Hey Coolio's,
Ever the contrarian Im here to say what do you all know about nuthin'? Sheesh .....
Many an Aussie in a flannel check shirt over the top of an AC/DC t-shirt, Levi's, Ug boots and carrying some vegetable matter wrapped in foil (Greg S. will back me up here) has cycled home from the pub not 'coz he is a westie, or a bogan, or a redneck or a Turkey or a DUI case ...... but because they honour the style and insouciance of one of the greatest names in cycling and perhaps that same name might know more about these matters than we ever will.
Anyone here wanna call Coppi a "turkey" ?
http://www.wooljersey.com/
(courtesy of Mark Agree)
So there ..... I'll rest my case (and handbag) but not before saying that it's maybe us poseur go-fast wannabe's that have it wrong and for matters of around town there is no need other than to flip them bars and take in the view(s).
ciao,
Ben (never DUI) Kamenjas Sydney, Oz
On 17/05/2006, at 4:57 AM, classicrendezvous-request@bikelist.org wrote:
> David Ross wrote:
>
>> For some reason, "drop bars turned upside down" has become a defining
>> mark of "The Turkey." Hard to imagine why, since it's a practice that
>> goes back to at least the beginning of the 20th century. Haven't bars
>> of all shapes and sizes been bolted up in every conceivable position
>> if it serves a purpose? I've seen plenty of "bullhorn" bars that were
>> really standard commuter-bike bars turned over.
>> I have a number of photos from days of yore with drop bars turned
>> up, including one or two of famous racing men on their days off. And
>> what a bargain for the weekend warrior: flipped up for comfort during
>> the daily ride to work, turned down for the TT on the weekend. A
>> number of bicycle manufacturers have also installed them this way at
>> the factory:
>>
>> http://www.wooljersey.com/
>>
>> So next time you see a Turkey ride by, be aware that the rider may
>> be more historically correct than you!
>>
> Partly I think this may be an Australian thing. I seem to recall
> seeing street scenes in the movie "On The Beach" with lots of Aussies
> riding by in that manner.
>
> In the my part of the U.S., however, it is generally a sign of a rider
> who is cycling because he lost his licence for drunk driving.
>
> The Repco ad shows bikes that don't have hand brakes. The brakes are
> the big issue here:
>
> The DUI/DWI riders just flip the bars with the brake levers as they
> are. The result is that they apply the brakes by pushing forward with
> the palms of their hands. This is very dangerous (assuming the
> brakes on these old junkers actually work) because it sets up a
> "positive feedback" situation, as the rider's momentum braced against
> the brake levers causes the brakes to be applied harder. This is at
> fairly high risk for causing wheel lockup.
>
> Sheldon "It's The Brakes" Brown