May have a flutter on some of the matchups on bet365, as can't find much value on the win markets. Although Chava, Phinney and Offredo may tempt yet me.
Bicycle Racing Thread 2013
- Thread starter The Boy
- Start date
May have a flutter on some of the matchups on bet365, as can't find much value on the win markets. Although Chava, Phinney and Offredo may tempt yet me.
I think he is possibly the big danger man here. He very nearly held on in RvV, and I reckon he'll be better able to cope with the cobbles than the 'bergs' of Flanders. And he would kill Spartacus in a sprint if he makes it in any sort of shape.
Nigel Irritable
Five, Ten, Fifteen Years
He's certainly in form. As is Kristoff. Hushovd on the other hand has done nothing to justify my lingering sentimental hopes for him in a very long time.
As an aside, I'm going to hold a lasting grudge against any teams who help Radioshack out at any point.
Ted Striker
Foot's on the other hand
dp
Ted Striker
Foot's on the other hand
I'm out there now (more on that later 
)...Hard to see much past Cancellara, especially as I've been watching docu's on P-R non-stop the past few days, and the 2010 break was monstrous, though the optimist in me (that knows FA about pro cycling) says Team Sky might turn up in numbers nearer the end. If I can get out of bed I'll try and hobble over to the velodrome for the finale.
All that said, I really don't care about winners...After doing the course today, I genuinely have zero fucking idea how they can make a race over the pave. Every judd today (which has donated me a cracked phone screen that was in my saddle bag and a bruised coccyx) not only transfer pain into my hands that I have never comprehended before, but taxed my brain to the point of delerium thinking that the guys actually race over this stuff. And to think it's been dry today, to comprehend it on a rainy day is wtf-ery off the meters.
Not sure if I mentioned it already, but I rode a (only 80km - but enough!) section of the route today. It's just awesome! Please excuse the gratuitous photos!
)...Hard to see much past Cancellara, especially as I've been watching docu's on P-R non-stop the past few days, and the 2010 break was monstrous, though the optimist in me (that knows FA about pro cycling) says Team Sky might turn up in numbers nearer the end. If I can get out of bed I'll try and hobble over to the velodrome for the finale.All that said, I really don't care about winners...After doing the course today, I genuinely have zero fucking idea how they can make a race over the pave. Every judd today (which has donated me a cracked phone screen that was in my saddle bag and a bruised coccyx) not only transfer pain into my hands that I have never comprehended before, but taxed my brain to the point of delerium thinking that the guys actually race over this stuff. And to think it's been dry today, to comprehend it on a rainy day is wtf-ery off the meters.
Not sure if I mentioned it already, but I rode a (only 80km - but enough!) section of the route today. It's just awesome! Please excuse the gratuitous photos!
twistedAM
Left Of The Dial
Sigmund Fraud
893 all the way.
I did the full course in 2008 - it was dry on the day but had been raining most of the previous week. It was my second go and it fucking hurt. Apparently a natural resonance occurs at about 25mph and if you're in the big ring - you sort of float. I managed this at the 3 or 4 secteurs after Troisville but couldn't keep it up. By the time I hit Carrefour I was seeing three sets of handlebars. The Arenberg is unrideable - thats the bit I really can't understand how they do it. Fuck 5*s, its an 11* secteur.
Sticking my neck out - Stannard for a podium and in as top Sky rider. Chinny to win.
Of course the top, top riders will be doing the London Classic tommorrow...
Ted Striker
Foot's on the other hand
That's why I signed up...Pretty much drove me to take up cycling last year.
(Downloadable here too http://kuci.org/~martin/sunday/A%20Sunday%20In%20Hell.avi)
I never got that quick..!
I just spent my time looking for the most worn route or riding one of the tightropes of mud either side. Massive respect for going the distance. I'm pretend I'll try the full thing next year, though I'm not at the stage yet where I'm comfortable in fields of slower amateurs. As each person overtook me I kept wanting to scream "my fucking bike weighs 15.6 kgs" and the hub gear on the back rolls bloody sloooooooow.
One thing that did surprise me, is the Carrefour d'Arbe (The 'Arenberg' of the short routers!)...I rolled up to the feeding point at the end of it after a seemingly average (if it exists...) pave section and got told I had just done it and was all a bit 'is that it?!"
Sigmund Fraud
893 all the way.
The three 5 stars in order of toughness - Arenberg, Carrefour, Mens en Pevele. Mens is only tough cos there are a few off camber big bends in there. Carrefour is really only tough in the last 200m. Arenberg - I did the excellent Velo Club de Roubaix sportive (not the Rapha one) and the route is pretty faithful (165.5 miles). If you rode the whole Arenberg you got your picture in the local paper. I think 5 people managed it out of about 2500 riders. The first time I did it (120 miles moyenne distance, all the pave) in 2006 it was bastard hot and I hit Arenberg flat out at about 30mph...and jumped onto the mud at the side after 200m. If by some twist of fate I'd stayed on there I would have been carrying bits of steel pinarello frame home in a bag. Truly shocking is the pros are fenced in, they can't bail. no wonder the race ends there for so many.
The weird thing about Roubaix is when you finish you curse it....but within 30 minutes you want to have another go. Best bike race in the world.
The weird thing about Roubaix is when you finish you curse it....but within 30 minutes you want to have another go. Best bike race in the world.
Nigel Irritable
Five, Ten, Fifteen Years
Offredo's crash did not look fun.
gentlegreen
I hummus, therefore I am ...
Do they have fatter/softer tyres etc ?
I imagine most are riding about 28mm tyres today. Some of them may let a little air out, but they still have the regular tarmac roads to ride on so there is only so much you can do.
I seem to remember someone turning up with an odd frame geometry that had him sitting almost upright. Was great on the cobbles, but such a donkey on the rest of the course that it was counter productive.
gentlegreen
I hummus, therefore I am ...
I'm not sure if I ever want to ride those roads - even on the roadified MTB I ride.
Nigel Irritable
Five, Ten, Fifteen Years
I'd love to in theory... but in practice I'm well aware that my bike handling is so dismal that I'd crease myself within 100m.
Nigel Irritable
Five, Ten, Fifteen Years
Big group still there.
twistedAM
Left Of The Dial
Hit in the face by a camera lens????
I know where I'd like to shove that right now. Stybar was looking canny.
Indeed. Although at least that way I didn't miss out on a 1-2-3 as a result of not confirming my changes to my fantasy cycling team
.Anyway, that was probably the best ride I've seen from SPartacus for some time. Very, very clever to let the group go away and let everyone else control them for him. And it ended with track sprint which made me
Nigel Irritable
Five, Ten, Fifteen Years
That was the best Paris Roubaix in a long time. I don't even mind that Cancellara won, even though I was hoping desperately that any of the other three riders in the final selection would take it.
I have no idea what Vanmarcke was doing exchanging turns with Cancellara. Glorious insanity.
I have no idea what Vanmarcke was doing exchanging turns with Cancellara. Glorious insanity.
Nigel Irritable
Five, Ten, Fifteen Years
Loved Vanmarcke, Vandenbergh, Gaudin and Stybar's performances. Not as fond of the spectators.
twistedAM
Left Of The Dial
OPQS really did a great job in that race - must be well miffed to have two contenders taken out by fans, though Vandenbergh did seem to be feeling the pace when he got whacked.
Sigmund Fraud
893 all the way.
Over half of the field would be riding either Vittoria Pave's or Dugast Paris-Roubaix tubulars (that means glued onto rims for non afficianados). Both available up to 700x27 size and for a good few years now mechanics have specced 27s on the front and 23s or 25s on the back. The rear of the bike banging about is far less critical than the front - where comfort (or should that be slightly less muscle shattering pain) matters. As they're tubs you can run them at a really low pressure and not get pinch flats. Some riders go as low as 50 psi up front. Dugast tubs are hand made by one bloke - Andre Dugast - in a shed in rural France - and are the best tyres in the world. Loads of teams re-badge them or pay him to rebadge his own tyres as someone else's brand.
Loads of bike tech mods are made for P-R - which add to the intrigue and uniqueness of the race. Sebastian Turgot has now had 2 top 10 finishes riding a Colnago Cyclocross bike. Loads of riders used to use cross bikes when the race was wetter or promised rain. Probably the most famous P-R special of recent years was Steve Bauer's 'recumbent' Eddy Merckx. His theory was that massively slack angles would aid comfort. They did, but they also hindered speed. Suspension forks are now banned by the UCI for road racing, as is the saddle in this picture.
Ah yes, I think that's the one I had in mind. Re: Turgot and his cyclocross bike, is it just me or were there a few riders from French teams also riding 'cross bikes? Was hard to tell as I think 'cross style brake levers on the top of the bars are becoming popular for cobbled races.
Sigmund Fraud
893 all the way.
FDJ and AG2R have used them in the past. Most race frames now won't take anything wider than a 23 without modification, cross frame (or just the fork) is an easy way to get massive tyres in and mud clearance.
