Re: [CR]What makes a bike fast?

(Example: Racing:Wayne Stetina)

Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2004 17:45:54 -0800
From: "Greg & Darlene Pitman" <gpit@ix.netcom.com>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR]What makes a bike fast?


My God, half of what is discussed on this list reminds me of the movie "Dumbo".

Remember Dumbo's feather? Because he believed in it, it worked. I think the same holds true for that bike you think is faster, or those components you think are better. It *really* doesn't matter if you are right or not. What matters is that it works for *you*.

I don't think we have to convince others that they are wrong (or call them names). When the crows told Dumbo that the feather wasn't really what made him fly, it defeated him for a while. Is that what we want to do to each other? Fortunately Dumbo figured it out and managed to keep on flying.

If I find a bike that feels as if it can fly, I plan on keeping it to myself. That way I can keep on believing in magic.

Greg (can ya tell I have kids?) Pitman

Rancho Cucamonga, CA (well, it is a vintage film)

Previously written:

Ok Ok, my reply was too short, and i didn't mean it to sound so harsh. Yes, i agree many bikes feel different, and that there is a human perception to the sensations of how we respond to the differences in geometry, wheels, frame tubes, etc....

But at the end of the day, the energy that is transferred to the rear wheel and converted into forward motion, doesn't change much from bike to bike.

(maasland, i'm blacklisted from your service provider, replies get bounced, what'd i do wrong??)

Grant McLean Toronto.Ca

O \O/ _< \_ _< _ (_)>(_) (_)>(_)

There's only three things that make a bike fast.

1) the rider. 2) gravity. 3) not feeding it.

On Thu, 19 Feb 2004 15:17:50 -0500, Grant McLean wrote
>> Tom,
>>
>> You're nuts.
>>
>> Buy a cycle computer, and go for a ride.
>>
>> Grant McLean
>> Toronto.Ca
>>
>> O \O/
>> _< \_ _< _
>> (_)>(_) (_)>(_)
>>
>> Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2004 14:00:52 -0500
>> From: "Tom Sanders" <tsan7759142@comcast.net>
>> To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
>> Subject: [CR]What makes a bike fast?
>> Message-ID: <005c01c3f71a$b29167f0$aebe0b18@C1921978A>
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>> Reply-To: Tom Sanders <tsan7759142@comcast.net>
>> Message: 2
>>
>> Marcus Helman commented on his Tom Ritchey bike that he never felt
>> fast = on it. I have had about twenty nice bikes in the last few
>> years, but = three were much faster than the others, or so it felt
>> to me. Some bikes = just lunge forward like they are being yanked
>> by a rope tied onto them = when you mash down, others do not. This
>> is not to say that the others = are not great bikes, they just do
>> not feel as fast or responsive to a = good mash on the pedal.
>> Originally I thought that it was a smaller = chainring, but the
>> fastest bike I ever rode, a Masi 3v, had a 42 tooth = inner ring and
>> a 53 tooth outer...actually somewhat higher geared than I = had
>> thought. Folks have suggested to me that it might be an artifact of
>> = a stiffer bottom bracket (whatever that means) or geometry. I
>> rather = suspect the latter. Perhaps some interaction of all of the
>> above. = Tires? Dunno. Surely some of you out there have noted
>> that some bikes = you own are a lot faster than others. Cost does
>> not seem to be it. I = had a relatively expensive Battaglin that
>> seemed to amaze many who rode = at how fast it was. I realize that
>> some will just think I'm nuts and that it's all in my =
>> imagination...perhaps it is. I have heard others remark about how
>> fast = some bikes they rode were...especially 3 Renshos. If anyone
>> has a good = idea on it, I'd sure love to hear it. Tom Sanders
>> Lansing, Mi __________________