In a message dated 6/3/02 6:48:10 PM Pacific Daylight Time, warbetty@sympatico.ca writes:
<< does anyone have the empirical date about how much flex or deflection there is in an Alan or Vitus compared to a C-dale? >>
This changes a lot with frame size. A Vitus in my size is, for me, a
completely unridable bike. Sean Kelly had one of the world's worst positions
and one of the world's most flexible bikes. If he was losing 2 to 3% it
didn't matter because he won races anyway! He might have done better with a
better position and a stiffer bike but it appears he didn't want one! That
doesn't mean we should emulate either his position or his choice of bikes.
You have to ride what you think works best for you that you like to ride. If
you don't like it, you won't ride it. The opinion that is shared with the
rational that supports it is a more useful opinion than the ego opinion. If
you know the why, you can see if it works for you.
Stevan Thomas
Alameda, CA