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
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