Back in 2002, I was co-organizer of the 1st Philippine Irondistance triathlon. We got entries from all over the islands since it was a first here after seven years of organizing half ironmans. This particular entry really amazed me. He built the “aero” bike from meager means and “Mcgyver” like concepts. It weighed about 30 pds.I contemplated on disallowing the bike for the fork fairings that might come into the spokes. Built with canvas, duct tape, zip ties and umbrella material for the disc. Even the aero bar bottle with sip tube was home made. I’m not sure if that aero bar pad is angled properly and how he grabbed the frame mounted bottles.
It seems the owner was well aware of the trends but did not have the means. But he paid us in full, brought his family & relatives in a truck/van, camped near the venue and was one of our most colorful finishers. Finished in 16:58 and managed to render two songs complete with a guitar during awarding.
Trully a classic. He told me his next project was a beam bike!
that is some great work with what he had. He either read a bunch of tri magazines or had a good head to know where air is going to flow.
Does anyone see the shifters? I don’t see downtube or stem mount, like on some of the older bikes. Are they in the middle of the aerobars.
The shifters are nestled somwhere between the aerobars, mounted on a “Profile swiftshift” like contraption.
When he brought the bike in for bike check, I wanted to laugh and said to myself…“F*$kng U%^ly bike!” But its not about the bike, its about the passion of the owner to his chosen sport. With whatever means he was capable of, he did with his best effort and showed it with pride. The friendly spirit and happy aura the owner brought to the race won him alot of friends and respect. Better than the snobbish attitudes you meet at the transition.
I remember he got one of the loudest cheers at the finish.
