What we can learn from Team GB

Comments

  • ChrisLS
    ChrisLS Posts: 2,749
    ...I'd be a little shy in skin tight lycra... :oops: :oops: ...


    ...it's great this information is going mainstream...skills we've always known and used...let's hope more people take to two wheels... :D :idea:
    ...all the way...'til the wheels fall off and burn...
  • pst88
    pst88 Posts: 621
    Another fine article brought to you by the Department of the Bleeding Obvious.
    Bianchi Via Nirone Veloce/Centaur 2010
  • DonDaddyD
    DonDaddyD Posts: 12,689
    Only thing I would advise when standing up is not to chage gear, the gear change may cause may slip and the jolt could unbalance the rider.... - it did me.

    I would never slip stream 1 foot away from another commuter, to many things could go wrong. I would get close enough to shelter from the wind...

    Other than that its cool to see all this stuff getting out there, hope more people take to bikes as well.
    Food Chain number = 4

    A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    edited August 2008
    The comments are hilarious, I give you:

    Old myth about toe clips. Pulling up on pedals uses energy so yes you will go faster but you'll get exhausted quicker. Only useful if racing and want a dash sprint so Tour De France yes, high street no.

    What utter cr@p!

    Oh and:

    Trying to slipstream somebody on the road is just plain dangerous. You can't see round their backside so you can't avoid things in the road and they can't brake to avoid hazards without you hitting them. They can't see behind them and you'd better hope they don't fluff a gear change going up hill or you'll hit them again.

    Clearly never seen a club run then.

    Morons.

    I wish the beeb would get a journo who actually understands cycling to write these articles.
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    edited August 2008
    DonDaddyD wrote:
    Only thing I would advise when standing up is not to chage gear, the gear change may cause may slip and the jolt could unbalance the rider.... - it did me.

    This shouldn't happen if your gears are set up properly and you are shifting properly. I regularly shift whilst standing - eg on hills or whilst sprinting and I have no probs. However I keep my bikes in good nick and run good groupsets on both - Chorus and Ultegra. Chorus in particular shifts under load without complaint at all.
  • DonDaddyD
    DonDaddyD Posts: 12,689
    jashburnham wrote:
    DonDaddyD wrote:
    Only thing I would advise when standing up is not to chage gear, the gear change may cause may slip and the jolt could unbalance the rider.... - it did me.

    This shouldn't happen if your gears are set up properly and you are shifting properly. I regularly shift whilst standing - eg on hills or whilst sprinting and I have no probs. However I keep my bikes in good nick and run good groupsets on both - Chorus and Ultegra. Chorus in particular shifts under load without compliant at all.

    See that's the type of information I just don't get when i ask specifically about how good a groupset is.

    I take your point about shifting, standing up and quality of the gears. I don't disagree with it either. Just due to my bad experience (bus behind me, stood up/changed gears to speed off, gear slipped, foot slipped off pedal due to the jolt, just about righted myself before failing off - this was on a Giant M2 hybrid) I haven't changed gears standing up since... (though, now I'm not sure thatis entirely true with my new bike when i think about it....)
    Food Chain number = 4

    A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    DonDaddyD wrote:
    jashburnham wrote:
    DonDaddyD wrote:
    Only thing I would advise when standing up is not to chage gear, the gear change may cause may slip and the jolt could unbalance the rider.... - it did me.

    This shouldn't happen if your gears are set up properly and you are shifting properly. I regularly shift whilst standing - eg on hills or whilst sprinting and I have no probs. However I keep my bikes in good nick and run good groupsets on both - Chorus and Ultegra. Chorus in particular shifts under load without complaint at all.

    See that's the type of information I just don't get when i ask specifically about how good a groupset is.

    I take your point about shifting, standing up and quality of the gears. I don't disagree with it either. Just due to my bad experience (bus behind me, stood up/changed gears to speed off, gear slipped, foot slipped off pedal due to the jolt, just about righted myself before failing off - this was on a Giant M2 hybrid) I haven't changed gears standing up since... (though, now I'm not sure thatis entirely true with my new bike when i think about it....)

    Chorus is EXCELLENT.
  • attica
    attica Posts: 2,362
    _44942215_slipstream_226.jpg

    Hahahahahahahahahahaha!

    I can't believe someone took the time to create this factually incorrect piece of poop.
    "Impressive break"

    "Thanks...

    ...I can taste blood"
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    jashburnham wrote:
    The comments are hilarious, I give you:

    Old myth about toe clips. Pulling up on pedals uses energy so yes you will go faster but you'll get exhausted quicker. Only useful if racing and want a dash sprint so Tour De France yes, high street no.

    What utter cr@p!

    Oh and:

    Trying to slipstream somebody on the road is just plain dangerous. You can't see round their backside so you can't avoid things in the road and they can't brake to avoid hazards without you hitting them. They can't see behind them and you'd better hope they don't fluff a gear change going up hill or you'll hit them again.

    Clearly never seen a club run then.

    Morons.

    I wish the beeb would get a journo who actually understands cycling to write these articles.

    You've got to love the comments... :)

    Oh yes, and toe clips/clipless are SO much less efficient... my @rse... :lol::lol:
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • Littigator
    Littigator Posts: 1,262
    Attica wrote:
    _44942215_slipstream_226.jpg

    Hahahahahahahahahahaha!

    I can't believe someone took the time to create this factually incorrect piece of poop.

    I know, I mean how obvious is it that if you cycle round with a letter a on a stick on your head your never going to be very aerodynamic....what??!? :roll:
    Roadie FCN: 3

    Fixed FCN: 6
  • victor ludorum
    victor ludorum Posts: 310
    You shouldn't muck about with either the highly inefficient clip pedals or drafting within a foot of another rider. My grandfather did both once on a ride to Crewe and, only 43 years later, he died.
    Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride.
    (John F Kennedy)

    Hairy Roadie (new scoring) FCN 1/2
  • Littigator
    Littigator Posts: 1,262
    Crikey VL that's pretty persuasive stuff!
    Roadie FCN: 3

    Fixed FCN: 6
  • victor ludorum
    victor ludorum Posts: 310
    jashburnham wrote:
    Chorus is EXCELLENT.

    One would hope, because Chorus is VERY EXPENSIVE.

    (Admittedly, not as expensive as Record, but not chicken-feed either...)
    Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride.
    (John F Kennedy)

    Hairy Roadie (new scoring) FCN 1/2
  • prj45
    prj45 Posts: 2,208
    Attica wrote:
    _44942215_slipstream_226.jpg

    Hahahahahahahahahahaha!

    I can't believe someone took the time to create this factually incorrect piece of poop.

    Yeah, very windy in those cycling stadiums!
    Photos - Blog - Bike
  • andrewc3142
    andrewc3142 Posts: 906
    What an easy way to make a living, writing this kind of drivel.

    Love the caption about helmets and hi-viz clothing (neither of which I use, and no, I have zippo interest in starting a debate on the subject ...).

    Plus the invaluable advice of being "sparing" about standing up on the pedals when going uphill .... Until you're k-nacked perhaps?
  • Breathless Commuter Man
    Breathless Commuter Man Posts: 82
    I was bimbling along last night and realised someone was tucked in behind me (about a foot off my rear wheel as suggested by the article). I say I realised I became aware as he shouted in fear as I braked to avoid hitting a car that turned across me. I turned to see his backwheel off the ground. Fortunately he (and I) were ok and no harm done, but it does show a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
    FCN 8

    2009 Boardman Hybrid Pro
  • passout
    passout Posts: 4,425
    'Knowledge is Power' said Malcolm X, but he forgot to say that it is on a sliding scale.
    'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.
  • bazzargh
    bazzargh Posts: 45
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    Oh yes, and toe clips/clipless are SO much less efficient... my @rse... :lol::lol:

    I thought that comment sounded crap too, but went looking for any research on the topic. This paper tackles the issue directly:
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18418807
    ...shoe-pedal interface (PED vs. CLIP) did not significantly influence cycling technique during submaximal exercise. However, an active pulling-up action on the pedal during upstroke increased the pedalling effectiveness, while reducing net mechanical efficiency.
    Similar results in this study:
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17545890

    so not a slam dunk there. Frustratingly they don't go on to work out whether the net effect of 'increased effectiveness' at reduced efficiency would let you pedal faster or longer; however it sounds marginal, and not worth advising 'low effort' commuters to ride clipless based on this.

    On the other hand, with trained triathletes at sustained effort, there did seem to be a difference between clipless and clipped, but they didn't measure it with ergometers - only using an electromyogram:
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11441642
    The remaining cycling research on pubmed is mostly about cadence and comparisons between novel clipless systems - not really relevant here. And one paper confirming the bleeding obvious with regard to foot position on the pedal:
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2402135

    NB, I ride clipless, so I'm not an advocate of the Rivendell 'shoes dont matter' position:
    http://www.rivbike.com/article/clothing/the_shoes_ruse
    ...I just thought it was worth checking the evidence behind our assumptions. Perhaps an actual sports scientist could comment.

    -Baz
  • saveswalking
    saveswalking Posts: 144
    jashburnham wrote:
    What utter cr@p!

    Oh and:

    Trying to slipstream somebody on the road is just plain dangerous. You can't see round their backside so you can't avoid things in the road and they can't brake to avoid hazards without you hitting them. They can't see behind them and you'd better hope they don't fluff a gear change going up hill or you'll hit them again.

    Clearly never seen a club run then.

    Morons.

    quote]

    The article isnt about club riding - and I hope no muppet tries stipstreaming me on my commute after reading this stuff.

    sw
  • Littigator
    Littigator Posts: 1,262
    bazzargh wrote:

    so not a slam dunk there. Frustratingly they don't go on to work out whether the net effect of 'increased effectiveness' at reduced efficiency would let you pedal faster or longer; however it sounds marginal, and not worth advising 'low effort' commuters to ride clipless based on this.

    -Baz

    Huh???

    confused.jpg
    Roadie FCN: 3

    Fixed FCN: 6
  • Bassjunkieuk
    Bassjunkieuk Posts: 4,232
    bazzargh wrote:
    so not a slam dunk there. Frustratingly they don't go on to work out whether the net effect of 'increased effectiveness' at reduced efficiency would let you pedal faster or longer; however it sounds marginal, and not worth advising 'low effort' commuters to ride clipless based on this.

    -Baz

    I didn't realize there was such a thing, opps sorry wrong thread :-) Not that we ever "try" of course :lol:
    Who's the daddy?
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  • Surf-Matt
    Surf-Matt Posts: 5,952
    We can learn to IGNORE FOOTBALL.

    Nice to see the Olympics well covered and all our successes rewarded.

    Better than blanket media coverage of a sport played by overpaid thickos who never get anywhere in the World Cup, didn't even QUALIFY for the Euro cup and seem to fill all our newspapers, TV and radio news stations.
  • bazzargh
    bazzargh Posts: 45
    Littigator wrote:
    bazzargh wrote:
    so not a slam dunk there. Frustratingly they don't go on to work out whether the net effect of 'increased effectiveness' at reduced efficiency would let you pedal faster or longer;...
    Huh???
    Yeah, the terms are confusing. 'pedalling effectiveness' is a measure of how much of the force on the pedals is tangential to the circle your pedal moves in; reduced efficiency means the overall effect is to transfer less power from your body to moving the bike forward. Apparently this happens because you need to counteract the motion of your legs as well (ie you are applying increased force elsewhere).
    Bassjunkieuk wrote:
    bazzargh wrote:
    'low effort' commuters to ride clipless based on this.
    I didn't realize there was such a thing, opps sorry wrong thread :-) Not that we ever "try" of course :lol:
    "low effort" commuters are the ones you pass :)
  • Bikerbaboon
    Bikerbaboon Posts: 1,017
    Surf-Matt wrote:
    We can learn to IGNORE FOOTBALL.

    Nice to see the Olympics well covered and all our successes rewarded.

    Better than blanket media coverage of a sport played by overpaid thickos who never get anywhere in the World Cup, didn't even QUALIFY for the Euro cup and seem to fill all our newspapers, TV and radio news stations.

    so mat what team do you support and what do you think of the trasfers this season? :twisted: :twisted:


    well said mat i still cant find out why footballers get payed the silly money they do, nurses and care workers need more pay, teachers that shape the future generations need more pay , hell bin men that stop our citys from choaking on hte foul rubbish we all produce need more pay....... but a bloke that kicks a ball in to a net? hell give them all a max 50k a year wage and use the millions left over to help fund the nhs ( could go towards the new cancer drugs that are too expencive for the nhs to give to people as it only gives them another 2 years with there famaily.)
    Nothing in life can not be improved with either monkeys, pirates or ninjas
    456
  • Littigator
    Littigator Posts: 1,262
    bazzargh wrote:
    Yeah, the terms are confusing. 'pedalling effectiveness' is a measure of how much of the force on the pedals is tangential to the circle your pedal moves in; reduced efficiency means the overall effect is to transfer less power from your body to moving the bike forward. Apparently this happens because you need to counteract the motion of your legs as well (ie you are applying increased force elsewhere)

    Huurrrrnnnggghhhh...nope it's no good I still haven't got a CLUE what you're talking about
    bazzargh wrote:

    "low effort" commuters are the ones you pass :)

    Ahhhhh, now that I understand!
    Roadie FCN: 3

    Fixed FCN: 6

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