Glossary of BMX Terms

Axle:  The shaft on which the wheel revolves.
Bar Spin:  While in the air, the rider leans backwards, one hand is removed from the bars, the other hand spins the bars, then the rider catches the bars and rides away.
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 a kind of race or competition.
Bottom Bracket:  The mechanism at the bottom of the bicycle frame, which holds the spindle and cranks.
Brake Shoe:  A rubber pad, which stops the bike by pressing on the rims, creating friction.
Brakes:  Any bicycle braking system which works by opening and closing two brake shoes on the rim in a clamping motion, like jaws.
Brake Lever:  A lever mounted on the handlebars used for activating the brake by pulling a cable.
Cable:  Steel wire braided into cables and sometimes with plastic coiling. Cables are used to connect the brake lever to the brake.
Caliper Brakes:  A braking system that is centrally mounted on the frame. Two arms with a spring mechanism to provide the movement at the brake pads to the rim.
Can Can:  One foot is taken and crossed over the top tube.
Cantilever Brakes:  A dual-mounted brake where the brake spring is connected to the post.
Chainstays:  The part of the bicycle frame that runs parallel to the chain. It connects the bottom bracket to the rear dropouts.
Chainwheel:  A one-piece front gear. The chainwheel is attached to the cranks.
Crank:  The metal arm to which the pedals are attached.
Downtube:  The part of the bicycle frame which slants downward at an angle. It connects the head tube to the bottom bracket.
Dropouts:  Small slotted openings, which holds the front and rear wheel axles. On many bikes, the dropouts do not appear to be separate parts. They connect the chainstays to the seatstays and are also welded to the ends of the front forks.
Endo:  When the front wheel of a bike is stopped and the rider falls over the front handlebars.
Feeble Grind:  The front wheel of the bike is on top of an obstacle such as a ledge, while one back peg grinds along the top of the obstacle.
Flare:  A backflip and 180-degree rotation in the same motion.
Flatspin:  The rider spins on a horizontal axis.
Fork:  The double-pronged section of the bike, which holds the front wheel.
Freewheel:  A one-piece rear gear that allows the rider to backpedal. Bearings are built-in.
Gear Ratio:  A number, which indicates the relationship between the two gears and tells how much work a particular combination of gears will do.
Gusset: A triangle of reinforcing steel located between the top tube and down tubes. A brace that reinforces frame tubing junctions.
Gyro/Detangler:  A device that enables you to spin the handlebars without brake cable interference.
Headtube:  Short vertical tube at the very front or “head” of the bike. The front fork and headset fit inside the head tube.
Holeshot:  Taking the lead position out of the starting gate and going into the first turn.
Hub:  Cylinder that holds the axle of each wheel.
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.
Lookdown:  The rider leans away from the direction they are turning. At this time the pedals are rotated 45 degrees, the bars are turned, and it appears the rider is standing up on the bike.
Manual:  The act of riding a wheelie without pedaling.
Moto:  A single race heat.
Motocross:  Originally a cross-country motorcycle race. The term is now also used to describe BMX races held on dirt tracks.
Nac Nac:  The rear of the bike is swung to the right and the right foot is swung far behind the rider over the toptube.
No Footer:  Both feet are taken off the pedals and stuck out to the side.
No Footed Can Can:  Both feet are taken off the pedals and stuck out to the same side.
Nothing:  While in the air, the rider takes hands and feet off the bike at the same time.
One Footer:  The rider takes one foot off the pedal and kicks it out to the side.
One Hander:  One hand is taken off the handlebar.
Rhythm Section:  A series of jumps or rollers back to back on a track that pose as an obstacle.
Roller:  An obstacle on a track that is rolled over as opposed to being jumped.
Saddle:  Another name for a bicycle seat.
Seatstays:  Section of the frame, which runs from the top of the seattube to the rear dropouts.
Sew-Ups:  A type of tire, which is actually sewn around the tube. Also called a tubular tire.
Seat Post:  The tube, which holds the seat and goes into the frame.
Stem:  The part connected to the fork that holds the handlebars. Sometimes referred to as a Gooseneck.
Step-Up:  A jump in which the landing is elevated above the launch.
Sprocket:  Same as a chainwheel.
Tabletop:  A jump on a track that is completely level or flat all the way across it from the lip to the landing.
Tailtap:  The rider lands on the deck of a ramp or obstacle on just the back tire while holding the breaks, then falls back into the transition and rides away.
Toboggan:  The front of the bike is pointed straight down, the rider leans back, one hand grabs the nose of the seat, and the other hand turns the handlebars 90 degrees.
Turndown:  The front of the bike is pulled up so it is almost vertical, turned sideways, and the bars are crossed nearly 180 degrees.
Top Tube:  The top horizontal tube on a bicycle frame, between your headtube and seat tube.
U-brake:  A U-shaped center pull brake that uses a ratcheting spring tension system.
Un-Turndown:  The same as a Turndown, but without crossing the bars.
X-Up:  The handle bars are turned a full 180 degrees.
180, 360, 540, 720, 900:  Refers to the number of degrees spun in the air.
360 Tailwhip:  A 360-degree rotation while spinning the frame a full rotation as well.