Funny how you can spot a pro a mile off

specialgueststar

Still in Nice. Lots of cyclists on the Promenade de Anglais yesterday . Then in quick succession an Astana rider then and MTN then another Astana They stood out a mile from the other (serious ) cyclists They seem to radiate some super powers!

tim000

did the astana riders stand out because they were glowing

mulletmaster

Or wearing sky blue full length lycra onesies?

rick_chasey

SpecialGuestStar wrote:

Still in Nice. Lots of cyclists on the Promenade de Anglais yesterday . Then in quick succession an Astana rider then and MTN then another Astana They stood out a mile from the other (serious ) cyclists They seem to radiate some super powers!

So true. It's like they're cycling in a vacuum where the wind doesn't touch them in the same way somehow.

okgo

They're just thinner and wear more clothes.

Ben6899

okgo wrote:

They're just thinner and wear the correct amount of clothes.

FTFY.

No_Ta_Doctor

You can spot a pro a mile off, but in a matter of a few seconds they appear to be two miles off.

Tim_jones

I usually consider most cyclists to be 'pros' as they all seem to be passing me. I can't spot them miles away though, well not until they pass me anyway

Ashbeck

Rick Chasey wrote:

SpecialGuestStar wrote:

Still in Nice. Lots of cyclists on the Promenade de Anglais yesterday . Then in quick succession an Astana rider then and MTN then another Astana They stood out a mile from the other (serious ) cyclists They seem to radiate some super powers!

So true. It's like they're cycling in a vacuum where the wind doesn't touch them in the same way somehow.

This is true. Gradients don't seem to slow them down either, it's like God smooths out the bumps in front of them, but the minute I come along he ramps them back up with his Map Editor Tool.

My routes take me around Essex and I've seen Dowsett quite a few times (once on the Central Line-but that doesn't count) and one day i was giving it the beans through Epping when he came past with his moped man in tow. He pulled out a gap and that daft part of my brain said 'chase him', so i did. A mile up the road i actually started catching him up, giving it full gas, breathing like a drowning pig with a BPM of 400, i was ecstatic...

As i went past i realised he'd stopped for a p*ss. :oops:

t4tomo

Gradients don't seem to slow them down either

This^^ Hills that would slow down us mere mortals they seem to fly up.

Ben6899

t4tomo wrote:

Gradients don't seem to slow them down either

This^^ Hills that would slow down us mere mortals they seem to fly up.

It's hardly a hill, but we all saw how quickly the Olympic Road Race went up Box... really rather impressive, when you consider most weekend warriors are 'spinning' a 34/27 to get to the café in one piece.

rick_chasey

Ben6899 wrote:

t4tomo wrote:

Gradients don't seem to slow them down either

This^^ Hills that would slow down us mere mortals they seem to fly up.

It's hardly a hill, but we all saw how quickly the Olympic Road Race went up Box... really rather impressive, when you consider most weekend warriors are 'spinning' a 34/27 to get to the café in one piece.

Speak for yourself Ben.

I'm aiming for a 6 minute zig-zag turn-on to the café this year.

okgo

Make sure you pick the right wind and you'll be fine!

markhewitt1978

Even on the likes of Grinton Moor which was a big struggle for me in bottom gear. The pros just looked like they were riding along the flat!

pottssteve

SpecialGuestStar wrote:

Still in Nice. Lots of cyclists on the Promenade de Anglais yesterday . Then in quick succession an Astana rider then and MTN then another Astana They stood out a mile from the other (serious ) cyclists They seem to radiate some super powers!

When I lived in Maastricht I would see some of the local pros out and about from time to time on training rides. Amazingly slim, incredibly smooth and always immaculately turned out. Another league indeed...

No_Ta_Doctor

Ashbeck wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

SpecialGuestStar wrote:

Still in Nice. Lots of cyclists on the Promenade de Anglais yesterday . Then in quick succession an Astana rider then and MTN then another Astana They stood out a mile from the other (serious ) cyclists They seem to radiate some super powers!

So true. It's like they're cycling in a vacuum where the wind doesn't touch them in the same way somehow.

This is true. Gradients don't seem to slow them down either, it's like God smooths out the bumps in front of them, but the minute I come along he ramps them back up with his Map Editor Tool.

My routes take me around Essex and I've seen Dowsett quite a few times (once on the Central Line-but that doesn't count) and one day i was giving it the beans through Epping when he came past with his moped man in tow. He pulled out a gap and that daft part of my brain said 'chase him', so i did. A mile up the road i actually started catching him up, giving it full gas, breathing like a drowning pig with a BPM of 400, i was ecstatic...

As i went past i realised he'd stopped for a p*ss. :oops:

This post needs more appreciation :-D

Ashbeck

No tA Doctor wrote:

Ashbeck wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

SpecialGuestStar wrote:

Still in Nice. Lots of cyclists on the Promenade de Anglais yesterday . Then in quick succession an Astana rider then and MTN then another Astana They stood out a mile from the other (serious ) cyclists They seem to radiate some super powers!

So true. It's like they're cycling in a vacuum where the wind doesn't touch them in the same way somehow.

This is true. Gradients don't seem to slow them down either, it's like God smooths out the bumps in front of them, but the minute I come along he ramps them back up with his Map Editor Tool.

My routes take me around Essex and I've seen Dowsett quite a few times (once on the Central Line-but that doesn't count) and one day i was giving it the beans through Epping when he came past with his moped man in tow. He pulled out a gap and that daft part of my brain said 'chase him', so i did. A mile up the road i actually started catching him up, giving it full gas, breathing like a drowning pig with a BPM of 400, i was ecstatic...

As i went past i realised he'd stopped for a p*ss. :oops:

This post needs more appreciation :-D

Honestly, it really doesn't

I'm trying to forget it. I went from feeling like Tony Martin to Rodney Trotter in the space of 2 seconds.

above_the_cows

Ashbeck wrote:

No tA Doctor wrote:

Ashbeck wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

SpecialGuestStar wrote:

Still in Nice. Lots of cyclists on the Promenade de Anglais yesterday . Then in quick succession an Astana rider then and MTN then another Astana They stood out a mile from the other (serious ) cyclists They seem to radiate some super powers!

So true. It's like they're cycling in a vacuum where the wind doesn't touch them in the same way somehow.

This is true. Gradients don't seem to slow them down either, it's like God smooths out the bumps in front of them, but the minute I come along he ramps them back up with his Map Editor Tool.

My routes take me around Essex and I've seen Dowsett quite a few times (once on the Central Line-but that doesn't count) and one day i was giving it the beans through Epping when he came past with his moped man in tow. He pulled out a gap and that daft part of my brain said 'chase him', so i did. A mile up the road i actually started catching him up, giving it full gas, breathing like a drowning pig with a BPM of 400, i was ecstatic...

As i went past i realised he'd stopped for a p*ss. :oops:

This post needs more appreciation :-D

Honestly, it really doesn't

I'm trying to forget it. I went from feeling like Tony Martin to Rodney Trotter in the space of 2 seconds.

This is an awesome story! I had a similar incident last summer with Ellen van Dijk (who was NOT immaculately turned out I might add, old Lululemon bibs with Boels jersey). She passed me while I was waiting at the lights just as they turned green. I started catching her, going at my limit for a couple of kms, and then had a horrible period of what to do, pass her, not pass her, because she was clearly just out for an early Monday morning turn of the peddles as if she was off to the shops, and I was going all out. She turned off just before I had to make the awful decision of what to do, wheel suck Ellen van Dijk or over take her only to be ritually humiliated. It was a blessing really, that she turned off.

specialgueststar

Not always this easy

Ben6899

Rick Chasey wrote:

Ben6899 wrote:

t4tomo wrote:

Gradients don't seem to slow them down either

This^^ Hills that would slow down us mere mortals they seem to fly up.

It's hardly a hill, but we all saw how quickly the Olympic Road Race went up Box... really rather impressive, when you consider most weekend warriors are 'spinning' a 34/27 to get to the café in one piece.

Speak for yourself Ben.

I'm aiming for a 6 minute zig-zag turn-on to the café this year.

Ha. Don't worry, 6-minutes is well under wraps already.

Bo Duke

Chris Boardman used to fly past me whilst driving to work, used to scare the hell out of me and everyone else.

Ashbeck

Bo Duke wrote:

Chris Boardman used to fly past me whilst driving to work, used to scare the hell out of me and everyone else.

Did he have a helmet on?

ozzzyosborn206

I have done the Duo Normand time trial a few times and always make sure to watch the pros after I have raced, after about 40k you do an out and back leg and there is a drag that goes past a garage for those you have ridden it before, and they hit it and just carry their flat speed all the way up, smooth as you like, it makes you understand how they take 10 minutes out of you when you feel like you have nothing more to give.

disgruntledgoat

On the other hand, the bloke from Wanty Group me and a friend passed on the Leberg on Saturday looked worse than mortal. His friend from Roompot though looked absolutely mighty.