Re: [CR]Re:Track bikes

(Example: Framebuilders:Doug Fattic)

To: monkey37@bluemarble.net
Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2001 11:35:15 -0800
Subject: Re: [CR]Re:Track bikes
From: Mark A. Perkins <bicyclemark@juno.com>


I too, can attest to this, although I only raced on the track for a couple of years. I quickly learned that certain components were flexing during an all-out sprint. I began racing on the Hellyer Park Velodrome, San Jose, CA, with a Sugino track crank & BB, and TTT alloy track bars & stem on my chrome Bob Jackson track bike. I soon found that I could feel something giving in the crank and handlebar area. My solution? I installed a Campy track crank, and more importantly (I think) I used a Phil Wood cartridge BB. I then replaced the bars & stem with Cinelli steel units. I also left the 28 spoke wheels home in favor of 36 hole units. End of problem. Then I noticed a clicking in the pedal area, which turned out to be my shoes rocking on the cleats, so I added a second, front toe strap which also solved the problem. After that I was able to concentrate more on sprinting. These changes happened one at a time, so I could tell how each change affected the ride.

Out there on the track, when engaged in an all-out sprint, you don't want anything distracting you, as all of these items did before I changed them. In a pursuit, I don't think all of these changes would have been necessary, because a smoother riding style is preferred. But we were doing mass start events in order to allow more riders on the track at one time. I raced miss-and-out and points races, both of which require lots of sprinting. That was my favorite kind of racing, and for a 27 year old racing against guys from 18 up, I did fairly well with a few wins and places to my credit. What a blast that was! Cheers to all, "Bicycle Mark" Perkins

On Mon, 15 Jan 2001 09:05:43 -0700 Monkeyman <monkey37@bluemarble.net> writes:
> >Sprinting and Keirins bring out the conservative in any rider. 200
> lb
> >riders who can squat lift 400 lbs and more do strange things to
> bikes.
> >Every bit of rigidity obtainable can make a difference in how
> squirrely the
> >bike is in the final turn. How the bike tracks through this turn
> makes all
> >the difference in determining possible lines, effect of rules and
> finishing
> >strategy. There is also a psychological component in having
> complete
> >confidence in the bike.
> >Joe
>
>
> Sorry Sheldon but Joe is 100% right-on about the need for really
> strong
> bikes on the track. I've watched just about every part on a track
> bike
> break just on the stresses exerted by the rider. Stems and forks
> snap,
> wheels and chainrings fold, seatposts and frame tubes twist. I know
> people
> who have replaced their bolt-on axles with QR axles (without the QR)
> to
> save weight but have always bent or broken the axles. If you use a
> QR on
> the track it WILL slip. If you watch someone like Marty Nothstein,
> Ken
> Carpenter, or my young friend Jason Vance pull on a pair of bars you
> will
> understand the use of overbuilt parts. If all you do is cruse
> around town
> on a track/fixed bike lightweight parts are fine, but on a 48 degree
> bank
> at 30+mph they just won't cut the mustard. If you doubt my words my
> words
> go to a track on open night and take the track riding class and then
> you'll
> know.
>
> enjoy,
> Brandon"monkeyman"Ives
>
> PS: So this isn't totally off-topic I will add that track bikes are
> true
> "classics" since little about most of the bikes has changed in the
> last 100
> years.
>
>
> Brandon and Mitzi's-- "Wurld uv Wunder"
> http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~capybara/
>
> Monkeyman's on going bicycle part garage sale
> http://www.uweb.ucsb.edu/~mkirklan/salepage/garage.html
>
> !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
> Nobody can do everything,
> but if everybody did something
> everything would get done.
> -Gil Scott Heron-
> !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________

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