Derny

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Derny

A derny is a lightweight motorcycle for pacemaker services in cycling .

development

The first Derny was designed in 1938 by the former racing cyclist Roger Derny to be used for pacemaker services on sections of the classic Bordeaux – Paris bike race . The Paris-based manufacturer Roger Derny & Fils was closed in 1958, but the name for these light motorcycles was adopted.

"Burdin Derny" was the name given to the successor model that Alain Burdin produced in the outskirts of Paris and sold throughout Europe. In the mid-1980s, he stopped production for reasons of age. The most widespread current derny model has been produced by Arie Simon in Belgium since the mid-1990s and is used on cycle tracks in more than 20 nations.

construction

Dernys have hardly changed since their invention and are designed in such a way that they can achieve a speed of around 70 kilometers per hour. The engine output of the approx. 75 cm³ two-stroke engine is approx. 5 HP. In order to achieve the necessary synchronization, the pacemaker (driver) has to work physically by exerting additional force on the crank, which is connected to the rear wheel hub by a rigid gear. In the slipstream of a derny, the racing driver has a power saving of 30 to 40 percent. Large gear ratios are “easier” to pedal at high speeds, but they have the disadvantage of making starting more difficult. That is why many professional cyclists like to use the Derny in training to "curl up".

More recently, for example, at the 2012 Summer Olympics and at the 2016 Summer Olympics , were in the discipline Keirin also electric motorcycles used as Derny.

commitment

Dernys are mainly used in track cycling as a pacemaker in derny races comparable to the standing races .

In some European countries (including Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy), competitions are held annually to determine the national derny masters in different categories (e.g. men elite, women elite, men U23). In Germany from 1978 to 2000 and again from 2014, a German Derny Championship was held annually in the amateur category and from 1990 in the men's elite (open) category. Before 1990, a German Derny championship for professional cyclists took place irregularly, which was won by Dietrich Thurau in 1980, among others .

All the Derny European Championships that took place before 2000 were organized by the Union Internationale des Vélodromes (UIV), were not limited to starters from European countries and the athletes were invited. Therefore they are considered unofficial. The first official Derny European Championship was held by the Union Européenne de Cyclisme (UEC) in 2000 in Amsterdam . Since then, these continental competitions have been held annually.

1954 Dernys were used for the first time in the six-day race in Brussels. Today races behind Derny are mainly held in six-day races and criterion events as well as in the Keirin.

  • Three dernys with a driver

  • Derny races

  • Derny races

  • A "Taon 125" motorcycle built by Derny in 1955/56

Web links

Commons : Derny  - collection of images, videos and audio files