Cycling thread

[Disgruntledgoat]

Aye, takes a special kind of rider to do those ultra-endurance events. I was waiting for my mate at the top of the Stelvio and an old boy was telling me about all the times he'd done the Race Across the Alps, which is only 520km but covers 12 mountains and you do it in around 32 hours or something. Brutal stuff. It's a shame that the Stelvio has been spoiled by motorcyclists, especially on weekends. They make a right din.

I did a similar thing on the mountain bike for 2200km across France last year, absolutely the hardest thing I've ever done. Maximum respect for anyone who takes the start on one of those.

I'm doing a baby ride this year 640km from Evian to Nice with 14 cols along the way.

Fun stelvio fact: My girlfriend is the slowest woman on strava to ride it

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I did a similar thing on the mountain bike for 2200km across France last year, absolutely the hardest thing I've ever done. Maximum respect for anyone who takes the start on one of those.

I'm doing a baby ride this year 640km from Evian to Nice with 14 cols along the way.

Fun stelvio fact: My girlfriend is the slowest woman on strava to ride it

Ha, going up it slowly is the best way to take in the views to be honest. And she got up it, so kudos to her.

 

[Disgruntledgoat]

Ha, going up it slowly is the best way to take in the views to be honest. And she got up it, so kudos to her.

On the second go. The first day she stopped for a fag after 5km and quit there. Gave up smoking that afternoon.

 

[sbbefc]

Aye, takes a special kind of rider to do those ultra-endurance events. I was waiting for my mate at the top of the Stelvio and an old boy was telling me about all the times he'd done the Race Across the Alps, which is only 520km but covers 12 mountains and you do it in around 32 hours or something. Brutal stuff. It's a shame that the Stelvio has been spoiled by motorcyclists, especially on weekends. They make a right din.

Ye my dad is into all that (he's getting on a bit now). I think one of his longest rides involved cycling down to Paris from N Wales to take part in Paris-Brest-Paris to then cycle back home again. All done on a custom made steel tourer.

Personally I'd rather just smash a 100km than spend all day on the bike!

 

[Bruce Wayne]

On the second go. The first day she stopped for a fag after 5km and quit there. Gave up smoking that afternoon.

Oh no, she didn't even make the 1st switchback lol

Ye my dad is into all that (he's getting on a bit now). I think one of his longest rides involved cycling down to Paris from N Wales to take part in Paris-Brest-Paris to then cycle back home again. All done on a custom made steel tourer.

Personally I'd rather just smash a 100km than spend all day on the bike!

Aye, I'm not sure I'd want to spend 30 odd hours on a bike to be honest. 7 hours in one go is the maximum I've done and that was about enough.

 

[Disgruntledgoat]

Oh no, she didn't even make the 1st switchback lol



Aye, I'm not sure I'd want to spend 30 odd hours on a bike to be honest. 7 hours in one go is the maximum I've done and that was about enough.

I did, I think, four 16 hour days followed by wild camping in France last year, and that was off road .Once you get in the groove it's great fun.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I did, I think, four 16 hour days followed by wild camping in France last year, and that was off road .Once you get in the groove it's great fun.

I'll take your word for that lol

 

[spectateur]

Ye my dad is into all that (he's getting on a bit now). I think one of his longest rides involved cycling down to Paris from N Wales to take part in Paris-Brest-Paris to then cycle back home again. All done on a custom made steel tourer.

Personally I'd rather just smash a 100km than spend all day on the bike!

He'd no doubt have been one of the a
AUDAX UK enthusiasts. Those ride through the night events were quite an experience. I have a super randonneur medal from the late 80s.

 

[Disgruntledgoat]

He'd no doubt have been one of the a
AUDAX UK enthusiasts. Those ride through the night events were quite an experience. I have a super randonneur medal from the late 80s.

Love an audax

 

[DaChunk]

When was Froome in his prime?

 

[lichfieldblue]

When was Froome in his prime?

For me, 2012-13. Possibly could have peaked in 14 as well but given he saved himself for one race a year it's difficult to judge form.

All relative given he won the Tour in 15-16 as well.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

For me, 2012-13. Possibly could have peaked in 14 as well but given he saved himself for one race a year it's difficult to judge form.

All relative given he won the Tour in 15-16 as well.

And yet in terms of peak output, winning the Tour - Vuelta - Giro in succession is undoubtedly the highlight of his career.

 

[Disgruntledgoat]

And yet in terms of peak output, winning the Tour - Vuelta - Giro in succession is undoubtedly the highlight of his career.

This.

I only wish he'd pushed himself into the Ardennes as well, miss the days when GT winners were knocking each others pan in at Liege Bastogne Liege.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

This.

I only wish he'd pushed himself into the Ardennes as well, miss the days when GT winners were knocking each others pan in at Liege Bastogne Liege.

Aye, Liege or Lombardy would seem well suited in terms of parcors, but you only really get Nibali and Valverde doing them all these days, and it's questionable whether they're serious GC contenders any more. It all seemed to change with Armstrong, as even Indurain had some reasonable placings at Liege, San Sebastien, Fleche, and of course the Worlds, so he was decent at the one dayers, but despite Armstrong coming from that world he never bothered with them.

 

[Disgruntledgoat]

Aye, Liege or Lombardy would seem well suited in terms of parcors, but you only really get Nibali and Valverde doing them all these days, and it's questionable whether they're serious GC contenders any more. It all seemed to change with Armstrong, as even Indurain had some reasonable placings at Liege, San Sebastien, Fleche, and of course the Worlds, so he was decent at the one dayers, but despite Armstrong coming from that world he never bothered with them.

I think 2001 Armstrong nearly won Liege. Slipping seatpost in the last 20km meant he got dropped from the lead group. Jalabert used to go at them every year also. The Schleck's getting absolutely mugged by Gilbert was funny too.