Brannigan

Yeah sure, I may THINK I know this 'n that but I don't know it all. Sometimes I run across terms that my not-know-it-all self is stumped by. Ready... Set... Go!

Brannigan

What is a "salmon"?

ThermionicScott 

People who ride against the direction of traffic. Like salmon travelling upstream to spawn.

fietsbob

Waffle : Knight and Bowerman's 1st Nike running shoes were poured rubber in a waffle Iron.

MrCjolsen

I'd like to add to the dictionary what I call the "Mr. Magoo." That is the iPod wearing, usually younger, adult pedestrian who considers the bike path and/or the street an extension of their sidewalk/front yard/playground. They wander into and out of your path aimlessly and unpredictably.

FBinNY 

SS can be stainless steel, or single speed depending on context. SSSS would then be a stainless steel single speed bike.

I could try to help with the others, but I'd need some context.

BTW- context is often the best clue to things like this. You may not have it on the first pass, or maybe not exactly. But like code breaking, as you see it more often the secret reveals itself.

You can sometimes find out via the internet if you know haw to phrase the question. You won't get "salmon" s meaning from a normal dictionary, but if you search bicycle slang dictionary - salmon you get this.

no1mad 

Ninja- someone who rides at night without any lights or reflective material.

GeoKrpan

Ha, good one. I use it for people who pretend not to see you, for people who don't see you on purpose. It was always a mystery with Mr. Magoo whether he did it on purpose or if he was simply clueless.

GeoKrpan

"Must be visiting from the UK." For people walking on the left side of the sidewalk or trail. Sometimes they cross over from the right to the left when they notice you approaching. BTW, which side do they walk on in the UK?

WestPablo

Fred: Usually a cyclist, unfamiliar with bicycle technology, who has any combination of old bicycle components and accessories, who is most likely riding an old mountain bike, a hybrid, or touring bike, complete with either a rack or fenders.

*Not to be confused with a poser, who is a cyclist who owns an upscale road bike, but can't properly ride it.

GeoKrpan

And then there are Freds in Disguise, Freds on a cost no object crabon fibre with the right clothing but who don't really know how to ride. Ah, you call them posers, but I like the French spelling better, poseurs.

Andy_K 

Careful you might inadvertently launch SSSSCXWC.

vanttila

Stainless Steel Single Speed Cyclo Cross... Water closet (toilet)? ... World cup? ... Workers Comp? What's the WC stand for?

FBinNY 

I don't think the OP intended for this to create a bicycle slang thread. He asked about some specific terms, and not all of those were defined yet. How about some help on those?

WestPablo

FBinNY 

C'mon. It's a staniless steel, single speed Cyclo-cross Woman chaser.

What else would it be? Whoopie cushion?

vanttila

If I'd had a drink, it would've been all over my keyboard after I read that.
On another note, I didn't know they made whoopee cushions that fancy.

B. Carfree

In Oregon, bike paths are defined as roads. The vehicle code states that pedestrians proceeding along a road without a sidewalk are to walk single-file on the left (into oncoming traffic) shoulder or as far to the left side as possible. I frankly don't care which side of the path folks walk on, as long as they manage to stay as far to that side as necessary. Sadly, no one else cares what I want, so our bike paths are merely places where women of girth walk three abreast. So, typically folks around here walk on both the left and right sides at the same time; I guess it makes us look international.

spare_wheel

fred type A -- misanthropes who ride mtbs with slicks, fenders, bar ends, racks, bungee cords, and/or safety triangles and wear hi viz, safety vests, and knee high tube socks.

fred type B -- someone who rides a $4000 dollar crabon fibre leisure road bike with pro-team kit and flabby thighs.

gutterbunny -- commuters

Cat 6 -- people who enjoy cycling fast (outside of competition)
Cat 7 -- people who enjoy cycling slowly, smelling the fresh air, and berating all people who cycle faster than them (much overlap with "A" type freds)

Black hoodie wearing anarchist scofflaw spoker cyclist -- every time a motorist is angry at you it's this person's fault

Retrogrouch -- rusty bikes...steel is real...brooks leather saddles...proofide...cork wrap/grips....tweed...britches...nitto stem/bars...velo orange/honjo fenders...merino wool base layers/jerseys/underwear/bras/merkins...

Fakenger -- someones who rides a fixie poorly, pretends they can track stand, carries a micro mini-messenger bag, and has a mini-u-lock in their pocket.

Weekend warrior/lance(alot)/roadie/clubbie/real-cyclist -- carbon fiber bike, sidis, thenthetive buttocks/crotch, farmers tan, shaved legs, very angry husband/wife, neglected pets/children, peter pan syndrome: check!

Mamil -- male weekend warriors who are over 40 and either single, divorced or about to be to divorced.

Experienced cyclist -- someone who has toured/ridden hundreds of thousands of miles on every possible type of bike, has dozens of scars and healed fractures, has toured in the ozarks, 3rd world nations, and canada, and has n+5-30 more bikes than you (that they wrench themselves).

Urban cyclist -- someone who works in the saddle, has way more skillz than you, and get's the blame for the antics of fakengers, n0obs, and scofflaws.

Brannigan

NHF ("No hard feelings"), but I kinda did both.

Brannigan

FBinNY is right though, y'all are off-keel a bit. Please define specific cycling terms/abbreviations... not ones you are either making-up or are too obscure as to be relevant. Go!

Brannigan

Thank you.

Brannigan

Thank you.

Brannigan

Thank you.

Brannigan

Awesome. I thank you as many times as the number of terms you spit. I am an Urban Cyclist Gutterbunny combinant... thing, guy.. whatev.