Mark,
What do you mean by the abbreviation "MITN" in your PS?
Curiously yours in Alameda, CA USA,
Jon Spangler
On Mar 8, 2009, at 10:15 PM, <classicrendezvous-request@bikelist.org>
wrote:
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 19:42:51 -0700
> From: Mark Fulton <markfulton5@mac.com>
> Subject: Re: [CR] Track bike set up
> To: Ken Sanford <kanford@verizon.net>
> Cc: maincom@optusnet.com.au, CR discussion list
> <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Message-ID: <7459889B-1023-44FA-B14A-03264383CC6E@mac.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"; delsp=yes; format=flowed
>
> Track bikes are designed to ride on tracks. Using fixed gears. There
> are no sharp turns on tracks. The bikes have very short wheelbases
> because that makes them light. And quick. That causes toe lap. If you
> plan to ride your track bike on the street, where there are sharp
> turns, you can eliminate the problem of toe lap by using a freewheel,
> not fixed gear. Just coast around the sharp corners with your inside
> pedal backward or vertical. Of course the free wheel means that you
> should use at least one brake. Okay, there are a couple of ways to
> reduce the problem of toe lap and still use a fixed gear. First, ride
> faster. If you ride through the tight turns at a higher speed, you
> lean into the turn more, and don't steer as much. Of course then your
> 170 mm cranks are more likely to cause you to hook your inside pedal
> in the turns. Second fit a road fork to your track bike. I've been
> able to actually eliminate toe lap on my Steelman track bike by
> replacing the track fork with a road fork with more rake, and using
> 165 mm cranks and medium toe clips. My racing shoes are only 8 1/2.
> (40-41) That helps too. And as I've mentioned in other threads, using
> the road fork means I can mount a front brake without drilling my
> track fork.
>
> Mark Fulton
> Redwood City
> California
> USA
>
> PS: In order to avoid confusing the above stuff any further, I
> purposely didn't mention that in velodrome sprint match races, all of
> the steering is done while the racers are standing still up on the
> banking. That's partly why one pedal is always at about 2 o'clock.
> That and because it's the top of the power stroke. (MITN.)