"Ladies" Path Racers ?
11-16-14 | 12:13 PM
#3
Hopelessly addicted...
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I think that it is mostly a function, at least in part BITD, that racing was a male-dominated sport, just as today. If you look for pictures of Eileen Sheridan, Beryl Burton or Joyce Barry, they always rode a standard "men's" diamond frame.
11-16-14 | 12:29 PM
#4
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I think it's because the ladies who take racing seriously don't race in skirts. They dress more or less the same as men.
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11-16-14 | 12:32 PM
#5
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From: Central Maryland
Bikes: 1949 Hercules Kestrel, 1950 Norman Rapide, 1970 Schwinn Collegiate, 1972 Peugeot UE-8, 1976 Raleigh Sports, 1977 Raleigh Sports, 1977 Jack Taylor Tandem, 1984 Davidson Tandem, 2010 Bilenky "BQ" 650B Constructeur Tandem, 2011 Linus Mixte
^ Yeah, there's that too. I thought of it, but didn't put it in my post.
11-16-14 | 12:37 PM
#6
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Wasn't familiar with the term, either.
Path Racer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Path Racer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
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11-16-14 | 12:55 PM
#7
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11-16-14 | 01:00 PM
#8
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It's a British term for a track bike, sometimes with an internally geared hub, raced on a grass track. They often have eyelets on the dropouts for mounting fenders, so you could use the bike for general transportation when not racing. They've faded from popularity as automobiles supplanted bicycles as general purpose transportation in Britain.
11-16-14 | 01:19 PM
#9
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11-16-14 | 04:20 PM
#10
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Could there be a speed advantage to the "ladies" design? The lack of a top tube, it would appear, would allow the rider to more easily and quickly adjust (move) his weight, for example, get lower on the bike especially on curves. Maybe the "ladies" design is just not structurally sound for racing. Any builders out there willing to experiment with a "ladies" path racer?
11-16-14 | 07:35 PM
#11
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"Modern" bike frames now usually have a sloping top tube and longer seat post than was common a generation or two ago. That gives some of the advantages you suggest.
But no, the reason for a lady's frame is so the lady can mount the bike while wearing proper lady garments without making an exhibition of her lady parts. It's all about wearing a skirt. There is no performance advantage, and lady's frames are poorly suited to competition.
But no, the reason for a lady's frame is so the lady can mount the bike while wearing proper lady garments without making an exhibition of her lady parts. It's all about wearing a skirt. There is no performance advantage, and lady's frames are poorly suited to competition.
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11-16-14 | 07:53 PM
#12
Phyllo-buster
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From: Nova Scotia
Bikes: roadsters, club bikes, fixed and classic
The closest thing to a "stock" vintage ladies path racer, to me is the ladies lenton, available without gears and Dynohub. Strip the mudguards and brakes and voila!
The 51 Sports was also available in a fixed hub...I know it's a stretch but stranger things have happened.
The 51 Sports was also available in a fixed hub...I know it's a stretch but stranger things have happened.
Last edited by clubman; 11-16-14 at 07:57 PM.
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