It's not that far fetched to say a good first cat could hang in there if they were a good climber - a guy we went over with who was a first cat finished top 100 - you may be right but I'm not sure it's nailed on either way. Be good to see a few try!
Indeed. I was deliberately non-committal, as you can always find a Cat 1 rider on his way up through the ranks who has yet to find their (higher) level, who can perform at a higher standard than is typical of their categorisation.
I still think you'd need to be more than simply strong as a Cat 1 racer in the UK to live with the autobus. But never say never - there's always an exception to sweeping generalisations. (Re your man who did top 100 for the Marmotte - in 2011 this was around 6:30 excluding the Glandon, so ~6:50 for the full route. Still a distance away from keeping up with the autobus even if my estimate of just over 6 hours was a bit optimistic.
In terms of the amount of support that the top Marmotteers get, an acquaintence of mine who got round in the low 7 hours was stationary for around 2 minutes, making use of easy access to the feed stations from being at the front and friends positioned round the course. So I don't think this is a significant factor. (Being in the autobus through the Valley of Death after the Glandon would be a help vs the leading Marmotteers, who tackle this in much smaller groups.)
Another telling statistic is that the autobus can climb the Alpe "easily" in under an hour, whereas the number of Marmotteers who can do the slightly shorter climb up the Alpe in under an hour is vanishingly small. My acquaintence who did the low 7 hours Marmotte took 1:08.
Forgive my ignorance, but how do you go about becoming a cat 1-4? There's always lots of talk about them, and I'm wondering which cat I might be.
Points make prizes. Start off with a full racing licence as a cat 4 and move up through the categories over time by earning enough ranking points through results at national and regional races.
Better still, race on a provisional licence, so you don't get any points. That way, if you're competitive at Cat 4, you "find your level" at the sharp end of races rather than at the back of Cat 3. If Cat 4 is too boring, or you get too much abuse from people who think you're playing the system, then you can enter higher categories to receive a ritual beating every so often.
I discovered this possibility when having flukily taken 10th place in my last race this year, I found that as I didn't have a full licence, I didn't get the point I'd so coveted. I was initially miffed, but then realised I can use this to my advantage. I'm sure it's against established etiquette, though as it's not precluded by the Velominati's "Rules" then it must be OK.
Ha ha ha ha ha! You know what, its all relative and I bet you're not. Just like none of us are better climbers than Cav.
Sorry ... but thats pure boll'ox. The average pro is not super human - they are the cream of the crop, but most strong cat 1 riders would be capable of hanging onto the gruppetto at the Tour. They may not be able to do it for 2 days on the trot, but thats the stamina you get with racing at the pro level every day. I know its off topic, but i see this statement so often it irks me.
You mean like most strong Cat 1s were able to stay with Cav at the Abergavenny nat champs?
Able to stay with Cav Racing in the Tour or able to stay with Cav riding up hills waving at the crowds?
You didn't get my irony - Abergavenny would be a good example of Cav outclimbing pretty much all UK domestic riders.
I agree with Rick
No no no - he's Shellfish ... he's clamming up, lacking in mussel pow(d)er...
Shame as the world was his oyster after 2012, people should stop being so crabby with him. He should just retire back to Belgium and open a Fietswinkel
No?
We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
- @ddraver
No no no - he's Shellfish ... he's clamming up, lacking in mussel pow(d)er...
Shame as the world was his oyster after 2012, people should stop being so crabby with him. He should just retire back to Belgium and open a Fietswinkel
No?
OMFG and we aren't even into the off-season yet....
No no no - he's Shellfish ... he's clamming up, lacking in mussel pow(d)er...
Shame as the world was his oyster after 2012, people should stop being so crabby with him. He should just retire back to Belgium and open a Fietswinkel
No no no - he's Shellfish ... he's clamming up, lacking in mussel pow(d)er...
Shame as the world was his oyster after 2012, people should stop being so crabby with him. He should just retire back to Belgium and open a Fietswinkel
No?
Eel be back with avengenance next season...
yer - he'll beat them shrimps into submission again ...
Posts
Oh no that's godfather...
Indeed. I was deliberately non-committal, as you can always find a Cat 1 rider on his way up through the ranks who has yet to find their (higher) level, who can perform at a higher standard than is typical of their categorisation.
I still think you'd need to be more than simply strong as a Cat 1 racer in the UK to live with the autobus. But never say never - there's always an exception to sweeping generalisations. (Re your man who did top 100 for the Marmotte - in 2011 this was around 6:30 excluding the Glandon, so ~6:50 for the full route. Still a distance away from keeping up with the autobus even if my estimate of just over 6 hours was a bit optimistic.
In terms of the amount of support that the top Marmotteers get, an acquaintence of mine who got round in the low 7 hours was stationary for around 2 minutes, making use of easy access to the feed stations from being at the front and friends positioned round the course. So I don't think this is a significant factor. (Being in the autobus through the Valley of Death after the Glandon would be a help vs the leading Marmotteers, who tackle this in much smaller groups.)
Another telling statistic is that the autobus can climb the Alpe "easily" in under an hour, whereas the number of Marmotteers who can do the slightly shorter climb up the Alpe in under an hour is vanishingly small. My acquaintence who did the low 7 hours Marmotte took 1:08.
Everyone above cat 4 is a suspect doper IMO. I ride clean...and have results that reflect that
Winner of the Bike Radar Pro Race Wiggins Hour Prediction Competition
Better still, race on a provisional licence, so you don't get any points. That way, if you're competitive at Cat 4, you "find your level" at the sharp end of races rather than at the back of Cat 3. If Cat 4 is too boring, or you get too much abuse from people who think you're playing the system, then you can enter higher categories to receive a ritual beating every so often.
I discovered this possibility when having flukily taken 10th place in my last race this year, I found that as I didn't have a full licence, I didn't get the point I'd so coveted. I was initially miffed, but then realised I can use this to my advantage. I'm sure it's against established etiquette, though as it's not precluded by the Velominati's "Rules" then it must be OK.
I agree with Rick
No no no - he's Shellfish ... he's clamming up, lacking in mussel pow(d)er...
Shame as the world was his oyster after 2012, people should stop being so crabby with him. He should just retire back to Belgium and open a Fietswinkel
No?
- @ddraver
OMFG and we aren't even into the off-season yet....
Droll
Eel be back with avengenance next season...
yer - he'll beat them shrimps into submission again ...
Yeah - props for that one
Lewis Barry, who was known as Spadger, was a talented rider from Garforth in West Yorkshire who died of sudden arrhythmic death syndrome in June 2010.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-24511996
Fair play, that's a very decent gesture
Yes, you have to admire that.
If he doesn't actually know the boy then stay home and stop courting journalistic favour ...
Shameful comment.
it's a hard life if you don't weaken.
So no one should ever go to a funeral, ever, because the dead won't benefit from it?
You must see that is nuts.
Simply put, its a fine gesture that the boy's family and friends would have taken much comfort from.
Brad knows Mark + Carol and has done for many years. A very distasteful comment.
Man up and apologise.
Winner of the Bike Radar Pro Race Wiggins Hour Prediction Competition
- @ddraver
+1. Disgraceful.
MTB
NEW Cross
Track/Grass Track/Winter bike
What an absolute p***k. :roll:
Thats a bit harsh mate, even by my standards.
F*ck me that's sad.