Taco

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“Taco” is a slang term used in the context of cycling, particularly mountain biking, to describe a severe deformation or damage to a bicycle wheel. When a wheel is “tacoed,” it means that the rim has been bent severely, often to the point where it resembles the shape of a taco shell.

The term is typically used to describe situations where a cyclist has experienced a significant impact, such as hitting a large obstacle like a rock or tree root at high speed. The force of the impact can cause the wheel to deform, with the rim bending inward or outward, sometimes to the point of being unrideable.

Example:
“I took a hard spill on the trail and ended up tacoing my front wheel against a rock.”

In such cases, the wheel may need to be replaced or repaired, depending on the extent of the damage. Cyclists often carry spare wheels or repair kits when riding in remote areas to address issues like tacoed wheels quickly and get back on the trail.

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