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Source: (consider it) Thread: "My chain fell off.....": A cycling thread
Ariston
Insane Unicorn
# 10894

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Just got back from Baby's First Century on Maryland's Eastern Shore; I think I may have to do one tomorrow. For those of you not from around here (ie, most everyone), the Eastern Shore/Delmarva Peninsula is the east side of the Chesapeake Bay; it's still mostly farms (wheat, vegetables, horses, etc.) and quaint towns from the 1700's (which, by American standards, is old.). Importantly for doing a bike ride, it's also pancake flat.

So off we rode, trying our best to figure out how pacelines worked as we went, through pretty little tourist towns, over drawbridges (and for those of our cohort doing the 55 mile ride, over a ferry), through the transponder-equipped time trial/sprint area (I came in second to the "old" guy from my team I was riding with—about 8 miles in 29:00.9 at an average speed of 20.9 MPH, peaking at 27-28), and finally through the fields to the beer booth.

Yeah, my bum's a bit sore, but so it goes. I may have to get back out that way for another short little Saturday ramble—I'm sure the randonneurs love it out there...

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“Therefore, let it be explained that nowhere are the proprieties quite so strictly enforced as in men’s colleges that invite young women guests, especially over-night visitors in the fraternity houses.” Emily Post, 1937.

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the giant cheeseburger
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It's a huge day for the MTB racing community in Australia today, with Rebecca Henderson and Daniel McConnell taking wins in the first UCI MTB World Cup meet of the year.

The last Aussie to have success in the MTB World Cup was some guy called Cadel Evans.

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If I give a homeopathy advocate a really huge punch in the face, can the injury be cured by giving them another really small punch in the face?

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Surfing Madness
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Feeling very proud of my hill climbing ability this evening. In about 2 miles went up 400ft, and I didn't need to get off (there was a pause to pump tires but still cycled it all!) This is the first time I've managed this, so very pleased.

How's everyone else getting on?

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I now blog about all my crafting! http://inspiredbybroadway.blogspot.co.uk

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the giant cheeseburger
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Don't expect too many answers from UK shipmates, I'm sure they're all preparing for the weekend's big events.

Ewwwwwwwwwwwwww!

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If I give a homeopathy advocate a really huge punch in the face, can the injury be cured by giving them another really small punch in the face?

Posts: 4834 | From: Adelaide, South Australia. | Registered: Jan 2006  |  IP: Logged
Welease Woderwick

Sister Incubus Nightmare
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I could do a solo through my local town here but not sure it would go down very well - not only offending public decency but possibly not a pretty sight as well!

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I give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.
Fancy a break in South India?
Accessible Homestay Guesthouse in Central Kerala, contact me for details

What part of Matt. 7:1 don't you understand?

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mousethief

Ship's Thieving Rodent
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Can I just interrupt to say how wonderful the title of this thread is to this fan of John Wesley's wonderful music.

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Surfing Madness
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I am about to show my ignorance, I know that you can get phone apps for recording how far you run, is there a bike equivalent? If so are they any good?

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I now blog about all my crafting! http://inspiredbybroadway.blogspot.co.uk

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Karl: Liberal Backslider
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quote:
Originally posted by Surfing Madness:
I am about to show my ignorance, I know that you can get phone apps for recording how far you run, is there a bike equivalent? If so are they any good?

Strava and MapMyRide are the main ones. They work. Strava's a bit more competitively oriented.

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Might as well ask the bloody cat.

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Ariston
Insane Unicorn
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Along with almost everyone else I know, I use Strava; it sucks less battery than anything else, and sprint segments are fun, especially when the previous record holder was someone you know.

ETA: And, just because you asked about running, it also tracks and compares runs! One app to rule them all, one app to shame you.*

*Look, I broke some spokes putting too much stress on my back wheel while taking a turn at a nice, easy, slow pace, so I have to wait for my new wheels to arrive. Pout.

[ 11. June 2013, 15:55: Message edited by: Ariston ]

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“Therefore, let it be explained that nowhere are the proprieties quite so strictly enforced as in men’s colleges that invite young women guests, especially over-night visitors in the fraternity houses.” Emily Post, 1937.

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Karl: Liberal Backslider
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Chances of getting a KOM around here are zero, for me. The only way I can do it is to create a new segment and bask in glory until the leader board has been created.

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Might as well ask the bloody cat.

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the giant cheeseburger
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quote:
Originally posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider:
Chances of getting a KOM around here are zero, for me. The only way I can do it is to create a new segment and bask in glory until the leader board has been created.

Sounds like you could benefit from using DigitalEPO.

I don't use Strava - if I wanted to race I would do it properly by joining a sanctioned cycling club and pinning on a number. There's far more honour in pulling a good turn on the front of a bunch than there is in getting a "record" on an easily-spoofed street racing website.

quote:
Originally posted by Surfing Madness:
I am about to show my ignorance, I know that you can get phone apps for recording how far you run, is there a bike equivalent? If so are they any good?

If you're not into street racing or handing location tracking data over to corporations, you could always just make a note of the distance, time and average speed from a standard bike computer and log it using a spreadsheet with a description of the route you've ridden.

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If I give a homeopathy advocate a really huge punch in the face, can the injury be cured by giving them another really small punch in the face?

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Ariston
Insane Unicorn
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quote:
Originally posted by the giant cheeseburger:
quote:
Originally posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider:
Chances of getting a KOM around here are zero, for me. The only way I can do it is to create a new segment and bask in glory until the leader board has been created.

Sounds like you could benefit from using DigitalEPO.

I don't use Strava - if I wanted to race I would do it properly by joining a sanctioned cycling club and pinning on a number. There's far more honour in pulling a good turn on the front of a bunch than there is in getting a "record" on an easily-spoofed street racing website.

Ah yes. Honor in being an official lycranaut, or beer in winning stupid bets and contests with your friends. I prefer the beer.

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“Therefore, let it be explained that nowhere are the proprieties quite so strictly enforced as in men’s colleges that invite young women guests, especially over-night visitors in the fraternity houses.” Emily Post, 1937.

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Karl: Liberal Backslider
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I don't use Strava to race. I use it to chart my own achievements against my own targets and know where I am, roughly, against the other Lycra-clad tits out there.

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Might as well ask the bloody cat.

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Surfing Madness
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I guess the thing I'm most interested in, is am I managing more difficult hills!

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I now blog about all my crafting! http://inspiredbybroadway.blogspot.co.uk

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Dinghy Sailor

Ship's Jibsheet
# 8507

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quote:
Originally posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider:
Chances of getting a KOM around here are zero, for me. The only way I can do it is to create a new segment and bask in glory until the leader board has been created.

I got three KOMs and one 2nd place on my first activity. If you look carefully at this activity, you'll notice that all these segments go in an approximately easterly direction.

There might just have been a 40mph westerly blowing on that night [Big Grin]

(and yes, I do also do 'proper' races)

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Preach Christ, because this old humanity has used up all hopes and expectations, but in Christ hope lives and remains.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer

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Surfing Madness
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I know I'm late posting this, but is anyone going to watch the national championships in Glasgow tomorrow?
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HenryT

Canadian Anglican
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I use Endomondo, which is a general sport tracking program, with social network stuff. It does maps and route tracking, too.

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"Perhaps an invincible attachment to the dearest rights of man may, in these refined, enlightened days, be deemed old-fashioned" P. Henry, 1788

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the giant cheeseburger
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Well that was a bizarre finish to a stage if ever there was one! Well done to Kittel, he did well to stay in the game through the chaotic approach in order to contest the finish.

The early word on the bus fiasco is that the finish area marshals were calling the driver forward, and that the same bus had been in plenty of previous use with OGE including the full 2012 TdF without any incidents. Nice to see the Italians being given some rare competition in the disorganised race contest this year.

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If I give a homeopathy advocate a really huge punch in the face, can the injury be cured by giving them another really small punch in the face?

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balaam

Making an ass of myself
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That's the kind of finish I like, an opportunist break that makes it - just. (And no Australian coaches blocking the finishing line.)

Well done to Bakelants who will get his day in yellow, before settling back to his team player role.

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the giant cheeseburger
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quote:
Originally posted by balaam:
And no Australian coaches blocking the finishing line.

Don't you mean no low structures blocking accredited vehicles? The ASO should be focusing more on setting up their race infrastructure properly (includes the barriers too close in that brought down Hoogerland) instead of censoring the teams' YouTube channels that do so much to promote their event - one of the reasons that the Giro d'Italia could take over as the biggest race by the end of the decade.

The Orica-GreenEDGE team bus was directed to go that way by officials and waved through even when the driver stopped to check the height. The fine was unjust, but a small price to pay for the publicity that is better going to them than the phone-hacking team from Britain with their Dutch-supplied "supplements."


I think the TdF needs the return of time bonuses at stage finishes and on each day's intermediate sprint, like what made the Giro d'Italia so lively this year when the big contenders had to be all-rounders. It would be good to see some more enthusiastic racing for the stage placings instead of GC-focused riders settling for getting the same time.

Interesting milestone for Argos-Shimano - as well as the TdF stage 1 win, they also got stage one of the Giro Rosa. Hopefully Orica-GreenEDGE and Lotto-Belisol will also get wins in both big races to fly the flag for joint men's-women's teams.

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If I give a homeopathy advocate a really huge punch in the face, can the injury be cured by giving them another really small punch in the face?

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the giant cheeseburger
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You beauty Gerro, beating Sagan in the sprint [Yipee]

The podium hosts will thank him for saving them from an arse-grabbing I think [Big Grin]

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If I give a homeopathy advocate a really huge punch in the face, can the injury be cured by giving them another really small punch in the face?

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the giant cheeseburger
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Big milestone today, the first stage win in the TdF for an Australian team in only their second year, and done in style by a champion Aussie rider beating a top sprinter at that! Things are progressing nicely, we're ahead of the schedule of a certain team in black and blue that specialises in phone hacking.

If anybody gets to watch highlights from tonight's stage, check out the awesome roads! I would love to go for a ride or a drive along that route, but with no straights longer than a few seconds I think going as a passenger would cause my lunch to make a second appearance.


Sagan still managed to get within grabbing distance when he was up there for the points jersey presentation, but he behaved himself this time.

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If I give a homeopathy advocate a really huge punch in the face, can the injury be cured by giving them another really small punch in the face?

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balaam

Making an ass of myself
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Orica GreenEDGE, who'd have thunk it? I was expecting BMC to do a lot better and put Evans into contention.

A team to start performing well in it's second year is to be expected, it has happened before with Radioshack and Sky. It takes a year for a new team to find it's feet. I'm sure O'Grady's experience has helped - how many more tours can he ride?

But today's stage was good for Contador and Froome. Just six seconds between them, with Evans and Andy Schlek 23 ans 26 seconds behind. I can't see anyone else being in contention at the end of the tour.

Tomorrow the hills are not too large, so after their performance in the TTT I'm expecting Quick Step* to deliver Cavendish up for the sprint. Shouldn't be any change to GC.

I'm disapointed that the TV interviewers are still talking about the GreenEDGE bus rather than their racing, it was OK for a bit of sledging on the day after, but it's time to drop it.

.

* ...and whoever their co-sponsors are this year.

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Posts: 9049 | From: Hen Ogledd | Registered: May 2003  |  IP: Logged
the giant cheeseburger
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quote:
Originally posted by balaam:
Orica GreenEDGE, who'd have thunk it? I was expecting BMC to do a lot better and put Evans into contention.

A team to start performing well in it's second year is to be expected, it has happened before with Radioshack and Sky. It takes a year for a new team to find it's feet. I'm sure O'Grady's experience has helped - how many more tours can he ride?

But today's stage was good for Contador and Froome. Just six seconds between them, with Evans and Andy Schlek 23 ans 26 seconds behind. I can't see anyone else being in contention at the end of the tour.

Tomorrow the hills are not too large, so after their performance in the TTT I'm expecting Quick Step* to deliver Cavendish up for the sprint. Shouldn't be any change to GC.

I'm disapointed that the TV interviewers are still talking about the GreenEDGE bus rather than their racing, it was OK for a bit of sledging on the day after, but it's time to drop it.

.

* ...and whoever their co-sponsors are this year.

I was predicting that OGE would get right up there, they are an extremely strong TTT squad (applies to the women's team as well) which probably comes from Australia's continuous strength in the team pursuit. Their first European victory early last year came in a TTT stage of only the third WorldTour race of the season, and they took third at the world championships at the end of the season, so it shouldn't have been too surprising. The 57.8 km/h record speed was a surprise though, as was the close bunch of results at the top of the table.

I obviously follow this team a little more closely than you, you might be surprised to learn that the first six months of this season has had roughly the same number of victories as the corresponding period last year, which was an outstanding year for a new team with such a young squad. A stage of the TdF was the one thing that evaded them last year (Goss got a string of top fives though), but everything else was outstanding with the GC win at the second most important race for an Australian team (the Tour Down Under), Gerrans winning Milan San Remo, a stage of the Giro for Goss, plus a stage win and the KOM at the Vuelta for Clarke.

You're right about O'Grady, he's had a good run with nine yellow jerseys, lots of green jerseys, six grand tour stage wins, a Paris-Roubaix win, an Olympic gold medal and now a stage win in a record-equalling 17th Tour de France - but he's set to retire at the end of next year's Tour de France. Like they did with Robbie McEwen and Matt Wilson last year, Stuey is likely to take up a coaching role with the team immediately. There's still plenty of other experienced riders in what is a very balanced squad missing just a big GC contender, such as Albasini, Cooke, Davis, Gerrans, Lancaster and Weening who were all well established at the top level before last year.


I gained a new level of respect for Geraint Thomas last night. Riding a TTT with a fractured pelvis (ouch, and for a cyclist OUCH) and still managing to pull a few turns makes him what Paul Sherwen would describe as a hard man of the peleton like Cancellara, Roelandts, Gilbert, Rogers, Voigt and O'Grady. If he doesn't take the start tonight nobody will fault him.


I agree that it was primarily a good day for Froome and Contador out of the GC contenders, but the margin they gained over Evans and Schleck is tiny, and could easily be clawed back in one stage. BMC and RadioLeopardSchleckTrekShack or whatever they're called this week came to the Tour with squads for the mountains, I think they'll be happy with coming away from the TTT having kept any losses to such a small amount. I would have to say that Contador's guys at Sao-Tinkoff look like the strongest of the big four squads going for the GC, especially with their recruiting of Michael Rogers who would otherwise have been Sky's hard man towing Froome up the hills like he did with Froome and Wiggins last year.


I don't think tonight will be too good for Cavendish, he doesn't seem to be handling even the little hills too well at the moment and I think he'll struggle to keep up over what is a lumpy cross-country route instead of a flat coastal run. The same applies to Andre Greipel.

My guess for tonight would be for Peter Sagan to get a stage win in a bunch sprint and then get slapped by a podium host. You would also have to throw in Matt Goss as a strong chance to win the stage and not get slapped, after two days of the team plans working perfectly to get the results the confidence at OGE would be absolutely overflowing, and with so many finishes so close he's bound to get one eventually.

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If I give a homeopathy advocate a really huge punch in the face, can the injury be cured by giving them another really small punch in the face?

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the giant cheeseburger
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Well that explains things, I didn't know that Cavendish was down on his performance in the first few stages due to sickness, not general poor form.

He should try harder to hold his line and avoid changing lanes in front of other riders* during a sprint though. The commissaires have been taking a fairly strict line on the rules in the Tour so far and he wouldn't want to risk getting relegated to the back of the peleton.


Another major win for Marianne Vos tonight, two stages in a row of the biggest women's tour. I wonder if she gets lonely with never having any other riders to keep her company?


* a rule breach not unknown to British cycling, some of you might remember Victoria Pendleton getting relegated in London last year for putting an illegal block on Anna Meares in the first match of the gold medal race.

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If I give a homeopathy advocate a really huge punch in the face, can the injury be cured by giving them another really small punch in the face?

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balaam

Making an ass of myself
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quote:
Originally posted by the giant cheeseburger:

I don't think tonight will be too good for Cavendish, he doesn't seem to be handling even the little hills too well at the moment and I think he'll struggle to keep up over what is a lumpy cross-country route instead of a flat coastal run. The same applies to Andre Greipel.

On the other hand Cav tends to sit things out and conserve his energy if he doesn't think he can win. It's hard to tell how strong he is until he gets on a stage like this. Now we know.

Tomorrow's stage looks tailor made for Cav. Which is why he won't win it. If a break can get away before the feeding station and no contenders for a jersey are in it, then it could stay out all the way.

I'm expecting one of the domestiques to win. In other words a typical transition stage.

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Posts: 9049 | From: Hen Ogledd | Registered: May 2003  |  IP: Logged
balaam

Making an ass of myself
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OTOH if Sagan can get in a break it could make for a very interesting stage.

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Posts: 9049 | From: Hen Ogledd | Registered: May 2003  |  IP: Logged
the giant cheeseburger
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quote:
Originally posted by balaam:
Tomorrow's stage looks tailor made for Cav. Which is why he won't win it.

Correct, but nothing to do with a breakaway, just a superior performance by Adam Hansen with the death pull, Greg Henderson the leadout and Andre Greipel the sprint to the line. What on earth Omega-Pharma were thinking trying to start leading 18 kilometres from the finish we'll never know, but the inevitable result (like the failed Orica-GreenEDGE leadouts during last year's TdF) was they had no firepower left at the finish.

Congratulations to Daryl Impey, the first African wearer of the yellow jersey (bad luck to Chris Froome, that record eludes him by maybe only a couple of days) and the second consecutive yellow jersey wearer for Orica-GreenEDGE.

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If I give a homeopathy advocate a really huge punch in the face, can the injury be cured by giving them another really small punch in the face?

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balaam

Making an ass of myself
# 4543

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I called that one right, apart from a few minor details (just about everything).

Lotto got the train wrong yesterday, whilst Omega-Pharma got it right. Today the reverse happened, a lead out train should not allow themselves to be swamped coming off a roundabout like OPQ did. Must do better or Cav can stop dreaming of green.

So my tip for tomorrow (for what it's worth) is to watch for Sagan going with the leaders over the first two classified hills and going for the intermediate sprint.

GC may change again, but this is irrelevant, two days in the Pyranees over the weekend should sort things out though.

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Ariston
Insane Unicorn
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So, who can safely throw in the towel after the Ax murdering by Froome today? Van Garderen, Hesjedal, Cuddles, pretty much all of OGE, Hoogerland, all of the Velonews journalists making awful puns?

Also, am I the only one who thinks Quintana Roo needs to sponsor the current holder of the red number/white jersey? I don't think we've seen the last of him by any means, not given today's performance.

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“Therefore, let it be explained that nowhere are the proprieties quite so strictly enforced as in men’s colleges that invite young women guests, especially over-night visitors in the fraternity houses.” Emily Post, 1937.

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the giant cheeseburger
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It's still a very long way to Paris, and watching the Sky riders crack during last night's stage 9 definitely proved that the Tour isn't won in a single stage - especially not one only a week into a grand tour. Contador, Valverde and Evans aren't out of it by any means, the race is wide open now and they can afford to go for the big attacks and watch as the Sky riders fall off the back one by one. I still think Froome has to be the favourite for the GC win, but he's going to have to race for it instead of going with last year's tactics of the Sky train riding tempo.

For 24 hours we admired Team Sky for being audacious enough to bring out the old USPS playbook on Saturday's stage 8, but with Dr Leinders no longer around the place (plus Rogers swapping teams to pull for Contador, and Wiggins on the couch at home) they cracked the very next day and left Froome isolated. The other teams will definitely have been pleased to see Kiriyenka go from hauling the train one day to being spat out the back for a hors delai disqualification the next, and to have seen Lopez and Porte bonk from doing so much work for Froome.

I agree that the Gardener was definitely exposed on Saturday's stage, getting dropped way too early. I think that should definitely settle any lingering discussions about the leadership of the BMC Racing Team. The question of leadership now needs to be tackled by Omega-Pharma - in the Alps will they support Kwiatkowski who is looking in a potential winning position for the youth classification, or do they leave him alone and support Cavendish's efforts to beat the broom wagon?

You're right that Hesjedal is not a GC contender, but I think that Garmin is aiming more towards setting up Dan Martin for a couple of stage wins and a high GC placing, and that Hesjedal's role is more of a domestique than a leader. Garmin has long been known as one of the most innovative teams when it comes to race tactics with one of their best successes being at Liege-Bastogne-Liege (a one day race traditionally contested by a lot of the big stage race GC contenders) this year when Hesjedal was used to set up Martin for the win.

By the way, I don't think you've seen the last of Orica-GreenEDGE for this race yet. They are here for stage wins and not for the general classification, and there are still plenty of opportunities for those after getting one they targeted and one they were hoping to get in the top five. Their sporting director Matt White is one of the smartest in the game, having previously help set up the culture of innovative tactics at Garmin.

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If I give a homeopathy advocate a really huge punch in the face, can the injury be cured by giving them another really small punch in the face?

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the giant cheeseburger
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Extremely dirty move by Cavendish there to cause a big crash, I hope he gets chucked out of the race and given a hefty suspension.

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If I give a homeopathy advocate a really huge punch in the face, can the injury be cured by giving them another really small punch in the face?

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the giant cheeseburger
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Just confirmed on the SBS broadcast - commissaires are investigating Cavendish's destruction derby move on Tom Veelers.

Veelers' team Argos-Shimano has also confirmed they will lodge a protest if Cavendish is not penalised in the commissaires' first investigation, so they'll have to look at it again.

Not looking good for Cav, especially if you look at the much lesser incident that had Mark Renshaw kicked out of the Tour (while doing a leadout for Cavendish) a few years ago at Highroad.

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If I give a homeopathy advocate a really huge punch in the face, can the injury be cured by giving them another really small punch in the face?

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Sioni Sais
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Worse news now for tgc. The race commissaries have ruled that the crash was Veelers fault, so the Mighty Manx Missile is still in the race. TBH it looked 50-50 to me with both men moving towards each other. An interview without chairs would have been in order for the pair of them.

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Posts: 24276 | From: Newport, Wales | Registered: Apr 2004  |  IP: Logged
the giant cheeseburger
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Source? There still doesn't seem to have been any positive decision in any direction, no penalties or reprimands handed out to anybody yet.

Of course, that lack of decision would have nothing to do with Cav's schoolyard bullying (see the incident with the journalist last night) and temper tantrums after losing races generating lots of media exposure. Too busy counting the number of extra clicks and clips on stations that otherwise wouldn't give a damn to bother with running the race properly it would seem.

The peleton seems to have voted though. I'd be looking for the next sprint stage to have a little rough justice dealt out by domestiques looking to protect their leaders (perhaps using the GC teams' favoured 'sweeper' tactic of putting a tough man behind the leader in the line), and for the grupetto to make him do his own work in the next hilly stage.

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The routes of the road stages making up the 2014 WorldTour Down Under (the first WorldTour event of 2014) were released on Monday by the South Australian Minister for Tourism in France at an event to honour Stuart O'Grady's record 17th Tour de France. Of most interest to me is stage 4 which has the public challenge ride - 148.5km (plus the 6km [i]depart fictif) including about 1700m of climbing. The toughest work will be the start of the ride, with a tough 7.2km slog at an average 6.2% up the freeway, but it's unfortunately not a points-paying climb!

The final stage circuit race has not yet been announced yet, except to say that it won't be on the normal circuit which encloses Adelaide Oval (hosting a day-night match on the same day) and disrupts the park where a major concert is held on Australia Day each year. My guess is that it will be held on a modified version of the motor racing street circuit with the pit straight grandstand open for spectators.

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If I give a homeopathy advocate a really huge punch in the face, can the injury be cured by giving them another really small punch in the face?

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Ariston
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quote:
Originally posted by the giant cheeseburger:
Source? There still doesn't seem to have been any positive decision in any direction, no penalties or reprimands handed out to anybody yet.

Source.

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“Therefore, let it be explained that nowhere are the proprieties quite so strictly enforced as in men’s colleges that invite young women guests, especially over-night visitors in the fraternity houses.” Emily Post, 1937.

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the giant cheeseburger
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Thanks for that, I didn't know that Cavendish had apologised to Veelers for causing the crash. It appears a good night's rest and a word from his sporting director has helped him calm down and bring out his better nature.

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If I give a homeopathy advocate a really huge punch in the face, can the injury be cured by giving them another really small punch in the face?

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balaam

Making an ass of myself
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The time trial is the day when the super-domestiqus show what they can do. While everyone is talking about Froome's gains, I'm impressed with Richie Porte. I think he's good enough to lead a team.

But back at the Cavendish story, he posted this on Twitter a few minutes ago:

quote:
Well i think the apple juice looks far from appetising for me tonight... And I'm not taking the piss. Did that once already today. #standup


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Posts: 9049 | From: Hen Ogledd | Registered: May 2003  |  IP: Logged
the giant cheeseburger
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I was pleased to see Tony Martin get the win last night. He manages to find himself in a major crash almost every time he contests the Tour de France so it's only fair that at least one stage goes his way.
quote:
Originally posted by balaam:
The time trial is the day when the super-domestiqus show what they can do. While everyone is talking about Froome's gains, I'm impressed with Richie Porte. I think he's good enough to lead a team.

Richie Porte has been the leader of Sky Procycling for a few WorldTour stage races already (including winning Paris-Nice this year) and he'll be their leader for the 2014 Giro d'Italia.

Good choice I think, while he might not have the outright climbing skills required to win the Tour de France, the Giro is a far more complex race with rewards the strong all-rounders with excellent race skills (like Nibali, Evans, Contador and so on) ahead of the specialists like Froome and Wiggins. He's also got previous experience - in his first Grand Tour at the 2010 Giro, Porte wore the Maglia Rosa for three days and won the youth classification.

Just to show it's a small world, Richie's partner is Tiffany Cromwell (pro racer for Orica-GreenEDGE) who went to school with (and raced HPVs with) a good mate of mine!

[ 11. July 2013, 01:02: Message edited by: the giant cheeseburger ]

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If I give a homeopathy advocate a really huge punch in the face, can the injury be cured by giving them another really small punch in the face?

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the giant cheeseburger
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Yet another win for Kittel, and probably another tantrum for Cavendish! Very classy sprint from Kittel, defeating what was a perfect leadout for Omega Pharma on pure speed.

Any other Australian fans starting to get sick of the same ads being played over and over again yet? The only ones I don't mind seeing again are the Skoda tough car ads and the SBS Film promos with the awesome music.

I feel sorry for Robbie McEwen, only 13 months from closing out his career as a living legend and now he's doing ads for multivitamin concoctions of questionable efficacy [Killing me]

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If I give a homeopathy advocate a really huge punch in the face, can the injury be cured by giving them another really small punch in the face?

Posts: 4834 | From: Adelaide, South Australia. | Registered: Jan 2006  |  IP: Logged
balaam

Making an ass of myself
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You are getting the same ads as us. And they're just as bad over here.

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Posts: 9049 | From: Hen Ogledd | Registered: May 2003  |  IP: Logged
Ariston
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quote:
Originally posted by the giant cheeseburger:
Yet another win for Kittel, and probably another tantrum for Cavendish!

Today's tantrum, at the end:
quote:
You can sit there and analyze it, but when there is someone simply faster than you there is nothing you can do,” said Cavendish. “I don’t think me, or the team, could have done anything differently. He was just simply better today. I tweeted the other day I think he’s the next big thing. I spoke with him today, actually. I think he’s the next superstar in sprinting and he showed it today. He’s won three stages now and that’s not easy. I can tell you that from experience.
Impressed with Argos-Shimano so far; my habit of picking teams based on how much I like their bikes (Felt for ARS, Bianchi for VCS) is paying off this year more than I thought it would. The Vacansoleil riders are looking very much like they're trying to make a case for someone to pick them up if their team goes bust if a new sponsor (perhaps a renewed Bianchi team?) doesn't show up. I don't think anyone, even me, would have picked them for winning all these red numbers or a podium finish in the time trial.

[ 11. July 2013, 23:07: Message edited by: Ariston ]

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“Therefore, let it be explained that nowhere are the proprieties quite so strictly enforced as in men’s colleges that invite young women guests, especially over-night visitors in the fraternity houses.” Emily Post, 1937.

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Tukai
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I was impressed too by Kittel. There are very few riders in this world who can come past Cavendish when he's in front with 50m to go.

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balaam

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While we are still talking about sprinters. To be a great sprinter you need a great team. Cavendish'e lead out man, Trentin, has shown he is no slouch either, by coming from nowhere to win yesterdays sprint. Praise should go to Canondale, Argos-Shimano and Lotto-Belisol fro the work they are doing.

Other than Segan getting away today ti get to the sprint at the bottom of Mont Ventoux today, that's the last we'll hear of the sprinters for a while.

It's the day of the climbers, I'm hoping it won't be too windy and for Quintana to get away. With Valverde out the white jersey has to be Movistar's target now and if they don't take over that classification today, then I expect Quintana to be in white on Thursday.

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Posts: 9049 | From: Hen Ogledd | Registered: May 2003  |  IP: Logged
no prophet's flag is set so...

Proceed to see sea
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After nearly being squished by a transit bus in my bicycle commute, I was sent a rather good blog article, which tells drivers to smarten up. Link here.

I liked this part particularly:
quote:
Yes, I do. I ride my bike safely. The rules say I’m supposed to pretend that I’m a car, but see, that’s dangerous if I’m the only one obeying that rule. I’m pretending I’m a car, and you think I’m a bike, and you run over me and kill me with your car. This is bad for both of us. So, the minute you treat me like a car, I’ll start acting like one. In the meantime the difference between when you break the law and when I do is that you’re endangering my life, and I’m endangering your … wiper blades? Maybe? Probably not even that.

Posts: 11498 | From: Treaty 6 territory in the nonexistant Province of Buffalo, Canada ↄ⃝' | Registered: Mar 2010  |  IP: Logged
balaam

Making an ass of myself
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I find that riding out of the gutters helps. Not far enough out to impede cars, but far enough from the kerb so that when some maniac tries to pass at three atoms width from my elbow I have somewhere to turn.

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Posts: 9049 | From: Hen Ogledd | Registered: May 2003  |  IP: Logged
Ariston
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So, that was a pretty dang good Tour. Perhaps it would have been better had Froome not completely dominated it, but still, can't complain at all. Watching Quintana, Sagan, and Kittel, though, it's going to be an interesting next few years. I don't think anyone saw Quinana coming, not enough saw Kittel, and Peter's just...well, other than the occasional facepalm-worthy moments, he's something else. And really, who doesn't like watching someone pull wheelies on bikes worth more than their cars while going up The Mountain of Death?

Froome, of course, is going to have to deal with doping allegations. The sport has its reputation to deal with, and, thanks to Lance, Ivan, Jan, and Co., will for a very long time. Having seen his performance on Ventoux, I certainly understand why people are suspicious. Normal people don't just take off like that, leaving Quintana in the dust, and a bit of better living through chemistry would explain how you could execute that kind of stunt. Of course, recovering from a blood disease, a great team, racing with discipline, ditching the drama llama that plagued you earlier, and just being That Good could also explain it. I don't think we can tell, I don't think we'll ever be able to tell, but, until evidence comes out saying otherwise, I'd like to think someone actually won this Tour.

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“Therefore, let it be explained that nowhere are the proprieties quite so strictly enforced as in men’s colleges that invite young women guests, especially over-night visitors in the fraternity houses.” Emily Post, 1937.

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Sioni Sais
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It won't get him a knighthood but Froome's win is probably better than Sir Bradley's because he outperformed the field in TTs and the mountains and, when the chips were down and his teammates couldn't help so much, he looked after himself.

As far as doping is concerned, there were two or three occasions, such as at the finish on the last 'real' stage, when his strength could be seen to be ebbing away. That doesn't happen to doped athletes, so he's either clean or a bloody good actor!

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balaam

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Wiggins knighthood was for being the first British winner of a high profile event. The question has to be asked, as Australia is part of the Commonwealth, why no Sir Cadel?

Wiggins was not even the highest achiever in British cycling in 2012. First in the Omnium and Team Pursuit in the European championships, the Worlds and the Olympics in one season. But Laura Trott only got an OBE for her efforts.

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Posts: 9049 | From: Hen Ogledd | Registered: May 2003  |  IP: Logged
the giant cheeseburger
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I think that was an excellent performance by Chris Froome, and thankfully a much more human race which than last year's boring procession. Getting successfully attacked by Saxo-Tinkoff last Friday, bonking on Alpe d'Huez and getting dropped by Quintana and Rodriguez on Annecy-Semnoz showed it was a far closer result than the final 4:20 winning margin reads on paper. I hope there aren't any doping revelations to come, but with the race average speed over 40 km/h (despite a very tough course) I think it's sadly a high probability.

Richie Porte's performance as the last man left for Froome each day was absolutely perfect, Froome could well have lost lots of time last Thursday without Porte shutting down the Contador/Kreuziger attack on the Col d'Sarenne descent and going back to the team car during the food flat incident on the final climb. Porte will be leading Team Sky at the Giro d'Italia next year, with the Giro being a race much more suited to his all-round racing skills he should go in as one of the favourites.

I think it was a particularly good edition of the race for cycling as an international sport. Germany is gradually returning to the sport thanks to the domination of their top sprinters. The GC podium was a perfect result in this respect with an African who had come through the World Cycling Centre development program, a young South American star of the future and a popular European. There are already signs that the first two yellow jerseys won by Africans (Daryl Impey and then Froome) has already helped put the sport firmly on the map in Africa, and the domination of their sprinters should help German fans return after many have walked away from the sport over the doping affairs of recent years.

The one thing I think really was missing was Stuart O'Grady announcing his immediate retirement one day earlier so he could lead the peleton onto the Champs Elysee circuit as is traditionally offered by the GC leading team to a significant retiring legend. Well done to the hard man for going out as a champion and as a stage winner in his last race, 15 years after he first wore the yellow jersey and won his first Tour de France stage.
quote:
Originally posted by balaam:
Wiggins knighthood was for being the first British winner of a high profile event. The question has to be asked, as Australia is part of the Commonwealth, why no Sir Cadel?

1. Australia hasn't been doing knighthoods for decades.

2. Honours are usually only awarded to retired athletes, and the bar is not so low that a single good win would get one. Some contribution to the community is also necessary, and on that basis the cyclists Phil Anderson, Charlie Walsh, Scott McGrory, Stuart O'Grady and Robbie McEwen would all be ahead of Cadel Evans in that queue.

3. Awarding honours after years of service rather than straight after winning an event would avoid any awkwardness later on if/when the honoured athlete disgraces themselves, especially for sports where doping has been an issue. If they had waited even just one year with Wiggins, his weak performance and casual misogyny at the Giro d'Italia might have enabled the government to rethink and honour somebody more deserving instead, such as a long-serving volunteer firefighter.

4. Isn't a trophy or medal enough of a reward for somebody having just done a particularly good performance in their full-time employment?

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If I give a homeopathy advocate a really huge punch in the face, can the injury be cured by giving them another really small punch in the face?

Posts: 4834 | From: Adelaide, South Australia. | Registered: Jan 2006  |  IP: Logged



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