Sep 10, 2023 at 02:19 AM
In Print: Articles of Interest
Sep 10, 2023 at 07:27 PM
Um who is impersonating me?mugwump said:
Sep 10, 2023 at 11:07 PM
Sep 10, 2023 at 11:08 PM
define sport however you want — and while it can be and often is entertaining, sport always had a huge crucial role in society.
Sport as a concept, helps us all learn and understand fairness, dedication, ethics, health. etc etc
Cheating is the opposite of sport.
Sport is what we need to protect.
Sport as a concept, helps us all learn and understand fairness, dedication, ethics, health. etc etc
Cheating is the opposite of sport.
Sport is what we need to protect.
Sep 11, 2023 at 12:11 AM
@eloy
Maybe it's because of that Oliver Anthony Music song ('rich men north of Richmond'), maybe it's just because the idea has been in my head too long, but I've been trying to tie "authenticity" to sport. I think you're hitting on it in a way with what you wrote above.
"Authenticity" is an elusive quality, but it's something that seems to elevate a song or musician in many musical genres. In country music, it's often bizarrely ironic in what passes for most pop country these days is quite obviously astroturf, though it is often marketed as being authentic.
If we are to actually look close as many of the most well-known and rich musicians, while they are trying to position themselves as authentic, just about everything we see of them or hear of them is not. And they have huge teams behind them, possibly bigger than the Jumbo-Visma machine behind Vingegaard, even though we treat them as a single individual.
Sport, at its best, has a kind of honesty, an authenticity. It's not just riding in the rain or wanting it more, it's that the rules are supposed to enforce certain kinds of at least ethical behavior. It can't always be fair, but, within limits, that's what the goal is.
I think it was a scene in the documentary 'bigger, stronger, faster," a doc about doping, where some air force pilots were being interviewed. That soldiers at least occasionally take amphetamines is widely accepted. The pilots were asked essentially 'if it's ok for you to dope up for flying, is it ok for athletes in competition to do the same.' They said it wasn't.
Maybe it's because of that Oliver Anthony Music song ('rich men north of Richmond'), maybe it's just because the idea has been in my head too long, but I've been trying to tie "authenticity" to sport. I think you're hitting on it in a way with what you wrote above.
"Authenticity" is an elusive quality, but it's something that seems to elevate a song or musician in many musical genres. In country music, it's often bizarrely ironic in what passes for most pop country these days is quite obviously astroturf, though it is often marketed as being authentic.
If we are to actually look close as many of the most well-known and rich musicians, while they are trying to position themselves as authentic, just about everything we see of them or hear of them is not. And they have huge teams behind them, possibly bigger than the Jumbo-Visma machine behind Vingegaard, even though we treat them as a single individual.
Sport, at its best, has a kind of honesty, an authenticity. It's not just riding in the rain or wanting it more, it's that the rules are supposed to enforce certain kinds of at least ethical behavior. It can't always be fair, but, within limits, that's what the goal is.
I think it was a scene in the documentary 'bigger, stronger, faster," a doc about doping, where some air force pilots were being interviewed. That soldiers at least occasionally take amphetamines is widely accepted. The pilots were asked essentially 'if it's ok for you to dope up for flying, is it ok for athletes in competition to do the same.' They said it wasn't.
Sep 13, 2023 at 01:36 PM
Sep 13, 2023 at 01:59 PM
Mark Taylor said:
More than a bit.
What I don't understand about it is that Outside would likely need to raise a ton of extra cash. They've allegedly burned through $180 million already. And it doesn't seem like the venture capital market is interested in sending more cash to media properties. We're already seeing the streaming bubble bursting.Escape has an axe to grind with Outside, too. I wonder if that's clouding their coverage.
My larger worry is that it feels an ever-increasing share of our daily existence is subsidized by VC throwing money at businesses to increase their market share, which we temporarily benefit in the form of lower prices. Unfortunately, that VC money doesn't go to our take-home pay, and won't.
I worry that The Feed is running on such a scheme in the hope of crushing the rest of their competitors.
Sep 13, 2023 at 04:29 PM
The TV rights currently owned by Discovery may or may not be included in any potential sale of Play Sports Network, and would likely be retained by Discovery, possibly to be found on Discovery’s own streaming platform, Discovery+.
ugh.
Sep 13, 2023 at 05:54 PM
If cycling ever wants to be more mainstream in the US there really needs to be one channel owning all the rights. I can just watch everything with Dutch or Belgian commentary with my vpn, except for a few particular crosses. Would’ve never really gotten into cycling if watching it was so difficult as it is in the US now
Sep 13, 2023 at 06:21 PM
I guess we can just subscribe to Eurosport via a VPN
Sep 13, 2023 at 07:11 PM
It's never been easy to watch bike racing on TV in the US. All things considered, it's easier today than it has ever been.LennartZandbergen said:If cycling ever wants to be more mainstream in the US there really needs to be one channel owning all the rights. I can just watch everything with Dutch or Belgian commentary with my vpn, except for a few particular crosses. Would’ve never really gotten into cycling if watching it was so difficult as it is in the US now
Sep 13, 2023 at 07:29 PM
Tried it, Eurosport blocks VPNs.Mark Taylor said:I guess we can just subscribe to Eurosport via a VPN
GCN does not block VPN
-- this is likely not an oversight, both are probably intentional.
Sep 13, 2023 at 08:06 PM
@eloy
Seems that, to make more money, networks take standalone entities and wrap them in bundles, to justify higher prices, even though viewers didn't want all that content in the first place.
Seems that, to make more money, networks take standalone entities and wrap them in bundles, to justify higher prices, even though viewers didn't want all that content in the first place.
When they've done that, and locked up all the rights, they then seek to make more money and raise the price on access to the thing you were watching in the first place in some kind of "+" scheme.
Sep 13, 2023 at 08:35 PM
Honestly, I don't care where I end up watching cycling as long as I don't need to listen to Bob Roll.
Sep 13, 2023 at 09:09 PM
Best commentary on todays antics:
https://escapecollective.com/a-very-official-body-language-appraisal-of-jumbo-vismas-self-immolation/
https://escapecollective.com/a-very-official-body-language-appraisal-of-jumbo-vismas-self-immolation/
Sep 13, 2023 at 10:21 PM
@GregHoge but then where will I get my European architecture lessons from?
Sep 13, 2023 at 10:48 PM
Don't worry, there's plenty of that plus great banter over on GCN.
Sep 15, 2023 at 01:52 PM
So seems like the NCL is a bit of a dumpster fire. Also seems pretty shitty of them to tell the people that were just laid off and are now no longer getting paid through the end of the year that if they give back their kit and bikes, they can buy into the company instead.
https://escapecollective.com/ncl-lays-off-more-than-half-its-riders/
https://escapecollective.com/ncl-lays-off-more-than-half-its-riders/
Sep 15, 2023 at 06:52 PM
What's weird is that the NCL can't get much for the kit, and even the bikes probably wouldn't entirely make up for the lost pay.
Sep 18, 2023 at 09:16 PM
So, ever wonder about those crazy-expensive 3D Printed Titanium tools Silca sells?
Josh Poertner, Silca's owner, claims it's because the tools save WorldTour teams thousands of Euros in luggage fees.
Josh Poertner, Silca's owner, claims it's because the tools save WorldTour teams thousands of Euros in luggage fees.
"Like our 3D printed titanium tools. We get a lot of shit for those things being so expensive. But when you’re talking to the CEO of a World Tour team, and they say they’re going to spend €25,000 on luggage fees this year, you think “What if I could take two kilos out of a mechanic’s toolbox?
"'Could I get it under the weight?' So you’re building a strategy around looking at what the lightest tools are. And then you identify a point like: “I could 3D print these super-light and hollow”. Now we actually have a couple of teams for which we’ve built toolbox and flight box strategies for. You’ve got consumers saying that’s the dumbest thing ever. And then you got people over here who would say: “Oh my God, you saved me 1,000s of Euros every year in these stupid luggage fees.” So, yeah we get opportunities we pick up from working with the team."
Sep 18, 2023 at 09:45 PM
Hmmm... I'm not sure I buy that. Or at the very least, making a few tools lighter is not the lowest hanging fruit for reducing shipping/luggage cost and certainly not on the order of $1,000s.
Sep 18, 2023 at 09:49 PM
Interesting. The cheapest 3d printer that will do titanium is just under 100k. I wonder how the seams hold up.mugwump said:So, ever wonder about those crazy-expensive 3D Printed Titanium tools Silca sells?
Josh Poertner, Silca's owner, claims it's because the tools save WorldTour teams thousands of Euros in luggage fees."Like our 3D printed titanium tools. We get a lot of shit for those things being so expensive. But when you’re talking to the CEO of a World Tour team, and they say they’re going to spend €25,000 on luggage fees this year, you think “What if I could take two kilos out of a mechanic’s toolbox?
"'Could I get it under the weight?' So you’re building a strategy around looking at what the lightest tools are. And then you identify a point like: “I could 3D print these super-light and hollow”. Now we actually have a couple of teams for which we’ve built toolbox and flight box strategies for. You’ve got consumers saying that’s the dumbest thing ever. And then you got people over here who would say: “Oh my God, you saved me 1,000s of Euros every year in these stupid luggage fees.” So, yeah we get opportunities we pick up from working with the team."
(I'm currently in the process of 3d printing some halloween costumes for kids)
Sep 18, 2023 at 10:14 PM
I've my doubts, too. If mechanics were using shipping services like UPS, I could see some savings, but if they're taking tools as luggage on planes, the rates seem to be based on certain thresholds. Like if a bag weighs more or less than 50lbs, not that there's a 10 euro savings between 44 and 48lbs.GregHoge said:Hmmm... I'm not sure I buy that. Or at the very least, making a few tools lighter is not the lowest hanging fruit for reducing shipping/luggage cost and certainly not on the order of $1,000s.
Sep 18, 2023 at 10:17 PM
@Jules
When I was talking with Poertner at the Philly Bike Expo last year, he was saying he buys the latest 3D printer from a local-ish company whenever they have an upgrade (maybe because they print for the Indy car business in Indianapolis) and sells the used one. His claim is that much of the 3D titanium printing business he gets is from the industry, not for consumer sales, in the form of titanium bits for frames--dropouts, bridges, hangers, etc.
Are you 3D printing Halloween masks? How long does it take?
Are you 3D printing Halloween masks? How long does it take?
Sep 18, 2023 at 11:32 PM
When I take my bike on the plane I always have to be super strategic about weight too, because I’m only just under the ‘expensive’ weight threshold with the hard-cover case + bike + gear. Once even had to take my shoes out of the case and into my carry-on because i was over the 50 pound limit, which would’ve cost me $100 extra for a one-way trip.
Looking at that I can imagine how getting tools lighter (and thus being able to bring more extra parts) in a <50 pound toolbox can save teams serious $$$$.
Sep 19, 2023 at 09:06 PM
One overlooked bit of Vuelta news. Remco Evenepoel finished 12th overall, 16:44 down. Considering he finished in the grupetto on the Tourmalet and lost 27 minutes on that day alone, it seems like an impressive ride.
For all the talk about the Jumbo-Visma dynamics, there was little said about Joao Almeida riding past Juan Ayuso on the Angliru without even looking over at him. Ayuso nearly lost his 4th overall on that day, while Almeida didn't improve his 9th place overall.
https://velo.outsideonline.com/road/road-racing/vuelta-a-espana/kuss-seals-breakthrough-vuelta-a-espana-win-groves-takes-final-stage-from-the-break/
https://velo.outsideonline.com/road/road-racing/vuelta-a-espana/kuss-seals-breakthrough-vuelta-a-espana-win-groves-takes-final-stage-from-the-break/
Sep 20, 2023 at 01:03 PM
mugwump said:One overlooked bit of Vuelta news. Remco Evenepoel finished 12th overall, 16:44 down. Considering he finished in the grupetto on the Tourmalet and lost 27 minutes on that day alone, it seems like an impressive ride.
Well , that seems a little out of context , precisely because he finished 27 down that day , is why he was given license to go in breaks and claw back "time".
Also interesting along the lines of UAE , I read Bora also had internal conflicts with Vlasov & Uijtdebroeks
Sep 20, 2023 at 02:28 PM
I agree with Mark. Also, Remco was the favorite to win the vuelta, as, well, he won it last year. I appreciate that after a terrible day, he rode into the podium by hunting KOM points and won that jersey. Kudos. But 12th in GC for the favorite to win is not a great result nor ride.
Sep 20, 2023 at 02:57 PM
it's interesting about Bora. Kind of looked that way.Mark Taylor said:mugwump said:One overlooked bit of Vuelta news. Remco Evenepoel finished 12th overall, 16:44 down. Considering he finished in the grupetto on the Tourmalet and lost 27 minutes on that day alone, it seems like an impressive ride.Well , that seems a little out of context , precisely because he finished 27 down that day , is why he was given license to go in breaks and claw back "time".Also interesting along the lines of UAE , I read Bora also had internal conflicts with Vlasov & Uijtdebroeks
But with Remco, yes, he was given a fairly long leash. However, he could have kept losing time on the stages he didn't focus on, to rest before the stages he did focus on. And 12th is still doing better than many who focused on GC.
For all Remco's palmares, he's only had finished only one three-week race outing thusfar, dropping out of the Giro twice, and one Vuelta victory. Adam Yates has also won the Vuelta, but has only cracked a Grand Tour podium once since that victory.
Sep 20, 2023 at 11:26 PM
I suppose if you can depreciate the cost of the printer it might make sense.mugwump said:@JulesWhen I was talking with Poertner at the Philly Bike Expo last year, he was saying he buys the latest 3D printer from a local-ish company whenever they have an upgrade (maybe because they print for the Indy car business in Indianapolis) and sells the used one. His claim is that much of the 3D titanium printing business he gets is from the industry, not for consumer sales, in the form of titanium bits for frames--dropouts, bridges, hangers, etc.
Are you 3D printing Halloween masks? How long does it take?
I'm printing various mandolorian (Din & Heavy) armour sets. It's taking a while; failed prints, and some size experimentation. I expect the finishing process (primer, sanding & paint) to take longer. It's slow going but we're making progress.
