Thanks, Tom, that was my point exactly, but I wasn't making it very well. I don't think Merckx exactly "made" Ocana crash, but I think he probably did practice the typical psychological intimidation that helped earn him the name "Cannibal". That is, Merckx would always exploit any weakness of an opponent. If Ocana were known the be a nervous descender or uncomfortable in the rain, Merckx would have made a point of descending unusually fast in the rain as a matter of course. If another opponent were known to be a bit squemish about cobblestones, Merckx would attack him on a cobbled portion of the Paris-Roubaix. The opponent would either fall back, crash, or overcome his fears and rise to Merckx's challenge. I think Merckx had no sympathy for weakness, but a geniune admiration for courage. He probably really did respect Ocana's chasing in the rain, even though it ended in a severe crash. Had Ocana done the "smart" thing by reducing the pace, and limiting his time loss to Merckx as best he could, he might have won that year's Tour, but he probably would not have stood as high in Merckx's estimation as he subsequently did.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
KCTOMMY wrote:
> -----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