[CR]Re: Maybe too fast

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Avocet)

Date: Sun, 05 Aug 2007 13:10:32 -0400
From: "Edward Albert" <Edward.H.Albert@hofstra.edu>
To: <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: [CR]Re: Maybe too fast

I agree with the idea that there are a lot of guys out there who came over from other sports with incredible fitness but no bike handling skills. But still, they have to move up through the ranks from cat 5 to cat whatever and, in the process undoubtedly acquire the requisite skills to sit in a field.
     However, I don't think carbon, titanium, aluminum etc. has anything to do with this. The big crashed occur in crits and they are not particularly faster than they used to be. Maybe a mile an hour or so but back in the 70's cat 1/2 crits could easily average 30mph. And, as we keep saying, "back in the day" there were tons of crashes. In fact it was a joke that one reason to win races when you first started was to get out of cat 4 as quickly as possible so you could live to tell about it.
     But even in the major criteriums like Somerville and Nutley crashes were absolutely the norm. At Somerville the crowds would always be packed on the third turn because that was, inevitably, where the big crashed occurred. Too many guys trying to fit into too small a space.
     Today I think that more races are like Somerville was in that unlike in the 70's and early 80's today the fields are much bigger. even a 50+ master's race might get 100 guys or more. You gotta expect that guys will go down it is part of what they used to call the "racing game."
     Very little if anything to do with the equipment being too fast for the riders. IMHO. Edward Albert Chappaqua, NY, USA