The question about the Cinelli 65 vs. 67 bars leads me to ask this question. I realize that the current interest in riding track bikes on the road leads to the desirability of NJS, chromed track drops, and brakelss bikes on the road, all for the purpose of keep it real by not mounting a component in any way associated with the road.
But we've talked about that before. What I'm asking is about the equipment used in actual track racing, and I'm asking about Eurpean Six Day racing in part because that's the track racing I know best, but only in the late 80s/early 90s after the time line.
I can report to you that during this period (late 80s/early 90s) is was most common to see road bars on the professional track bikes. Mod. 66 was the most common and every bit was taped. I also saw lots of Mod. 65 (in Ghent, Antrwerp, and German Six Days too). You of course know that riding madisons involved lots of slow riding with hand on the tops, and it's no surprise that riders would prefer a road bar for leaning on the ramps until time to get thrown back in. This was how amateurs tended to equip their track bikes too in Europe whether they ever rode madisons or just did devils and points races on league night. They followed the pros and saw Six Day racing as sort of the center of gravity of track racing over there. Only ever saw a steel track drop when there was a special match sprint duel show-cased by visiting pro/olymians for a few minutes at the Six Days.
Typical Six Day bike, late 80s/early 90s was lugged steel, SP/SPX, 36 spokes on high flange hubs, included Campagnolo old Record and newer Record (star). Most bikes were Campagnolo and N/S Record was common along with newer Campagnolo and Mavic stuff was always there. Time trial funny bikes with disks were reserved for derney paced events during the Six Day schedule.
Road bars weren't used only by road stars in the Six Days. It was everyone. Tony Doyle, Danny Clarck (mod. 65), Urs Freuler, Johan Bruyneel. One difference between the road stars vs. track stars was pedals. Danny Clark and Urs Freuler were on N.Record pedals. Can't remember if Doyle was on clipless then. Doyle had a strut from his Turbo saddle the the top tube where it was taped with athletic tape (to keep saddle from turing to the side under pressure from adductors).
So if Six Day racers used road bars in the late 80s, what were they using in the early 80s?
Mitch Harris
Little Rock Canyon, Utah, USA