Re: [CR]Slack but Speedy

(Example: Production Builders:Cinelli)

From: <themaaslands@comcast.net>
To: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org (Classic Rendezvous)
Subject: Re: [CR]Slack but Speedy
Date: Thu, 01 Apr 2004 00:55:38 +0000

Peter wrote:
> Not too long ago, there was some discussion about the slack frame angles of
> British club and racing bikes prior to the late 1930s.

Perfect timing to bring up this topic as in the Italian 'Cyclist's Manual' booklet that I mentioned earlier today, they state:

"...then from England came the unexplicable habit of placing the saddle far behind, on top of the drive wheel. This style, being just as English as absurd, could not help becoming popular; therefore all riders, both racers and tourists rushed to adopt it, maintaining that it 'permitted superior power in climbs.' We should however point out, that in cycling parlance, when one wants to emphasize the advantage of a given item, it is customary to say: 'it facilitates climbing.' Now, however, this theory has been displaced with more rational sense and the racers now place the saddle almost plumb to the pedals..."

This was written at the beginning of the 20th century, no later than the teens.

--
Steven Maasland
Moorestown, NJ