DROP-ed tha HAM-er
Verb, Noun
To sprint with extraordinary power and speed
Example usage: He dropped the hammer to take the lead in the race.
Most used in: Cycling circles in the United States.
Most used by: Road cyclists and triathletes.
Popularity: 8/10
Comedy Value: 4/10
Also see: 1 Put the power down, 2 Lay down the watts, 3 Drop the bomb, 4 Unleash the fury,
What Does it Mean to Drop the Hammer?
In the world of cycling, the phrase “dropping the hammer” can refer to a cyclist pedaling at a very fast pace. It’s a phrase that is often used to describe a cyclist who is trying to make a breakaway from the rest of the riders. Essentially, they are using a burst of energy and speed to make an escape.
This phrase has been around for quite some time, but it has gained more popularity in recent years. Professional cyclists, especially those in the Tour de France, often use it to describe an impressive burst of speed. It is usually used in the context of a race, where a cyclist is trying to get away from the other riders.
Statistics show that it takes a lot of power to drop the hammer. Studies have found that a cyclist needs to generate more than 400 watts of power to reach a speed of 40 kilometers per hour. That’s roughly the same as running a 4-minute mile!
In addition to being used in the context of a race, the phrase “dropping the hammer” is also used to describe any cyclist who is pushing themselves to the limit. It can be used to describe a cyclist who is putting in extra effort in a training session, or someone who is pushing themselves to the brink of exhaustion in a race.
So the next time you hear someone say they are “dropping the hammer”, you’ll know that they’re pushing themselves to the limit in order to reach their goals.
.The Origin of the Phrase 'Dropped the Hammer' in Cycling
The phrase 'dropped the hammer' first became popular in the cycling world at the beginning of the 21st century. It is believed to have originated in the United States, specifically in the Mid-Atlantic region. The phrase is used to describe when a cyclist puts forth a sudden burst of energy, usually near the end of a race, to surge ahead of the competition and secure a win or a personal record.
The phrase itself is believed to be derived from the hammering of a blacksmith. When a blacksmith is forging a metal object, they need to apply a series of quick, powerful strikes to shape the metal. In cycling, “dropped the hammer” implies that the cyclist has put forth a similar effort over a short period of time, usually in the last few hundred meters of a race.
The phrase has since become a staple of the cycling world, and is used to describe a cyclist's last-minute effort to secure victory. It has also been used to describe a cyclist's effort to break a personal record or to simply finish strong.
