In the run up to the Tour de France – and in appreciation of French cycling in general – we’ve created a comprehensive phrasebook of French cycling terms.
This will come in handy next time you’re riding in that beautiful country!
We’re even offering a printable version that you can fold up and put in your jersey.
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| one espresso, please! | – | un espresso s’il vous plaît |
| one beer, please! | – | une bière s’il vous plaît! |
| thank you! | – | Merci |
| what’s the wifi password | – | quel est le mot de passe wifi? |
| where is a toilet? | – | où sont les toilettes |
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| Frame | – | le cadre |
| Fork | – | la fourche |
| Wheel | – | la roue |
| Front wheel | – | la roue avant |
| Rear wheel | – | la roue arrière |
| Suspension | – | la suspension |
| Hub | – | le moyeu |
| spoke | – | le rayon |
| Rim | – | la jante |
| bearing | – | le roulement |
| quick release mechanism | – | la mécanisme à serrage rapide |
| tyre | – | le pneu |
| inner tube | – | la chambre à air |
| valve | – | la valve |
| flat tyre | – | la crevaison |
| puncture | – | le trou |
| mudguard | – | le garde-boue |
| front light | – | le phare |
| rear light | – | le feu arrière |
| reflector | – | le catadioptre |
| bell | – | la sonnette |
| crank | – | la manivelle |
| pedal | – | la pédale |
| handlebars | – | le guidon |
| saddle | – | la selle |
| seat post | – | la tige de selle |
| chain | – | la chaîne |
| master link | – | le maillon de chaîne |
| chainring | – | le plateau |
| sprocket | – | le pignon |
| brake | – | le frein |
| brake pad | – | le patin de frein |
| brake disc | – | le disque de frein |
| brake cable | – | la câble de frein |
| gear lever | – | le changement de vitesses |
| hub gear | – | le changement de vitesses dans le moyeu |
| derailleur gears | – | le changement de vitesses à dérailleur |
| derailleur | – | le dérailleur |
| gear cable | – | le câble de changement de vitesses |
| bolt | – | le boulon |
| nut | – | l’écrou |
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| bike lock | – | l’antivol |
| puncture repair kit | – | la trousse de réparation |
| bicycle pump | – | la pompe |
| helmet | – | le casque |
| tools | – | l’outillage |
| bicycle oil | – | l’huile de chaîne |
| hi-vis | – | le gilet fluorescent |
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| bicycle shop | – | le vélociste |
| cycle route map | – | la carte d’itinéraires cyclables |
| cycling trousers | – | lae pantalon cycliste |
| bicycle computer | – | l’ordinateur de vélo |
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| broken | – | cassé |
| to repair | – | réparer |
| is this road good for cycling | – | cette route est-elle cyclable? |
| is this road very hilly | – | le relief de cette route est-il très accidenté? |
| excuse me where is the nearest cafe | – | excusez-moi, où est le café |
| left | – | à gauche |
| right | – | à droite |
| straight on | – | tout droit |
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| ladies’ bike | – | le vélo de dame |
| mens’ bike | – | le vélo d’homme |
| racing bike | – | le vélo de course |
| mountain bike | – | le vélo tout terrain |
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| cycle track | – | la piste cyclable séparée |
| cycle lane | – | la bande cyclable |
| cycle parking | – | le parking vélo |
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The usual disclaimers here: if we got anything wrong, let us know!
And if we missed out any vital terms, let us know that as well!
Now we bid you ‘adieu’.
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