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News in May
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| Alakagom |
Posted on 05-05-2012 14:44
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World Champion
Posts: 10891
Joined: 19-11-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Dowsett season continues even worse, from early injury to this scar yesterday :
Edited by Alakagom on 05-05-2012 14:44
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 05-05-2012 19:24
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Oooohhh, That looks very nasty indeed  |
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 06-05-2012 16:58
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World Champion
Posts: 12986
Joined: 20-05-2009
PCM$: 530.00
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Juan Van Heerden has passed away.
This is the only link I could find, but it talks about 2 other athletes who have died recently as well.
https://www.sport2...o-20120504
Edited by valverde321 on 06-05-2012 17:00
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| mb2612 |
Posted on 06-05-2012 17:10
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Team Leader
Posts: 5759
Joined: 18-05-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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valverde321 wrote:
Juan Van Heerden has passed away.
This is the only link I could find, but it talks about 2 other athletes who have died recently as well.
https://www.sport2...o-20120504
Yeah, tragic, for all his family and friends. His last tweet is really poignant.
A massive cycling family in South Africa, and he was really talented.
 [url=www.pcmdaily.com/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=33182] Team Santander Media Thread[/url]
Please assume I am joking unless otherwise stated |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 08-05-2012 16:04
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Lets hope Edvald gets a good boost now and his performances improve  |
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| kumazan |
Posted on 08-05-2012 16:22
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Team Leader
Posts: 6662
Joined: 02-07-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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If he improves as much as Nordhaug or Froome this will be a boring sport for the next 10 years.
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| franki28 |
Posted on 09-05-2012 02:26
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Stagiare
Posts: 236
Joined: 27-02-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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kumazan wrote:
If he improves as much as Nordhaug or Froome this will be a boring sport for the next 10 years.
At least Sagan would have competition ^^ |
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| Deadpool |
Posted on 09-05-2012 04:55
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Team Leader
Posts: 7357
Joined: 06-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Aquarius wrote:
Wheels are standard (although 650 size wheels are sometimes used instead of the classic 700). As long as they have the proper number of rings (11) it doesn't really matter.
Frames are more problematic, but nothing riders couldn't cope with, unless they'd have abnormally long legs or torso, for example.
The real problem is about pedals and cleats. If you can't clip your shoes to your replacement bike pedals, you're going to face serious problems. 
Really Aquarius, really? I'm sorry, but half of this is so wrong I'm going to bring it up fifteen posts down the line. My 4'9" triathlete cousin uses 650b wheels, and even she could manage on 700C's. Not professional cyclist on the fucking planet uses them. Also, the cassette size has no relevance to whether a wheel works, the entire point of a derailleur being that the chain tension is set to the right amount for the gear ratio. The minimum gear can bean issue, but only on the hardest of mountain stages will any pro have anything other than a 11-25 or so spec'd out, and Shimano's can handle 32's and SRAM/Campy's can handle 30's. Lastly, except for pretty much Jose Rujano or Michael Schar pretty much any pro can fit onto a 54cm or 56cm, as although it may not be a perfect fit it would be rideable.
You are correct though that the primary issue is pedals, as you'd have to have bikes with all four common pedal designs (Shimano, Time, Look, Speedplay). Mavic neutral support, for instance, actually still has toe clips on their bikes. |
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| Aquarius |
Posted on 09-05-2012 05:33
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5220
Joined: 29-11-2006
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Yeah, really.
650 wheels may be of no relevance, but I can definitely remember Laurent Jalabert climbing Le Plateau de Beille during the infamous Tour de France 1998 with a set of those (he purposely changed his bike a couple of km prior to the climb).
I used to see them in magazines when I read those. They might have vanished though.
Also, I do know that even smaller people can use 700 wheels, I've never been excessively tall, but I think I've used them ever since I was 12 or something.
It's definitely not widespread, but can you claim no pro will ever use them again ?
I think you're missing my point about the cassette size as well. Ever tried an 8 rings cassette on a "9 speeds" (why don't they call it 9 gear ? lousy English at Campy...) derailleur ? That's a bit noisy and the chain tends to jump, but that works. 7 rings ? That almost works, if you don't push too hard on the pedals. 6 rings ? Won't work, rings are too thick.
I don't know about 11 rings cassettes, but chains width are standard for 9-10 rings, as well as for 7 or 8 rings cassettes, etc. All pros use 10 or 11 rings cassettes nowadays, so assuming the chain width has remained standard it shouldn't be a problem. But is it so ?
Frame size ? I agree, yes, but it's not all about it. Crank lever size (lesser issue), stem size (can't be changed on bike), saddle height (can be changed, but requires the assistance car).
As for pedals, I remember, from the World Championships in Plouay, that all bikes (at least the French's - but I think all of them) had Look pedals, no matter what they used any other day.
Edited by Aquarius on 09-05-2012 05:34
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| Deadpool |
Posted on 09-05-2012 19:15
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Team Leader
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Joined: 06-10-2007
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650b's are gone. Back in the 90s using smaller wheels for climbing and TT's (the front wheel on the latter) was a fad, except it was so stupid (the loss of rolling speed from smaller wheel diameter was far more than the gain in aerodynamics or lost weight) it went away about as quickly as it arrived.
Not what I thought you meant by cassette size, but even still, Campy is at 11, Shimano will be there by the fall, so you can be sure SRAM will follow by the following year. No pro uses anything less than 10, nor will you find anything less than 10 on a bike costing more than around a $1000. Campy is technically not compatible with SRAM and Shimano, and vice versa, but they do kind of work, and for a neutral support vehicle to have to carry say 80% Shimano SRAM wheels and 20% Campy wheels (which I think it roughly the peloton's distribution at the moment) wouldn't be that big of an issue.
As for sizing, crank length is pretty standardized by rider height (except for Fabian, who rides a tiny crank so he can spin his legs at an insanely high ratio), and as well as handlebar reach they are the two things I mentioned as annoyances (although not debilitating) regarding standardized bikes. Most pro's also ride pretty much the same reach (whatever their saddle height is, the saddle thrown as far forward as the rules will allow and tilted slightly down, stem slammed flat on the top headset bearing, with something in the range of a -7 degree angle, 120mm stem as the likely), so with saddle height being adjusted I don't see sizing being an issue, again other than for ultra small (Smyzd, Rujano) or big (Zirbel, Schar) riders.
Also, only the team leaders get a custom setup second bike. The rest of the team have to use one of the preset bikes pulled off the roof, which are almost always 54cm or 56cm machines (maybe a team with a unusual amount of tall riders will have a 58cm up top as well). Even nowadays on the team with the biggest budget in cycling, if Michael Schar crashes his bike, he gets given one two sizes too small for the rest of the stage.
Once again pedals are the primary issue. However, most of the custom bike racks that team cars have can carry around 8 bikes accessibly. Theoretically you could do four 54cm bikes with one each of the pedal types, and four 56cm bikes with the same, which would give coverage to about 95% of the peloton.
PS on tech shit -> I helped setup my boss's new Trek Domane (their new classics bike) yesterday, with the whole nine yards, full Dura-Ace, Aeolus 5.0 wheels, full carbon cockpit, etc. That thing is fucking sweet.
Edited by Deadpool on 09-05-2012 19:19
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| felix_29 |
Posted on 09-05-2012 19:49
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3054
Joined: 08-08-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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And now find some sponsors to pay that.
Seriosly, a neutral support wouldn´t make sense. 8 bikes may cover most of the peloton, but a worst-case scenario has to be covered. That would easily make 40 bikes and a lot more wheels.
And then you haven´t cars with bottles (Jens Voigt wasted 12 of them during a TdF stage once, so you´d easily need about 2000 or way too many supply stations), food (not all riders can get along with the same stuff) and clothes (helmets to change after a crash, shoes...).
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 25-11-2024 05:38
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Bot Agent
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Joined: 23.11.09
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| Aquarius |
Posted on 09-05-2012 20:13
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5220
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 200.00
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felix_29 wrote:
And now find some sponsors to pay that.
Seriosly, a neutral support wouldn´t make sense. 8 bikes may cover most of the peloton, but a worst-case scenario has to be covered. That would easily make 40 bikes and a lot more wheels.
And then you haven´t cars with bottles (Jens Voigt wasted 12 of them during a TdF stage once, so you´d easily need about 2000 or way too many supply stations), food (not all riders can get along with the same stuff) and clothes (helmets to change after a crash, shoes...).
Neutral support doesn't mean no team car at all, just much less than 3 cars per team (that's what happens on Grand Tours), to reduce the traffic mayhem that might occur in some occasions.
That'd make cycling more Earth-friendly and would cut costs a little.
To make a comparison with motorsport, FIA, IndyCar (or whatever IndyCar's governing body is named) or ACO (Le Mans, etc.) have standardised a lot of components for their respective cars, and leave little room for improvement on other parts, although there are parts that remain very free.
UCI could (I'm not saying they should) issue a rule that'd force pedals (and cleats) manufacturers to have a standard shape that'd allow riders to clip their shoes on any brand of pedals, same for derailleurs/cassettes/chain combos, etc.
Helmets are already standardised, there are like 3 or 4 sizes for adults, I reckon. Then it needs some adjustments, but for a temporary use it's not a big problem. And frankly, how many helmets are changed because they're broken on a normal stage or classic ? Not even one per stage I guess.
Food ? Not an issue either, say there'd be like 5 different sorts of bars or gel, enough to please everyone, then you'd ask what you need, or get the five sorts and give back (or throw away, but I don't like the idea) what you don't need.
Water/energy drink ? A couple of mini vans could follow the race and do the water/food supply for the neutral assistance cars.
Really, I don't know if it's a good idea or not, but it's nothing that couldn't be done. |
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| felix_29 |
Posted on 09-05-2012 20:43
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3054
Joined: 08-08-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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I know it could work, but a few less cars does not reason a worse support for the riders imo. Especially when you see 1400km-transport ways like in the Giro, the fuel consumption can be reduced more effective in other ways.
I agree that there should be less traffic, but first VIP and press vehicles should disappear.
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| Aquarius |
Posted on 09-05-2012 20:52
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5220
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 200.00
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Caravan trucks and cars should be reduced drastically as well, IMO.
They're from another era.
I felt excessively patronized a couple of week-ends ago whilst being thrown cheap pencils, biscuits, and cards at. Things happened the very same way the few times I went to see a TDF stage (the infamous stage from Rennes to Quimper in 1991 (yes, I'm old now) when PDM all went home), Roscoff-Lorient 1998, etc. |
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| Vien |
Posted on 10-05-2012 19:55
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2322
Joined: 16-06-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Someone was caught having a much too high cortisonvalue during the 5 Jours de Dunkerque, according to l'Equipe it was Anthony Charteau as he suddenly abandoned the race for no reason. |
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| Aquarius |
Posted on 10-05-2012 22:06
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5220
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 200.00
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Vien wrote:
Someone was caught having a much too high cortisonvalue during the 5 Jours de Dunkerque, according to l'Equipe it was Anthony Charteau as he suddenly abandoned the race for no reason.
What you claim is not quite accurate, at least it's not what L'Équipe says.
It's 4 Days, though it lasts 5. And it's not a positive test, it's an abnormal variation of his blood passport.
Charteau ? Yeah, I don't know what to think about it. His cortisolemy has fallen dramatically, which can only be the consequence of a corticoids use.
So, it's unlikely he has not used some corticoids. Yet he claims he hasn't taken anything, medicine or not.
For common sense's sake, I hope he didn't decide to dope just to win the world famous Tour of Gabon.
What can't be hidden, is that the French are generally back in cycling business (as a whole, I'm not pointing my finger at some riders in particular) since UCI allowed corticoids to be used without ATU. |
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| siwi |
Posted on 11-05-2012 11:14
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1148
Joined: 02-11-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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https://www.velona...-team.aspx
So it seems like Bjarne Riis does it again - and even in this year, where everyone (again) said that now it was over. I dont know what it is with Riis, but that man just can something special. He survives once again
Anyway great news though. |
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| kumazan |
Posted on 11-05-2012 12:01
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Team Leader
Posts: 6662
Joined: 02-07-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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The guy's like a cockroach.
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| FreitasPCM |
Posted on 14-05-2012 22:38
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8389
Joined: 08-09-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Anyone knows what's happened to Francesco Masciarelli? |
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| tyriion |
Posted on 16-05-2012 05:57
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Sprinter
Posts: 1510
Joined: 29-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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No Tour for Boonen. He rather prepares for Olympics at the Tour of Poland.
https://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/wielre..._geen_tour
Check out my ManGame team here
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