<classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2005 9:10 PM Subject: Re: [CR]Re: Derny Paced One Hour Record Attempt
> Hello: We've got some great posts.
> Thanks to James C.M. The Backstedt interview was very timely in that it
> fit in to our weekly term theme.
> He alludes to the pedal/push rpm we discussed. He's looking for the stride
> he needs. It'll be a combo. Good motion with as big a gear as he can
> comfortably overturn while maintaining form looking for the best line he
> can on the track for maximum speed and minimum distance.
> Just like taking the correct line on the road going through the corner
> without scrubbing off or coasting and maintaining speed and rhythm.
> Notice how he said to race before New Year for 6 days and then to road
> training to get his road legs. The 6 days will be an easy way to get his
> winter fixed gear riding in without being exposed to the elements, colds,
> pneumonia, etc. Steady riding, endurance training, and rpm enhancement.
> Mark and Gene are right on. It was a great transition to have experienced
> mixed fixed and freewheel riding and racing. These historical flashbacks
> to our time line bikes and their use are great.
> For Jamie and Doland the single line was tricky.
> You could imagine the single line, but I interpret that as riding in the
> road single line / file as moving along at fast paceline) and changing off
> going like hell.
> When I think of a paceline single file at the edge of the road, I know the
> guy in front is taking the field to the side so they will have almost NO
> wind protection as in the echelon.
> He's thinking " hang on if you can". I'm going to break my legs before I
> slow up. No protection for you. I'm going to blow you off, or explode
> trying. That's the old Belgium school. If you swing out of the line, hit
> cobbles or dirt,
> You lose 20 places, or? Racing at it's blood and guts best.
> The curb to curb was self explainitory.
> When my dad was racing in Germany in the "20's, he told of how the local
> club where the race was held got to ride in the front row(s) and they
> covered the street and only when flats, spill, or ability made a hole in
> the line could an opposing club get to the front.
> I'm sure if you tried to get by on the side you were helped to a ringside
> seat in the bushes.
> We'll have to talk about this fixed gear riding.
> I feel that the CR has become much more professional and sophisticate this
> last year or so.
> With all the track bike talk and road bike use, I suspect most of the
> super, group CR / VR rides may be mixed. As the bikes will be Timeline
> correct the off season riding may not be too out of order.
> The gals will have just as much to gain as the men, because the ride will
> be safer when we all know how to handle fixed / freewheel mixed riding.
> I suspect, if the gals feel safer and happy, they will make the guys feel
> happy, too.
> I think the riders should send written affidavits to Dale attesting that
> they will only ride timeline correct bikes as the riding relates to our
> winter skills training to ensure safety on our rdes like at the CR, for
> instance.
> As one of the riders who rode before the timeline cutoff date, one had to
> be very skilled at riding in mixed fields. It was fascinating listening
> when my dad and the other old timers talked about the pre-war days when
> some guys would show up with freewheels at rides. The guys would literally
> tell them in no subtle words where to go.
> The key to riding in a mixed field was for the freewheel riders not to
> apply the brakes stupidly. The fixed gear riders had to ride a little off
> the wheel to allow for unexpected braking. You could back-pedal quickly
> but had to pay very sharp attention to back off, and then the rider in
> back of you could have a mild stroke to compensate.
> The fixed one brake riders could scare the living (ahem) daylight out of
> all the field.
> I surmise the time gap was to allow riders time to get a road bike. Credit
> not being as proliferated as today.
> Think of riding a fixed gear as driving your car, by using the gas pedal
> instead of brake predominantly. It gives you a totally different
> perspective on riding and driving. What you get is control by foot / feet.
> By riding low gears through the cold / off riding time one gets endurance
> while recuperating from last season's riding. This also gives the rider
> the easy pedaling motion so easily seen in all the old and new classic
> race videos on how the riders pedaled our timeline bikes into our revered
> history and restored glory.
> Ted Ernst
> Palos Verdes Estates, Ca
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "James Cushing-murray" <cush@colorado.net>
> To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2005 11:10 AM
> Subject: [CR]Re: Derny Paced One Hour Record Attempt
>
>
>> Ted should like this:
>> http://www.cyclingnews.com/
>> nice discussion about gears, leg speed, and position on the track by
>> Magnus Backstedt as he gets ready to attempt to break the hour derny
>> paced record.