Re: [CR]Eddy's crank length

(Example: Framebuilding:Brazing Technique)

Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 19:36:03 -0600
From: "Mitch Harris" <mitch.harris@gmail.com>
To: "Freek Faro" <khun.freek@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]Eddy&#39;s crank length
In-Reply-To: <df813d780805061406p15ae792fmc1d95836194a3901@mail.gmail.com>
References: <263011.67939.qm@web50501.mail.re2.yahoo.com> <e66efd677a52.4820c5bf@optonline.net>
cc: Classic Rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
cc: Classic Rendezvous

But to the original question about Eddy's crank length for regular track events like Madisons in Six Days, I didn't post earlier because I don't have definitive information on Eddy but I'd be surprised if he used anything but 165 for his Six Day bikes. Riders of his era and later were on 165 for Six Days regardless of the height of the rider, with big tall guys like Urs Freuler and Peter Post on 165s riding the same c.180 meter track at Ghent that Eddy rode regularly. Fairly steep bankings in the turn on this very smoothly curved track, but the Antwerp track at c.250 meters also has quite steep bankings as it's less oval in shape than Ghent.

Not exactly definitive information, but I personally watched Eddy ride around the Ghent and Antwerp tracks on bikes with 165 cranks on various occasions, but this was long after his retirement, he was wearing a nice grey suit, and had usually just finished a good supper of mussels and Jupilee in the dining section of the middenplein. We all applauded the retired stars for being good sports and taking their laps after dinner.

Mitch Harris
Little Rock Canyon, Utah, USA