mm (cage bolts, cleats, brake shoes), five mm (seat-post
binder bolts, chain-ring bolts, derailleur and brake anchor bolts), six mm (stem bolts),
seven mm (crank bolts) and eight mm (crank bolts).
Banana smuggler: Tiny Speedo-style swimsuit worn by men. See also: Squeezers.
Body roll: Side-to-side movement that’s key to good swimming form.
Bonk: Slang for running out of energy due to low glycogen levels usually coupled with
dehydration.
Brick: A workout consisting of more than one of the three disciplines, typically a bike
ride followed by a run. Variation: T-run (transition run).
Cadence: The average rate you pedal when riding. Cadence is counted by how many
revolutions of a pedal you do in one minute. Accomplished cyclists average about 90 to 100 rpm.
Clincher tire: Tire held on rims by a mechanical fit between the edges of the tire and
the edges of the rim. It’s the common tire found today on most mountain and road bikes.
Some triathletes, however, prefer sew-up (aka “tubular”) tires, which make for lighter
wheels but are harder to deal with, because they must be glued to the rim.
Draft-legal: A race in which you can ride closely behind other cyclists to go faster with
less energy (known as drafting). Most U.S. tri’s are not draft-legal, and drafting could
land you in the Sin Bin.
Hammer: To ride hard. You can also “get hammered” by a stronger rider.
Hand paddle: Device used to improve your swim stroke.
Hitting the wall: What happens when you run too far or too fast and your muscles switch
from burning mostly fat to burning glycogen. This causes muscles to tighten and burn, forcing
you to slow down.
Interval training: A series of hard efforts separated by short periods of easier exercise.
Ironman: Race featuring a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, and 26.2-mile run. Also:
Half-Ironman (1.2 swim/56 bike/13.1 run). World Championship is held each fall at famous Hawaii
Ironman.
Kickboard: A floatation device held in your hands while practicing your swim kick.
Kona shuffle: Slow, stumbling gait on the run portion of a triathlon. Named for the many
walking dead in the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon in Kona.
Leg Turnover: Not a cannibal’s dessert, but the speed at which you pick up and set
down your feet when running.
Length: One length of the pool. Variation: lap.
Masters: An organized, coached fitness swim for adults.
Noodle: To ride very slowly to aid recovery.
Olympic Distance: Race covering 0.9-mile swim, 25-mile bike, and 6-mile run. Variation:
International Distance.
Open water: Swimming in a river, lake or ocean, as opposed to pool swimming.
Orthotics: Shoe inserts designed to improve biomechanics. Orthotics are different for
cycling and running.
Pronation: Rolling from the outside to the inside of the foot when running. Some pronation
is normal and helps absorb shock, but excessive pronation can cause overuse injuries.
Pull: A drill in which you swim using only your arms. Typically done with a pull buoy
(flotation device) between your legs.
Road rash: Abrasions from falling off a bicycle and sliding on the road or dirt.
Sighting: Raising your head while swimming to find a landmark so you can remain on course
in open water.
Sin Bin: Designated area in the bike-to-run transition area where riders caught drafting
must serve their penalty minutes.
Snakebite: A type of bike inner-tube puncture characterized by two small adjacent holes.
Typically caused by hitting a curb or rock.
Speedwork: Series of short, fast efforts aimed at developing sheer speed.
Spinning: Pedaling rapidly and smoothly. Also: an indoor cycling workout available at some
gyms and aerobic centers.
Sprint: Short race. Distances vary, but usually in the range of 0.5-mile swim, 13-mile bike,
and 3-mile run.
Supination: Rolling to the outside of the foot when running. Excessive supination can
strain ligaments, tendons and bones.
Swimmer’s shoulder: Common injury in which the prime swimming muscles (such as
latissimus dorsi, pectoralis major and triceps) become too strong for the shoulder-stabilizing
muscles (such as rotator cuff muscles). Without dryland training of the stabilizing muscles,
this condition can lead to tendinitis.
Transition area: Place where you switch from swimming to cycling, and from cycling to
running. (Usually, but not always, in the same location.)
Tri geek: Someone who takes the sport a bit too seriously.
Wind trainer: An indoor trainer for cycling. The bike is mounted on a stand that holds
the rear wheel. When you pedal, the rear wheel turns a fan that provides resistance. Other
models create resistance with magnets or with a smaller fan turning in an enclosed fluid bath.
XTERRA: Name of an increasingly popular series of triathlons featuring open-water
swimming, mountain biking, and trail running (as opposed to the traditional format with road
cycling and pavement running).
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