29 replies to this topic Post Order

[Eldron]

Apologies to Air Bender but you're late today!

What are your predictions?

About the only thing to predict today is when the escapees will be caught....yaaawwwn. Standard TdF flat stage formula. Ban race radios!!!!

They'll be caught with 13.45329465782km to go I say.

Much as I hate Cav I reckon HTC will do everything they can to win this stage - not too many pan flat stages this year so limited opportunity for a pure sprinter like Cav.

Eldron says:

1. Cav
2. Hushovd
3. Greipel

[riaanb]

Cav
Farrar
Petacchi

Although I wonder is Manxman is ready for it yet. Limited opportunities this year, so I guess he'll have to be!

[The real MJ]

*highjack on*
As a non-roadie, pray tell why the race coms would worry about the level of a riders saddle? Level as in "waterpas"??? Looks like yesterday the race comms pissed of sime riders by checking if their saddles were level.
*highjack off*

[riaanb]

 riaanb, on 04 July 2011 - 02:48 , said:

Although I wonder is Manxman is ready for it yet. Limited opportunities this year, so I guess he'll have to be!

Just led the bunch to the intermediate sprint point, so I guess he's getting ready!

[LeTurbo]

I hope Gilbert does something interesting again. He looks like a decent chap with lots more potential. At least he smiles.

[AndreZA]

 MJ the mountainbiker, on 04 July 2011 - 02:52 , said:

*highjack on*
As a non-roadie, pray tell why the race coms would worry about the level of a riders saddle? Level as in "waterpas"??? Looks like yesterday the race comms pissed of sime riders by checking if their saddles were level.
*highjack off*

Are you sure? They normally test to see if the tip of the saddle does not go past the BB.

[TNT1]

 Mampara, on 04 July 2011 - 03:33 , said:

Are you sure? They normally test to see if the tip of the saddle does not go past the BB.

We're sure.

Johan Bruyneel (RadioShack) and Bradley McGee (Saxo Bank SunGard) drew the ire of race officials at the start line of the Tour de France's second stage, the team time trial around Les Essarts on Sunday.

Bruyneel and McGee were both on the end of fines for "improper conduct towards officials in the zone where the bikes were being checked," organisers said, and each hit with a penalty of 200 Swiss francs.

The UCI said that teams had been warned last month that saddles should be parallel to the ground for time trials (as per UCI rule 1.3.012). Tempers flared on Sunday given the belief that the rule that was not previously strictly enforced and UCI commissaires were 'suddenly' putting equipment under the microscope on race day. The idea being that with a slight tilt of the saddle nose of the saddle towards the ground, the rider is provided with better lumbar support while they can also push a bigger gear.

"Before it just had to be 'flattish', now it has to be perfectly flat to the ground," BMC Racing chief mechanic, Ian Sherburne told news agency Reuters. "They were insisting that the saddle be perfectly level which isn't how the rules had been interpreted. They're deciding to enforce the rule in a different way, right now."

BMC team leader, Cadel Evans described the situation as "nearly ridiculous".

"I suppose it compares with speeding motorists; on an Italian freeway the police tolerate 20-30km/h over the limit," the Australian said on his website. "In Australia they tolerate 2-3km/h over the limit. Today it was out with the spirit level to check that everyone seats were 'horizontal' as the rules state. Check any seat with a scoop or channel in the back and that rule has a wide grey area of interpretation, a lot more that can be measured with a spirit level anyway."

" I try to set up my bike as much as I can within the position rules without loosing [sic] too much of the very aerodynamic advantage that we work so hard to achieve, always in anticipation of how the rule maybe interpreted," Evans continued. "We only had to move the nose of my seat 2mm upward, just a little more unhealthy and uncomfortable."

Bruyneel was frustrated by the timing of the action from race officials, saying that the action: "led to an unprofessional spectacle in front of everyone to see - An embarrassment for our sport," on his personal blog.

"... riders have been using this exact same position throughout the year (most recently at the Dauphiné Liberé and Tour de Suisse TT). Now imagine yourself as a rider - you have been using this position in races and training (and previously/several times the position has been approved by UCI commissaires as suitable). You then show up to the biggest race in the world and are told that the same position you have been using is now illegal!!"

[LeTurbo]

 Mampara, on 04 July 2011 - 03:33 , said:

Are you sure? They normally test to see if the tip of the saddle does not go past the BB.

How come, Mampara? Does it give any special advantage (that I can utilize to my advantage somewhere), and how could you get the saddle that far forward (granted that my bikes are good old steel and maybe have different geometry.

[AndreZA]

 TNT1, on 04 July 2011 - 03:35 , said:

We're sure.



"Before it just had to be 'flattish', now it has to be perfectly flat to the ground," BMC Racing chief mechanic, Ian Sherburne told news agency Reuters. "They were insisting that the saddle be perfectly level which isn't how the rules had been interpreted. They're deciding to enforce the rule in a different way, right now."

Oh crap, I will never be able to compete for two reasons.

1. I'm k@k sleg
2. none of my saddles have ever been level.

[AndreZA]

 LeTurbo, on 04 July 2011 - 03:38 , said:

How come, Mampara? Does it give any special advantage (that I can utilize to my advantage somewhere), and how could you get the saddle that far forward (granted that my bikes are good old steel and maybe have different geometry.

You get better power pedaling "backwards" if you move further over the BB.

[TNT1]

 Mampara, on 04 July 2011 - 03:43 , said:

none of my saddles have ever been level.

+1

[LeTurbo]

 Mampara, on 04 July 2011 - 03:45 , said:

You get better power pedaling "backwards" if you move further over the BB.

Ah, could be my problem. I slide right off the back of the saddle and just grip it with my thighs when I'm pushing it, especially uphill. I should try the other way.

OK, that's enough of the hijack. Back to the TDF ...

[TNT1]

 LeTurbo, on 04 July 2011 - 03:54 , said:

OK, that's enough of the hijack. Back to the TDF ...

Bugger that. A stage like today? I watch Guy's Big Bite, and play Angry Birds. I'll look at the live report on cyclingnews.com periodically.

[krl747]

But, but but, won't you slide forwards the whole time? Was that the reason why Schleck and Contador was pushing back into the saddle during last year's time trial?

[TNT1]

 krl747, on 04 July 2011 - 03:56 , said:

But, but but, won't you slide forwards the whole time? Was that the reason why Schleck and Contador was pushing back into the saddle during last year's time trial?

Yeah, I dunno. Maybe all the steak and testosterone hardens your balls? If my saddle points even slightly downwards, I get sore shoulders, and pinched nuts.

[Lucky Luke.]

 LeTurbo, on 04 July 2011 - 03:54 , said:

Ah, could be my problem. I slide right off the back of the saddle and just grip it with my thighs when I'm pushing it, especially uphill. I should try the other way.

OK, that's enough of the hijack. Back to the TDF ...

I found when I started riding more crits and getting in to breaks at races that I naturally inched forward on the saddle to get a more direct angle over the top of the BB and get more power into the pedals - I think this is where the expression 'on the rivet' comes from - when you are riding full gas and hanging off the end of the saddle.