With all the great input on fixed gears, this week's terms are very apropos. When a rider has good pedal motion the easy fluid movement from the hip on down is indeed most noticeable. As the speed of leg(s) increase, and Tifosi who understand cycling observe, the expression the old timer's used was Fanning when the motion seemed smooth and effortless. The rate of mph was usually up and when the tempo was constant, one could watch and see who in the field was smooth and seemingly floated along. It was then that the rider(s) style was referred to as fanning. Smooth, no body movement, relaxed muscles. Just rolling along fast, a great treat to observe. Poetry in motion. Spinning is very similar, but usually identified by close to top end, or near sprint speed. The body style was not always as smooth, but the leg speed was way up. This could happen when someone would rev up to close a gap or wind it up in a sprint and people would say look at that guy / gal spin. It always happens at roller races when the riders would wind out and hold the spin for 30 seconds to a minute. Look at that guy SPIN!, as the spectator's jaws would drop in awe at 160-180 rpm. The feet and ankle would be a blur for a short while. WOW! Years ago, many riders needed to change ratios for different races. If a larger bolt circle chainring wasn't on a bike, riders would knock out the crank pin and change the right side crank and chainring or unscrew the ring and change it for a different size. If the nut on the crank pin was backed off a little, it could be whacked with a hammer or wrench and knocked loose to change without damaging the thread. The pin got pounded back in and if not hit too hard, the bearings wouldn't crack or dent the race so no harm was done. It was held in place buy the crank pin nut so the pin couldn't back out. For shorter races this seemed to work fairly well and not mash the flat in the pin or wear the flat on the spindle. Because the chainrings weren't quite precise, the rings were bent with a bar-big screwdriver or some sort of other technically advanced instrument to straighten them. This took time. To make it easy, the chainring was marked at home and then when changed put in the same bolt position so it ran true without needing a crowbar's friendly persuasion trackside. Chainlines were VERY close sometimes and the chainring would almost touch the chainstay. "A chainring was said to be close when it took the print off a piece if newspaper". One hoped the frame didn't flex too much so it wouldn't wear on the chainstays. Some riders didn't keep their equipment too well and that's why so many of the old track bikes had scrape marks on the frames. Many riders didn't pay attention and wore the frame right through. No big deal, what's a little hole bother, anyway? This is when the riders were real men. They ate brick ice cream, rock candy, and used ten penny nails for toothpicks. Now that you're all feeling tougher, here's next week's terms. What is / are: 1) Hook, hooking 2) Chop, chopping 3) Go on top (of) 4) Hole Remember we're talking bike racing terms here, so don't go there. Ted Ernst Palos Verdes Estates, CA