New bike for TDF ?

ben@31

Forget your Pinarello Dogma F8 and S-Works Tarmac SL4's. This is what you need to cycle the Tour....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... arity.html

Cant wait to see Contador use one on the mountain stages.

P.S. What do the tennis balls wedged in the spokes do ?

ForumNewbie

Ha ha, it looks like a normal road saddle he has on the chopper, and clip-in pedals. Good luck to him. I see he did the Etape de Tour last year on it and finished in the top 20% which is quite an achievement on a chopper.

debeli

I find this a depressing and retrograde step, quite out of keeping with the (largely) positive evolution of the racing bicycle.

The rider is clearly delusional and (apart from the presence of a core triangle within the frame) may find himself outside (or in conflict with) current UCI regulations.

I accept that the small-diameter front wheel and tyre might have some positive impact in terms of a potential reduction of frontal area, but the other elements of the geometry seem not to be making the best of this. At the same time, high-speed stability (particularly in the descent) must be compromised.

Further, although the paucity of ratios might find favour with the leisure rider, it is bound to frustrate the serious athlete whose preoccupation will be his elapsed time over a series of one-day rides under the greatest pressure.

I have long been of the view that the classic (and classically beautiful) lightweight steel frame of the 1970s has yet to meet its match. This, ladies and gentleman, does not persuade me that the future is here.

Surely this whole story is nothing but a cheap hoax or someone having a chuckle.

frisbee

I'm more concerned about the coaster brake, the difference in braking performance will cause all 195 other riders in the peloton to pile into the back of him.