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Eurosport last night

shadowone1shadowone1 Posts: 1,408
Did anyone see the cycling last night on Eurosport?



Apart from some major bike porn and some classy cycling there was a few things that struck me.





Are aero bars banned from cycling?

Everyone seemed to want to get as aero as possible but no-one had aero bars.

One cyclist in particular tried to get so aero he dismounted from his set, sat on the bike frame with his bum tucked under the seat. I swear his back was almost parallel with the frame, his arms were spread over the handlebars and hands rested on the brakes. It was an odd sight, but he did seem to be flying…[/ol]



It looked really uncomfortable and I know I couldn’t sit like with my back…..

Comments

  • jacjac Posts: 452
    Most of the stages are pretty hilly, so I guess that's why they don't have bars on. Over those distances as well I guess it's much more comfortable on the hoods, drops.

    Check out the TT bikes for the TT stages..time to drool over some serious bling.

    The fitness of those guys to do gruelling stage after stage day after day must be immense.



  • moonshinemoonshine Posts: 335
    and I can't quite beleive that I chos eto watch the bikes rather than the French Open - very, very ill[;)]
  • julesojuleso Posts: 279
    That's road racing. They don't use tri bars - the clue's in the name - tri bars!
  • shadowone1shadowone1 Posts: 1,408
    LOL Areobars.... in my thread, didn't call them tri bars.



  • It's probably a safety thing as they do all use them in time trials. I wouldn't like to be riding in a big pack if it a came tumbling down and there was loads of tri-bars to contend with!!



    Annie
  • jonEjonE Posts: 1,113
    cyclingannie is correct,it is for the same reason that aerobars are forbidden in draft legal races,you may see small ones on some bars,but I believe they were allowed if they did not extend beyond the length of the brakehoods.A few years ago British Tri tried to ban all tri bars that did not have a connecting bar between them incase of impailment in an accident.
  • shadowone1shadowone1 Posts: 1,408
    sorry folks but my main point was the guy who trying to go aero by tucking his arse under his saddle and having his back parallel with the frame. His knees were touching his chest and his head was more or less on the handle bar ( If I remember correctly).



    never saw this before and thought it was really unusual.
  • gdh250467gdh250467 Posts: 237
    It's not unusual to see at that level, but there are still only a few idiots stupid / brave enough to attempt it.
  • gdh250467gdh250467 Posts: 237
    This is what you mean!



    [image]local://3179/CD7D925CB23D4244B4CCC9C530118EA4.jpg[/image]
  • jonEjonE Posts: 1,113
    shadowone1 wrote:


    sorry folks but my main point was the guy who trying to go aero by tucking his arse under his saddle and having his back parallel with the frame. His knees were touching his chest and his head was more or less on the handle bar ( If I remember correctly).



    never saw this before and thought it was really unusual.

    It is all about reducing the amount of body exposed and cutting wind resistance,the other option often seen in races is when the rider pushes their torso back and appears to sit over the rear wheel with the saddle touching their chest,lower C of G,less wind resistance,possibility of ending up in Casualty High,but increase in speed,tremendous.Give it a go.
  • shadowone1shadowone1 Posts: 1,408
    Yes and looked well dangerous. He spent most of his time looking behind him.



    Aero bars will do instead!!
  • md6md6 Posts: 969
    How does he get any power from that position? I mean that looks all well and good if he is going to do a triple turn half pike over the bars but otherwise it just looks odd
  • PC_67PC_67 Posts: 196
    I think he was just coasting. I watched last night's cycling too as a compatriot, Phil Deignan from Ireland, is going great guns riding for Sastre in the Cervelho team in his rookie season.



    2 years ago a little known German - Linus Gerdelman? - won a breakaway mountain stage at the TdF. His descent was made at breakneck speed in the above aero position, the first time I'd ever seen it. It was breathtaking to watch. Frightening even.



    Anyone else see it?



    Edit:



    Go to 2 mins 30 in this clip from youtube - this only gives a taste though:



    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3A9SldGzVk&feature=channel
  • mumu Posts: 24
    In road cycling they don't use Aero bars because of the pack riding. It's too dangerous, but as mentioned, there are Time trials where they go super Aero.

    Saying that, there was a super long, hilly TT in the Giro this year, and a lot of the bikes were Road, with Aero bar. So that must say something about Ironman!![:)]

    The down hill technique is common in road cycling. They're all nutters who don't mind going 60-70mph like that. It leaves me breathless and in awe every time I see them do it. Apparently (according to a commentator) gravity makes the cyclist faster like this than pedalling. wow!!

    Triathletes, we don't get all the peleton advantages, so we'd probably never get up to those speeds. It's a drafting thing!!
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