Armstrong for Paris-Roubaix
Comments
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Well, he ain't going to ride it in a million years so I shouldn't worry about it chap.0
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grandad3 wrote:Anyone like to see Armstong ride this classic and get truly THRASHED
I know I would. :evil:
like in the 04 when he and team wiped out Mayo
when he is done with GTs he should...he's not so badly built for it IMO 0 -
His style isn't suited for it though. Pretty difficult to really spin on the cobbles.
Given his previous Tour de France escapades I'd like to see him get caked in mud by the backwheel of Sven Nys, cyclo-cross style.Note: the above post is an opinion and not fact. It might be a lie.0 -
like in the 04 when he and team wiped out Mayo when he is done with GTs he should...he's not so badly built for it IMO[/quote]
Er, no they didn't. Mayo hit the deck some 30km from the cobbles and didn't want to ride any further. All Discovery did was up the pace over th cobbles (along with the other contenders) just to sort out the also-rans and to get across the pave as quick as poss.M.Rushton0 -
The high cadence is actually a very good style for the cobbles. The endless vibration can cause blood (no jokes on ketchup-thick blood please) to pool in your legs and a high cadence helps the muscles to return the blood via muscular contraction of the femoral vein.
He's also been a lucky rider, never crashing much and not suffering from too many punctures. So he could ride but the race requires a lot of experience and he's too old to learn. He's been up there in the Ronde before though.0 -
skavanagh.bikeradar wrote:Well, he ain't going to ride it in a million years so I shouldn't worry about it chap.
I aint worried, just wondering if anybody else would like to see it. Of course he wont ride it, too hard for him :twisted:
Got no stamina, unlike Hincapie who came close in 05, losing out to Boonen in the sprint to the line.
I just want to see the man ride more classics instead of tours, get to see how good he really is.'Collapse the Light into Earth'0 -
For me, P-R has always been a test of who can maintain their concentration on the road itself the best. Who can keep their mind and senses together better than the next guy after all that pounding. Who still has it together enough, late in the race, to be able to read the road, take the best line, and avoid that brick sticking up just a bit more than the rest,
as opposed to going for it without concern(and ending up in a ditch or flatting because you hit a cobble wrong). Sort of a "who's brain is still able to work after all this". When I first started watching it years ago I thought it was a race strictly for "gorillas on bikes"
i.e. Museeuw, Kelly, but am now starting to think that it actually is more of a technical
type thing(and also requiring something of a gorilla"). A techno-gorilla? Hmmmm, maybe
Lance would have a chance?
Dennis Noward0 -
grandad3 wrote:
I aint worried, just wondering if anybody else would like to see it. Of course he wont ride it, too hard for him :twisted:
Got no stamina, unlike Hincapie who came close in 05, losing out to Boonen in the sprint to the line.
I just want to see the man ride more classics instead of tours, get to see how good he really is.
Yep, you don't need stamina to do well in 3 week GTs.Le Blaireau (1)0 -
DaveyL wrote:grandad3 wrote:
I aint worried, just wondering if anybody else would like to see it. Of course he wont ride it, too hard for him :twisted:
Got no stamina, unlike Hincapie who came close in 05, losing out to Boonen in the sprint to the line.
I just want to see the man ride more classics instead of tours, get to see how good he really is.
Yep, you don't need stamina to do well in 3 week GTs.
+1 Stamina for a 3 week GT???? Way overrated.
Dennis Noward0 -
Dunno why anyone would want to see a rider thrashed ? Sounds a bit childish to me ?
Doubt that he'd race this - he bases his season around his Grand Tour. Everyone knows the TdF winner - a lot less can tell you who won Paris Roubaix. Sure - its a great race - but its not his priority. I dont blame him - its silly to not play to your strengths.0 -
Kléber wrote:The high cadence is actually a very good style for the cobbles. The endless vibration can cause blood (no jokes on ketchup-thick blood please) to pool in your legs and a high cadence helps the muscles to return the blood via muscular contraction of the femoral vein.
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I guess I was told! I was just repeating what Sean Kelly once said a few years back... Something to do with making you bounce around too much.Note: the above post is an opinion and not fact. It might be a lie.0 -
dennisn wrote:For me, P-R has always been a test of who can maintain their concentration on the road itself the best. Who can keep their mind and senses together better than the next guy after all that pounding. Who still has it together enough, late in the race, to be able to read the road, take the best line, and avoid that brick sticking up just a bit more than the rest,
as opposed to going for it without concern(and ending up in a ditch or flatting because you hit a cobble wrong). Sort of a "who's brain is still able to work after all this". When I first started watching it years ago I thought it was a race strictly for "gorillas on bikes"
i.e. Museeuw, Kelly, but am now starting to think that it actually is more of a technical
type thing(and also requiring something of a gorilla"). A techno-gorilla? Hmmmm, maybe
Lance would have a chance?
Dennis Noward
I tend to agree. I would say though that the strongest rider physically is usually in the best shape mentally too. Tired riders never think as well as fresher riders.Note: the above post is an opinion and not fact. It might be a lie.0 -
I don't believe LA's even started P-Rx, despite the irritating interview at the start of the 'Road to Roubaix' film. As for 'doing well in Flanders' is taking a turn on the front on Tenbosse and getting blasted as Boonen launched the race-winning break in 2005. As for the 'spinning' technique working on pave, , I'm not that sure - riding pave hard is purely about power - keeping the biggest gear possible turning - if you don't keep the power 'on' you simply get bounced all over the place - your legs might recover but your arms, wrists and backside take a hammering. The experienced riders also know the lines through all the sectors, which would be difficult for a relative 'novice' and they vary between the dry and the wet. Whilst P-Rx is an 'old-man's race' it comes with experience and knowledge of riding the race, not merely some glib PR or fanboy speculation.Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..0
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Monty Dog wrote:I don't believe LA's even started P-Rx, despite the irritating interview at the start of the 'Road to Roubaix' film. As for 'doing well in Flanders' is taking a turn on the front on Tenbosse and getting blasted as Boonen launched the race-winning break in 2005. As for the 'spinning' technique working on pave, , I'm not that sure - riding pave hard is purely about power - keeping the biggest gear possible turning - if you don't keep the power 'on' you simply get bounced all over the place - your legs might recover but your arms, wrists and backside take a hammering. The experienced riders also know the lines through all the sectors, which would be difficult for a relative 'novice' and they vary between the dry and the wet. Whilst P-Rx is an 'old-man's race' it comes with experience and knowledge of riding the race, not merely some glib PR or fanboy speculation.
I'm not so sure that anyone can "know the lines" through something as wild and crazy as a cobbled road. I think you just have to take the road as it comes at you on that particular day. Those who are able to concentrate best on the suface and make the fewest mistakes get the glory.
Dennnis Noward0 -
Monty Dog wrote:As for the 'spinning' technique working on pave, , I'm not that sure - riding pave hard is purely about power - keeping the biggest gear possible turning - if you don't keep the power 'on' you simply get bounced all over the place - your legs might recover but your arms, wrists and backside take a hammering. quote]
i'm not sure on this either. armstrong certainly doesn't seem to have an issue generating power with his spinning and he's quite handy in cyclo-cross and mtb so i'm sure he'll bring an interesting element to the race; even if it's just technique.0 -
was a typo. should have read 'he'd' instead on 'he'll'.0
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[takes off pedant's hat and slinks away]___________________
Strava is not Zen.0 -
He decided to ride M-SR instead of P-R and Flanders because of his kids, apparently - the same ones he retired to spend more time with0
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Dave_1 wrote:grandad3 wrote:Anyone like to see Armstong ride this classic and get truly THRASHED
I know I would. :evil:
like in the 04 when he and team wiped out Mayo when he is done with GTs he should...he's not so badly built for it IMO
The little Darling was Nursed through that stage by the "Very Experienced" George Hincapie and Viatcheslav Ekimov.
I cannot remember a guy that "Twiddled" to a Roubaix Win as it seems a Big Gear Rider usually wins.Organiser, National Championship 50 mile Time Trial 19720 -
Flandriens do not twitter.0
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See Boonen, he has a surprisingly relaxed style on the cobbles. Or Franco Ballerini. My earlier point about high cadence wasn't some inside track on how to win the race, just a potential but small advantage for Armstrong. All said, Armstrong looks bigger these days, with more on the upper body. Which suggests he's better built for the cobbles than, say, Mont Ventoux.deejay wrote:I cannot remember a guy that "Twiddled" to a Roubaix Win as it seems a Big Gear Rider usually wins.0 -
my experience of the cobbles was 16 years ago in a pretty big stage race in Belgium and spinning meant more bouncing and big gear churning was smoother...it was bloody hell and I punctured and got eliminated. highlight was meeting Mercx...and racing with Ullrich :-)0
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My Point Exactly, 2 of my favorite riders. nuff said.Kléber wrote:
See Boonen, he has a surprisingly relaxed style on the cobbles. Or Franco Ballerini.deejay wrote:I cannot remember a guy that "Twiddled" to a Roubaix Win as it seems a Big Gear Rider usually wins.
I have a vivid memory of Franco pounding on the front of the strung out remains of the field in "Overmere" for the 1st Finish in Lockeren.
Then of course that wonderfull ride with a little sh*t on his wheel in the roubaix and he lost by a tyre.
This other geezer, I have no interest in and would be happy to go along with the opening thread post. (I've done my post on the sticky thread).
I think he's just at these races to sell wrist bands and I only contribute to GB Charities.Organiser, National Championship 50 mile Time Trial 19720
