Glossary of Italian Bike Related Words and Expressions

These come from my good friend April who created and maintains www.biciveneto.it. This website also contains a wealth of background information regarding the granfondo events in Italy.

alloy.......................
lega*

aluminum................
alluminio

arm warmers...........
manicotti

axle........................
perno

bolt........................
bullone
bearings..................
cuscinetti

brake(s)..................
freno(i)

brake lever...............
leve freno

bottom bracket.........
movimento centrale

cable......................
cavo

carbon fiber.............
carbonio

chain......................
catena

chainring.................
corona

chainstays...............
foderi bassi/orizzontali

computer.................
computerino

CO2 cartridge...........
bomboletta

crank......................
pedivella

crankset..................
guarnitura

derailleur, front.........
cambio

derailleur, rear..........
deragliatore

down tube...............
tubo obliquo

dropout...................
forcellino

fork.........................
forcella

frame......................
telaio

gloves.....................
guanti

handlebar.................
manubrio, curva

handlebar tape.........
nastro manubrio

headset...................
serie sterzo

helmet....................
casco, caschetto

hub.........................
mozzo

jacket......................
giubbino, mantellina

jersey.....................
maglia

leg warmers.............
gambali

nipples (of spokes)...
nippli

pedal(s)...................
pedale(i)

pump......................
pompa

pump, mini..............
pompetta

rim.........................
cerchio

rim strip..................
flap

saddle.....................
sella

shoes......................
scarpe

seat pack................
borsetta

seat post.................
reggisella, canotto

seat tube................
tubo sella

seat stays................
foderi alti

shift lever................
leve cambio

shorts.....................
pantaloncini

skewer....................
bloccaggio

spoke(s)..................
raggio, raggi

sprocket..................
pignone

steel.......................
acciaio

stem.......................
attacco, pipa

sunglasses...............
occhiali da sole

tights......................
calzamaglia

tire (clincher)...........
copertone, copertoncino

tire (tubular)............
tubulare

titanium........
titanio

tread (of a tire)
battistrada

tube (for tire)...........
camera d'aria

vest........................
gilet

water bottle.............
borraccia

water bottle cage......
portaborraccia

wheel......................
ruota

*not to be confused with the word "lega" (or liga) that you may see on posters or as graffitti, which refers to the Northern League and Veneto League, which are political parties.

alè.............................
go! (like the French word allez)

alla ruota....................
on the wheel

ammiraglia..................
team car (lit. flagship, i.e. the admiral's ship)

arrivo.........................
the finish line

battistrada(e)..............
pace setter(s)

cotto..........................
cooked

dai!............................
go! (sounds like "die"!)

crisi di fame................
hunger crisis (bonk)

discesa.......................
descent; discesa pericolosa, a sign often seen on gran fondo courses, means "dangerous descent"

dura, dura!.................
hard (as in a hard climb); hang in there! keep going!

forza..........................
go! (lit. force, strength)

fuga...........................
breakaway; andare in fuga is to go on a breakaway

GPM (Gran Premio Montagna)..................
the crest of a climb at which mountains points are awarded in a race; often seen painted on the road

in bagno maria............
lit. "in the double boiler": the situation of a rider who is between a breakaway group and the main pack; in no man's land

gregario......................
team rider, domestique

gruppetto...................
"laughing group," i.e., the last group, composed of sprinters and others whose objective is just to arrive at the finish line (of a stage) within the time limit

gruppo.......................
peloton (also componant group)

nella scia....................
in the wake (slipstream)

occhio!.......................
look out! (rhymes with Tokyo)

partenza.....................
start

pendenza....................
gradient (of a climb), expressed in per cent

ristoro........................
feeding area...always found at gran fondos and long races

salita..........................
a climb

scatto.........................
jump, spurt (also means "click"--a scatto is indexed shifting

scattante....................
possessing quick acceleration (can describe a rider, bike, or wheel)

sotto!.........................
lit. under--get on a wheel!

strada........................
road...a strada sterrata is an unpaved road (sometimes found in gran fondos!)

squadra.......................
team

su!.............................
up! get up there! (as in to bridge a gap)

tifoso.........................
fan, supporter (tifosi is plural); used in all sports, not just cycling. The word "fan" is more widely used, as in "fans club."

tirare, tira!..................
to pull, pull! (command)

tornante.....................
hairpin curve...often numbered: Tornante 12º is the 12th hairpin of the climb

traguardo...................
finish line

TV (traguardo volante).
prime; often seen painted on the road at the point where it takes place
...........................

VV (overlapping)...................

viva! (long live, hurrah for); often seen painted on the road