"PRO" Cycling Discussion

Questions about bike hire abroad and everything light bike related. No off-topic chat please

Moderators: robbosmans, Moderator Team

User avatar
euan
Posts: 1571
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2009 11:20 am

by euan

Still rocking the old Garmin kit

nathanong87
Resident master of GIF
Posts: 3405
Joined: Mon Jul 18, 2011 2:44 am
Contact:

by nathanong87

are the straya nationals not being televised anywhere?

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



User avatar
djconnel
Posts: 7917
Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2007 1:57 pm
Location: San Francisco, CA
Contact:

by djconnel

I find it fascinating these guys facing a full year of racing in Europe can come out with guns blazing at nationals in early January. Sure, these races are easy compared to racing the Tour or a spring classic, but still it seems luck a big kink in the normal pattern of preparing for a season.

xnavalav8r
Posts: 2594
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:09 pm

by xnavalav8r

I'm not a pro so I can't speak from experience. But when guys like Cadel Evans and other big pros say they are using it as preparation for the Giro, I guess it makes sense. I suppose it would be different if your goal is for a podium finish at some big 3-week race in July...

hna
Posts: 270
Joined: Thu Nov 17, 2011 8:26 pm
Location: Norway

by hna

Some of the riders would like to bag a national championship win, and tries to build some form for the race. Some focus on the upcoming season in europe. The latter is often some of the better riders. I think this always makes the australian nationals exciting. There are a lot of different riders that can win it.

Then you have Simon Gerrans, who tends to be good in both january and amazing later in the season.

ultyguy
Posts: 2330
Joined: Fri Aug 06, 2010 1:35 pm
Location: Geneva

by ultyguy

POC aero road is actually a really good looking helmet, the best of their lot IMHO.


User avatar
SolidSnake03
Posts: 556
Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2012 7:09 pm

by SolidSnake03

I think people take a certain kind of pleasure in posting un-flattering photos of Cav haha!
Looks like I made a new 90 Proof friend

nathanong87
Resident master of GIF
Posts: 3405
Joined: Mon Jul 18, 2011 2:44 am
Contact:

by nathanong87

i think photographers are taking a pleasure in taking un-flattering photos of cav!

but i like cav! just funny that photographers are taking....

User avatar
btompkins0112
Posts: 2635
Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2011 3:04 am
Location: Mississippi

by btompkins0112

I know it will be different come March/April, but he has absolutely no definition in his legs in that photo....and a pudgy gut.....but as long as he smashes it in July none of it matters

KWalker
Posts: 5722
Joined: Mon Dec 28, 2009 8:30 pm
Location: Bay Area

by KWalker

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/photos/ ... tep/288195

Weird HT/TT junction. Almost like a Venge without the top cap, but its labeled a Tarmac. New frame model/protoype?
Don't take me too seriously. The only person that doesn't hate Froome.
Gramz
Failed Custom Bike

nathanong87
Resident master of GIF
Posts: 3405
Joined: Mon Jul 18, 2011 2:44 am
Contact:

by nathanong87

KWalker wrote:http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/photos/gallery-on-the-road-with-omega-pharma-quickstep/288195

Weird HT/TT junction. Almost like a Venge without the top cap, but its labeled a Tarmac. New frame model/protoype?


Image

User avatar
djconnel
Posts: 7917
Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2007 1:57 pm
Location: San Francisco, CA
Contact:

by djconnel

xnavalav8r wrote:I'm not a pro so I can't speak from experience. But when guys like Cadel Evans and other big pros say they are using it as preparation for the Giro, I guess it makes sense. I suppose it would be different if your goal is for a podium finish at some big 3-week race in July...


Seems like it's preferable to have more miles, less intensity, less chaos for Giro preparation. Park yourself somewhere warm with good roads and ride a lot.

But it's not always a matter of optimal preparation, but compromising among multiple goals and pressures.

KWalker
Posts: 5722
Joined: Mon Dec 28, 2009 8:30 pm
Location: Bay Area

by KWalker

djconnel wrote:I find it fascinating these guys facing a full year of racing in Europe can come out with guns blazing at nationals in early January. Sure, these races are easy compared to racing the Tour or a spring classic, but still it seems luck a big kink in the normal pattern of preparing for a season.


A pro is likely never any worse than 90% of their season's best these days. If you want to believe what Sky says at face value, bump that up to 95%. When you're Cadel Evans and can climb at 6.2 w/kg at 68 that implies the ability to put out a sustained effort at 420w. Considering its also a 1 day race and not a Grand Tour, its probably not too hard for him to put out a 405w effort or something in January. Plus, you have to realize that (at least in the US) the World Tour guys are definitely a big step up from the pure domestic teams. It seems the gap is narrower in Australia, but still, that WT experience and power probably goes a long way even in smaller races.
Don't take me too seriously. The only person that doesn't hate Froome.
Gramz
Failed Custom Bike

hna
Posts: 270
Joined: Thu Nov 17, 2011 8:26 pm
Location: Norway

by hna

Isn't Cadel Evans known for riding well even when he is not "on form"? Seems that he doesn't drop as much fitness as many of the other riders in the peleton does.

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



Locked