Rider Size, How Much Does It Matter?

[manchesterpaul]

I also think that the weight will matter as well, at least to some extent., Too heavy and the bike will accelerate a little less quickly,

but if the riders is too light there might not be enough weight on the back wheel to get enough grip

 

Ghostwalker touched upon the above in a thread on another topic in the international section.

 

With myself being 6 foot tall and weighing in at 18 stone (NOT an ounce of fat on me by the way as i don't eat any pies let alone all of them lol) i've always presumed that would mean it impossible for me to become a speedway rider.

 

Now i know there have been tall riders, i think Belle Vue's Paul Tyrer was as tall or taller than me (actually quite a few six-footers start to come to mind but they were all slim or of a light bone structure) but what is a realistic top weight for someone to be able to carry and race on level terms with the tiny jockey like stature of most riders?

 

Maybe to open up the sport to all we should do as they do with racehorses and add handicap weights to the saddle lol lol. Slap 9 stone of metal split either side of a rider's saddle or bike (or better still on his race jacket lol) when facing someone like myself

 

Joking aside anyone know of a likely maximum weight for a speedway rider before it impairs the performance of the bike? Also as Ghostwalker referred to above being too light may also be a problem, although maybe bike set up would help with that whilst not being able to help with the excess weight of a heavily built person.

 

Anyone know of the heftiest speedway rider ever?

Edited August 26, 2013 by manchesterpaul

[Jonny the spud]

My 17 year old son is six foot tall and still growing. I think he weighs about 68-70 kg which isn't light. He raced against Dimitri Berge in the French 250 grass track championships and was at a bit of a disadvantage as Dimi is knee high to a grasshopper and weighs 51 kgs.

[Mr Ore]

Anyone know of the heftiest speedway rider ever?

. Shane Porker?

[skeletor]

Joe Screen must be 20st so I guess anyone can

[Mixy230]

I think:

Weight would have some pro's some con's

pro = Grip, bulk muscle for elbowing, easier to unload van! lol****************con = slower acceleration, smaller gaps to go through, maybe less agile, harder to unload van! lol

Edited August 26, 2013 by Mixy230

[manchesterpaul]

I think:

Weight would have some pro's some con's

pro = Grip, bulk muscle for elbowing, easier to unload van! lol****************con = slower acceleration, smaller gaps to go through, maybe less agile, harder to unload van! lol

 

Lol re elbowing. Mind you Nicki Pedersen seems to do ok at that despite being small. Re gaps there is a pro as easier to make a big gap lol. Van easy to unload as i'd just open the back doors walk around to the front and tip it up hee hee.

 

Still intrigued as to if anyone can remember a heavily built rider (ideally not fat) or whoever is the biggest around today?

 

UPDATE. just seen you spotted the easier to unload van option too, apologies that's me speed reading again.

[phillipsr]

I allways remember Andy Smith being errrmmm well built haha. Allways used to think Steve Boxall used to look a bit big. Barker and Harris allways look big on a bike but both are fairly slim!! I think being short and light seems to offer an advantage based on this years world chanpionship leaders

[uk_martin]

With myself being 6 foot tall and weighing in at 18 stone (NOT an ounce of fat on me by the way as i don't eat any pies let alone all of them lol) i've always presumed that would mean it impossible for me to become a speedway rider.

 

Going back a few years, their sizes never held the legendary Arthur Browning or Michael Lee back.

 

http://www.trialonline.org/01%20TRIAL.FIM/00%20CHARLY%20AIDE/DRAP%20PHOTOS/DRAP.BROWNING%20ARTHUR.jpg

[PHILIPRISING]

MORE fat on a chip than on Michael Lee

[Mad Potter 2]

Lol re elbowing. Mind you Nicki Pedersen seems to do ok at that despite being small. Re gaps there is a pro as easier to make a big gap lol. Van easy to unload as i'd just open the back doors walk around to the front and tip it up hee hee.

 

Still intrigued as to if anyone can remember a heavily built rider (ideally not fat) or whoever is the biggest around today?

 

UPDATE. just seen you spotted the easier to unload van option too, apologies that's me speed reading again.

 

The Portly Potter Ray Harris.

Edited August 26, 2013 by Mad Potter 2

[diamond_ren]

Wasn't gary lobb who used to ride for Exeter a little heavy shall we say

[Humphrey Appleby]

There have been tallish riders who've been successful, but I think they were generally fairly wiry. I'd have thought that carrying any sort of additional weight is going to be a disadvantage all things being equal, although there might be some trade-off between strength and weight to some degree.

 

I'd have thought most of the successful riders over the years have been relatively small and light though.

[manchesterpaul]

Awwwww they changed my original 'humorous' title to the thread lol, now that is funny. No worries as i do want the topic itself to be treated seriously and establish facts. My mind boggles at who asked for the title to be changed mind

 

Of the suggestions above, Michael Lee is another who although tall must have weighed next to nothing. Ray Harris in the photo above initially seems a good candidate for weight mass but then you notice that he's the smallest in height out of all the riders in the photo so total weight = ?. As for Arthur Browning any idea of his weight/height?

 

At what point would a team manager or owner look at someone asking to join (train to be a rider) a club and instantly think, sorry there's no point you are too big?. I say big as in muscle mass/weight, because if someone is obese you are unlikely to sign them anyway due to fitness concerns etc.

[Guest]

The Portly Potter Ray Harris.

 

I knew Ray Harris for many years. He did earn the nickname the 'Portly Potter' but he was far from overweight. He was not especially tall which creates an illusion in regard to how much he actually weighed. Apart from a chubby face. Ray does not look much difference to his team mates. He was a great personality and aside from speedway an exceptionally fine grass track rider.

For some years in the late 1950s Ray was something of a key figure on tracks at Olenburg and Bremen in North Germany where he was fondly referred to by the locals as "Mister Ray."

Aside from Ray Harris, a previous quote says Joe Screen weighs nearly 20 stone! That cannot be correct surely?

 

Joe Screen must be 20st so I guess anyone can

[manchesterpaul]

Aside from Ray Harris, a previous quote says Joe Screen weighs nearly 20 stone! That cannot be correct surely?

 

Lol methinks it was a joke Gustix.

[shippy22]

The largest rider must have been Tiny White, who rode in some open meetings at Rye House in the

early 1970s

[manchesterpaul]

The largest rider must have been Tiny White, who rode in some open meetings at Rye House in the

early 1970s

 

Estimated weight/height? Or is 'tiny' actually tiny and it's a joke? Sorry, i've never heard of him to know.

[pugwash]

I would think that lightweight riders would have an advantage 'out the gate'.

[shippy22]

Estimated weight/height? Or is 'tiny' actually tiny and it's a joke? Sorry, i've never heard of him to know.

 

From memory, he was about average height, but must have weighed getting on for 20 stone.

[pandorum]

Arthur Browning was a big lad and he did alright

he was about 8 foot tall with legs that could extend an extra couple of foot when he went into the bends.

He used to cover the inside with his extendable legs so nobody could go under him.

 

So the answer to your question is yes.