on 11/11/02 7:59 AM, Roy H. Drinkwater at roydrink@ptd.net wrote:
> Dale Brown wrote:
>> More Kermesse than stage race... Lugs were very nicely thinned and shaped,
>> semi wrapover seat stay top eyes, box crown...
>
> Kermesse? Whatzat mean? "Village fair" in French...
>
>
A more familiar term from French would be "criterium" to indicate short, fast, multi-lap road races with lots of intermediate sprints (primes) along the way. These races are often held in conjunction with the town fair, especially in summer (though one will find them held all season long), thus the name association. Acrobatic bike-handling skills and the use of elbows are more frequently used compared to conventional road racing; it is not for the faint of heart.
Bill Bryant
Santa Cruz, CA