Re: [CR]Track racing and who's fastest

(Example: Events:Eroica)

From: "John Pergolizzi" <jtperry@worldnet.att.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>, "Mark A. Perkins" <bicyclemark@juno.com>
References: <20030316.222023.-218825.0.bicyclemark@juno.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]Track racing and who's fastest
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2003 01:42:29 -0500


Bicycle Mark,
      I really dug your story! But I got ta tell ya, the secret to riding the miss and out is ....ride from the front. Relax till the end. When your down to 3, then rip um a new ----ole! It would be real fun watch'n the other two guys try'n to figure out who got 2ed so we could "go for it". I would wait around between turn 3 and the 200 meter mark at Kissena for um to show up. Cost me a win or two, but it was all for the show. Noth'n like a little "one on one" in the 200! I still got the itch but haven't scratched it in about 15 years. At least not on the track. Thanks for bring'n up the memories, John T.Pergolizzi L.J.,SoCal


----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark A. Perkins"
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Sent: Monday, March 17, 2003 1:20 AM
Subject: Re: [CR]Track racing and who's fastest



> John:
>
> Well put! I tried criteriums, and I placed, won, and lost. I tried road
> racing, and mostly chased the pack. But when I found my way to the
> velodrome, I found my place. I will say it again, there is no purer form
> of bike racing.
>
> Although I wasn't the greatest, not even a district championship
> contender. Over a two year period, from mid- '76 to mid- '78
> approximately, I participated in every track event the San Jose Bicycle
> Club (S.J.B.C. - I was a member) would allow me to enter. I even won and
> placed in several mass start events. Even pulled of a 14 sec. flat,
> flying 200 meters, only one time, and one day, and couldn't match it
> again.
>
> We didn't do much individual start events because they took too much
> time, and mass start events allow more riders to share the track. A
> "Miss-'n-out" is a darn tough race to ride, 25 laps, a sprint every other
> lap. That's only about 6-miles, but half of the time is spent sprinting,
> and when it was over all I wanted to do is lay down and try to get my
> breath back. If eliminated early it would be less, but to win you must
> get across the line before all but one rider, every time. Points races
> are more fun, especially if you keep track of who has won points, and try
> not to let anyone get more than you. In a 25 lap points race there would
> be a sprint every 5 laps, for 5, 3, 2, 1 points for 1st thru 4th
> respectively. Oh yea, double points for the third and final sprints
> keeps it interesting. Still a lot of work for only 6 miles. Near the
> end of my time in San Jose, I had the pleasure of lapping the field, with
> the help of another rider who won all of the 2nd place sprints. It only
> happened once, but it was one of the greatest feelings I have ever had.
>
> I was good enough that Gary Klein gave me (to use) the first frame he had
> made, a track frame, to use my components on, and ride on the San Jose
> velodrome. All you had to do was think 'go faster' and it did. If I
> remember correctly it weighed 14 or 14 1/2 pounds (in '77 that was
> seriously light). I rode it for a while, but I knew I wouldn't be
> joining any teams, or going to "the Districts", and I was already making
> plans to make a move, so I gave it back and suggested that he offer the
> frame to the S.J.B.C. and let one of their Juniors ride it. He did that,
> and I have photos of Chris Springer winning sprints on it. He (Chris)
> would be behind everyone entering the final curve before the finish line,
> but would be at the front by the time they got to the line.
>
> Oddly enough, my '73 (that's the year I bought it - it could actually be
> a '72 for all I really know) Bob Jackson, full chrome track bike, has
> been with me longer than any of the bicycles I own. Every bike I owned
> before that is long gone. Now I own 5 track bikes: Cinelli, Schwinn
> Paramount (Wastyn), BSA Gold Column, a cheap J.C. Higgins (24"-whl.), and
> my Bob Jackson. Now, in my early 50's, I can still ride with the locals,
> but I have neither the ambition nor the time for the kind of miles it
> takes to ride on the track and still be competitive.
>
> Like I said, I wasn't a championship contender, but I had the most fun I
> could have on that track.
>
> Incidentally, the first few times I rode on the S.J. (Hellyer Park)
> velodrome were on asphalt. At the end of that season, '76, they tore out
> the asphalt and put concrete down. Since I lived only 2-miles from the
> track, I would go by to see if it was open yet, almost every day. One
> day, Don Peterson and Ed Steffani were there to check it out too, but
> didn't bring a bike. I had mine in the pickup, and gladly volunteered it
> for use in trying the new surface. We all took turns, and now I can
> honestly claim that my chrome Bob Jackson track bike was the very first
> track bike to roll on that brand new concrete surface at the Hellyer Park
> Velodrome. I'm not sure if Mr. Steffani is with us anymore, I know Don
> P. passed away a few years back, so I am the only person who remembers
> that day. It's the truth though.
>
> Cheers everyone!
>
> "Bicycle Mark" Perkins
> Fresno Cycling Club - Historian
> Fresno, California, U.S.A.
>
>
> On Sun, 16 Mar 2003 23:48:44 -0500 "John Pergolizzi"
> <jtperry@worldnet.att.net> writes:
> > Steve Barner wrote (snip):
> > "Most track racing isn't about who is the fastest, anyway. It's who
> uses the most
> > effective tactics."
> >
> > "Sorry Steve, your wrong on that one. For sure tactics matter.
> And
> > lots. But it is all about who's fastest(and who is the most fit for the
> > distance of the event. That will get "hidden" in mass start track
> events,
> > even match sprints to an extent, but any of the individual events(which
> also
> > have tactics) are a clearer window as to who's fastest. Kilo, pursuit,
> hour
> > record; still allot of tactics (especially in terms of a time table),
> but
> > easier to see who's fastest.
> > Certainly, the match sprint involves tremendous tactics. Yet the
> event
> > is the quintessential test of "fastest". Even if we debate the
> definition
> > of "fastest": top leg speed or highest rpm over 200 meters(timed
> portion of
> > the match sprint) or amount of time for the distance (sub 11's a must
> for
> > topworld class today) or all of the above in one, it still comes down
> to
> > whoever and however that individual got over the line first.
> Generally,
> > that is the one specific and final measurement of "fastest".
> > That is the true beauty of track racing: you get to see all the
> tactics
> > and who's fastest.
> > Ain't noth'n like the sound of a one inch pitch 24x9 at a constant
> 90 to
> > 110 rpm on a 6:30 a.m. spring morning in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, New
> York.
> > I spent many a day enjoying that pleasure. Oh yea, no breaks on any of
> > those 50 mile days either. Mostly on an old black Frejus. Great road
> > training track bike; a little laid back on the angles. A little
> softer on
> > the kidneys and the ass.
> > Steve,it's all about who's fastest. That's all that matters. Just
> ask
> > any trackie.
> >
> > enjoy and be well,
> > John T.Pergolizzi
> > LaJolla ,Ca.
> >
> > ________________________
> >
> >
>
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