Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 05/12/2014 12:26 PM |
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I'm guessing Cav was pretty damn happy he was wearing an Evade and riding a Venge yesterday.
Just sayin'..... 
Both Mini-Phinney and Wiggo burned some matches yesterday....we'll see if that hurts them today.
I'm a little surprised they are having the TT so early in the race..... |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 05/12/2014 12:37 PM |
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I think downsizing from a 52 to a 49 would have made a bigger impact :-)
http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/article/pro-bike-mark-cavendishs-specialized-s-works-venge-39539/
The one thing keeping Cav awake at moment is beating Kittel one on one come July. |
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Ride On
Posts:537
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| 05/12/2014 01:15 PM |
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| You and I know that win was all about desire and had zero to do with equipment. |
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Keith Richards
Posts:781
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| 05/12/2014 02:15 PM |
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| I totally am in his camp on frame size and the importance of measured fit versus how it feels. I really don't care what the fit guru told you, if it don't feel right, it ain't right. |
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It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 05/12/2014 02:57 PM |
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Posted By Ride On on 05/12/2014 01:15 PM
You and I know that win was all about desire and had zero to do with equipment.
What world do you live in that the laws of physics get suspended because of "desire"?
I am not saying he won because of the helmet / lid (in fact, I was pretty much joking around....)....but if you honestly believe that ^^, you simply don't understand the concept of aerodynamics.
XX watts combined with CdA and Crr = a given speed. If you increase CdA, you need to increase watts (or decrease Crr) to achieve the same speed. If Cav had been wearing a Prevail or riding a Tarmac, he would have had to increase his watts to achieve the same result.
Simple question - do you think he was putting everything he could into his pedals? |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 05/12/2014 03:04 PM |
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OC.....Cav position on the bike during sprints is amazing. He has a frontal profile that is SO MUCH smaller than everyone else. Hell, half the time it is impossible to find him until he pops out!!
He is an inch shorter than me.....I can't imagine riding a 52, let alone a 49. But sprinters are a different breed and Cav knows what worls for him. The amazing thing is that he doesn't even have a long stem nor his saddle jammed all the way back.
@ Keith....word. Bike fitters can point you to a generally reliable starting point, but anyone that tries to tell you that what you feel is wrong is not worth their salt. Most people would put me on a small tri bike, but I am riding a Large Specialized Shiv (but with the forward facing SP). NO way anyone would have sized me on that in a shop.....but based on the fitting I had done when I bought my P2 (a 54 frame), I knew it was the right size.
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 05/12/2014 03:07 PM |
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Posted By Keith Jackson on 05/12/2014 02:15 PM
I totally am in his camp on frame size and the importance of measured fit versus how it feels. I really don't care what the fit guru told you, if it don't feel right, it ain't right.
Completely agree Keith. What I found curious though when I first read this back in January or so is that he'd make such a fundamental shift in bike setup only now. The way it was put back then is that he's looking for more speed because of the pressure put on him by Kittel.
And the way he put it couple weeks ago was that his aerodynamic profile (being so small) is what always set him apart as a sprinter but that its no longer enough. So he's looking for a new edge and thinks he's found it. July will tell. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 05/12/2014 03:17 PM |
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Posted By Orange Crush on 05/12/2014 03:07 PM
And the way he put it couple weeks ago was that his aerodynamic profile (being so small) is what always set him apart as a sprinter but that its no longer enough. So he's looking for a new edge and thinks he's found it. July will tell.
A pure watt monster he is not....and never has been. One of the reasons why he has always focused so much on his aerodynamics.
Kittell is obviously in good form right now....as long as they both keep the rubber side down between now and July, it should make for some awesome sprints. |
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Keith Richards
Posts:781
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| 05/12/2014 04:45 PM |
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His sprinting position is very unique, that is for sure.
But on the fit thing. I actually corrected a cat 2 who works with me (young cat, maybe 26). I told him I was building up another bike and was looking forward to having two bikes to ride back to back and he said, "well as long as they fit the same...," I cut him off, "wrong young man. As long as they are both comfortable. Two bikes can fit differently and be comfortable or else how the hell would you perform on your TT bike?!?!" |
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It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong. |
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Ride On
Posts:537
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| 05/12/2014 07:08 PM |
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I can't tell sometimes when you are kidding and when you are serious. You use the same tone.
Assumptions: rider weight 165 lbs, bike 17 lbs, frontal area 5.479, 3% drive train eff, 0% grade, 1500 watts. That get you about 42 mph. A change of .005 in CdA nets you .2 ft/ sec if my math is right. In 5 sec he would have made up 1 ft due to a difference in helmets.
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 05/12/2014 07:34 PM |
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Posted By Cosmic Kid on 05/12/2014 12:26 PM
Both Mini-Phinney and Wiggo burned some matches yesterday....we'll see if that hurts them today.
I'm a little surprised they are having the TT so early in the race.....
One burned more matches than the other it seems.
Its good to have TT this early...it should provide some added spectacle for Diablo stage |
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Pin0Q0
Posts:229
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| 05/13/2014 06:25 AM |
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| The race starts today. I'd like to see Wiggins bag this one and Cav continue kicking butt on the sprints. My two faves for this race. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 05/13/2014 08:10 AM |
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Posted By Ride On on 05/12/2014 07:08 PM
I can't tell sometimes when you are kidding and when you are serious. You use the same tone.
Assumptions: rider weight 165 lbs, bike 17 lbs, frontal area 5.479, 3% drive train eff, 0% grade, 1500 watts. That get you about 42 mph. A change of .005 in CdA nets you .2 ft/ sec if my math is right. In 5 sec he would have made up 1 ft due to a difference in helmets.
How much did he win by? |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 05/13/2014 02:58 PM |
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On bike video of the Stage 1 sprint....filmed with Shimano's new sport camera.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7aH1bn6yUI |
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C2K_Rider
Posts:173
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| 05/13/2014 03:04 PM |
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Today they ride in my back yard. In fact I did a DC a couple weeks ago that went up Mt Diablo then up the backside of Mt Hamilton (which they will descend in a few minutes).
the climb up Mt Hamilton from the west is easier, but way longer. The first 6 miles is about 6% on very smooth road. Then a short 2mi descent and then the longer climb, but shallower at 4-6% on very rough roads. A the 6 mile mark of the climb you come over a ridge and can see the Lick Observatory at the top of the mountain. That sight stays with you all the way to the top - 12 more miles of climbing.
At the top the view is specatular. You can see all the way to Monterey on the coast to Mt Tam north of San Francisco, and of course all of Silicon Valley. To the East, on a clear day, you can see the tops of the Sierras. In fact they have a photo of Yosemite Valley taken with one of the telescopes on the mountain . Yes, from 70 miles away!
The East descent of Mt Hamilton is fairly steep at 8 to 9% and technical, lots of fast turns. Then for the next 24 miles there are a couple of short climbs and generally rolling terrain through Anderson Valley. The thing is that once over the mountain the coastal influence is cut off and the temperatures are at least 10 degrees hotter - so they can expect 100+ going through this area.Then a short, hot climb to the "top" of Mines road takes them to a long gentle descent to Livermore. That is not as fast as you hope because it usually has a stiff headwind coming up the narrow gorge. And it is still hot.
Once down to livermore they are going to skirt the town this year and go through some small climbs to get to the alluvial fan north of town. Then they are on the approach to Mt Diablo which will dominate the skyline in front of them. It is gently rollling most of the way to the base of the climb with just a couple short steep climbs just before the turnoff to the State Park road.
Once on Mt Diablo it is pretty steady grade at 6-8% with some short steep curves at 15% the first several miles. Then a short flat to downhill section before the steady climb to the top. After the half way point at the "Junction" it steepens to 8 to 10% most of the rest of the way. At this point they on the south facing top portion and the heat from the slopes below comes up the hill making it even hotter than the surrounding countryside. It is 10 or more degrees hotter on the top half than the bottom half.
At the Devils Thumb hairpin turn it flattens out a bit and gives a bit of relief to get ready for the last challenge" a 15 to 19% grade the last 0.2 miles to the finish.
Should be great race. Wish I could be out there. Have to interview a potential employee - only day it could happen. bummer!
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