Drag racing on bicycles. - Page 2

01-31-2007, 10:23 AM

Curtis L. Russell wrote:
> On Tue, 30 Jan 2007 19:54:55 GMT, Bill Baka <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>
>> It's just something different to do on a bike.
>
> Actually, it is rather common to do for the younger set between
> regular races. One of the funniest things to officiate are kids on
> trikes 'at speed'. Half hit the curb and the other half draw a bead on
> the officials in the middle of the road. But the ones just below
> racing ages often do partial lap 'races'. And they'll be wobbling at
> the end from the exertion. Fortunately, there are usually only about
> three or four competitors, so there is lots of wobble room. That's how
> you tell them from the Cat Vs...
>
> Curtis L. Russell
> Odenton, MD (USA)
> Just someone on two wheels...

Wobbly at the end is about right. I've tried sprinting up to maximum
speed on various bikes and by the time I figure I can't go any faster I
am barely able to hold a straight line. Same thing with my runs, go
until ready to pass out or fall. Sprint ability is good for me on a bike
to catch up with a semi or school bus and get a good draft.
I don't know if 2 rider races would ever become popular due to the
possibility of pulled muscles or not but it might bring a little more
attention to cycling in general.
Bill Baka

01-31-2007, 11:23 AM

Some of the 'Musclebikes' (Sting-Rays, etc) of the 1960s and 1970s
actually had a "Drag Brake".
It was a lever on the top tube which held the rear caliper brake on.
There are pictures in our on-line
Picture Database. There were also bicycle drag parachutes, like
today's dragsters use.

Vin - Menotomy Vintage Bicycles
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

On Jan 30, 12:13 pm, "SlowRider" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> Ah, you bring back memories. When I was a kid, my buddy and I used to
> drag-race our bikes across parking lots from a standing start. I had
> a Sturmey Archer 3-speed (internal gears) and he had a flashy 5-speed
> with a derailleur. I always won.
>
> In all the times we raced he never figured out that for drag racing
> it's best to start in a low gear. He was so enamored with his 5
> speeds that he always started in top gear. I usually left him at the
> starting line. I thought he'd figure it out after the first couple of
> races, but he never did. Maybe it's because he couldn't see what gear
> I was in.
>
> -JR

01-31-2007, 12:13 PM

Bill Baka wrote:
> This one is my pet. Since all the car freaks like to do drag races, both
> at stop lights and at a track, why not have the same event for bicycle
> riders......
>
> New sport anyone?
>
> Bill Baka

Maybe not /totally/ new.
Ever heard of formula one bicycle racing? It was asphalt-track racing on
multispeed 20" wheel teardrop-tube funny-bikes, that a lot of former BMX
riders competed in. Sanctioned races only ran 1988-1990. I remember
seeing a bike in the LBS at the time, I think Haro and GT made bikes for
it.

I searched online for any images of F-1 bikes for a long time and got
absolutely nothing--most people have never even heard of it, or aren't
old enough to remember it.

The ONLY mention of this racing I have ever been able to find online is
in the Wikipedia entry for Tinker Juarez:
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

I emailed Tinker at his website and he said he'd send me some bike pics
but never got around to it apparently.
~

01-31-2007, 03:43 PM

OldRoads wrote:
> Some of the 'Musclebikes' (Sting-Rays, etc) of the 1960s and 1970s
> actually had a "Drag Brake".
> It was a lever on the top tube which held the rear caliper brake on.
> There are pictures in our on-line
> Picture Database. There were also bicycle drag parachutes, like
> today's dragsters use.
>
> Vin - Menotomy Vintage Bicycles
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
>
>
>
> On Jan 30, 12:13 pm, "SlowRider" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>> Ah, you bring back memories. When I was a kid, my buddy and I used to
>> drag-race our bikes across parking lots from a standing start. I had
>> a Sturmey Archer 3-speed (internal gears) and he had a flashy 5-speed
>> with a derailleur. I always won.
>>
>> In all the times we raced he never figured out that for drag racing
>> it's best to start in a low gear. He was so enamored with his 5
>> speeds that he always started in top gear. I usually left him at the
>> starting line. I thought he'd figure it out after the first couple of
>> races, but he never did. Maybe it's because he couldn't see what gear
>> I was in.
>>
>> -JR
>
>
I found the site but there is a lot there so it gets a book mark. I am
going back to look for parachutes, since that sounds like a bit of
overkill or just 'bling' for a bicycle.
Bill Baka

01-31-2007, 03:53 PM

DougC wrote:
> Bill Baka wrote:
>> This one is my pet. Since all the car freaks like to do drag races,
>> both at stop lights and at a track, why not have the same event for
>> bicycle riders......
>>
>> New sport anyone?
>>
>> Bill Baka
>
> Maybe not /totally/ new.
> Ever heard of formula one bicycle racing? It was asphalt-track racing on
> multispeed 20" wheel teardrop-tube funny-bikes, that a lot of former BMX
> riders competed in. Sanctioned races only ran 1988-1990. I remember
> seeing a bike in the LBS at the time, I think Haro and GT made bikes for
> it.
>
> I searched online for any images of F-1 bikes for a long time and got
> absolutely nothing--most people have never even heard of it, or aren't
> old enough to remember it.
>
> The ONLY mention of this racing I have ever been able to find online is
> in the Wikipedia entry for Tinker Juarez:
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> I emailed Tinker at his website and he said he'd send me some bike pics
> but never got around to it apparently.
> ~
I remember Tinker but not F-1, maybe because Tinker was mentioned so
much in cycling magazines. Doesn't asphalt-track racing imply a road
course with multiple turns and laps, or is/was it different for
bicycles? Were the bikes made for serious cornering or what?
Now YOU have ME curious.
Bill Baka

01-31-2007, 05:42 PM

>
> Ever heard of formula one bicycle racing? It was asphalt-track racing on
> multispeed 20" wheel teardrop-tube funny-bikes, that a lot of former BMX
> riders competed in. Sanctioned races only ran 1988-1990. I remember
> seeing a bike in the LBS at the time, I think Haro and GT made bikes for
> it.

Redline, too, and probably others. F1 bikes usually came with 1.5" to
1.75" slick tires, plastic wheel covers, 6- or 7-speed rear gearing
with single chainrings, and flat bars positioned lower than the
saddle. One bike shop where I worked in the early '90s used an unsold
Haro F1 as the go-to-the-store bike (duly modified with tall BMX bars
and a rear rack with milk crate). At that shop, F1 was pronounced
"Fwun".

>From what I understand, Formula 1 races were conducted on tightly
twisting short courses, making the sport more like a bicycle version
of autocross than like a bicycle version of drag racing.

Chalo

01-31-2007, 06:05 PM

DougC wrote:
>
> I searched online for any images of F-1 bikes for a long time and got
> absolutely nothing--most people have never even heard of it, or aren't
> old enough to remember it.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

It does seem to be a mostly forgotten footnote in bicycling history.

Chalo

01-31-2007, 06:51 PM

Chalo wrote:
> DougC wrote:
>> I searched online for any images of F-1 bikes for a long time and got
>> absolutely nothing--most people have never even heard of it, or aren't
>> old enough to remember it.
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> It does seem to be a mostly forgotten footnote in bicycling history.
>
> Chalo
>
>
The F-1 looks a lot like parking lot Gymkhana(sp?) that was done in mall
parking lots in the 60's. Not quite a drag race but pushing things on
cornering. Totally amazing what you can accomplish with an empty parking
lot, maybe it could be brought back. (hint!).
Bill Baka

02-01-2007, 05:02 AM

On Wed, 31 Jan 2007 15:13:34 -0600, DougC <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
wrote:

>Maybe not /totally/ new.
>Ever heard of formula one bicycle racing? It was asphalt-track racing on
>multispeed 20" wheel teardrop-tube funny-bikes, that a lot of former BMX
>riders competed in. Sanctioned races only ran 1988-1990. I remember
>seeing a bike in the LBS at the time, I think Haro and GT made bikes for
>it.

Back in the day, the Brits and some areas in the U.S. NE used to race
smaller wheeled bikes on cinder tracks. Same kind of real rough, tight
racing. Sliding on asphalt is bad enough - wonder what a long slide on
cinders would be like. Not enough to go down to the local high school
and try it, though...

Curtis L. Russell
Odenton, MD (USA)
Just someone on two wheels...

02-02-2007, 06:59 AM

Click on "Picture Database", then under "Model" find "Bat Chute".

Vin - [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

> I found the site but there is a lot there so it gets a book mark. I am
> going back to look for parachutes, since that sounds like a bit of
> overkill or just 'bling' for a bicycle.
> Bill Baka- Hide quoted text -