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-   -   "Dear Carleton" (https://www.bikeforums.net/track-cycling-velodrome-racing-training-area/743918-dear-carleton.html)

sarals 10-05-16 07:50 AM


Originally Posted by carleton (Post 19102456)
....Bikeforums is a weird place....

BIke racers are weird people. Aren't we? :innocent:

trvth 10-05-16 09:34 AM


Originally Posted by carleton (Post 19102456)
No, I haven't. But, maybe I should



Hahahaha!

This thread started in the Singlespeed / Fixed Gear forum. User Scrodzilla (bike shop owner) was a moderator at the time and people always asked him a lot of questions about fixed gear stuff. "What's better, this or that?", "What do I do about this thing?" etc... but it wasn't in a single thread. He was answering random "Dear Abby" advice column type questions in random threads.

I don't exactly remember how, but I think I commented something like "I wouldn't have the patience to answer so many questions." and he made one and directed people to ask me questions as a joke. Hence the first post here:

Title: "Dear Carleton" (as in "Dear Abby")


Eventually, Scrod started his own thread instead of answering questions in random threads. 5 years and 11K posts later that thread is still active and he's still active there, too: http://www.bikeforums.net/singlespee...ask-scrod.html

Bikeforums is a weird place.

EDIT:

This thread was moved from the Singlespeed / Fixed Gear forum to Track Racing because, over time, I became less active there and more active here and having the thread here made more sense. So, that explains why some of the early posts are either related to street fixie riding or people not familiar with track racing asking exploratory questions.

Wait, they moved this thread out of Single Speed / Fixed Gear?? All these years I've been sub'ed to this thread, and I hadn't noticed that it moved. Thanks for all the posts, Carleton!

himespau 10-05-16 10:08 AM


Originally Posted by trvth (Post 19103255)
Wait, they moved this thread out of Single Speed / Fixed Gear?? All these years I've been sub'ed to this thread, and I hadn't noticed that it moved. Thanks for all the posts, Carleton!

Me neither. I was only tangentially appropriate to be in SSFG and not at all for track racing, but it's been interesting reading. I've learned a lot.

houleskis 10-05-16 03:05 PM


Originally Posted by Godsight (Post 19099826)
The estimated power for the winning time at the recent Can champs is 549w for a time of 4.23.551. Good road rider were doing around 4.41-42 time with estimated power of 452w.

How do you go about estimating those numbers? Is there a calculator around?

Godsight 10-05-16 04:10 PM

There is a couple of calculator on the web that you can google easily that use altitude, air temp, tire setup and handlebar setup in consideration for a calculating an estimated power.

I used Bike Calculator to get my estimate.

queerpunk 10-05-16 06:39 PM

That is very estimated. Go ahead and give that a 20% margin of error - especially for stuff where aerodynamics plays a role.

700wheel 10-07-16 11:36 PM


Originally Posted by Doge (Post 19097520)
I know this post is older but at least one master at worlds is using a TT bike. I have a few road Shivs avail too. I'm posting this out of interest.
http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...1&d=1475463632

This bike looks like one my friend owns. I checked it today:
Protoype (printed on chain stays),
Carbon,
120 mm rear wheel spacing,
Obviously made using some standard tubes since it has bottle holder screws, and a FD attach plate,
Horizontal drop outs are 3.5 cm long (other track bikes ranged from 3.5 to 4 (4 on Tienmeyer) and a Langster Pro had 5.5 cm.

I forgot to say it is ridden on a 41 degree banked track with no problems.

brawlo 10-07-16 11:44 PM

Don't neglect that there are a few track bikes that are really just the company's TT bike with track dropouts installed

taras0000 10-08-16 01:59 PM

So if it says prototype, then it should be available within 9 months to purchase as per UCI rules.

700wheel 10-08-16 07:11 PM


Originally Posted by taras0000 (Post 19110203)
So if it says prototype, then it should be available within 9 months to purchase as per UCI rules.

This Sworks bike is several years old and I doubt that it ever went into production.

carleton 10-08-16 07:21 PM


Originally Posted by 700wheel (Post 19110724)
This Sworks bike is several years old and I doubt that it ever went into production.

Then it is not UCI legal to race it. Any medals, world records, or basic finishes are subject to being overturned on this technicality.

Even Tiemeyers have UCI approval.

If I trained all year, I would hate to be DQ'd on such a technicality.

TDinBristol 11-06-16 08:40 AM

Carleton

A question about fit, specifically yours. I saw in some posts you've done that you went to a greater saddle setback with good results. Question is whether this has to do with femur length. I have long ones and it has its effects on getting the right balance of things. I have made a lot of changes squatting because of my long femur/short trunk proportion and now I'm thinking about how it may affect things on the bike.

carleton 11-06-16 10:44 AM

It has to do with getting your hip angle right such that your glutes are engaged more during the pedal stroke. Especially with the trend towards bigger/heavier gears.

The Gluteus Maximus are very large and useful muscles.

Not the Slowest 11-08-16 05:35 PM

Spacer for Nitto Handlebars, Yes, No, Depends?
 
Hi Carleton,

With time on my hand this Fall/winter I am playing around with a new bike frame and fit.
My handlebars are the component that I am unsure about.
For the moment I am looking at some Nitto B123 or B125, for feel and position and going narrower than I have in
the past.
Going from a traditional track bar that is close to the B123 but wide measuring 40 C-C
but looking to go smaller in width with a 37-38 C-C.
The 2 bars above have different drops but again it's a test for what I feel comfy with for now.

That said, the bars are 25.4 clamping so is it an issue if I use a spacer with a 31.8 clamping area
stem or just buy a 26.0 clamping area stem. I am not sold on one vs the other for a stem but if I need to borrow
one from a friend for fit testing the 31.8 are around.
Oh yeah if I do use the larger 31.8, could I compete with the spacer?

Thanks Robert

carleton 11-08-16 06:57 PM

Hi, Robert.

Any bars that have different dimensions will feel awkward for the first 2-3 sessions using them. So, you shouldn't use initial comfort as your criteria.

Spacers are fine. They are just a pain in the butt when you install them because you have to align the bars and the spacers before clamping. But, you only have to do that once. Once it's set it's fine. I've clocked some 2000W standing starts on Nitto bars using spacers.

Not the Slowest 11-08-16 07:00 PM

Big thanks.

Most of my teammates are pushing for me to use/buy Scattos, but I'm on a budget at the moment.

carleton 11-08-16 07:03 PM


Originally Posted by Not the Slowest (Post 19178975)
Big thanks.

Most of my teammates are pushing for me to use/buy Scattos, but I'm on a budget at the moment.

Use 36cm Nitto B125 (steel) or B125AA (aluminum). Both are very strong. I prefer the aluminum. It's more comfortable and still very strong.

carleton 11-08-16 07:07 PM

36cm (or 34cm...can't recall) Nitto B125 (steel) on my former LOOK 496:

https://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8350/8...ef9d1064_h.jpg

Not the Slowest 11-08-16 07:09 PM

Nice. I assume even the Chro-moly NJS stamped bars are to be avoided?
I was thinking of the B123's simply because the drop would be similar . However as you stated i'll get more comfy after a few days /rides with the new set-up.

carleton 11-08-16 07:17 PM


Originally Posted by Not the Slowest (Post 19178995)
Nice. I assume even the Chro-moly NJS stamped bars are to be avoided?
I was thinking of the B123's simply because the drop would be similar . However as you stated i'll get more comfy after a few days /rides with the new set-up.

By steel I mean the cro-mo.

The steel/cro-mo bars are simply heavy and transfer a lot of vibration into your hands and arms making riding a bumpy track uncomfortable. I always buy the cro-mo because it looks cool...then regret it.

The aluminum alloy B125AA are similar in reach, drop, and weight as the 3T Scatto. The only significant difference (aside from carbon vs aluminum) is that the Scattos have a longer grip area.

Scattos are overpriced. If you are on a budget or simply don't want to pay $400 for a pair of handlebars (like no reasonable person should), then B125 is the same bar at a reasonable price.

Not the Slowest 11-08-16 07:29 PM

Got it. Well at Kissena where I do 80% of my rides, B-U-M-P is the word. So alum will be the choice.

Thanks for your insight.

queerpunk 11-09-16 09:23 AM


Originally Posted by carleton (Post 19179012)
The steel/cro-mo bars are simply heavy and transfer a lot of vibration into your hands and arms making riding a bumpy track uncomfortable. I always buy the cro-mo because it looks cool...then regret it.

counterpoint: when i raced at kissena i rode a very light bike with a very short wheelbase. having steel bars added some reassuring weight on the front end that helped keep it planted at speed in the lane.

Not the Slowest 11-09-16 09:42 AM

My new bike is an Affinity Kissena, so it's not on the light side, nor am I.
However, the truth is I have been using a stock bar from my Felt TK3 which is an aluminum ( i think) bar. I do feel vibration on the warm up with my hands on top. Otherwise I am so into the moment it all becomes a blur except on the wheel pops out in turn 4, sometimes turn 1.

The bars are not that much so I'll do some experimenting. The key for me is the narrower bars
and adjusting to them and obviously proper fit.

Originally Posted by queerpunk (Post 19180061)
counterpoint: when i raced at kissena i rode a very light bike with a very short wheelbase. having steel bars added some reassuring weight on the front end that helped keep it planted at speed in the lane.


Poppit 11-09-16 02:01 PM

I believe Kenny rode with 28cm bars in Rio, that is scary narrow! My wife rides with 35cm Scattos which are like a kids bars to me so 28cm bars must be mad.

carleton 11-09-16 03:23 PM


Originally Posted by Poppit (Post 19180763)
I believe Kenny rode with 28cm bars in Rio, that is scary narrow! My wife rides with 35cm Scattos which are like a kids bars to me so 28cm bars must be mad.

Wow, really? Pics?


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