[Other Sport] Cycling geeks

Stat Brother · Jan 23, 2014

strings said:
Thanks [MENTION=16159]Bold Seagull[/MENTION] - that is very thorough. Sounds like fun!

Definitely fun.

A good rule of thumb would be the longer the event the more 'seriously' it's taken.
A 20/40/60 mile event is more likely to have a bigger range of cyclists and abilities.

If you rock up at a 60/80/100 mile event be prepared to be dazzled by proper bike porn.

As the chaps say you may encounter the odd 'warrior' but 90+% of the people who are wannabe pros will look at a newbie and think 'happy days'.

One way to feel more the part would be to not turn up wearing your Sky mesh skinsuit, on a bike with stabilisers. :lol:

Think JCL's in a Man Utd kit.

Bold Seagull · Jan 23, 2014

Stat Brother said:
Definitely fun.

A good rule of thumb would be the longer the event the more 'seriously' it's taken.
A 20/40/60 mile event is more likely to have a bigger range of cyclists and abilities.

If you rock up at a 60/80/100 mile event be prepared to be dazzled by proper bike porn.

As the chaps say you may encounter the odd 'warrior' but 90+% of the people who are wannabe pros will look at a newbie and think 'happy days'.

One way to feel more the part would be to not turn up wearing your Sky mesh skinsuit, on a bike with stabilisers.
Think JCL's in a Man Utd kit.

Definitely turn up in a custom designed Albion cycling cap though! :thumbsup:

strings · Jan 23, 2014

Stat Brother said:
Definitely fun.

A good rule of thumb would be the longer the event the more 'seriously' it's taken.
A 20/40/60 mile event is more likely to have a bigger range of cyclists and abilities.

If you rock up at a 60/80/100 mile event be prepared to be dazzled by proper bike porn.

As the chaps say you may encounter the odd 'warrior' but 90+% of the people who are wannabe pros will look at a newbie and think 'happy days'.

One way to feel more the part would be to not turn up wearing your Sky mesh skinsuit, on a bike with stabilisers.
Think JCL's in a Man Utd kit.

Absolutely - I've seen a few people in GB/Team sky kits around the Staffordshire countryside and it does make me cringe a little. OK for kids, probably not for adults. Most of my kit so far has come from Decathlon and (here is the shameful bit) Aldi when they have their specialbuys for cycling. Although I may invest in a Torm jersey - very nice looking stuff.

Bold Seagull said:
Definitely turn up in a custom designed Albion cycling cap though!

Not a team sky branded aero helmet then...? :dunce:

Indurain's Lungs · Jan 23, 2014

strings said:
Absolutely - I've seen a few people in GB/Team sky kits around the Staffordshire countryside and it does make me cringe a little. OK for kids, probably not for adults. Most of my kit so far has come from Decathlon and (here is the shameful bit) Aldi when they have their specialbuys for cycling.

You sound like you're already on the right track. I'll re-post this link to keep you heading that way -

http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/

Seriously though, don't worry too much about it, just great that you're getting into it and enjoying the riding.

Stat Brother · Jan 23, 2014

strings said:
Absolutely - I've seen a few people in GB/Team sky kits around the Staffordshire countryside and it does make me cringe a little. OK for kids, probably not for adults. Most of my kit so far has come from Decathlon and (here is the shameful bit) Aldi when they have their specialbuys for cycling. Although I may invest in a Torm jersey - very nice looking stuff.
Not a team sky branded aero helmet then...?

It's a little odd being a cyclist with a few years in the bag.
You started budget and slowly built up your garage/wardrobe through the seasons, hence the 'happy days' comment earlier.
Not forgetting your 'jersey for best'.
But the MAMIL cycling explosion in just 4-5 years has definitely changed expectations and moved the financial needle of the sport.
All but selling out the Puncheur on the 2nd of March, would never have happened even 5 years ago.

I think the general public needle is still a long way off, hence no reporting of the TDU.
But I'm sure in time that will catch up, but cycling to many is still just the TdF.
Once the Giro Vuelta are on board, the Classics should follow, and from there the season will be reported.

Oh and my mate has a few Thorm jerseys and they are nice.

strings · Jan 23, 2014

Indurain's Lungs said:
You sound like you're already on the right track. I'll re-post this link to keep you heading that way -

http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/

Seriously though, don't worry too much about it, just great that you're getting into it and enjoying the riding.

That is brilliant!!

Although I fear I am currently in breach of Rules #39 and #42 - and possibly others too.

teaboy · Jan 23, 2014

strings said:
That is brilliant!!

Although I fear I am currently in breach of Rules #39 and #42 - and possibly others too.

You'll be fine with #42 - it isn't a bike race. In a bike race if you're the fastest on a bike you're the winner. When there's swimming and running too the fastest on the bike is not necessarily the winner, ergo not a bike race. They're probably also right about the 'only swim to avoid drowning' bit, looking at some of my splits...

Stat Brother · Jan 23, 2014

I don't think I'm a proper cyclist.
Looking at the latest footage to get my brethren all hot under the lyrca, as usual, I find myself siding with the driver. (or in this case his passenger)

Hamilton · Jan 23, 2014

strings said:
That is brilliant!!

Although I fear I am currently in breach of Rules #39 and #42 - and possibly others too.

It's all about Rule #5

V

Stat Brother · Jan 23, 2014

I need Rule #6 back in my life.

I can sense it's close, but I just can't make that last step.

seagully · Jan 23, 2014

Indurain's Lungs said:
You sound like you're already on the right track. I'll re-post this link to keep you heading that way -

http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/

Seriously though, don't worry too much about it, just great that you're getting into it and enjoying the riding.

I know some of these are obviously tongue in cheek but this is kind of why I chose to go fixed gear/single speed when I bought a road bike. I wear what I want (no lycra, always a helmet, occasionally a barrier jacket), customised my bike to look/feel exactly how I wanted it without worrying about adhering to any sort of rules. Sometimes I do feel a bit sad/lonely though when I pass groups of lycra-clad boys/girls whilst I'm riding, and similarly I'm not cool enough to ride with the hipster fixie brigade. Instead I plough a lone furrow between the two, neither one thing or the other. I might jack it all in and buy a BMX...

1066familyman · Jan 23, 2014

Waking up and watching the last hour or so of the Corkscrew Hill stage last night was definitely one of my better decisions.

It was bloody brilliant watching Cadel put the hammer down at the bottom of Corkscrew Hill, and then riding away from Gerrans. It was like poetry in motion watching such individual and team tatics of sheer brilliance. Cadel had two team mates with him approaching Corkscrew and the first one put the hammer down with Cadel second wheel. As soon as he started to tire Cadel looked round to team mate number two about half a dozen riders back and called him forward to take over. Team mate number two comes forward, puts in a top effort with Cadel second wheel still and everyone else on the rivet before BANG!, off up Corkscrew like a scalded cat goes 36 yr old Cadel Evans. I thought Thomas was explosive on this climb last year but Cadel made G's effort look like nothing. Porte and Gerrans go off after him but Cadel just rides away from them IN THE BIG RING! Takes a 15 second gap over the top and then descends like a total loon intent on grabbing the leaders jersey like no one else has any right to it whatsoever all the while he's in this race :bowdown:

Absolutely compelling viewing and you just couldn't ask for a finer start to a season for sheer excitement.

I'll be catching up on sleep tonight, but for Old Willunga Hill, with the battle raging for GC now in this TDU with Evans, Gerrans, Ullissi and even possibly Porte and Gesink still in with a shout, I'll be making sure I'm up to watch all the action live for what promises to be an absolute corker of a stage decider.

Just a couple more things to add. Superb dom duties by Greipel working his socks off to position Adam Hansen at the bottom of Corkscrew. If the gorilla gets savaged by Kittel tonight then I'll completely understand. Total respect to Greipel. Also, interesting to see just how important a decent team around you is. Moreno not in the action at all, so it looks like the broken bones of Visconti and Rojas have really put Movistar at a major disadvantage.

Stat Brother · Jan 23, 2014

I keep hovering over Gesink, I then laugh and pick someone/anyone else.

Maybe this week is his time.

Bold Seagull · Jan 23, 2014

Stat Brother said:
I don't think I'm a proper cyclist.
Looking at the latest footage to get my brethren all hot under the lyrca, as usual, I find myself siding with the driver. (or in this case his passenger)

That does annoy me when cyclists push to the front and occupy the whole road to get past other cyclists who are queuing at the lights already when they have no idea whether they will be faster than them or not. Just queue up like the other considerate cyclists were doing respecting all road users.

That guy wasn't a cyclist, he was just a prick on a bike and got a slap for being one. He probably equally p*sses off as many cyclists as he does drivers.

1066familyman · Jan 23, 2014

Hamilton said:
The BBC cycling page is a total joke. There is a massive resurgence in cycling in this country, but you wouldn't know that a UCI race was on!

It can't be that they don't have journos down there as I've heard they have a tennis competition going on in the same country.

The other night the beeb gave more coverage to the meaningless west ham v man city tie than cycling. I'm decrying the league cup, but just saying we all knew the result before the game had started (hence only 14k turned up).

I'm a big defender of the BBC, but this is really poor.

I'm trying to think back as to whether I heard a brief mention of the TDU on Radio 4's Today programme (my breakfast time listen) sports bulletin last year when Geraint Thomas won on Corkscrew Hill?

What gets me is not so much the lack of mainstream coverage for cycling, it's the attitude that a sport is only deemed worthy of a mention when "one of ours" is doing well in it that grates with me. Yes, I understand they can't cover all sports, and why they do give coverage to British success, but it doesn't stop the Little Englander approach pissing me right off.

1066familyman · Jan 23, 2014

Stat Brother said:
I keep hovering over Gesink, I then laugh and pick someone/anyone else.

Maybe this week is his time.

Out of interest, have you put Evans in yet? I can't see your transfer team so I've no idea who you've got in there, or in fact what's going on in that league.

Stat Brother · Jan 23, 2014

Bold Seagull said:
That does annoy me when cyclists push to the front and occupy the whole road to get past other cyclists who are queuing at the lights already when they have no idea whether they will be faster than them or not. Just queue up like the other considerate cyclists were doing respecting all road users.

That guy wasn't a cyclist, he was just a prick on a bike and got a slap for being one. He probably equally p*sses off as many cyclists as he does drivers.

Not if you read the comments under the Youtube clip or pick it up on Twitter.

The cyclist had no reason to position himself where he did, he provoked the driver.
He then admonished the driver for reacting to his selfishness.
I'll wager he's never ridden so fast in his life in order to verbally abuse the driver.
Then the cycling world defend him because he got thumped.

Totally sums up why cycling is dangerous and how complicit cyclists are in this.

Stat Brother · Jan 23, 2014

1066familyman said:
Out of interest, have you put Evans in yet? I can't see your transfer team so I've no idea who you've got in there, or in fact what's going on in that league.

In fairness I've no idea either.
If it weren't for Gerrans I'd probably be on minus points.

I'm not quite 'feeling' it yet, I think I need the time zones to get a bit closer.

1066familyman · Jan 23, 2014

strings said:
May I ask a newbie question?

What is a sportive?

Is it a race, or is it more relaxed? If, as a complete newbie, I showed up with my road bike with normal (flat) pedals and pottered around the course at a slowish pace, would I be laughed out of the place?

I don't fancy joining a cycling club, so any event where I can get to cycle alongside others seems good to me. I've also noticed the local 'sky' rides, which have groups for beginners, so I may try one of them too (when the weather perks up).

Good to see the regular sportive riders here (I've yet to ride one) have given you the lowdown.

I see you mentioned your Aldi special clothing in other posts. I swear by it personally. It's the only stuff me and the kids have as it's such good value and does exactly what you want from it. No surprise to see loads of the cycling sites giving heads up to the Aldi and Lidl cyling specials promotions as you just can't go wrong for the price. Stocked up on high vis tops and jackets for the kids from Aldi only this week in fact :thumbsup:

1066familyman · Jan 23, 2014

1066familyman said:

Stat Brother said:
See I told you, never any doubt.

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