Cycling Thread

[Jobbo]

Bit more nostalgia - the old Ch4 coverage theme music, written by Pete Shelley of The Buzzcocks:

[8Ball]

I enjoyed that! Great crowds, good to see there were no accidents. The wet weather added another dimension - as Ned and David said, WvA was able to take more risks on the downhill wet bits - as well as having less to lose than TP at that point (he still had to finish, right, to win the GC, even though the times had been neutralised?).

Yeah, he still had to physically cross the line.

You're absolutely right about time trials but... Lemond/Fignon was such an amazing thing to watch that I want to recreate it. Would never happen of course.

They did a final TT last year, but Pog was so dominant he just extended his lead, so no chance of the jersey changing hands.

[dinny_g]

Yeah I think the final day time trail won't have the same impact anymore as it did back in the day. Teams would know exactly how far their guy had to be in front of the other guy by the Saturday Evening. Sure there's still the chance of a puncture or a crash but for the most part, the race is just one day shorter and the final day is just a different type of parade...

Cyclist x knows cyclist y will beat him by Z seconds on Sunday so all efforts are made to get Z seconds plus ahead by Saturday etc.

Bit like Daley Thompson back in the day. He knew how far in front of Hingsen he would be before the 1500m and would then just jog round to victory...

[8Ball]

Closest we've had in recent years was 2020 when Pogacar got the better of Roglic on the penultimate stage TT and took the race lead.

[IanF]

[Gavster]

Damn that's smooth how he's talking through it

This is briliant, two Aussie guys acting out the commentary on Danny Hart's 2011 World Champs-winning ride. Absolute gold

[Jobbo]

I was remembering that ride when I was watching Megavalanche videos last week. This one was particularly good; a serious contender who had issues in qualifying so started way down and had to overtake a lot of people:

[IanF]

I was scared watching this!..

[JonMad]

Froome is a lucky chap, surviving a pericardial rupture in his recent crash (albeit, not so lucky to smack into a road sign in the first place). Hope it's not the end of his career but he's got nothing left to prove.

[mik]

I was scared watching this!..

Jeebus. So was I.

[ZedLeg]

I was scared watching this!..

I’d be curious to know where other mtbers would’ve bottled it .

I would’ve been out at the bit where he rides that rock face like a berm.

[Jobbo]

I’d be curious to know where other mtbers would’ve bottled it .

I would’ve been out at the bit where he rides that rock face like a berm.

That part did wake me up a bit, but I'd have bottled it before the start.

[John]

I've entered the odd mountain bike race in the distant past and the pros are on another level totally

[ZedLeg]

I’d be curious to know where other mtbers would’ve bottled it .

I would’ve been out at the bit where he rides that rock face like a berm.

That part did wake me up a bit, but I'd have bottled it before the start.

I like to think I’d manage the top half, if not quite so quick as he was going.

My problem on a trail that long and technical would be keeping focus. My brain would wander half way down and I’d be in a tree

[Rich B]

I’ve ridden Dyfi bike park which is nearby the hardline course, Dyfi is hard, but it might as well be a towpath next to hardline - the average rider wouldn’t make it past the first drop on down that course - it’s a LOT steeper than it looks on video!

We’re driving down to Italy on sunday for a week at Paganella bike park in the Dolomites. Even at our relatively modest speeds, every downhill run will feel like that video!

[DeskJockey]

Is that cycling or controlled falling? No way I would even consider something half as mad as that.

[mik]

Is that cycling or controlled falling?

Falling with style?

[Jobbo]

Trendy riding.

[Gavster]

While we're here, looks like Vingegaard is riding a very defensive and strategic Vuelta with the aim of winning. There's a couple of big mountain stages coming soon, plus another biggie on the penultimate stage. Nice to see him getting some winning form after his drought for the last 12+ months

[Rich B]

Trendy riding.

Its why you have all that suspension travel and such big brakes!

talking of brakes - I’ve just upgraded mine, i now have a 220mm front disc 200mm rear with 4 pot calipers (Magura MT7) - they’re damn impressive. Any brake can lock a wheel pretty easily these days, but the lack of pressure required on the lever to give that same braking means it’s really easily to modulate the brakes so they stop hard without locking up.

I went for a ride with a mate the other day and he was sliding all over the place on the dusty trails locking up and his hands were aching at the end - i barely skidded anywhere and my hands were fresh at the same pace. I also went for floating discs which should help dissipate the heat in proper mountain length descents.