It's time to get off relief and into the action again. VR is a week gone and still enjoying the festivities in thought. When the boys did the "New" beach ride to Palos Verdes, they passed through Manhattan Beach and about a mile from my old shop where I was doing a couple of bike fittings.Hard to cancel people when they take off work and it takes several weeks to get in to work with me. The gang could have visited, but I don't know if they would have been welcome. When you're ugly and are harassing the general strollers, joggers, walkers, skateboarders, on a dedicated bike way, wearing funny out of style clothes, and riding old crummy bikes, it's surprising that you didn't get arrested. The shop manager probably would have sic'd the dogs on you. Hey, if I can't insult my friends, what good are they?
Now, let's come to terms, here. Hang on, Shook off. These terms sort of fit together, and I 'm going to be somewhat subtly entwining several terms as they relate to our riding in the field. The story about Arnie Uhrlass was excellent. Now as I was the grasshopper when the guys talked about Hanging On, it meant you were in the back and gave all you had and literally fought to keep from being left behind. When this happened you were then Shook Off. Ridden Off the Back Wheel was a difference. But, the how is what made the difference. Please visualize a skein of yarn, school of fish, flock of birds, or a large group of riders. As the various influences come into play, the shape of these groups changes. Watch a towel while being shaken out. It undulates as the aforementioned groups. So, being shook off is when you are in the back and as the field moves around like our examples, you at the back lose contact and drop off the group. Usually the rider will exhibit bad form and be moving all over on the bike without good form, trying to hang on. If you are Ridden off the Wheel, it shows more experience and form. You ride smooth and steady, but the front guy(s) are so strong that you gradually fall back, but it means that you are either in a small group or behind someone who is so good that when his effort is high, it's just a little more than you can handle, but you look good, just not quite strong / fast enough to keep daylight away. Being blown off is a more modern term, but it means you are way outclassed and don't have a chance.
Big Wheel is an old highwheel term. The ordinaries were sized according to your leg reach. Longer legs, BIGGER wheel. The advantage of the BIGger wheel meant you went further per revolution and therefore had the advantage. When you could go faster and farther, you were the big wheel. Easy to make the connection to today's meaning and use.
The old timer's positions. No, not the Kamasutra. This is metaphysical and when I was old enough to relate better to what I was listening to, it dawned on me how deep and connected the Stars of the Nineties as they were referred to, related to the sport of bicycling. Today we have many formulas, techniques, plans, computers to do our bike positions. The bicycle patriarchs knew all about this, and they cut to the quick. Every time I refer to it it makes me smile, because it gives both picture and feeling in three words. Now close your eyes if you like, close your hands as if your are holding your handlebar a little in front of your body like you are on your bike. Lean your back forward, tilt your head up make believe you're looking forward. Visualize and feel yourself riding along the road - track. When you are properly set up and allowing all your senses to respond, the old timers summed it up, you were "IN YOUR BIKE". How about that? Old bike, new bike, restored or not, track or road, wood, steel, or alloy rims, when you're "IN" your bike then you can start to feel like a bike rider. I suspect most of you are, you probably just never thought about it, listen to the hum of your tires, whirring of the freewheels, the sound of the spokes, the wind on your face. Let yourselves "IN" to your bicycles. Become one with it. Let it become an extension of your body. Let your body roar and your mind soar. It will add another positive dimension to your cycling and lives, I guarantee you will love it.
Next week's "Toims". As John Pergolizzi would say.
1) Road Step 2) Track Step 3) Thundering
Ted Ernst
Palos Verdes Estates, CA