The Funnybike
Summer, it appears, has been snatched abruptly from Seattle’s grasp, like a squeak toy from a puppy’s mouth. A week ago, we were setting record temperatures which were sadly playing their role in producing the worst wildfire season the state has ever seen. On the plus side, I haven’t ridden my Nine Bike in so long both its tires were flat as it hung against the wall in the VVorkshop. This weekend saw its reemergence as high winds, rain, and cooler temperatures gripped the city. It was like Fall swaggered over and gave Summer a snuggie before shoving it in a locker.
Change is a catalyst for introspection, and it just so happens that coinciding with this change in weather is the announcement of SRAM’s eTap grouppo. Apart from bringing back Mavic Mektronic’s nightmare wireless technology, eTap offers the first genuine innovation in Cycling shifting technology since the invention of brifters. Instead of mimicking how mechanical shifters work, eTap designates the right and left paddles for either up or downshifting; pushing both paddles at once toggles the front mech. While this eliminates my revered double shift, I have to admit it makes an awful lot of sense, although I will reserve judgement until I try it – just to make sure it isn’t more “awful” than “sense”.
As change brings introspection, so I find myself once again thinking back on when innovation was a fixture of our Sport. Innovation, it seems, flows like a tide. From the 1890’s to the 1930’s, the sport was under constant flux as we evolved from the basic safety bicycle to a machine with inflated rubber tires and gears. From there the evolution was incremental until we hit another period of wild innovation in the 1980’s.
Before 1983, “aerodynamics” was turning your bicycle cap backwards. From 1983 and beyond, innovation was mounting a pair of cowhorn handlebars midway down your steerer tube, slipping into a lycra onesie, and donning a plastic airfoil as your headpiece. Fuck yeah.
The bicycle changed dramatically from the early eighties to the late nineties; and the change appeared unstoppable until the UCI started regulating its advancement on account of “safety”*. What we once considered radical developments have become either standard bits of kit or novelty items worth collecting. Downtube shifters fall into the latter, with aero brake levers, brifters, aero bars, and carbon-fiber frames falling into the former.
The Time Trial bike was the pinnacle of innovation, to the extent we referred to them as “funny bikes”. At first it was cowhorns and airfoils attached to the saddle. Then it was wrapping steel tubes in fiberglass to smooth them out. Finally, it was aerobars and tiny front wheels to allow the bars to creep ever lower. The innovation ran over into the Hour Record, which saw attempt after attempt at the hands of innovation after innovation. It was my favorite time in Cycling.
As much as I dislike the idea of electric shifting, SRAM eTap group gives me hope that practical innovation still holds a place in our sport. Vive la Vie Velominatus.
*While it turned a blind eye to or, even worse, aided blood doping
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@Barracuda
Is this cusp of when the "funny bike" turned into a "aero bike"?
@Oli
Ooops... Minor detail! I'll stand at my bike stand spinning pedals and shifting thru the gears even if everything is fine just because it's fun to do. Especially the big ring shift. And still make endless minor adjustments. Fortunately once a motorized derailleur is set up it doesn't need a whole lot of attn. But dang, I can't spin the pedal and watch the big ring shift at eye level as I reach over the bar with my other hand to get at shifter?? That's not cool. They'll have to have a junction box mech shift available or something along those lines.
I appreciate that with the e-button shifters all kinds of interesting shift logic options become available since not constrained by leverage necessary for mech's and cables. I'd note however, my son had never spent a lot of time on a road bike when he jumped on to one of my Di2 bikes and he picked up the shift logic in only moments. It really is simple.
@wilburrox
Yeah, the Blip satellite shifter could solve it but without that it's a two-handed front shift. It's okay though, it's like a race car. Just what I want in a bike, for it to be more car-like.
Love the idea of wireless. Just not sure I love the ~$2800 price tag for a complete gruppo. Will be interested to see if Shimano follows suit.
Front shift will be easy enough with one hand - right forearm across the bars under the levers, catch the RH one with elbow while tapping the LH one with fingers.
I like the wireless idea but not the shifting concept (or SRAM). I'll stick with Di2.
My neighbor and buddy is a professional photographer. Conned him into shooting some photos of my Tommasini...I opt for Deltas at the fore and aft!
I'd wear Fignon's helmet on a daily basis. That's awesome!
Also, is it wrong that I dream of building up a daily commuter with e-shifting but have no interest in putting it on my road bikes? I feel like it is.
And, anyone racing cross on Di2? I could see that being pretty great. Then again, my cx bike has Red shifters and I hate SRAM. Never had so many missed upshifts on Campa & Shimano combined as I do with SRAM. It has never worked well for me.
Awesome post! Why? The 80s are being discussed as well as funny bikes and, most importantly: time trialling. I don't think I have any pictures any more, but I had a hot pink (80s, remember) Cougar TT bike (made in Liverpool, I think), tiny clearances, Mavic/Modolo/Campag bits, cowhorn handlbars, early Mavic TT bars. Top tube was not straight but curved. 52/42 and 12 straight through at the back. Sweet machine indeed!
I think my article on Charley Mottet had a picture of him riding a similar bike to Fignon's. Aero Coke bidon, rocket launcher bars. What's not to love?
[ Father Guido Sarducci voice ] "Whateh blows my'mind is that Gitane head tube steerer column setup that Fignon has got there."
Shame that Fignon wouldn't wear an aero helmet for the 1989 Tour de France TT.