No, it wasn't low profile in the accepted sense - I just called it a compact frame. It just made sense to me. I wasn't a great natural athlete (I have small lungs) so I tried to make a bike that was as efficient as possible using basic aerodynamics. My aero forks and seat post were properly shaped with a 4:1 ratio, and not being able to afford Specialized Tri-Spoke wheels at the time (by far the best aero wheels ever) I used Rodel blade spokes instead.
Best tester is indeed Sir Wiggo. I did the odd event at Herne Hill alongside him, he was good even then.
Flat top tubes started to appear after Mike Burrows ideas started to get noticed, plus Sonic sold a lot of frames based on my idea. I did the sloping top tube road bike about 20 years ago I think; Boardman would ride whatever he was given. He didn't like bikes at all, he was just good at riding them. He's since had a complete conversion though, happily.
My limiting factor was the fact that I didn't drive at the time and so was limited to local events, mates with cars or trains. I used to ride my TT bike from Harrow in north west London to work in Vauxhall, then from work to Eastway each Tuesday night, do a 10 and then ride home again, all on 19mm Conti GP's with a courier bag on my back. I must have been bloody mad. The riding position was so extreme that I couldn't pee after a race for about 20 minutes, the perineal nerve having been battered into submission. I'm still paying for it now!
Best tester is indeed Sir Wiggo. I did the odd event at Herne Hill alongside him, he was good even then.
Flat top tubes started to appear after Mike Burrows ideas started to get noticed, plus Sonic sold a lot of frames based on my idea. I did the sloping top tube road bike about 20 years ago I think; Boardman would ride whatever he was given. He didn't like bikes at all, he was just good at riding them. He's since had a complete conversion though, happily.
My limiting factor was the fact that I didn't drive at the time and so was limited to local events, mates with cars or trains. I used to ride my TT bike from Harrow in north west London to work in Vauxhall, then from work to Eastway each Tuesday night, do a 10 and then ride home again, all on 19mm Conti GP's with a courier bag on my back. I must have been bloody mad. The riding position was so extreme that I couldn't pee after a race for about 20 minutes, the perineal nerve having been battered into submission. I'm still paying for it now!
