Glossary of Bicycling - D

D

danseuse

(French: danser - to dance) - riding out of the saddle, standing up, usually in a taller gear than normal, and rocking side to side for leverage. The phrase dancing on the pedals is related.

derailleur

A device used to change gears, activated by shifters.

descender

A cyclist who excels at fast descents, often using them to break away from a group, or bridge a gap.

diesel

A rider who has an even energy output, without any bursts of speed, is said to be a diesel or diesel engine.

directeur sportif

Team manager.

domestique

A rider whose job it is to support and work for other riders in their team (literally "servant" in French). Today the term has lost its bad connotation and serves as an acknowledgement of the true nature of racing tactics. See also water carrier.

door prize

A term used when a rider collides with the open door of a parked car while cycling.

drafting

To ride closely behind another rider to make maximum use of their slipstream, reducing wind resistance and effort required to ride at the same speed.

drop

To be dropped is to be left behind a breakaway or the peloton for whatever reason (usually because the rider cannot sustain the tempo required to stay with the group). To drop someone is to accelerate strongly with the intent of causing following riders to no longer gain the benefit of drafting.

dropout

The slot, of various sizes and orientations, in the frame that the axles of the wheels attach to.

drop-off

An exceptionally steep section of a mountain bike trail, requiring a definite technique to negotiate. Typically, a drop-off is defined as any brief section where the use of the front brake will pitch the rider over the handlebar. Drop-offs can usually be negotiated either by rolling down them at a slow speed or by simply dropping off of them at a moderate speed, hence the name.