CliveW
Tour Winner
....and riding two/three abreast, blocking the roads so cars can't pass. Cyclists are the most selfish road users I know. (At least caravanners pay road tax)
Are Brits Cycling Pros our best sportsman!!
- Thread starter AlchemyGolf
- Start date
....and riding two/three abreast, blocking the roads so cars can't pass. Cyclists are the most selfish road users I know. (At least caravanners pay road tax)
AlchemyGolf
Head Pro
....and riding two/three abreast, blocking the roads so cars can't pass. Cyclists are the most selfish road users I know. (At least caravanners pay road tax)
I obviously see this from the other angle and the way some drivers drive around us is just awfull and dangerous
Its Safety in numbers im afraid my friend.
Ive had 2 friends badly injured by irresponsible drivers and a good friend of mine was killed by a driver of a lorry who didnt see him.
He defo would have seen our group and he wouldnt have been killed.
I understand your frustration but at least we are very visable and hopefully wont lead to many more fatalities.
AlchemyGolf
Head Pro
Midnight
I cycle at a much lower level than I played golf.
The best thing I ever did was to join a cycle club once I was hooked.
From there I realised that I was to old and didnt have the time to go racing against the young lads.
Also it was the Tour De france that caught my imagination so I concentrated on building up endurance to ride long miles.
There are now 100s of cyclosportives around the country that have challenging routes and distances from 50-100 miles,they are great events and always ridden in the nicest countryside in every area.
http://www.cyclosport.org/events2009.aspx
As I built up my fitness I went to Majorca for a week,great roads in the mountains there and then in 2005 I completed an event called the RAID PYRENEAN which was a ride from the Atlantic Coast to the Med over the backbone of the Pyrenees,460 miles in 100 hours.
I played in the British Amatuer as a golfer but I without doubt regard completing the Raid as my biggest sporting achievement and the most incredible experience.
Only 2 years before I couldnt ride more than 20 miles so it can be done.
Now I have kids and I am more of a social rider who wants to keep fit and enjoy riding his bike which is where the cycle club comes into its own but I am planning to ride some Sportives in 2010 and when my kids are grown up I will complete the Raid Alpine
Cyclingplus magazine is great for info as well on everything cycling,unlike the other mags it concentrates on every day riders and not the pro's
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_oVHBIeR3A
Hope this helps!!
I cycle at a much lower level than I played golf.
The best thing I ever did was to join a cycle club once I was hooked.
From there I realised that I was to old and didnt have the time to go racing against the young lads.
Also it was the Tour De france that caught my imagination so I concentrated on building up endurance to ride long miles.
There are now 100s of cyclosportives around the country that have challenging routes and distances from 50-100 miles,they are great events and always ridden in the nicest countryside in every area.
http://www.cyclosport.org/events2009.aspx
As I built up my fitness I went to Majorca for a week,great roads in the mountains there and then in 2005 I completed an event called the RAID PYRENEAN which was a ride from the Atlantic Coast to the Med over the backbone of the Pyrenees,460 miles in 100 hours.
I played in the British Amatuer as a golfer but I without doubt regard completing the Raid as my biggest sporting achievement and the most incredible experience.
Only 2 years before I couldnt ride more than 20 miles so it can be done.
Now I have kids and I am more of a social rider who wants to keep fit and enjoy riding his bike which is where the cycle club comes into its own but I am planning to ride some Sportives in 2010 and when my kids are grown up I will complete the Raid Alpine
Cyclingplus magazine is great for info as well on everything cycling,unlike the other mags it concentrates on every day riders and not the pro's
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_oVHBIeR3A
Hope this helps!!
When I tried watching the olympics, I'm pretty sure there were lots of comments about how much of the funding had gone into making sure we had the best equipment possible, and how that gave our guys the edge they needed. Would we have had so many medals if they had just borrowed a couple of bikes from JJB ? I don't think so, so maybe the equipment is important, after all.
You seem to be changing your definition, every time you come up against a better argument. F1 is still a sport, and our guys are having greater success in it that they are at cycling. Simples
Oh, and we can be pretty sure that everyone is playing within the rules, can we be confident about that in the TDF?
Good on the cyclists, I'm sure they're very fit. And they're doing well in a sport that traditionally we don't achieve much at in this country. Partly because of the talent coming through, partly because of the money we have chucked at the sport to help them develop to the max. I'm pretty sure Armstrong had a good team and plenty of cash thrown at him to carry him through his success as well, didn't he ? Or did he just turn up on his own and win the TDF ?
But just because you are enthusiastic about it, and enjoy it, doesn't actually make you right, I'm afraid.
B
birdieman
Guest
Using a push bike renders you 14 x more likely to be involved in an RTA than other road users.
Too much cycling leads to erectile dysfunction.
These 2 aspects of cycling are enough to keep me swinging a club instead!
Too much cycling leads to erectile dysfunction.
These 2 aspects of cycling are enough to keep me swinging a club instead!
AlchemyGolf
Head Pro
Birdie Man, your right it is dangerous.
I have never had a run in with a car but did have a big off in the Lake District riding an event in 2005.Came down a mountain at 40mph and got a frame wobble,lost control in a corner,went over the handelbars,landed on my head,helmet did its job magnificently but I had a shattered collarbone and 3 broken ribs for my troubles.OUCH!!!
Happy to report no erictile problems,to much info,sorry!!
Craphacker you make SOME valid points,yes you do need a team to help you win the tour but only the top riders can win whether they have a team or not but it does help.
Playing within the rules you say,PLEASE you are having a laugh there...Mclaren are always whiter than white ARNT THEY.Stealing other teams blueprints and lying about race incidents to name only the ones we know about....
Your F1 equipment comparison did make me chuckle because it really is not relevent and this is why I think so.
Put fisichella in a Brawn and Jenson in his Force India and see who goes the quickest.Answer Fisichella!
Put Kenny Robert VAN HUMMEL (currently last in TDF) on Contadors (Leader TDF) Carbon Trek and Contador on Hummels Carbon Koga and see who goes the quickest. No contest still Contador BY A MILE because he is the best rider in the world not anything to do with his equipment.
Im fighting my corner,KEEP EM COMING!!!!
I have never had a run in with a car but did have a big off in the Lake District riding an event in 2005.Came down a mountain at 40mph and got a frame wobble,lost control in a corner,went over the handelbars,landed on my head,helmet did its job magnificently but I had a shattered collarbone and 3 broken ribs for my troubles.OUCH!!!
Happy to report no erictile problems,to much info,sorry!!
Craphacker you make SOME valid points,yes you do need a team to help you win the tour but only the top riders can win whether they have a team or not but it does help.
Playing within the rules you say,PLEASE you are having a laugh there...Mclaren are always whiter than white ARNT THEY.Stealing other teams blueprints and lying about race incidents to name only the ones we know about....
Your F1 equipment comparison did make me chuckle because it really is not relevent and this is why I think so.
Put fisichella in a Brawn and Jenson in his Force India and see who goes the quickest.Answer Fisichella!
Put Kenny Robert VAN HUMMEL (currently last in TDF) on Contadors (Leader TDF) Carbon Trek and Contador on Hummels Carbon Koga and see who goes the quickest. No contest still Contador BY A MILE because he is the best rider in the world not anything to do with his equipment.
Im fighting my corner,KEEP EM COMING!!!!
haplesshacker
Money List Winner
Alchemy.
I'm aware that we've had our differences in the past, and I could so easily start to unravel this discussion. But I really can't be bothered. (Life's too short and all that!)
Yes it's great to see some Brits doing well in the TDF, but there are so many other sports that the Brits have been exceptionally good at.
Forget F1, drivers are almost irrelevant, (if that's how you prefer to look at it), just look at how many Brits are involved in the design and build of the cars and the technology that goes into them.
Britain has had some great sporting stars over the years. However along with the olympic sailing team, the cycling team has also benefited from huge investment. It has to be said that these spots were 'ear-marked' for this investment, due to the promise that certain individuals showed. Other sports were not so lucky.
TBH, I'd be very disappointed if we didn't have some Brits doing well in the TDF after all the money that's been chucked at the sport.
Oh. And to any cyclists that don't want to be run over by a car. Here's a word of advice. Wear colourful clothing, use lights, don't wear an i-pod, do stop at roundabouts and junctions, don't jump red lights or pedestrian crossings (some git almost had my son and I over a couple of weeks ago), and do look behind you before swerving across the road to avoid a manhole cover.
I have nothing against cylcing, just some of the prats that do none of the above and have a death wish.
Oh, and drivers, use a bit of sense when over-taking a bike. Please. I've been knocked off in the past because a driver couldn't wait 5 seconds before going past me, and clipped my handle bars!
Ahh. Balance in one post. Most unlike me!
Re-read. And guess what.......preaching!!??. I prefer to think of it as common sense. Shame people lack this now-a-days.
I'm aware that we've had our differences in the past, and I could so easily start to unravel this discussion. But I really can't be bothered. (Life's too short and all that!)
Yes it's great to see some Brits doing well in the TDF, but there are so many other sports that the Brits have been exceptionally good at.
Forget F1, drivers are almost irrelevant, (if that's how you prefer to look at it), just look at how many Brits are involved in the design and build of the cars and the technology that goes into them.
Britain has had some great sporting stars over the years. However along with the olympic sailing team, the cycling team has also benefited from huge investment. It has to be said that these spots were 'ear-marked' for this investment, due to the promise that certain individuals showed. Other sports were not so lucky.
TBH, I'd be very disappointed if we didn't have some Brits doing well in the TDF after all the money that's been chucked at the sport.
Oh. And to any cyclists that don't want to be run over by a car. Here's a word of advice. Wear colourful clothing, use lights, don't wear an i-pod, do stop at roundabouts and junctions, don't jump red lights or pedestrian crossings (some git almost had my son and I over a couple of weeks ago), and do look behind you before swerving across the road to avoid a manhole cover.
I have nothing against cylcing, just some of the prats that do none of the above and have a death wish.
Oh, and drivers, use a bit of sense when over-taking a bike. Please. I've been knocked off in the past because a driver couldn't wait 5 seconds before going past me, and clipped my handle bars!
Ahh. Balance in one post. Most unlike me!
Re-read. And guess what.......preaching!!??. I prefer to think of it as common sense. Shame people lack this now-a-days.
andycap
Head Pro
A bit off thread,
there was an organised cycle ride in my area yesterday , going to the golf club i must have passed well over 50 cyclists. The only people wearing hi-vis clothing were the marshals at the junctions, not one cyclists, and probably only 1 in 5 wearing helmets.
Surely the organisers have a duty of care and should make them wear safety clothing in order to take part
there was an organised cycle ride in my area yesterday , going to the golf club i must have passed well over 50 cyclists. The only people wearing hi-vis clothing were the marshals at the junctions, not one cyclists, and probably only 1 in 5 wearing helmets.
Surely the organisers have a duty of care and should make them wear safety clothing in order to take part
B
birdieman
Guest
Sorry couldn't resist =
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loQTgjjyL5Y
Come on Alchemy, tell us it isn't really like this!
=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loQTgjjyL5Y
Come on Alchemy, tell us it isn't really like this!
Yerman
Journeyman Pro
People who wear cycle helmets have more accidents and injuries -strange but true, non-wearers tend to cycle more carefully -ban the helmet!
Hi vis clothes I cannot argue with - but you must try the lycra shorts! -do they count as taylored?
AlchemyGolf
Head Pro
Alas Smith And Jones.......QUALITY!!!!!!!!!
Helmets should be worn by law,I probably wouldnt have come out of the other side of my accident,my helmet was cracked and its harder than my skull.
Cycling gear by its nature tends to be loud and garish.
Never had a problem wearing the lycra its when you start shaving your legs that you feel this just aint right but I kind of like it
Hapless Im with you now cant be bothered so we will just all agree I was right
Helmets should be worn by law,I probably wouldnt have come out of the other side of my accident,my helmet was cracked and its harder than my skull.
Cycling gear by its nature tends to be loud and garish.
Never had a problem wearing the lycra its when you start shaving your legs that you feel this just aint right but I kind of like it
Hapless Im with you now cant be bothered so we will just all agree I was right
AlchemyGolf
Head Pro
Seriously though Guys Bradley Wiggins just needs to hold station in 3rd place in the next 2 stages in the Alps (tues and Wed)and get to the Time Trial where he will take time out of his rivals.
Then its the final showdown up the mighty Mont Ventoux on Saturday.
No British rider has ever finished on the podium in Paris so it would be great if he can do it.
Then its the final showdown up the mighty Mont Ventoux on Saturday.
No British rider has ever finished on the podium in Paris so it would be great if he can do it.
AlchemyGolf
Head Pro
Also just want to mention that a lot of you are right,there has been a lot of money thrown at the Track cycling guys to get all those gold medals but that has no relation to the guys doing well in the Tour De France who are funded like every other tour rider.
What Wiggins has done in going from the track to 3rd in the TDF is like telling Usain Bolt to start training for the marathon and finishing in the top 3, not impossible but very unlikely.
It really would be an amazing achievement,quite a few Pro Mountain Bike riders make the transition to Tour contenders but I cant think of any Track gold guys from any country who have done it before.
What Wiggins has done in going from the track to 3rd in the TDF is like telling Usain Bolt to start training for the marathon and finishing in the top 3, not impossible but very unlikely.
It really would be an amazing achievement,quite a few Pro Mountain Bike riders make the transition to Tour contenders but I cant think of any Track gold guys from any country who have done it before.
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
Chris Boardman is about the closest.
AlchemyGolf
Head Pro
Yeah I loved Boardman and he won a few stages and wore the yellow jersey but was never a contender for the overall classification
Met him a few times at Local Time Trials after he retired as he is from my area and he is such a nice guy.
Scotlands Robert Millar won the King Of The Mountains and finished 4th in the late 80s which at the moment is the highest finish for a Brit.
Met him a few times at Local Time Trials after he retired as he is from my area and he is such a nice guy.
Scotlands Robert Millar won the King Of The Mountains and finished 4th in the late 80s which at the moment is the highest finish for a Brit.
teetime72
Head Pro
I walk Quicker than that.
Andy
Tour Winner
If golf does nothing for you, why the hell do you keep returning to bore us silly wittering on about an engineless set of 2 wheels?
Do us all a favour eh?
Cheers
Andy
PS What about cavendish getting dq'd? You kept very quiet on that!!
Do us all a favour eh?
Cheers
Andy
PS What about cavendish getting dq'd? You kept very quiet on that!!
