In light of all the light-hearted discussions concerning lightweight mudgoards and their aerodynamique affects on vintage lightweights, I've decided to do a bit of testing this weekend to see if my bicycles display any advantage from the addition or removal of mudguoards.
Test bikes will include:
1949 Bianchi, full steel mudgeards with clearance for wheel travel neccesitated by Cambio Corsa mech.
1956 Bianchi "Sport", full aluminium mudgards with lots of mud/gravel/roadkill clearance.
1964 Girardengo, full Bluemels celluloid modguards with zero clearance.
These tests will be conducted by coasting down the dreaded "Fisher Road" in Middletown, Ohio, and will include 10 descents per bike, 5 with mupguards and 5 without. Timed by me using a cheap plastic stopwatch. High and low times will be deleted, remaining three times will be averaged. Weights will be added to waterbottles to adjust for weight lost from mudguart removal.
I will ride with hands on drops on the '49 and '64, back as consistently level as possible. The '56 has upright bars, so hands will be on grips, and elbows slightly bent.
My assistant, TLM Shana Cornish, will witness the entire test to verify my results.
I will, of course, be wearing my official "Classic Rendezvous" woolen d'Alessandro testpilot jersey.
I've approached "Speed Channel" with an opportunity for exclusive rights to the coverage of this event. I've also approached Mr. Clarence B. Gerbilsmyth, the old kookoo down the road from me who has a videocam and lots of free time.
I only hope that the brakes will be sufficient to decelerate the bikes from the astronomical speeds expected during these tests.
Please pray for my safe return.
Aldo Ross
Middletown, Ohio