It’s no secret, French people are just enamored with their bicylettes in general, perhaps only behind les hollandais (Dutch people) in Europe in that respect! (If you like le néerlandais as much as you like French, check out here “Typical Dutch Bicycles” from our cool vriend Sarah of the Dutch Blog.)
Les bicyclettes Terrot (The Terrot Bicycles): And you thought that Dijon was only famous for its moutarde ? (And yes, this French Lady is definitely into “la provoc’“)
It’s also not the first time that we talk to you about bicycles here in the French Blog: When everyone was busy this Summer with la Coupe du Monde (the World Cup), my one and only partenaire de choc, Jennie, reminded you all that there was also another ongoing event of international proportions: It’s Le Tour de France, bien entendu (of course)!
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First of all, whether you hear someone say in French bicyclette or vélo, don’t get confused: These two words mean the same thing. It’s like you would say in English bicycle or bike. They are in general synonyms in French (Even though, strictly speaking, you could say that “bicyclette“, as the prefix indicates, must have exactly two wheels, whereas a vélo can have more or less than two.)
Today, we’ll get to know how different kinds of bikes are called in French, as well as how you would call each bike component en français.
1- Plusieurs types de bicyclettes (Different types of bikes):
- - La bicyclette de course (road bicycle)
- - Le vélo-cross (Cyclo-cross bike)
- - Le vélo tout-terrain, or “VTT“ (mountain bike)
- - La bicyclette de ville (city bicycle)
Bicyclette de course---en action !
Des vélos-cross (cyclo-cross bikes)
And more unconventional ones, like le sociable or le tandem:
An example of la bicyclette sociable
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Here’s, by contrast with the video above, a poignant example of a “not so sociable” bicycle!
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2- Les composantes du vélo (Bike components):
- The more obvious components are:
- - Le guidon (the handlebars)
- - Les roues (the wheels)
- - La selle (the seat)
- - La chaine (the chain)
- - La pédale (the pedal)
- - Les freins (the breaks)
- - Le phare (the headlight)
- - Le feu arrière (the rear light)
Des "moustaches en guidon" ("A Handlebar Mustache")
Un phare de vélo et un feu arrière (A headlight and a rearlight)
- Less obvious elements of a bicyclette are:
- Le dynamo (Generator)
- La valve (Valve)
- Les pneus (Tires)
- La jante (Rim)
- Le câble de frein (Brake cable)
- La tige de selle (Seat post)
- Le catadioptre (A bike reflector)
- Le porte-bagage (The carrier)
Un dynamo de bicyclette (A bike generator)
Des jantes de bicyclette (Bike rims) without les pneus (the tires)
Un porte-bagages (A bike carrier) with un panier (a basket)
A little bit on the "paranoïaque" (paranoid) side? Combien d'antivols voyez-vous (How many locks do you see)?
And of course, don’t forget the important accessoires, such as le casque (helmet) for your own safety, and un antivol (an anti-theft lock) for your bike’s safety!
Why it’s always good to wear un casque when you’re riding your bicylette !
