Seasoned mountain bikers may sometimes appear to communicate using their own set of words and expressions – some borrowed from other action sports, such as surfing and skateboarding, others unique to the world of fat tyres.
If you’re an experienced rider, you should be well versed in the lexicon of MTB. If you’re not, it’s time to become fluent.
Here, we’ve provided the definitions of some essential words and phrases from the mountain biker’s dictionary.
The mountain biker’s dictionary
Case
I don’t think I’ll ever have BK’s style, but I’m airborne! Andy Lloyd / Our Media
Meaning: That awful jarring feeling when landing from a jump but not making it all the way onto the downslope, typically tagging the top or back of the downslope with the rear wheel of the bike.
Example: “Ouch, I just cased that landing so hard.”
Gnar
The revised suspension kinematics should help smooth rocky sections of track out and let riders go faster. Probably not as fast as Loic Bruni, though. Specialized
Meaning: Tough terrain that’s risky to ride, particularly rough descents filled with large holes and covered with rocks.
Example: “I’m out here carving the gnar.”
Gnarly
However, van der Poel crashed early on to fall out of contention before retiring from the race. Greg Baker / Getty Images
Meaning: Terrain or an incident that is particularly, wince-inducingly hardcore, extreme and scary.
Example: “Your crash was gnarly.”
Huck
Some of the bigger jumps are pretty sizable, and there are some cool new-school feature, Mick Kirkman / Our Media
Meaning: A move that involves pulling up hard on the handlebar and launching off a jump or drop with an unknown chance of success, usually preceding a sketchy landing.
Example: “I just sent that huck so far.”
Loamer
Norco Sight VLT TQ C2 on loam Norco
Meaning: Natural trail that’s fresh and still surfaced with organic matter. This so-called ‘hero dirt’ is soft yet grippy, making it a blast to ride. Loamers stop being loamers when the surface has been scraped away, leaving hardpack, roots and rocks exposed. Loamers are highly prized for riding due to their scarcity and inherently temporary nature.
Example: “I’ve found a new loamer.”
Mullet
Starling’s Big Bird uses a mega-mullet wheel size setup with a 32in wheel up front and a 29in at the rear Scott Windsor / Our Media
Meaning: The iconic mullet haircut is ‘business in the front, party in the back’, referring to the short, orderly fringe and free-flowing, devil-may-care locks bouncing merrily around the neck. Mullet bikes similarly have a larger front wheel for smooth-rolling speed and a smaller rear wheel for style-boosting agility.
Example: “I just mulleted my bike.”
Nadgery
While the ONE77 doesn’t shy away from tackling the rougher, more technical tracks, it’s not where it shines brightest. Andy Lloyd / Our Media
Meaning: Trail features that are awkward, technical, rough and slow.
Example: “That descent is so nadgery.”
Roost
Race Face’s new Era wheels set out to delivers the best aggressive trail/enduro wheels by having the making the lease compromises through compliance, impact resistance and weight. Race Face
Meaning: Originating from motocross, roost is the material thrown into the air by a rider.
Example: “You just hit me with a load of roost.”
Send
BK throws a lazy T-bog (toboggan) for the camera, leaving Tom agape. Andy Lloyd / Our Media
Meaning: Usually associated with getting big airtime. If you hear a rider exclaiming that they’re going to “send” something, it means they’re about to hit it with full effort, in a reckless manner, hoping for success, rather than expecting it.
Example: “I just sent it off that jump.”
Schralp
Skid-approved. Richard Baybutt
Meaning: Sometimes called a cutty, a schralp is an onomatopoeic term that describes hitting a turn in such a way as to tear up the ground. Speed and aggression are key here, denoting skill and confidence in your cornering ability. Caution: Can enrage trail builders.
Example: “I just schralped that turn so hard.”
Shred
They clearly reckon the E-Sommet is prime for shredding! Laurence Crossman-Emms / Vitus Bikes
Meaning: An older term, but still a popular one, thought to originate from surf and snowboard culture in the 1980s. In MTB terms, it refers to ‘tearing up’ (not literally) the entire trail or mountain. A ‘shredder’ is a skilled rider.
Example: “I’m ready to shred today.”
Sketchy
With its modern shape, I was happy tackling steep and technical terrain on the Big.Trail. Russell Burton / Our Media
Meaning: A feature or trail that’s doable, but only just, requiring you to ride on the very edge of control. Usually accompanied by a sense of surprise that you got away without a crash.
Example: “That was so sketchy, I can’t believe I rode it out.”
Steeze
Get the Secta S pointed downhill, and it really lets you get motoring.
Meaning: A conjunction of the words ‘style’ and ‘ease’. Used to describe a move or rider demonstrating both effortless smoothness and control.
Example: “That whip was so steezy.”
Stomp
Even on the roughest trails Rob could find, the drivetrain remained quiet and worked consistently well. Callum Wood / SRAM
Meaning: To complete something with confidence. Often used when landing squarely and securely on the pedals after a trick or feature.
Example: “I just stomped that black run.”
Whip*
Saracen Myst Team whipping Saracen
Meaning: To send the bike sideways in the air. The further you can get your back wheel and body around, the better. Whip-off contests are held to find the rider who is most accomplished at this difficult move.
*Not to be confused with tailwhips, where the bike rotates around the headset while the rider holds the handlebar.
Example: “Did you see the whip that grom just did?”
Common phrases
“Dropping in”
In technical terrain, the Merida isn’t a handful to manoeuvre, or place where you want it for accurate line choice. Roo Fowler / Our Media
Exclamation denoting starting riding on a line so steep you can’t stop, even if you want to. Used to warn those below to get out of the way. Sometimes abbreviated to ‘dropping’.
“Go big or go home”
The massive jumps are challenging even the most experienced racers. Sven Martin / Santa Cruz
A phrase steeped in bravado. Often said tongue-in-cheek, it suggests that riders should be fully committed to pushing themselves to the limit or quit for the day.
“Gas to flat”
No matter how hard you land, the IKKI’s propgression has enough support to keep you from harsh bottom outs. UNNO Bicycles
Describing the act of sending the bike off a jump with no downslope, or missing the landing completely. Also known as a ‘huck to flat’.
“Ride it out”
An extra air spring volume spacer and a touch of compression damping, and the Pike performs in the steeps. Russell Burton / Our Media
Hanging onto the bike after a sketchy moment, usually barely getting away without crashing.
“You got this”
Get a group session booked and bring your mates along. Andy Lloyd / Our Media
Statement from a riding buddy encouraging an ambivalent rider to try something on the edge of their comfort zone. Often precludes a sketchy moment or crash.