Cycling thread

[Black Belt Jones]

Though this might be of interest
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/44467074

I remember Rebecca Romero converting from rowing to track cycling with success, at a much younger age though. Would it be possible for Rutherford? To compete at sport at that level you have won the lottery genetically anyway, so goes without saying he is an elite athlete, Rutherford was a little lucky to be competing in the era he was allowing him to win more medals than he might have a few decades ago, that being said anyone who produces PB's at major championships deserves everything they get, and does indicate he has a strong mentality

What sort of physiology does a long-jumper have? Sounds like a tall order but maybe sprinting on the track - talent pool is pretty deep in men's cycling though.
There's a New Zealander called Hamish Bond who was an Olympic gold medalist rower - 7 time world champion in coxless pairs, and is now a world class time trialist on the bike, won the bronze medal at this year's commonwealth games. He was training over here last year and a few of my clubmates did a hilly time trial with him, said it was like seeing superman show up. All the local hardmen, the strongest of whom can mix it at national level, getting wrecked by a 90Kg bloke smashing it over the hills.

 

[Walken]

What sort of physiology does a long-jumper have? Sounds like a tall order but maybe sprinting on the track - talent pool is pretty deep in men's cycling though.
There's a New Zealander called Hamish Bond who was an Olympic gold medalist rower - 7 time world champion in coxless pairs, and is now a world class time trialist on the bike, won the bronze medal at this year's commonwealth games. He was training over here last year and a few of my clubmates did a hilly time trial with him, said it was like seeing superman show up. All the local hardmen, the strongest of whom can mix it at national level, getting wrecked by a 90Kg bloke smashing it over the hills.

I think they are pretty much sprinters in build, seems to be a fair few cross over from the sprints to the long jump, with the triple jumpers being the technicians, though I remember hearing Jonathan Edwards was close to 10 flat in 100m.

He's possibly picked the UK's strongest sport to have a go at, but from what he said it's mainly a case of finding something competitive to do with low body impact. Always interesting to see someone cross over into a new discipline, more often than not they find the highest level a bridge too far against guys who have done it their whole lives

 

[Bruce Wayne]

What sort of physiology does a long-jumper have? Sounds like a tall order but maybe sprinting on the track - talent pool is pretty deep in men's cycling though.
There's a New Zealander called Hamish Bond who was an Olympic gold medalist rower - 7 time world champion in coxless pairs, and is now a world class time trialist on the bike, won the bronze medal at this year's commonwealth games. He was training over here last year and a few of my clubmates did a hilly time trial with him, said it was like seeing superman show up. All the local hardmen, the strongest of whom can mix it at national level, getting wrecked by a 90Kg bloke smashing it over the hills.

It's perhaps noticeable though that the successful crossover athletes have done so into events that are almost purely physiological, ie they don't have to worry about tactics or general race craft. This long jump bloke might go for the pursuit therefore, but not the scratch race and certainly not the road. You only have to see how little impact Laura Kenny has had on the road to see the physiology is a small part of success there.

 

[Black Belt Jones]

Seems that roadies riding Sagan style seems to be very much on trend at the moment - forearms draped over the bars, NEA. Saw plenty at the Fred and one guy passed me this morning on the commute going a decent lick. I'm all for emulating the Great Man (and it takes serious core strength to ride like this whilst putting down power), but is this not a completely imbecelic way to control a bicycle? OK if you're riding the entire pro peloton off your wheel en route to winning Flanders, but riding to work in traffic over the potholes? GTF lad.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Seems that roadies riding Sagan style seems to be very much on trend at the moment - forearms draped over the bars, NEA. Saw plenty at the Fred and one guy passed me this morning on the commute going a decent lick. I'm all for emulating the Great Man (and it takes serious core strength to ride like this whilst putting down power), but is this not a completely imbecelic way to control a bicycle? OK if you're riding the entire pro peloton off your wheel en route to winning Flanders, but riding to work in traffic over the potholes? GTF lad.

Such is life innit? I still climb in the drops, sometimes even in a bandana.

 

[Black Belt Jones]

Such is life innit? I still climb in the drops, sometimes even in a bandana.

Strongest climber in our club climbs in the drops, seems an odd position to me but then I just winch the road climbs - it's obviously a powerful position for some.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Strongest climber in our club climbs in the drops, seems an odd position to me but then I just winch the road climbs - it's obviously a powerful position for some.

The most comfortable position when out of the saddle imo.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Bit soppy, but I quite liked it.

 

[Black Belt Jones]

Had a dig at a fast timetrial course last week - Levens in Cumbria where Wiggins did 18 mins dead about ten years back for ten miles. Clocked a more sedate 22 and a half, still a PB by some distance. Having a go at a very fast 25 at the weekend in Wales, so hoping to dip under the hour.

These courses are dual carriageways so just the physical geography makes it easier, but more than that they make it far easier to ride to power. It's actually really hard to maintain a constant output on a course that is always changing and you're having to accelerate a lot.

 

[Armel]

The Belgian National Championship is on atm, and it's very entertaining.

 

[Black Belt Jones]

The Belgian National Championship is on atm, and it's very entertaining.

Was that the road race that Lampaert won? Some hard men contesting the sharp end of that one I reckon - no colours higher than the Belgian stripes.

At the other end of the spectrum, I got under the hour today for a 25, did a 56.21. Really happy with that, but it's qualified by the course being super quick with a very friendly profile [one of the quickest in the country]. Time was that sub hour for the 25 was a mark of the club strongman - advances in aero kit and training mean that it's not the benchmark it once was, but it's OK like
Next challenge is to go under the hour on a local course, ones near me in Cheshire / Lancs are generally slow.

 

[Armel]

Was that the road race that Lampaert won? Some hard men contesting the sharp end of that one I reckon - no colours higher than the Belgian stripes.

At the other end of the spectrum, I got under the hour today for a 25, did a 56.21. Really happy with that, but it's qualified by the course being super quick with a very friendly profile [one of the quickest in the country]. Time was that sub hour for the 25 was a mark of the club strongman - advances in aero kit and training mean that it's not the benchmark it once was, but it's OK like
Next challenge is to go under the hour on a local course, ones near me in Cheshire / Lancs are generally slow.

Yes it ended with a disappointed Gilbert. In my estimation he was the strongest rider in the race. Unlucky for him, Lampaert attacked, Stuyven (rightly) didn't try to get him back-Gilbert would have beaten him if he did so he could only lose, and Gilbert couldn't get him back since he was in the same team. Oh well, he's been on the other side of the fence plenty of times. The start was mental, 46 km/h.

Another Quickstep win. For someone like GVA, Van Marcke etc... it's very difficult to win since they have almost no team mates.

 

[Kurt.]

Cycled 100 miles in a day for my first time ever 2 weeks ago... can I now post in this thread please x

 

[Black Belt Jones]

Yes it ended with a disappointed Gilbert. In my estimation he was the strongest rider in the race. Unlucky for him, Lampaert attacked, Stuyven (rightly) didn't try to get him back-Gilbert would have beaten him if he did so he could only lose, and Gilbert couldn't get him back since he was in the same team. Oh well, he's been on the other side of the fence plenty of times. The start was mental, 46 km/h.

Another Quickstep win. For someone like GVA, Van Marcke etc... it's very difficult to win since they have almost no team mates.

Do you expect Phil Gil to still be a force then Armel? Great rider but is 35 now so must be slowing up. So much of bike racing is strategy and experience, but at that level there is no hiding from the raw physicality required.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Cycled 100 miles in a day for my first time ever 2 weeks ago... can I now post in this thread please x

Only if you can prove your tan lines

Do you expect Phil Gil to still be a force then Armel? Great rider but is 35 now so must be slowing up. So much of bike racing is strategy and experience, but at that level there is no hiding from the raw physicality required.

He's three years the junior of Valverde. He's still churning out wins left, right and centre.