Agree, terrific performance overall by Wiggo, I've just watched the Eurosport highlights I recorded at the weekend. I wonder how 8 days of DL will translate into 3 weeks of the Tour when it will get really attritional in the mountains, can he stay in touch with the big climbers?Originally Posted by daz h
Talking of the Dauphine, how about Hinault's crash in the race in the 1970s. Lucky or what?
It's at the beginning. can't edit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alNJ6...AD18B4F4DF420D
Brilliant and thought provoking article from Michael Barry aka Le Metier: http://michaelbarry.ca/2011/06/organ...fety/#more-653
Must admit after wouters death it has had me thinking. I am a crazy descender and do take risks. Yep sit onmthe top tube at 50 mph and all that but its just such a buzz i suppose.
The road into grindelwald on the tour of switzerland yesterday was an amazing spectacle with sagan chasing down cunego.
You couldnt help but be amazed.
Its racing i suppose.
One of the best training days i ever had was one night when my dad passed me on the top road and i was going flat out down into kirk hallam and my mum wound down the window and said. Only you darren only you. I suppose not many mums witness their son doing 50mph on a bike 3 ft away whilst saying hello.
2 minutes later she had the kettle on and was telling me off for riding to fast
Interesting read that Donkey... as more and more racing cyclists get themsleves injured or even killed while racing and training and ever more amateurs do as well, this gives a lot of food for thought...
It's great to watch I agree but it's definitely getting more dangerous for them in towns with all the traffic calming measures. He's right about carbon too I've seen frames snap from crashes on the track.
But you're right riding bikes fast is always a risky business, I can remember overtaking a van on a descent in my teens and nearly getting wiped out. The magic 50mph mark was reached a fair few times in my youth too, I nearly got there coming off Exmoor in the Tour of Wessex but held back a bit in the wet.
One thing that surprised me during all these sportives is how so many people work so hard on their fitness but neglect the skills of cornering and descending, staying still and staying off the brakes.
My Dad said during La Marmotte loads of people's inner tubes were exploding from heat where they were breaking too much and overheating the rims on the Alpine descents!
I enjoy watching the pros descending as much as climbing. It's a real skill and show of bravery. They also know that the risk of an accident is much less than you may think. But if there was no risk attached it would detract from the spectacle and the 'buzz' as Daz puts it.
The problem is when teams or organisers push things too far as in the article. I hope there isn't a safety backlash as it would be a shame to sanitize the sport.
Last edited by The devil's own; 15-06-2011 at 12:19 AM.
Good post Eavesy, I've enjoyed watching that a few times. Panache is the word I think.
What I like about the Hinault incident is the lack of helmet and the fact he immediately jumps on his bike and carries on. After checking his hair of course.
Yeah, very impressive! He then wants to give up but his mechanic is having nothing of it, gives hum a shove and off he goes to win!!! HARD as f*ck!
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