Cycling thread 2015

[Whistlin' Dixie]

Nerds.

 

[The Esk]

Apparently Gesink was 6.01 w/kg, a great ride from him.

I am sure the pseudo scientists on twitter won't say a peep about that though

For the non cycling nerds what is this a measurement of?

Thanks

 

[Wat Tyler]

For the non cycling nerds what is this a measurement of?

Thanks

https://wattbike.com/uk/guide/using_the_wattbike/power_to_weight_ratio

 

[roydo]

https://wattbike.com/uk/guide/using_the_wattbike/power_to_weight_ratio

Christ, I have understood the instructions for installing a gas boiler better than that!

 

[joey_macmo]

Simply A power to weight ratio isn't it?

 

[Wat Tyler]

It's basically power to weight ratio

 

[Mozza1987]

Can't help think that Froome is on drugs to be honest. Hope I am wrong though

 

[roydo]

Can't help think that Froome is on drugs to be honest. Hope I am wrong though

Thats the thing isnt it? I am an extremely casual cycling watcher. I know little about the details and tactics and that, but even I thought, "hang on" when he apparently destroyed a top class opposition.

Which is a crying shame for him, (I hope), and the sport. It must be heartbreaking for proper fans, and for the team, if they are all clean.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

6.09 w/kg from Froome: amazing performance but not even remotely mutant as the haters will have you believe, especially bearing in mind it is the very first mountain of the Tour so he is at his freshest, as well as the fact his team didn't have to work until last 15km. Nibali and Contador are out of it, it's only Quintana who can stop him, but he is up against it. In fact 6.09 w/kg is exactly what Nibali done at Hautacam last year, deeper into the Tour.

And it was 'relatively' easy up to the first climb so you'd imagine they were quite fresh. If he was doing the same output after going over 3/4 HC climbs then that's different again, but when folks look at raw numbers like that they don't tend to think of the numerous externalities that impact performance.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

For the non cycling nerds what is this a measurement of?

Thanks

It's a rather crude measure of someones ability, as basically the higher the number, the faster you climb. In the EPO era it was the norm for w/kg to be around 6.50 on the final climb of the day

Of course, it doesn't take into account the route that day, weather conditions, whether you're paced by team mates and so on. To give you an idea of how this matters, Lance Armstrong recorded a w/kg of nearly 7 when he won the Alps d'Huez time trial in 2004, but of course that was the only climb he did that day, so you'd expect him to be able to go harder, so it was sensible for it to be 0.5 higher than 'normal'.

The likes of Wiggins and Froome have been within 'normal' levels throughout their careers, but with the history of the sport being as it is, many are only too ready to point the finger. Once bitten twice shy I guess.

 

[ToffeeDoug]

Can't help think that Froome is on drugs to be honest. Hope I am wrong though

If he was, bit of a daft way to draw attention to yourself by going out and smashing everyone.

 

[Wat Tyler]

With this sport more than any, if you are succeeding, you are accused.

Let's not talk about Bolt dismantling renowned dopers and obliterating world records, let's not talk about Nadal and Serena looking like bodybuilders, dodging drug tests and excelling on surfaces they have no right to, and let's not talk about systematic doping regimes at the top clubs ( Juve, Parma etc), but let's throw every single cyclist under the bus.

 

[scratchnsurf]

With this sport more than any, if you are succeeding, you are accused.

Let's not talk about Bolt dismantling renowned dopers and obliterating world records, let's not talk about Nadal and Serena looking like bodybuilders, dodging drug tests and excelling on surfaces they have no right to, and let's not talk about systematic doping regimes at the top clubs ( Juve, Parma etc), but let's throw every single cyclist under the bus.

Those combined cycle, bus and taxi lanes make this process much easier.

 

[Black Belt Jones]

Exactly, let's not let opinion get in the way of data

In fact Gesinks data on Strava should dampen down the hysteria somewhat

Do you know if that power data is from his bike, or is it the strava estimated one? Sort of surprised they'd release his real values if that's what they are.

https://www.strava.com/activities/345923267/segments/8223093781

 

[Frank Gallagher]

Do you know if that power data is from his bike, or is it the strava estimated one? Sort of surprised they'd release his real values if that's what they are.

https://www.strava.com/activities/345923267/segments/8223093781

team sky have said that they think froomes data has been hacked from his latest training sessions and that people are adding 2+2 and getting 6 from what they are seeing apparently.

are team sky paranoid?? or trying to hide something?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/33517897