Here you will find useful English vocabulary for cycling and English idioms related to bicycles.
Let’s start with a short English reading comprehension exercise. You will find the meaning of the bolded words in brackets and below.
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Vocabulary for Cycling - Bicycle Parts in English
Spring has arrived and with it the feeling of brighter mornings, longer evenings and hopefully an end to the cold winter wind. The following are English words and phrases connected with spring cleaning and particularly me looking forward to cycling my bike again.
You will find here useful vocabulary for cycling, bicycle parts vocabulary in English + infographic and also English expressions connected with a bike.
Intermediate to Advanced English Marathon
INSANITY: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
English Reading Comprehension - English Cycling Vocabulary
A few Saturdays ago (a couple of weeks ago) I decided to clean the windows in the apartment. I was fed up (bored) with looking at the winter dirt on the outside and as it was then March I thought “why not”. So I just went for it! (did it).
I cleaned all the windows (every one of them: 9 in total), I cleaned them inside and outside up and down and top to bottom. They are now sparkling (shining brightly)!
So having looked after the inside I decided to tackle (to do the job) my bike.
I had been promising to clean for several weeks but today was the day!
I took the bike out of the lock-up (shed in the basement, a small room where you can keep your belongings safely) gathered (collected) the cleaning equipment and took the bike to the garden.
I had a basin (bucket) of warm soapy water, a cloth (a piece of fabric, made from wool, cotton, or a similar fibre) for cleaning and oil for the chain (bicycle chain).
Firstly, I dealt with a years buildup (collection, increase in amount) of dirt and mud (soft wet earth). I scraped off the mud and washed the frame (main part of the bike) the wheels and spokes (small metal wires attached to the front and back wheels) and the chain guard (metal protection that covers the chain).
Once that was clean, I oiled the chain and the gears with a special oil for bike chains. I cleaned the pedals and checked that the brake blocks (stop the bike when you squeeze/pull your brakes), front and back, were working okay.
Then I checked the handlebars and saddle (seat) and proceeded to the bike shop to put some air in the tyres which were a little soft after the winter.
So having done all that and having given the bike a complete overhaul I decided to go for a spin (a quick ride). The bike was working fine. I am not too sure about me. So perhaps I need an overhaul (the act of repairing something so it works as it should) as well after the winter.
English Vocabulary for Cycling - New Words
to be cross with someone – to be annoyed with someone
a few Saturdays ago – a couple of weeks ago
fed up – bored
go for it! – do it
sparkling – shining brightly
to tackle – to do the job
lock-up – for example, a shed in the basement, a small room where you can keep your belongings safely
to gather – to collect
basin – bucket
cloth – a piece of fabric made from wool, cotton, or a similar fibre
buildup – collection, increase in amount
mud – soft wet earth
spin – a quick ride
overhaul – the act of repairing something so that it works as it should
English Idioms connected to Cycling
Some Expressions connected with a bike:
to do things in tandem
A tandem is a bike specially made for two people.
There are two saddles and 2 sets of handlebars and both people can pedal.
When we do something in tandem we do it together or at the same time.
Example: My doctor has a large clinic and there is also a dental practice included.
I was going to get an annual checkup for my blood pressure and my teeth so I decided to do them in tandem.
I visited the doctor and immediately afterwards I called into the dentist.
As both projects need the same machines I decided to do them in tandem.
to backpedal
When cycling a bike you put your weight on the pedal and push forward and the bike moves forward.
To backpedal means to move the pedals in the reverse/opposite direction. When we are said to backpedal we change our mind or opinion and support another view.
Example:
David was convinced he was right. He argued strongly that his was the only way the matter could be resolved.
However, when Michael offered a better more developed option David suddenly started to agree with Michael. The others in the group could see that David was backpedalling and his original idea was soon forgotten.
English Idioms related to Bicycles - Image to share
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on your bike
When you want someone to go away and leave you alone you can use this expression.
It literally means to get on your bike and leave but it can be used in any situation when someone is asked to leave.
Example:
The boys were playing football in the park they were not supposed to as they often damaged the flowers.
The park superintendent had seen them come in a short while ago.
‘Hey, you guys,’ he shouted. ‘Keep off the grass, on your bikes and get off my lawn!!’
freewheeling
When you are freewheeling on a bike you are usually going quite fast downhill without the need to pedal. So you are basically not doing anything.
In life, we can be accused of freewheeling when we are taking things a little easy and not working so hard.
Example:
Catherine had done well at school and it wasn’t a problem. When she arrived at University she thought life would be the same so she did very little work or study.
Her father was a little cross (annoyed) and angry. ‘You cannot freewheel your way through university. You need to work hard. Isn’t it time you got down to a bit of real work?’
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More Information
For more information on English Phrasal Verbs, English idioms and English vocabulary, check out the following links:
English adjectives to describe jobs
How to use Phrasal Verbs with COME
I hope you do like cycling and you found vocabulary for cycling useful. And as always, plenty of material is available on BBC Learning English and LearnEnglish British Council websites.
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