Cycling Miscellany

[creekster]

I think it was a road bike design first. But with the explosion of suspension in mountain bikes in the 90's there was a minority that thought it was better to suspend the rider instead of the bike frame. Some companies made suspension handle bar stems and suspension seat posts.

There were some "creative" ideas out there, like:
Biopace chainrings, slightly oval supposedly to make pedaling more efficient.
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The Slingshot bike, which flexed at the top tube/seat tube joint to proved an inchworm effect supposedly to make pedaling more efficient.
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And some of the crazy weight saving tech. I remember seeing a beryllium frame.

Ovalized chain rings made a big comeback in the peloton a couple of years ago, as i recall. I haven't seen nany soft rides yet, however.

[Topper]

Ovalized chain rings made a big comeback in the peloton a couple of years ago, as i recall. I haven't seen nany soft rides yet, however.

I only saw them at triathlons.

[creekster]

Froome and others use them. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articl...h-entrepreneur

[Topper]

Froome and others use them. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articl...h-entrepreneur

Interesting. Five percent more power for me would still be almost nothing.

[Joe Public]

Ovalized chain rings made a big comeback in the peloton a couple of years ago, as i recall. I haven't seen nany soft rides yet, however.

I only saw them at triathlons.

My understanding is that UCI disallowed the Softride/Zipp 2001 style frames, so they won't be seen on tour unless that changes. Triathlon has no such rule, and old Zipp 2001/3001 frames and even the new Dimond Bike are gaining in popularity there. The aero savings are significant.

[creekster]

My understanding is that UCI disallowed the Softride/Zipp 2001 style frames, so they won't be seen on tour unless that changes. Triathlon has no such rule, and old Zipp 2001/3001 frames and even the new Dimond Bike are gaining in popularity there. The aero savings are significant.

I was kidding about the soft ride. It does not seem like a good idea for the peloton, to me.

[Joe Public]

I was kidding about the soft ride. It does not seem like a good idea for the peloton, to me.

For an ITT, though . . .

[chrisrenrut]

This looks. . . interesting.
image.jpg

https://www.BirdofPreyBicycle.com

[creekster]

It reminds me of the Graeme Obree superman riding position except with the chain stays welded on backwards.

[BrutusBuckeye]

I think this one is my favorite.

https://youtu.be/K_7k3fnxPq0

[creekster]

I think this one is my favorite.

https://youtu.be/K_7k3fnxPq0

That is an amazing video. I felt better about it after watching the outtakes afterwards but still....

[PaloAltoCougar]

I cringed more than usual, perhaps due to my last cycling foray, but it was great. Wish I could crash as harmlessly as he does.

[lambdacoug]

I cringed more than usual, perhaps due to my last cycling foray, but it was great. Wish I could crash as harmlessly as he does.

I'm sure he's had *a lot* of practice.

[bluegoose]

Levi Leipheimer tweeted out this pic the other day. Maybe it should go in the "Ouch!!!" thread instead.

Levi ankle.jpg

[Moliere]

http://www.velonews.com/2017/01/news/tour-eliminates-podium-girls-pelotons-opinions-vary_428264

“Having podium girls is just too much. It’s to treat them as objects, to devalue them,” Landa said. “It’s a well-entrenched custom, yet no one dares to question it. And you have to admit that the women who go up on the podium are there because they are beautiful and have nice figures, and that’s not the image you’d want to project.”

Gotta admit that I agree with Landa.