[CR]Classicist under attack

(Example: Events)

Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2005 23:38:02 -0500
Subject: [CR]Classicist under attack
From: "Doug Fattic" <fatticbicycles@qtm.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>


Bianca Pratorius wrote: "Two to three km per hour seems optimistic to me, plus the bars seem hideous and dangerous."

A couple of years ago I took two bikes I made for myself to our friendly club 5 mile time trial. My regular Campy Record equipped lugged road frame with 26" tubulars and a time trial bike with Ultegra that I made for the Shimano showcase at Interbike with 650 clinchers. The handlebars were Cinelli time trial Angels (if my memory is correct). I rode each one on the same course a few minutes apart and my speed with the tt bike was 1 1/2 miles an hour faster than with my regular bike. Because I was using a steeper seat tube angle on the tt bike, I could sure tell I was using different muscles than I was used to. The point that if I actually trained on the tt bike, I could go even faster. I was miserable the whole time on the tt bike so that training isn't going to happen but it showed me the difference that an aero position can make. Of course the tt bike had aero wheels and tubing so that might have had some effect as well. I'm a little guy at 5'8", 130 lbs so I am no speed demon at time trialing. I think it was 21 mph on the standard and 22 1/2 with the tt bike. If I had decent power to go faster, the difference would have been greater.

Doug "made for hills and not the flat" Fattic Niles, Michigan