bag-ing awt
verb, gerund
Giving up on a ride or activity due to difficulty or exhaustion.
Example usage: I was planning to climb the mountain, but I ended up bagging out halfway up.
Most used in: Mountain biking and other challenging outdoor activities.
Most used by: Adventurers and experienced cyclists.
Popularity: 8/10
Comedy Value: 8/10
Also see: Dropping out, Pulling the Pin, Taking the Knee, Bowing Out,
What Does 'Bagging Out' Mean in Cycling?
In cycling, the term "bagging out" is used to describe a situation where a rider or a group of riders decide to drop out or abandon a race before reaching the finish line. When a cyclist "bags out," they essentially withdraw from the race, either due to fatigue, injury, mechanical issues, or other reasons that make it difficult or impossible for them to continue.
Bagging out is a common occurrence in cycling races, especially in long and challenging events like multi-day stage races or one-day races with demanding routes. Riders may bag out if they feel they are unable to maintain a competitive pace, have suffered from crashes or injuries, or if they are conserving energy for future races. Mechanical problems with the bike can also force a rider to bag out if repairs cannot be made quickly enough.
In professional racing, riders are not obligated to finish every race they start, and bagging out is a strategic decision made by individual riders or teams based on the circumstances they are facing during the race. Once a rider bags out, they will typically leave the race route and return to the team bus or other designated areas.
It's important to note that bagging out is different from disqualification, where a rider is removed from the race due to a rule violation or unsportsmanlike conduct. Bagging out is a voluntary decision made by the rider to stop racing for various reasons, while disqualification is an enforced consequence for breaking race regulations.
The Origin of the Term 'Bagging Out' in Cycling
The term itself is derived from the English idiom "to bag out," which means to leave a place or situation. In the context of cycling, riders who decide to withdraw from a race might have used this expression to convey their intention to leave the event. Over time, it could have become a widely accepted term among cyclists and cycling enthusiasts to describe the act of quitting a race voluntarily.