Nice Old Lotus

[Deleted member 1258]

Seen this on FGG

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/godfrey.htm

Looks lean and mean, nice to see it being restored, looked after and being used.

 

[biggs682]

they were good as long as they didnt have the renault engines

 

[screenman]

Loads Of Trouble Usualy Serious. Still a Lotus fan though, I started my self employed life buying and sell in that era.

 

[dan_bo]

[QUOTE 1661651, member: 45"]I thought this was going to be about one of these, which was my childhood dream car...

[/quote]

Uncle-in-laws got one of them in metallic silver and red. Lovely.

 

[totallyfixed]

Hi Dave, a friend of mine from my old club still Time Trials on one of these which he got from the great Robbie McEwen.
http://www.cambridge-cycling-club.org.uk/racers.htm - scroll down to see Ken.
I think Ken must have been about 55 or 56 years old when he set those distances on the Lotus.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Hi Dave, a friend of mine from my old club still Time Trials on one of these which he got from the great Robbie McEwen.
http://www.cambridge-cycling-club.org.uk/racers.htm - scroll down to see Ken.
I think Ken must have been about 55 or 56 years old when he set those distances on the Lotus.

Cheers for that, lovely photo, he looks right on the rivet and going for it.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Strange, I spot a lovely old bike on the fixed gear gallery, start a thread about it on a cycle forum with a link to it, and I'm five posts in before someone starts talking about the bike.

 

[totallyfixed]

Strange, I spot a lovely old bike on the fixed gear gallery, start a thread about it on a cycle forum with a link to it, and I'm five posts in before someone starts talking about the bike.

Exactly what I was thinking, it sometimes seems to me that football and cars are more interesting to discuss than bikes. There are other forums. Back to the bike, it isn't UCI legal but ok in CTT events, I have lifted that bike up and it is very heavy. BTW, to put it into perspective Ken was averaging well over 23mph for 12 hours and I recall Hutch [Michael Hutchinson - google him] was his support for feed and drink and it was a wet and windy day on ordinary open roads!

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Exactly what I was thinking, it sometimes seems to me that football and cars are more interesting to discuss than bikes. There are other forums. Back to the bike, it isn't UCI legal but ok in CTT events, I have lifted that bike up and it is very heavy. BTW, to put it into perspective Ken was averaging well over 23mph for 12 hours and I recall Hutch [Michael Hutchinson - google him] was his support for feed and drink and it was a wet and windy day on ordinary open roads!

I'm surprised its a heavy bike, but I suppose it might be difficult to get enough strength and stiffness with a frame of that type. An average in excess of 23mph over 12 hours is impressive, I think a lot of young guys would be chuffed with that.

 

[ColinJ]

Sorry chaps - I never really liked the look of that Lotus bike and I don't like conventional time trial bikes either! I much prefer the look of standard diamond frame road bikes with dropped handlebars. Yes, I know that time trial bikes are designed for speed, not looks, and I know the idea that form should follow function, but I just think that there is something about a conventional bike that looks perfect. (It peeves me that I have to flip the stems on my bikes to get comfortable on them - I think that sloping stems don't look right.)

I think the UCI was wrong about to impose the weight limit on road bikes, but I respect their decision to ban Obree's TT positions. I enjoyed watching Boardman set the Athlete's Hour record far more the his faster 'Superman' rides.

Are there any UK time trials that ban aero aids altogether? No tri bars, disk wheels, aero helmets, that kind of thing? If I were fit enough, I'd like to try a hilly 25-50 mile TT on a totally conventional bike. (Oh, no traffic drafting either!)

 

[ColinJ]

Oh, and I preferred the Lotus Elan driven by Emma Peel (Diana Rigg) to the Lotus Europa!

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Are there any UK time trials that ban aero aids altogether? No tri bars, disk wheels, aero helmets, that kind of thing? If I were fit enough, I'd like to try a hilly 25-50 mile TT on a totally conventional bike. (Oh, no traffic drafting either!)

The Coventry Road Club do a Road Bike 10 Series as part of their evening time trials,
http://www.coventryroadclub.org.uk/
click on the racing tab and its at the top of the page

 

[totallyfixed]

Yes there is Colin, it's called "Old Skool" and is only open to bikes with round tubes, no deep section wheels and no aero aids at all including a skin suit. Helen wants to do one of these, secretly she quite likes retro. Incidentally the first one of these time trials is in Yorkshire next month.
BTW good luck with the ride on Sunday, I think that wind will be a bit much though. We are riding tomorrow in slightly less strong winds, will let you know how we get on.

 

[screenman]

Planet X ran a series, not sure if they still do or not. Definitely a time trial bike fan here, I enjoy the technology and style.

The Lotus was about improving aero dynamics, on the track weight is slightly less of a worry.