page_title: Glossary of cycling
section_title: S
hierarchical_section_title: Glossary of cycling / S
caption_attribution_description: English: Mountain biking in Pisgah National Forest (near Brevard, NC).
context_page_description: This is a glossary of terms and jargon used in cycling, mountain biking, and cycle sport.
context_section_description: Saddle
  Bike seat.
   Sag
  How much a bike sinks into its travel just by having body weight on it.
   Sag wagon
  A broom wagon. Probably from the word "sag", i.e. droop, but sometimes explained as an acronym for "support and gear" or "support and grub".; can also come from the French:  "soutien au group".
   Service course
  A command center where bicycles are maintained between races in preparation for the next race. A service course car is a car that carries spare bicycles or wheels in a race should the competing cyclist require a replacement.
   Shifter
  A component used by the rider to control the gearing mechanisms and select the desired gear ratio.  It is usually connected to the derailleur by a mechanical actuation cable. Electronic shifting systems also exist.
   Singles
  Australian English for tubular tyres.
   Singletrack
  A mountain bike trail designed for a single line of riders.
   Sit-on and Sit-in
  To ride behind another rider without taking a turn on the front (thus tiring the lead rider), often in preparation for an attack or sprint finish. "Sitting in the wheels" is to take an easy ride drafted by the peloton or gruppetto. Often a strategic decision to save energy in races.
   Skinny
  A narrow beam to be ridden over lengthwise, as a test of a rider's skill. A skinny can be of various widths (almost as narrow as a bike tire, and up to 20 cm wide) and various lengths (from one to several meters). Some may also "neck-down" to successively thinner widths, and may also have steps, and be on an incline (up or down). They may be close to the ground, or in some cases dangerously high, and even span small creeks or other obstacles.
   Soigneur
  French for "healer". A non-riding member of a team whose role is to provide support for the riders, possibly including transportation and organization of supplies, preparation of the team's food, post-ride massages and personal encouragement.
   Sportive bicycle
  Also known as comfort or endurance bicycle. A type of racing bicycle intended for less competitive cyclosportive and long distance riding. Typically features more upright riding geometry, higher handlebar position, longer wheelbase, and disk brakes.
   Sprinter
  Rider with the ability to generate very high power over short periods (a few seconds to a minute) allowing for great finishing speeds, but usually unable to sustain sufficiently high power over long periods to be a good time triallist. Sprinters are usually too big to have a high enough power-to-weight ratio to be good climbers.
   Squirrel
  A cyclist who has a tendency to swerve unexpectedly and maintain inconsistent speed. Considered dangerous to follow at close range for the purpose of drafting.
   Stage
  One part of a multi-day race, such as the Tour de France.
   Stagiaire
  An amateur rider, who is taken in by a professional team during the season. This lets the rider get some experience at riding a few pro races, and the team gets a chance to assess the abilities of the rider.
   Steed
  Colloquial name for a bicycle.
   Steerer tube
  The part of the fork that is inserted into the head tube of the frame, and is used to attach the fork to the frame using a headset.
   Stem
  The component that attaches the handlebars to the steer tube of the bicycle. They come in two major types, quill and threadless. The angle and length plays a major part in how the bicycle fits the rider.
   Stick
  A call made by an overtaking cyclist to a cyclist ahead to warn them to "stick" to their line and not make any sudden turns.
   Sticky bottle
  A technique often used by the rider who takes food and water from the team car during a race. The car occupant continues to hold the bottle after handing it to the rider, effectively dragging the athlete. This concerted act gives the cyclist a moment to relax. Usually tolerated by the race commissaire if the bottle is held for 1–2 seconds, but may result in a sanction if abused.
   Stoker
  The rider on a tandem bike not steering.
   Summit finish
  A race that ends at the top of a mountain climb. Such stages favour the climbers and are normally decisive in major stage races like the Giro d'Italia
caption: A mountain biker on singletrack
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