Re: [CR]Saddle support??

Steven wrote:
>Ralph is offering a neat little doo-dad on ebay:
>
>http://ebay.com/<blah>
>
>These were commonly used on track bikes and were designed to hold the nose of
>the saddle at a constant height. You attach it to the nose of the saddle
>(underneath) and around the top tube. You then dial it in to the
>perfect height
>and voilà. They really do add quite a bit of pizzazz to your vintage
>track bike.
>I have a couple of these myself in my stash but don't want to sell them as I
>believe they are quite difficult to find.

& Dave Anderson asked:
>I don't know the Ralph that is selling this item, but I have seen this thing
>most commonly used on Madison Track racers from back in the 20s and 30s. You
>are correct in that they do add quite a bit of pizzazz to your vinatge track
>bike. But there is a reason why they fell into disfavor, and it wasn't because
>they were must-have items.

If you wanted a sprint position rather than pursuit, you moved the saddle forward. With the slack angles used back them (good example is at http://ebay.com/<blah saddle clamp was at the back of the rails, so you needed support for the nose. As bicycles evolved, the angles increased, so the saddle was supported better (& Campagnolo came out with the two bolt seatpost ;^)

Roy "Janet's going to the Cirque!" Drinkwater Lititz, PA