road-racing bicycle and cyclist

Road-racing bicycle: bicycle that is designed for speed; it has narrow tires, a lightweight frame and handlebars conducive to an aerodynamic position for the cyclist.

jersey

Stretchy tight clothing that covers the top of the athlete’s body.

shorts

Tight clothing that covers the athlete’s thighs to prevent them from rubbing against the seat.

tire

Structure made of cotton and steel fibers coated with rubber, mounted on the rim to form the casing for the inner tube.

derailleur

Mechanism for changing the rear gears by lifting the chain from one gear wheel to another; it allows the cyclist to adapt to road conditions.

wheel

Disk that turns around an axle at its center and enables the bicycle to move; its weight and shape influence the bike’s performance.

chain wheel

Wheel with teeth that, in combination with the rear sprockets, increases or decreases the distance traveled by a turn of the pedal crank.

pedal

Part attached to a crank that the cyclist rotates to provide the bicycle’s power.

shoe

Shoe with notches in the sole that fit into a corresponding part on the pedal to keep the foot secure on the pedal.

frame

Bicycle structure made of aluminum or carbon fiber; it is rigid, lightweight and very sturdy.

fork

Two tubes connected to the head tube and attached to each end of the front-wheel hub.

brake

Mechanism composed of two brake pads that is activated by a brake cable; the pads are driven by a caliper and return springs to squeeze the wheel rim and slow down the wheel.

brake lever and shifter

The brake handle activates the brake caliper to which it is connected by a cable; the shifter is used to change the position of the chain.

glove

Leather item that reduces vibration and protects the hand against impact.

helmet

Hard piece of equipment designed to protect the head.