-----Original Message----- From: Chuck Schmidt <chuckschmidt@earthlink.net> To: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Date: Thursday, April 12, 2001 4:49 PM Subject: Re: [CR]Teledyne questions and appeal
>Jerry Moos wrote:
>>
>> My point was that a frame with excessive flex would have less stable and
>> less predictable handling and might be harder to keeep upright in
>> unfavorable road condition. I feel less confident of the Teledyne's
>> handling on the gravel roads in this area because it has noticeably
greater
>> frame flex. I suspect the Speedwell, with what appear to be smaller OD
>> tubes than the Titan, would probably have even more flex. While one
wants
>> some absorption of shock on rough roads, I'd think a large amount of
lateral
>> flex in a frame woud make it more difficult to control on rough or wet
>> roads.
>
>
>Frames with lots of flex do not exhibit less predictable handling; you
>adapt to the frames handling characteristics and you ride within those
>capabilities, just as you adapt to wet roads that are slick or wet
>brakes that take a longer distance to stop.
>
>Chuck Schmidt
>South Pasadena, California
Doesn't "riding within those capabilities" mean that the titanium bike is "slower"? Then the point is whether Ocana exceeded the limits of his flexible titanium bike in trying to stay with Merckx on his rock solid lugged steel DeRosa. Even I, as non a racer as ever there was, have heard the rumor that Eddy "made" Ocana crash by deliberately riding insanely fast in the unsafe conditions, knowing he was a better descender than Ocana. Prior info put out by the list seems to refute that scurillous story. But the question remains, if identical twins start at the top of the mountain at the same time, one on a steel bike and one on an early generation titanium, who gets to the bottom of the hill first?
Tom Adams, Kansas City