Looks like he has moved to fairly small chainrings. If you set up your crank with a really close chainline, there's no reason why big-big should be off-limits. When the big ring is perfectly centered with the freewheel, big-big is no more cross-chained than top gear.

I'm impressed that the white Holdsworth still has cottered cranks on it. From the two pictures, it looks as if he truly believes in the 50.4 BCD. Good for him.

What do you think it took to get that picture, T-Mar? I wouldn't expect him to use the inner on straight and level road, so the big ring would have been automatic.

The MegaRange gear probably came into play after the photographer asked over and over for run-bys until they were able to get the perfect motion blur for the shot.

-Kurt

That's a cool story, alright, but I really wonder if a million miles is accurate? 🤔 I'm sure noone over 70 ever stretches the truth though, so he must have done it. 😉

Given the relative sizes of the chainrings and cogs, that effect could almost certainly have been duplicated using a combination involving a better chain line. I'd bet that he's not even pedaling but coasting. However, your point about the photographer's perspective has merit. Most would prefer for the chain to be on the large chainring, for aesthetics. As one of my former team mates used to be fond of saying."It's not how good you are at something but how good you look doing it".

Given the man's fortune to have lived to the age of 82, healthy enough to ride to this day after his heart attack, he's earned the right to shift his chain wherever the hell he pleases. Million miles or not.

Anything else is petty elitism.

-Kurt

I'm surprised the Helmet Police haven't chimed in to chastise his lack of one. But then again, he's gotten safely through a million miles without - food for thought

DD

Mr. Mantle mentions the fact that he doesn't wear a helmet in one of his recent interviews. It's quite clear that he's not about to change his ways at this time.

Let’s leave helmet discussions out of this thread please. We al know which way threads turn once helmets enter in. Thanks.