Picture scene

French bicycle repair vocabulary: explore the mechanic’s workbench

Learn twelve French names for bicycle parts and repair tools. Explore a workshop, read a repair visit and identify what the mechanic asks for.

In short

A mechanic may point to le pneu (the tyre), la chambre à air (the inner tube) or la chaîne (the chain). The tools are on l’établi (the workbench). Tap twelve workshop targets, then follow the mechanic’s requests.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

A mechanic examining a bicycle beside a workbench and repair tools.
Hugo brings his bicycle to l’atelier with a punctured inner tube. Illustration: Atelier

Vous pouvez me montrer la pièce à remplacer ?

Could you show me the part that needs replacing?

A bicycle on the repair stand

Three-quarter view of an uncluttered bicycle workshop. One complete city bicycle is clamped to a floor repair stand beside a wooden workbench. Clearly visible b

le pneutyre

Focus: The outer layer touching the road

Ce pneu est usé.
This tyre is worn.

la chambre à airinner tube

Focus: The inflatable tube inside this tyre

La chambre à air est percée.
The inner tube has a puncture.

Avant de repartir à vélo

Hugo vient à vélo à l’atelier. Le pneu avant1 perd de l’air. La mécanicienne place le vélo sur un support et montre la chambre à air. « Elle est percée2. Je vais la remplacer. » Sur l’établi, Hugo voit plusieurs outils. Il confond d’abord les clés Allen et les démonte-pneus. La mécanicienne lui montre leur forme. Elle vérifie aussi le câble de frein, la chaîne et la pédale droite. Enfin, Hugo demande de remonter la selle3. Il attend près de la pompe pendant que la mécanicienne termine la réparation.

Read it in English

Hugo cycles to the workshop. The front tyre is losing air. The mechanic puts the bicycle on a stand and points to the inner tube. “It has a puncture. I’m going to replace it.” Hugo sees several tools on the workbench. At first he mixes up the hex keys and the tyre levers. The mechanic shows him their shapes. She also checks the brake cable, chain and right pedal. Finally, Hugo asks her to raise the saddle. He waits near the pump while the mechanic finishes the repair.

Question 1No account needed
Find the part inside the tyre.C’est cette chambre à air qu’il faut remplacer.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

la chambre à air. The mechanic names la chambre à air, the inflatable tube inside the tyre.

Question 2No account needed
Which tools should you pass over?Passez-moi les petites clés en forme de L.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

les clés Allen. The L-shaped tools are les clés Allen; the tyre levers are curved plastic strips.

Question 3No account needed
Find the seat.Je vais remonter la selle de deux centimètres.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

la selle. Remonter la selle means raising the saddle, the part you sit on.

Question 4No account needed
Locate the connection the mechanic describes.Regardez le câble qui descend de la poignée de frein.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

le câble de frein. The cable running from the brake lever is le câble de frein.

Question 5No account needed
Where are the tools?Tout est posé sur l’établi.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

l’établi. L’établi is the wooden workbench holding the tools, beside the bicycle.