ChinookPass
Posts:809
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| 09/18/2014 04:06 PM |
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Looked like a super nice track. I doubt that the floors in my kitchen are that smooth.
Can't argue with that performance and what a way to retire! |
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zootracer
Posts:835
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| 09/18/2014 06:50 PM |
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| Heck of a way to close out a career! Bravo! |
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6ix
Posts:485
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| 09/19/2014 09:04 AM |
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| Honestly, I'm surprised and a bit disappointed. That sounds awful but it just goes to show how much damage the premium doping era has done. It's left me wanting more. In my opinion, the best comparison is Boardman's first record of 52.270km. The equipment was mostly the same. Then came Indurain and Rominger on jet fuel. But what's really crazy is that Boardman's "athlete record" of 49.441km isn't that far behind Jen's new record but with completely different equipment. Jens had a massive aero advantage over what Boardman was using and similarly, Boardman did this at the end of his career. In fact, it may have been his final race. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 09/19/2014 09:12 AM |
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It was the final race for both Boardman and Jens (and Jens was older)....so there is similarity there.
But yeah, it hi lights two key things.....1) the technological advantage that Jens had vs. Boardman's "Athletes record". While I am sure Jens was hurting, the "attempt" was pretty much a formality. 2) how good Boardman was at the Hour Record. The fact that he set it as many times as he did, in different guises / positions, says a lot about his abilities and determination. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Keith Richards
Posts:781
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| 09/19/2014 12:14 PM |
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 I still like Rominger's attempt the best, although I assume he was "prepared" for the event. I appreciate that he used a terribly ordinary bike to get it done. |
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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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| 09/19/2014 01:58 PM |
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It may not have looked like it, but that bike was pretty tricked out. Every tube was shaped to minimize drag. And at zero* yaw, it probably closer to Jen's bike in terms of drag than most people would think.
It is when you start adding yaw to the mix that today's bikes start to excel. But on the track, there aren't huge differences. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 09/19/2014 02:13 PM |
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| yaw(n)...the only recollection of hour attempts stored in my brain is Moser training in Mexico City, riding up an incline using ridiculous large gearing...his legs were barely moving. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 09/19/2014 02:35 PM |
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Don't forget his massive 28" rear wheel....that thing was HUGE!!
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Keith Richards
Posts:781
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| 09/19/2014 03:06 PM |
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Posted By Cosmic Kid on 09/19/2014 01:58 PM
It may not have looked like it, but that bike was pretty tricked out.
Yeah the tubes were heavily worked, but when Ernesto was asked about the bike after the hour attempt even he said, "the tubes are very, very old". But more importantly, I was comparing it to the Pinarello Superbike that Big Mig used during the same era. The contrast is stark.
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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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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 09/19/2014 03:42 PM |
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| Ha, that's a great pic CK. Just reading that the main purpose of Jens' attempt may have been a learning experience for TREK to set them up for Cance's attempt to come. So Jens was test bunny? Good on him anyway. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 09/19/2014 04:08 PM |
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I think Jens was an opportunist as much as as a test bunny. He saw an opportunity to make a name for himself and took full advantage of it. He (Trek?) knew that the record was within reach for anyone with decent talent and good equipment......as long as the goal was to just break Sosenka's record. Go 49.8KM and the quest was successful. IN the meantime, Trek would garner useful data for Cancellera, should eh decide to take a shot at it next year.
With Fabian or Tony Martin, their goals wil be much different....push the record up as high as possible, hopefully out of reach for awhile. Near-immortality.
Jens knows his record will not stand long....but his name will always be there in the record books. He had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and took it...and it paid off.
Feel free to use this attempt as an anlogy for his entire racing career. 
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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longslowdistance
Posts:2886
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