Not sure this helps, but I find that some bikes make me want to ride faster than others. So it's not (necessarily) that they ARE much faster, but they "beg to be ridden hard", to use a cliche. My Indy Fab Planet X is like that, to the point that it's actually difficult to ride it slowly. Probably a combination of position (low bars) and flexy frame (tigged 853). See http://cyclofiend.com/cx/2009/cx054-gernothuber1209.html
Perhaps light weight also contributes, not because it is that much faster, but because it responds more immediately to rider input, thus giving more direct positive reinforcement for pushing harder? My Sam with higher bars (and stiffer tubing?) on the other hand seems to encourage a more moderate pace. See http://www.flickr.com/photos/25150...@n08/4424231067/ So if it's frame flex and light weight that encourage pushing hard, you may need a different frame (terraferma?). If bar position is a big factor, perhaps your Sam will be fine. Get some Cypres tires, lower the bars, and see what happens. You can always raise the bars partway through a century, since you have a threaded stem... :) Gernot On Apr 27, 1:24 pm, PATRICK MOORE <bertin...@gmail.com> wrote: > There is one more thing to say in favor of a "racing" position; though this > term is really a false one, since it is used by riders who have no thought > whatsoever of racing; and that is that it is in a sense more comfortable for > putting out power if you like to push yourself. The butt-back, lower bar > position (and I am speaking only of a modestly low bar; no attempt at a > truly flat back) feels good because it optimizes weight distribution and > power generation. I often get into my hooks (a mere 4 cm below saddle) > simply for a change of position, or to maintain speed up a slight incline, > wind not the issue. It also in my experience of four Rivendell models, three > customs, brings out the best handling in Grant's long rear-center, shortish > front-center designs. Even my Hillborne, on which I want higher bars for > multi day touring, and the newly brazed and painted Monocog, where I want a > higher position off road, let me get back and low simply by riding the hooks > and bending my elbows. I've found excessively high bars unweight the front > end too much and make it feel unstable; my Hillborne bars are about 1 cm > above saddle, those of the Monocog (with a longer cockpit even than the H) > about 2 cm above versus the 4-5 cm above that the Hillborne was originally > set up with on the Riv floor. (I have the old floor model.) And I have short > arms. > > So, I'd suggest a position that, while it lets you straighten up, also does > not deprive you of that wonderful butt-back, arms low and lightly resting on > the bars position that PJW among others describes. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group > athttp://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
