One of many stayers- Photo credit: jhvu
I have seen stayer’s bikes with pretty big gears but this beats all. It must have been brutal to get started. I can’t think of any other reason to have a gear like this other than to do stayers racing.
I believe a little stayers background is in order as you may not have seen these odd creations. Here is a link from Pez Cycling News on the current stayers scene. I like the pictures of modern stayers bikes as shown in the second pic on the right.
This site has more pictures as well and is where I snagged the one on the lower right. You can see the funky motorbike (derny) and the stayers bike. Imagine six or seven of these teams on a velodrome going highway speeds!
I have always had a secret Walter Mitty desire to ride a stayers bike. The thought of getting on a track bike with a small front wheel, backwards fork, crazy geometry to move all the way forward and special struts on the saddle and handlebars to take the g forces is pretty intoxicating.
The derney is also incredibly cool. You ride it standing up and the handlebars are so long you don’t have to reach. There is a roller on the back so the stayers rider can draft a set distance behind the derney.
Take the bike up to around 60 miles an hour on a 180 mm indoor velodrome with 62 degree banking and you have an extreme sport. These are only seen at the German or other European Six Day Races now.
Thanks for looking. Don’t forget to comment!
Stayer racer behind derny
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
There was a story about a guy who was trying to set a land speed record on a bicycle with a huge chainring like this; he was also motor-drafting to attain that top speed.
sir,
i want to see the photos & videos of derny used in track.
The Pez article that we reference shows some great photos of the derney. Thanks for your comment.