Jan 13, 2014 at 01:37 AM
the course was fast, so, once gaps open, it is hard to close them down. That's what I've seen from the Euro races this year.
PLus the Euro races that have boring course are - boring.
Cyclocross!
Jan 13, 2014 at 01:44 AM
sounds like Page was being non-whiny about his finish today.
http://dirtwire.tv/2014/01/cx-nats-day-5-jonathan-page-with-ryan-the-intern/
Good for him. NOW RACE BETTER IN BELGIUM for Chrisssssake! Please.
Jan 13, 2014 at 01:53 AM
Yes, bike racers are highly critical. Hence, pretty much all of us!Jules said:Good grief bike racers are a complainy bunch! Non condescending sports commentary? Sure thing, right after world peace and a cure for testicle cancer. HTRWW is all there is.
I dunno. I've heard articulate and interesting sports commentary on a regular basis before. Even from mainstream media. Doesn't seem that impossible. Someone shouting stupid catch phrases in a microphone and yelling makes something about as exciting as shiny objects and fart noises.
Jan 13, 2014 at 02:06 AM
Sending that kid in to interview Page was pathetic.
Jan 13, 2014 at 02:22 AM
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Jan 13, 2014 at 03:07 AM
@Gwynna- There's a remote chance I might do it. It's a fun place to ride. I think Rick Perner mentioned that he was considering of doing it.
Jan 13, 2014 at 01:40 PM
Contingent on a whole slew of factors, I could possibly be convinced to give Hike-a-Bike a whirl. What category would you folks do - cross or mtn?
Jan 13, 2014 at 01:54 PM
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Jan 13, 2014 at 02:30 PM
If I have to hear "riding out of his skin" again I will peel all of my skin off.
Jan 13, 2014 at 03:24 PM
@Jim
I am fairly sure I'm going to do the cross bike category.if just for a little variety. I think I'll be doing a lot of the H2H Campmor MTB series along with the MTBNJ short track races. Tthis might be a good chance to see where I'm at in the handling department on the cross bike.
Jan 13, 2014 at 05:23 PM
@Jim-Mtn for me if I do it. But the place is definitely ride-able/race-able on a cross bike.
Jan 13, 2014 at 06:39 PM
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Jan 16, 2014 at 03:29 AM
Can't believe someone didn't post this fantastic shot of Kayt:
Jan 16, 2014 at 02:55 PM
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Jan 20, 2014 at 04:54 AM
<rant>
I just watches this weeks #svenness video: https://player.vimeo.com/video/84534116I cant help but feel like the dude is dirty. I am so jaded by the Lance, Contador, George, Ryder, and so many pro riders that I get pissed at fans/teams/sponsors when build athletes up so much with their ads, fanboy videos, ect. Am I crazy for thinking somethings gotta give? I feel like we feed the doping culture with our obsessive fandom. I also want to believe that people can be just fans and enjoy the sport without always having to speculate that every person that's good is doped.
In the end I feel like the riders aren't the only ones getting something out of cheating but they are the only ones paying for it.
</rant>
Just had to get that out there.
Jan 20, 2014 at 01:18 PM
^ ^ we put these guys on a pedestal...then get disappointed when we find out theyre just human.
Jan 20, 2014 at 03:28 PM
Nys is not human. He's the cannibal from Baal...
Jan 20, 2014 at 04:29 PM
Nys has long associated with Dr. Geert Leinders, a guy named by Leipheimer as the doping doctor of Rabobank.josephmueller said:<rant>I just watches this weeks #svenness video: https://player.vimeo.com/video/84534116I cant help but feel like the dude is dirty. I am so jaded by the Lance, Contador, George, Ryder, and so many pro riders that I get pissed at fans/teams/sponsors when build athletes up so much with their ads, fanboy videos, ect. Am I crazy for thinking somethings gotta give? I feel like we feed the doping culture with our obsessive fandom. I also want to believe that people can be just fans and enjoy the sport without always having to speculate that every person that's good is doped.In the end I feel like the riders aren't the only ones getting something out of cheating but they are the only ones paying for it.</rant>Just had to get that out there.
I disagree with the idea that dopers are the only ones paying for their transgressions. Clean riders are, support staffs are, the sport is. In terms of paying a price, it's hard to figure out who has it worst. An up-and-comer or anonymous domestique probably was scraping by and sacrificed her future gets busted and they have it bad. A top pro gets busted, and there's both considerably more money to fall back on and often a sympathetic public. Who gets what is not parceled out in any "fair" fashion, but really, the dopers weren't interested in fairness to begin with, so there's little reason for a doper to complain about how the chips fall after a bust.
Jan 20, 2014 at 04:33 PM
It's a fair complaint; basically all of the "heroic" performances we've seen in sport dating way, way back were 'heroic' in the context of 'hard work and talent can do this' when the reality was just a step or two removed from muscle grafted pseudo cyborgs from a Gibson novel.
(mind you, I love me some Gibson)
Jan 20, 2014 at 05:29 PM
Joe, it's not for everyone...but I did it with Lance, and I'll do it with others. But like Santa Claus, I choose to believe until I no longer can, or no longer wish too.
Sven's performance was dominating, but so was Powers' at the national championships. And as you know, in cyclocross small differences, bobbles and errors become huge gaps in a matter of seconds. And I do think you should consider the dynamic of having such a small field contest the race. Too easy to quit that race. Literally and figuratively. Both too much and too little at stake. Basically all or nothing.
It's not like at US Nats where a top 10 or top 5 performance might be the difference in riding for JAM Fund again next year or getting a Red Bull sponsorship.
Jan 20, 2014 at 07:05 PM
Nys does not win due to bobbles. He consistently wins by simply outpowering his opponents on the last 1/2 to 1/3 of the last lap. That's what happened yesterday and I've seen it many times before. Except when he gets a gap early and wins by a minute . . . or gives up because someone was throwing beer on him.
Jan 20, 2014 at 07:51 PM
its funny, i never thought of the videos as "fan videos" but you're right, they obviously are. I get excited to watch them, not really for Nys, but for the commentary and watching how the race played out. I love watching how different racers tackle different parts of the course, etc.
Anyway, I hope you're feeling better Joe.
Jan 20, 2014 at 11:31 PM
@mugwump: I guess my thought was if a rider gets caught at a race the promoter could get reimbursed for doping controls. If a team has a rider get busted then the team can't compete in X race next year. Make it more of a priority for Race Organizers, Teams, Owners to be responsible for what's going on.
@dstokes: I feel like he out powers them for the last half of the race.
@Marc: I want to believe. I really do, but I feel like with this thinking though things will stay the same.
@mperlberg: I do feel better thanks buddy.
Jan 21, 2014 at 03:36 AM
@Joe - the promoter bounty is diabolically brilliant. Is that your idea?
Just being outrageous here, but we could do some vigilante doping justice ourselves. Offer a cash bounty for local USAC doping bans. Money for heads.
Jan 24, 2014 at 01:47 AM
"The balancing act between training as much as possible but still arriving at races as recuperated as possible is tough. Many riders lose their concentration because of the stress of races; they then also stress out during their race. The trick is to focus as long as you can on finding the perfect line everywhere. Technique and tactics are often underestimated. I always say that you shouldn’t have to concentrate on riding fast in the sense of physical exertion during the first third of a race. It should just flow. Concentrate on riding a clean line and keeping a cool head.
’Cross isn’t just full throttle for “x” minutes."
http://www.cxmagazine.com/cyclocross-isnt-full-throttle-xminutes-interview-christian-heule/
Jan 24, 2014 at 01:56 AM
^It's really great, isn't it?
Jan 26, 2014 at 01:26 AM
For those of you not planning on suffering in the basement of RB, I recommend the following entertainment:
http://www.cyclingfans.com/node/10729
http://www.cyclingfans.com/node/10729
- 2013-2014 Cyclocross season action continues Sunday with UCI Cyclocross World Cup at Nommay, France. This is the last event in the season's world cup. There will be live streams. ("en direct" pour les français) Official website here. Start Lists here (.pdf).
Live streaming video:
Women: 1:30pm CET (7:30am U.S. Eastern) - Men: 3:00pm CET (9:00am U.S. Eastern)
Jan 26, 2014 at 01:30 AM
Lots of Americans on the start list, but no Nys!
Jan 26, 2014 at 01:53 AM
Finally figured out how to share this link without friending the world at large.
I can ride stairs now.
Jan 26, 2014 at 02:57 AM
@ Stokes any leads on streams in English please post! I'll watch over breakfast before heading to suffer in the basement of ride Brooklyn.