I'm trying my best to find some vintage content in any of this and coming up empty handed...
Chuck Schmidt South Pasadena, Southern California United States of America http://www.velo-retro.com (reprints, t-shirts & timelines)
On Nov 26, 2006, at 8:39 PM, Jeff Potter wrote:
>> From: Sheldon Brown <CaptBike@sheldonbrown.com>
>> Subject: Re: [CR]RE: 1960's Racing Moultons
>> [ ]
>>
>> Brandon Ives wrote:
>>
>> >The UCI has never been known for logic on its rulings, or even
>> >thinking for that matter. I was just yesterday reading an article
>> >on recumbent racing in the 30s in the pro ranks. The UCI and most
>> >other governing bodies for bicycle racing just seem to fear designs
>> >outside of a very narrow norm.
>>
>> There's a fundamental philosophical question of "what is the purpose
>> of racing."
>>
>> One answer is that is a way to improve the technology.
>>
>> Another answer is that it is to compare the skill and strength of
>> athletes.
>> [ ]
>> Sheldon "Why?" Brown
>
> I don't think it's as black'n'white as that. The two answers blur
> even with the UCI, of course. The UCI likes to boost tech if it
> doesn't give unfair advantage.
>
> Back in the day the 'bent racers weren't trying to get faired bikes
> mixed in with other bikes. Aero stats on unfaired bents are quite
> similar regular race bikes and they do OK in the same fields, altho
> bents do stay to the sides. It's probably only the faired 'bents
> that can be said to have truly "different" advantages when mixed
> with UCI bikes.
>
> It seems like UCI-bikes can be as extreme---and expensive---as racy
> bents. Well, maybe not UCI bikes but USCF bikes...
>
> Basically a lowracer bent is as aero as a top tri bike---without
> the tri-bike's instability. Now, not all road racers would choose a
> lowracer. I think a regular or highracer bent is on par with a
> moderate tri-bike.
>
> One thing that 'bents can do is give good aero results plus good
> comfort. Bigger riders may well benefit more from this in general.
> Who knows.
>
> I suspect that a big bent rider might end up with the aero profile
> of a small UCI rider. Who's unfair? There are little guys who have
> MUCH better aero stats than I do if we're both on UCI bikes coz
> he's on a much smaller bike! They're hard to draft! I'm a barn
> door. It would be fun to get the same aero as a little guy for a
> change, by using a bent.
>
> Pro riders have to put up with ENORMOUS bodily stress, injury and
> discomfort caused by their bikes alone! Benters have no problem
> with BOILS, for one thing. Give bents consideration if only for
> humanitarian reasons. Heck, let a racer with boils SWITCH to a bent
> rather than retire. They're already swapping bikes with various set-
> ups as it is. A bent can help take about half the masochism out of
> the sport. (Still leaving a lot remaining!)
>
> Supposedly bents are also safer and can brake harder. They also
> don't get as bad of injuries from crashes. That's a nice thing that
> some racers might appreciate. (Who's the fragile US crasher?
> Julich?) Basically no collarbone breaks in bent crashes. --Though
> they do sometimes get their own breed of ankle twists, depending on
> bike type.
>
> So there are tech aspects that don't give unfair advantage but do
> significantly improve the ride experience in some situations.
>
> It might be like if a one-class sailboat required a seat in the,
> uh, cockpit (? I'm blanking) that caused boils. I mean, what's the
> seat got to do with it? Let people use a cushy seat then regulate
> the waterline, etc.
>
> Well, if a racer (or any rider!) has butt or hand-pressure issues
> and still wants to put in lots of miles it doesn't take a rocket
> scientist to realize that you can still do it if you use a 'bent.
> The UCI doesn't regulate the training bike.
>
> The basic effect of doping is to allow cyclists to train more
> without excess fatigue. A bent actually allows that. Someday
> cyclists will realize this.
>
> I personally used to be hours-limited when I was into racing and
> stage races. I'd get too sore when I was riding enough to be
> "contenda" fit, so I'd have to back off (sore in hands, butt, neck,
> feet). A bent would've been a great answer for my training, but I
> didn't know about them til too late.
>
>
> ****
> Jeff Potter
> ****
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