FWIW, Greg Lemond still has long arms. I rode with him last Saturday, and it doesn't appear that they've shortened over time.
Chris Beyer It's Temporarily Stopped Raining Bloomfield ("Mildew City"), NJ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CYCLESTORE@aol.com wrote:
> Hi gang,
>
> I have to weigh in with Mr. Richie Sachs on his previous comments and also
> note the items below Brad Stockwell mentioned. Not everyone needs a high or
> low bar position.
>
> Hinalt was not alone then or now with an extended steer tube setup. Many
> riders of that era (and forward) can be seen in pictures with extended
> steerers. American riders have been directed toward lower stem positions I
> feel because of our background and heritage in track and then criterium
> racing (and coaches from these disciplines). Euro's grew up with much more
> long road and stage racing than their American counterparts.
>
> It is interesting that the trend toward zero stem rise is common (Pantani)
> today when ample research shows that a high bar position offers many aero
> advantages as the body (flat back mind you) drafts the arms. Lance Armstrong
> used this (old research) discovery in wind tunnels to find his ideal position
> a couple of Tours ago and was openly jeered by many even after he dominated
> the time trials in the 99 Tour. Naturally some people don't need low bars to
> get low (Lance and Hinalt were very aero on the bike with high bars) but some
> people don't need high bars cause their arms are so long. Greg Lemond had
> very arms and low bars.
>
> On the extended head tube being ugly, depends on how it is implemented, beats
> a sloping top tube any day for style. The extended head tube may be more of a
> function of properly fitting the bike and adapting modern components.
>
> Regards,
>
> Gilbert Anderson
>
> The North Road Bicycle Company
> your bicycle outfitter
> 519 W. North St.
> Raleigh, NC 27603
> USA
> ph toll free in USA :800/321-5511
> Local ph: 919/828-8999
> E-Mail: cyclestore@aol.com
>
> In a message dated 5/23/01 11:00:22 PM, BRAD.STOCKWELL@mpp.cpii.com writes:
>
> << CR FOLK:
>
> In 1984 or so, a guy named Urs Fruehler, or something that sounds like
>
> that, rode for the Bottechia team in riding togs with horizontal blue and
>
> grey stripes (jersey and shorts both) - and his bike had a headtube
>
> extension of an inch or more. He managed to win one of the classics on this
>
> rig, and thus it is pictured in one of the 'Fabulous World of Cycling'
>
> yearbooks.
>
> Also note: in the early 80's Bernard Hinault rode his bike with the stem
>
> always at the maximum extension possible. I gather this position is
>
> associated with a greater risk of breakage, and of course it flexes much
>
> more. At any rate, by the time he was writing his book on racing technique
>
> (about 1985) he was using the rig someone on the list mentioned earlier: an
>
> extra-long steerer tube and perhaps a half-inch or so of spacers. Perhaps
>
> in another case one could consider it a kluge or an afterthought, but for
>
> Hinault two things are clear: this man could get whatever bike he wanted,
>
> and he certainly wanted to win.
>
> Brad Stockwell
>
> Palo Alto >>