seatstay

1 8.4

A thin tube on a bike frame that connects the seat to the back wheel

noun
/ˈsiːtˌsteɪ/

Specialized

: tirante del sillín

Each bicycle model has a unique design for the seatstay that can affect its overall performance.
carbon seatstays
aluminum seatstays
fiber seatstays

Examples

Mud had collected around the seatstay after cycling through the wet trail.
The new bike frame features a lightweight carbon seatstay for better performance.
He inspected the seatstay for cracks after the long mountain ride.
The seatstay on my bike is bent.
He replaced the damaged seatstay last week.
When adjusting the brakes, make sure the cable runs alongside the seatstay without any obstruction.
The mechanic inspected the seatstay for any signs of damage before the race.

Surface Forms

seatstay singular

seatstays plural

Morphology

seatstay = seat + stay (transparent) = seat + stay

The term is a straightforward compound of 'seat' (the bicycle seat area) and 'stay' (a supporting rod), so the meaning is directly inferable from its parts.

Etymology

Seatstay comes from the simple parts seat and stay, where stay means 'support' or 'something that holds steady'. So a seatstay is the tube on a bicycle frame that supports the seat and connects it to the rear wheel.