Cycling thread

[Black Belt Jones]

Heck of a strong Tour lineup for Ineos

CARAPAZ Richard
CASTROVIEJO NICOLAS Jonathan
DENNIS Rohan
GEOGHEGAN HART Tao
KWIATKOWSKI Michal
PORTE Richie
ROWE Luke
THOMAS Geraint
Reserve.
DE PLUS Laurens

Massive.
G being third fav (behind Pog and Rog) is prob down to his tarmac love affair. He's in strong form, got the best team and is a better time triallist on a parcours with a lot of TT mileage. Pog is 22 and absolutely fearless, though, so a great contrasting matchup.

Would love to see G win a second but experience says it's best not to be emotionally invested in his performances.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Massive.
G being third fav (behind Pog and Rog) is prob down to his tarmac love affair. He's in strong form, got the best team and is a better time triallist on a parcours with a lot of TT mileage. Pog is 22 and absolutely fearless, though, so a great contrasting matchup.

Would love to see G win a second but experience says it's best not to be emotionally invested in his performances.

I'd almost place Carapaz ahead of him, but so much can go wrong in the first week that it's probably sensible to hold off until they actually get to the mountains. For Pog, it will be interesting to see how Ulissi, Hirschi and Majka do in the mountains. On paper they don't look much of a match and if Ineos can isolate him and Roglic with Porte, Thomas, and Carapaz still there then that's probably the Ineos gameplan.

 

[Black Belt Jones]

I'd almost place Carapaz ahead of him, but so much can go wrong in the first week that it's probably sensible to hold off until they actually get to the mountains. For Pog, it will be interesting to see how Ulissi, Hirschi and Majka do in the mountains. On paper they don't look much of a match and if Ineos can isolate him and Roglic with Porte, Thomas, and Carapaz still there then that's probably the Ineos gameplan.

The two TTs are too flat for Carapaz by the looks of things - he'll prob ship minutes to G and Rog there.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

The two TTs are too flat for Carapaz by the looks of things - he'll prob ship minutes to G and Rog there.

I don't know the route of the time trials, but I was quite surprised by how well Carapaz has been doing in them lately. He finished 7th in the Vuelta, for instance, and 4th in the recent Tour of Switzerland. He'll lose time you would think, but maybe not huge time. I'm more worried by Thomas' ability to stay upright than his ability in the TTs. Both Thomas and Porte have a liking for tarmac.

 

[SerenityNigh]

Good luck but be warned it's highly addictive and you will be lusting after an exotic Italian super bike in no time lol

As someone new to bikes, I've learned that everything can be tweaked from the smallest component to the most expensive builds. Not just where to put your seat or which tires to ride, but how to arrange your gear, which gear to get, do I need better lights... that's without all of the drooling (everyone does this, right?) at Italian frames with a Campognolo groupset, or even the bikes I can probably afford.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

As someone new to bikes, I've learned that everything can be tweaked from the smallest component to the most expensive builds. Not just where to put your seat or which tires to ride, but how to arrange your gear, which gear to get, do I need better lights... that's without all of the drooling (everyone does this, right?) at Italian frames with a Campognolo groupset, or even the bikes I can probably afford.

Having ridden quite a few hire bikes around Europe, far and away the thing that impacts your ride most of all is the fit, and while obviously saddle height is the main area, I'd say even the top tube length and handlebar setup all play a part in a comfortable ride, especially if you're on the drops a lot. Everything else is much of a muchness, which is perhaps why the pros just ride whoever wants to pay them. If there was any noticeable difference between a Pinarello and a Bianchi or a Giant or whatever then they'd all be riding one brand.

 

[SerenityNigh]

Having ridden quite a few hire bikes around Europe, far and away the thing that impacts your ride most of all is the fit, and while obviously saddle height is the main area, I'd say even the top tube length and handlebar setup all play a part in a comfortable ride, especially if you're on the drops a lot. Everything else is much of a muchness, which is perhaps why the pros just ride whoever wants to pay them. If there was any noticeable difference between a Pinarello and a Bianchi or a Giant or whatever then they'd all be riding one brand.

so then it is all about the look (and feel)?

 

[Bruce Wayne]

so then it is all about the look (and feel)?

Quite probably, aye.

 

[-Rob-]

Thanks for all the advice. I've just picked up this little baby this afternoon. Hopefully get to take it on the road at some point tomorrow.

 

[sparkin31]

Heck of a strong Tour lineup for Ineos

CARAPAZ Richard
CASTROVIEJO NICOLAS Jonathan
DENNIS Rohan
GEOGHEGAN HART Tao
KWIATKOWSKI Michal
PORTE Richie
ROWE Luke
THOMAS Geraint
Reserve.
DE PLUS Laurens

Jesus. Going in with 4 leaders hey. That's a bold move cotton.

Rowe as road captain and Castroviejo first up on the mountain train and he is a beast.

 

[-Rob-]

I took my new bike out for a quick ride this morning and did exactly the same route as I did last week on my mountain bike.

MTB 6.55 miles in 31m41s
Road bike 6.55 miles in 26m57s

Not only was I nearly 5 minutes quicker over 6.55 miles but it surprisingly seems like a much smoother ride. I was expecting a very harsh ride but it seems to cruise over any slight imperfections in the road a lot easier than the mountain bike. Going up and down slight hills is also a lot easier. Early days but so far very impressed and happy with my purchase.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I took my new bike out for a quick ride this morning and did exactly the same route as I did last week on my mountain bike.

MTB 6.55 miles in 31m41s
Road bike 6.55 miles in 26m57s

Not only was I nearly 5 minutes quicker over 6.55 miles but it surprisingly seems like a much smoother ride. I was expecting a very harsh ride but it seems to cruise over any slight imperfections in the road a lot easier than the mountain bike. Going up and down slight hills is also a lot easier. Early days but so far very impressed and happy with my purchase.

I remember my first ride after switching and I thought I was Mark Cavendish. Obviously I wasn't like, but it really is night and day difference.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I took my new bike out for a quick ride this morning and did exactly the same route as I did last week on my mountain bike.

MTB 6.55 miles in 31m41s
Road bike 6.55 miles in 26m57s

Not only was I nearly 5 minutes quicker over 6.55 miles but it surprisingly seems like a much smoother ride. I was expecting a very harsh ride but it seems to cruise over any slight imperfections in the road a lot easier than the mountain bike. Going up and down slight hills is also a lot easier. Early days but so far very impressed and happy with my purchase.

Think this is for you

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Never heard of this guy, but he seems to have a whole lot of Strava koms from around the world. Being 52kg is incredible. Having an FTP of like 310 is incredible. Having both of those things as a 40 year old while also holding down a full-time job is freaking insane.

 

[Black Belt Jones]

Things are kicking off within the Clarion cycling club - a motion has been passed to remove the word socialism from the body's constitution.

Keir Hardie’s cycling club jettisons socialism

Majority of National Clarion Club members vote to remove ‘divisive’ word from its constitution

www.theguardian.com

I'm a member of my local Clarion - joined without knowing anything about its history, don't care about politics in this context, but the decision seems very wrong to me. There are many cycling clubs, but only one with this history.