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Diary of a N00b : Team Pro Atomic Flying Badger
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| NexSix |
Posted on 08-08-2012 21:34
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Junior Rider
Posts: 29
Joined: 06-08-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Setting up a Pro cycling team is difficult. Firstly because it actually involves bikes. Bikes involve exercise, which is not normally something that is on the daily "to do" list.
However whilst watching Bradley Wiggins sideburns fly, Chris Hoy's legs pump, Mark Cavendish get closer and closer to punching Mr Jake Humpries and Vicky Pembleton's latest flood of tears there was only one thing to do for this arm chair fan.... yes... don the team colours !!!....
......and buy a computer game based around cycling so I can enjoy a cup of tea and bacon sarnie rather than all this fitness milarky !!
Team Pro Atomic Flying Badger is born !
Firstly a bit of background, I am a noob. The closest encounter I have had with a bike involved a BMX aged 13 and now the odd spin class and exercise bike at the gym. So after watching the old London 2012 and taking ample advice from the forums I set about not only finishing top 20 a few times in the odd race but also now winning a couple.
I had a look around and most stories involve established teams and riders, having been a shameless addict to the Champ then Footy manager series since 93/94 season my days of taking Man Utd or Sky Pro in this case to the upper echelons of awesome are well done. As in the latest FM series I manage Guiseley here I am in the Continental division managing Team Pro Atomic Flying Badger !
First step was to get some riders for the team. Now, lets be realistic Team Pro Flying Badger is not the sort of place to be able to entertain the likes of Cav. So we went about scouting a few kids to do a mans job.
So , time to meet Pro Team Flying Badger !!
Young Derek Quy is our obvious standout leader, with Freddy Brackstone a very close 2nd. His expertise in Hills are quite promising yet his specialisation is a bit worrying as my only knowledge of " a puncher" is a hole in the tyre. If hes specialised im a tad nervous... unless its someone else’s ! ( time to google that then !) The rest of the team look to be solid team players with no stand outs and a couple of No Hopers who will have glorious careers protecting Quy and Brackstone and fetching water bottles when the lads are at the top of a mountain.
With the first race coming up in Belgium the lads are sent off to start some training and get peddling !
Continental tour beware Team Pro Atomic Flying Badger has arrived !
Disclaimer * I have very recently got into cycling. Before watching this I thought it was just a long boring bike ride and did not actually appreciate the tactics and skill truly involved. The Olympic Road Races blew me away in regards to the tactical skill involved. I’ve been hooked since ! So please excuse any technical slip ups or terms used incorrectly. A polite correction would be wonderful and I already know I’m an utter n00b 
Also this is not a fair straight run as I will be re-loading / stopping starting as I’m still getting used to the game. I’m not going to rig it to win every race by any means but I realise PCM 12 has a steep learning curve and I am yet to see anything but a flat race !
Also due to horrible programming I’ve had to sack all my staff and sign cheap ones to stop falling into the red on my budget. I’ve also given myself a 50k wedge to help out, ( after all this is surely a meagre amount for a sponsor to give ?! ) |
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 08-08-2012 21:37
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World Champion
Posts: 10497
Joined: 23-06-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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Good luck. |
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| AndySchleck |
Posted on 08-08-2012 21:37
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 326
Joined: 06-05-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Looks like an exciting team! Good luck!
I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.
Alexander The Great
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| cio93 |
Posted on 08-08-2012 21:38
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World Champion
Posts: 10845
Joined: 29-10-2007
PCM$: 500.00
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We all followed your team through your problems in various threads, so it's nice to see them racing 
Although I would prefer a screenshot of the rider stats rather than their averages, because averages can be pretty misleading especially with newly created riders.
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| NexSix |
Posted on 08-08-2012 21:43
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Junior Rider
Posts: 29
Joined: 06-08-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Team Pro Atomic Flying Badger un-covered. The Bognor Regis naked swim suit edition
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| fcancellara |
Posted on 08-08-2012 21:50
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5194
Joined: 18-08-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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Hahaha 
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| stu-sgn |
Posted on 08-08-2012 21:53
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Junior Rider
Posts: 38
Joined: 01-08-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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I'm a fellow noob whose interest in cycling was piqued by watching the Olympics. Good luck, I'll be following! |
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 08-08-2012 22:02
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 16429
Joined: 27-07-2011
PCM$: 10438.70
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A puncher is a guy who accels by accelerating on short hills.
And with a small team it is normal to have a small cheap staff.
Good luck. 
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 04:59
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Bot Agent
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 08-08-2012 22:08
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
PCM$: 0.00
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Great to see the olympics getting people into the best sport!
Should be interesting to follow, good luck!
We are all here to help.
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 08-08-2012 22:13
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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I'm definitely a fan of those no-hopers in your team! GO No-Hopers!
Will follow (unless Pro Atomic turns to war  ) |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 08-08-2012 22:43
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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A really great introduction, this looks like it will be a good story to follow, so Good Luck and have a great time |
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| NexSix |
Posted on 09-08-2012 00:56
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Junior Rider
Posts: 29
Joined: 06-08-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Thanks for the encouragement guys, so thats pretty good that I landed a decent puncher I guess ?
Ok.... onwards !!
RACE NUMBER ONE : The Beverbeek Classic
The first race in the teams calendar was the Beverbeek Classic in Belgium. This race was quite a straight forward flat with nothing out of the ordinary. A nice test run with no difficult terrain. The team had completed 2 weeks of training which had really heated up running toward the race. The plan was to select a provisional 8 for the race and get the lads out to Belgium a week before the race sort tactics and train like crazy to get fully prepared. Team Pro Atomic Flying Badger, (TFB) Dutch head coach Dick de Rijke had spared no expenses in the travel lodge outside Beverbeek but had told the boys they would be in a “Scenic Chateau on the French border”. They left on the Eurostar to head straight to Brussels and then hire transport to Beverbeek because according the sponsor the Eurostar was the “most comfortable option.”
The lads had just left London when team Rider Leslie Barnwell grabbed Dick de Rijke. “Coach, Neilson’s been in the crapper for twenty minutes. I think he’s hurt himself” Dick de Rijke face palmed, (the first of many! ) After knocking on the door a couple of times Jason Neilson finally appeared. “What have you been up to lad ?” Neilson looked a bit embarrassed. “Whats that? A razzle mag ?*” Neilson shuffled back to his seat. Dick de Rijke face palmed again.
Upon reaching Beeverbeek the team got together to meet in the main room while head Coach Dick de Rijke sorted out the rider schedule and role. Team doctor Quentin Collins interrupted him. “ Dick, we got a problem, Neilson is injured” Dick de Rijke face palmed. “Who, what, where why?” although Neilson was no Quy or Brackstone... hell he wasn’t even a Rouse he at least wasn’t a Parnadby or Dutton ! “Well....” said Quentin “It’s a wrist injury... strained it a few days ago, He’s out for Beeverbreek”
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Dick de Rijke put a line through Neilson’s name and muttered something about needing a new water boy before entering the lavish meeting hall at the Travel Lodge. He was met by bedlam. “Right” said Frank Adams, “I want to be Red 5, obviously Derek is Red Leader but I want to be Red 5” Alex Parnaby began to protest “Why do you get to be Luke Skywalker ?” he continued his argument before settling for Red 2. “What the hell is going on?” proclaimed Dick de Rijke. A rather embarrassed assistant coach, Pavel Vainikis responded. “...all I said is at Beeverbeek we will be using Radio communication along with call signs......” Again... Dick de Rijke face palmed. It would be a long day !
Beeverbeek finally arrived and somehow TFB had sorted out their plan. Derek Quy would be race leader with everyone else set up as back up. Neilson although fit again had been left out along with Dutton. Everyone else had a role. Rouse, Wilcox and Yates were going to be charged with setting up a train pulling Brackstone and Quy along who would go for the sprint and with any luck the 1 and 2. Barnwell was set up to distract with Parnaby and Adams as pace setters.
The first half of the race went well, with TFB setting up towards the front of the peloton. Everyone apart from Adams seemed to be have got the message. Dick de Rijke looked at Pavel, “Why is he not moving up ? Does he think hes out on a jolly looking at the scenery?” Dick de Rijke pressed down on the broadcast button. “Adams....Adams come in” there was a few seconds before he got impatient “ADAMS” a response came back “ ...do you mean Red 5 ?” Dick de Rijke swore under his breath and sighed. “ Yeh Red bleeding 5 do you copy ?” “ Yes Commander” came the response. Dick de Rijke face palmed again. “Is this kid for real?” he asked Pavel who just shrugged. “Right, Ad...Red 5 stop slacking at the back and get up the front” there were a few seconds and the video monitor showed Adams start to puff away “Got ya Commander”. Dick de Rijke watched as over the next 20 minutes Adams wove his way to the front of the pack. “Red 5?” “Commander?” “Get back and get some water, the lads look knackered!” Dick de Rijke celebrated his private victory as Adams started to slow and head all the way to the back again.
Regardless of Adams stupidity TFB were going well as the race came into the final 15km the peloton began to break. Wilcox shot off with pace allowing Barwell, Rouse, Yates, Brackstone and Quy to follow in respective order. The team flew around the last few bends battling it out with Endura racing. Riders started to fall back as the train dwindled down. As Barnwell cut off the group and Rouse made a break a French based team piggybacked off him leaving Yates stranded. With 4km left and a man down Yates had a big ask, to somehow pull Brackstone and Quy into the final 2 at least. Flying into the last 1.8 Yates broke away leaving Brackstone , Quy and literally a sea of other racers. Brackstone hit his sprint just under the 1k mark with the TFB riders sat just outside the top 10. Just as they closed Quy saw his opportunity. Briefly piggybacking a Belgian rider Quy flew out like a bullet and hit his final sprint on the outside. It seemed to take hours ( at least on the computer slow mo) but he had done it. Over the last 0.2km Quy had taken himself from 11th to 1st ! Derek Quy of Team Pro Atomic Flying Badger had won it ! The crowd went wild, the team went wild and even old Dick de Rijke went wild !
Team Badger Rider Derek Quy celebrates with two hotties not featured in Jason Neilson’s Razzle mag.*
*Porn magazine
Edited by NexSix on 09-08-2012 01:03
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 09-08-2012 01:04
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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What a GREAT write up ending with a GREAT victory 
The beer is on de Rijke tonight |
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| fcancellara |
Posted on 09-08-2012 01:18
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5194
Joined: 18-08-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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Great piece of writing, but some screens of the race would be nice!
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| NexSix |
Posted on 09-08-2012 01:21
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Junior Rider
Posts: 29
Joined: 06-08-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Ill start grabbing some more screenies. also how to export Replays ? Then I can at least grab some more screenies to show post race. Ive completed the next race and will write that up tomorrow as its late here.
Thanks for reading btw guys
Edited by NexSix on 09-08-2012 01:21
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 09-08-2012 01:29
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Looking forward to the next installment |
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 09-08-2012 01:38
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 16429
Joined: 27-07-2011
PCM$: 10438.70
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I love the write up style. just one or two screens would be nice. Don't overdue it. It gives this story a great, unique style.
And great win!
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 09-08-2012 07:10
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Excellent story |
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| NexSix |
Posted on 09-08-2012 13:15
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Junior Rider
Posts: 29
Joined: 06-08-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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RACE NUMBER TWO : De Vlaamse Pijl
Team Pro Atomic Flying Badger stayed in Belgium for De Vlaamse Pijl which was a week away. This allowed for some extra training but more importantly some well deserved congratulations! Dick de Rijke called the team together. “Boys, damn...yes even you Adams..... you were fantastic out there” Everything went to plan. Jason Neilson looked on a little jealously and glanced nervously at the rolled up magazine under his left arm. He flexed his wrist thoughtfully and decided to continue listening to the Coach as he really wanted to ride in the next race.
“So, what did we learn?” de Rijke asked expectantly. The Riders looked thoughtful before a few hands went up. “Wilcox?” “To be more careful around other teams when setting up a train?” “Good Good” said de Rijke. “Yates?” “If we lose our train, bum onto the back of someone else!”
Dick de Rijke smiled “Adams?” “To use my correct call sign during a Race?” de Rijke’s face turned to thunder as Adam’s dumbly smiled back at him. De Rijke called the meeting so to resist the temptation of shoving a water bottle down Adams throat. Realising he only had 20 water bottles with the TFB logo he decided it best not to waste one!
De Vlaamse Pijl a flat un-pronounceable race that sounds more like an 8 year old trying to cheat at scrabble. Other than a couple of tight climbs this race was all flats. After conferring with Pavel , Dick de Rijke decided to go with the same team and set up as last race although this time swapping Parnaby out for Neilson. De Rijke did consider dropping Adam’s but then realised he needed a fall guy if things did not go to plan. This time De Rijke was going to go out all guns. The set up was for Neilson and Adams to protect Quy and Brackstone through the climbs and then allow them to do their speed thing down the flats. In the final quarter although tempting to have Quy make a attack for the line de Rijke went for a double train. Adams, Barnwell and Rouse to lead out Brackstone. Neilson, Wilcox and Yates to lead out for Quy. As daring as it sounded Team Pro Atomic Flying Badger was going to go for the double!
As the race began, de Rijke immediately spotted something worrying. After being foxed by the newcomers last race Endura Racing were going to have none of it! Together with a Dutch team they worked hard bullying the TFB riders out of the front of the Peloton. TFB were pushed back to the middle for the first and second of the tight climbs which was a worry due to the tight cluster of riders. Luckily Quy and Brackstone made up some space on the downhill’s and TFB were sitting pretty just behind Endura and Nutrixxion at the front by the end of the climbs. Seeing the final steep climb coming up de Rijke chuckled as once again “Red 5” was sent back to get the water bottles.
Going into the final part of the race TFB still sat in a good place but other teams had now started once again to attempt to muscle them out of the race. As planned as the 15k mark hit Adams and Neilson surged pulling their respective trains toward the finish. Things got a little bit confused as Yates and Brackstone got caught with the main pack and struggled to push forwards. Coming towards the final 12 the worst news of the day hit. Freddy Brackstone along with 6 other none Team Pro Atomic Flying Badger riders had fallen. Brackstone had got caught up in a melee of riders and it was not apparent if the fall had been his fault or not.
TFB pushed on and Dick de Rijke hastily radioed in his plans. “Derek, get on Rouse. Rouse piggy back off Barwell and Wilcox” Shit, he thought we need a lead out. “Pavel, whos up front...” Then the worst news of the day hit. The video monitor clearly showed that somehow, Adams had followed in some Team Endura guys and was the best shot !! “Adams, stop being a prick and lead us in” Dick de Rijke crossed everything fearing for some daft Star Wars related response.
Dick de Rijke and Pavel watched the monitor as Adams failed to respond suddenly as all seemed lost, he dropped off the back of Endura rider he was following and stuck his backwheel directly in front of Barwell ! Old Dick de Rijke almost had a heart attack as Adams kicked into a free effort sprint the likes of which training had never seen !! Adams dropped off to be replaced by Barwell. Barwell for Wilcox, who skilfully flew in on the back of a Nutrixxion rider. It was getting close now. Wilcox was close to handing over to Rouse who was an inferior rider yet being in the right place at the right time had been the only man available to pull Derek Quy into position. Wilcox peeled off as Rouse surged for the line a huge pack of riders in front, just before the final bend Quy released and sprinted for the line. Dick de Rijke’s heart was in his throat Quy was making some ground. “YES” Dick de Rijke punched the air. Somehow Quy had managed to pull himself across the line and been awarded first. Unthinkable ! The riders in second and third looked disgusted, especially as Russell Downing of Endura racing who had come in 3rd had come 2nd to Quy at Beeverbeek. TFB had taken it by the skin of their teeth, but will Endura Racing get revenge in the next race? The Hills of Trofio Zssdi !
Derek Quy punches the air as he takes first in a photo finish. ( You can see just how damn close this race was as well as the line taken by Quy from Rouse ! )
Quy once again celebrates on the podium. Again, Jason Neilson can but dream !
Thanks again guys. I will get some more screenshots for future races Anyone know how exactly to "save" a replay? As this might help me go back and capture good shots of important events. Atm I just have to relly on quick fingers, hence Quy looks more like hes about to poo himself than celebrate a win !
Edited by NexSix on 09-08-2012 13:24
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| pcm2009fan |
Posted on 09-08-2012 14:03
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1105
Joined: 30-07-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Incredible stuff!
Go Pro Atomic Flying Badger!! |
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![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
