Ted and list members: I am a year or two younger than Ted but we rode in same races a half a dozen times a summer back in the fifties and sixties. A lot of them were in city parks with a mile or shorter circuit but usually ridden on track bikes. The program was a couple of short scratch races and then a ten or twenty mile points race. I must admit I would try and catch Ted's wheel in a sprint, not to pass him at the line, but just stay with him and hopefully be in the top ten and win a trophy. That's what we rode for back in those days. I still have my last Paramount tack bike (see #389 on the Fixed Gear Gallery) I think it was the last year that Paramount's came with inch pitch and block chains as standard equipment.
Gene Diggs Rochester Hills , MI, USA
-----Original Message----- From: ternst <ternst1@cox.net> To: ternst <ternst1@cox.net>; classicrendezvous@bikelist.org; John Betmanis <johnb@oxford.net> Sent: Wed, 12 Dec 2007 3:13 pm Subject: Re: [CR]Why block chain?
I knew something eluded me.Â
The metallic direct response feel was steel chain on steel chainring.Â
With the increasing usage of aluminum chainrings, that feel was about half diminished so that also aided the changeover to 1/2" pitch.Â
Ted ErnstÂ
Palos Verdes EstatesÂ
CA USAÂ
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>; "John Betmanis" <johnb@oxford.net>Â
Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2007 11:46 AMÂ
Subject: Re: [CR]Why block chain? Â
> One thing the guys didn't do was call you a blockhead if you rode a
block
> chain.Â
> If you did you ended up in the ditch!Â
> Like mentioned both chain types were available as well as 1/2" for
100
> years or more.Â
> !/2 " did not come in block variety. Thats's why many people called
the
> 1", skip tooth, or double link chains, because every other tooth was
out,
> and the roller chains had two rollers close together.Â
> And the block was a block, but two rivets were close together and
then the
> longer plate.Â
> Once you have ridden a block chain you will be a convert, if you are
> sensitive enough and appreciative of bike response and the difference
in
> the direct feel to your legs.Â
> You get that direct metallic click in/to your legs, it's a feel like
no
> other.( On the bike that is).Â
> That's why the track bike and it's response when you get off the
seat,
> step on it, and whip the bike around either on the road or track is
such a
> thrill, if your're into that kind of stuff.Â
> Age is no excuse, it's attitude that counts. YIPPIE, here I go!!Â
> If this is of no interest then shine on it, and go for the historic
value
> only.Â
> The block chain was preferred by sprinters mostly thru the years
because
> when you rode it, it had that "crisp", "snappy" feel especially when
you
> jumped and accelerated quickly.Â
> True, you had less gear finesse selection, but the difference to
sprinters
> and track riders was from 23-24-25 usually in one tooth jumps for
gear
> selection and the half gear didn't seem to make enuf difference.Â
> As time and mettalurgy progressed, the roller chains got better and
as
> riding got more detailed, the 1/2" prevailed and started to replace
the 1"
> beginning in the later '50's in Europe and making it's way over here.Â
> The roller chain rolls much smoother and the added friction of the
rollers
> didn't seem to matter as much in these newer years, so it was a
> combination of these factors that changed the equipment.Â
> Maybe I 'll think of more, if not, you can jump in the paceline and
do
> your pull to help out with commentary.Â
> I rode my bike yesterday, going for a little run with Mary now, and
> tomorrow is a rest day, (Yard Work).Â
> Ted ErnstÂ
> Palos Verdes EstatesÂ
> CA USAÂ
>Â
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "John Betmanis" <johnb@oxford.net>Â
> To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>Â
> Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2007 6:49 AMÂ
> Subject: [CR]Why block chain?Â
>Â
>Â
>> I've been around vintage bikes for decades before they were ever
vintage,Â
>> but I still don't know why block chains were used on old track
bikes.
>> TheyÂ
>> can't be stronger unless the side plates have more cross-section
area and
>> IÂ
>> can't see how they could be smoother. The gear ratios available are
justÂ
>> half as many as with regular roller chains. So what's the reason?
Could
>> itÂ
>> just be tradition, or that's how all chains were before the roller
chainÂ
>> was invented?Â
>>Â
>> John BetmanisÂ
>> Woodstock, OntarioÂ
>> CanadaÂ
>> _______________________________________________Â
>> Classicrendezvous mailing listÂ
>> Classicrendezvous@bikelist.orgÂ
>> http://www.bikelist.org/
>Â
> _______________________________________________Â
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