Eddy Merckx suffered a back injury, in 1969 if I recall, which forced him to alter his position in order to relieve pain. This is documented in the big coffee table book whose author I can't remember.
Angel Garcia, wishing everyone a Merry Christmas Verona, Italy
On 12/24/06, Tom Sanders <tsan7759142@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
> I look at the photo that Chuck sent during the discussion of brake cable
> routing and wonder at the riding position of Eddy Mercxk. He was perhaps
> the greatest of all time, but look at how bent up his back is. That would
> just kill me. I see that and think that the bike is just too small,
> especially the top tube. My back cries out for more extension than that.
> Isn't it amazing the little eccentricities of fit that we all have to go
> through to get comfortable on a bike?
> Probably a dumb question, but was comfort all that much a consideration
> for
> a guy like Mercxk? Did Racers ride one size for racing and another for
> more
> relaxed riding? How about our List Members...could/would you ride a bike
> where you are as unrelaxed as Eddy seems in this photo? Has the standard
> for fit and comfort changed since "In the day"?
> < < http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.net/
> http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.net/
>
> Tom Sanders
>
> Lansing, Mi USA