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51.16 vs 49.43 Discuss

Watching the Jensie set a “new” record was somehow not-that-interesting and riveting at the same time. One guy going around the track for an hour; only cycling aficionados could find it so compelling. The thing I can’t get out of my mind is Eddy Merckx still did 49.43 km/hr with toe clips, spoked, box section wheels and a hairnet helmet on a track bike. That is a Man.

Eddy recently said if he had Chris Boardman’s plastic helmet, shoe covers and clip-in pedals he would have gone over 50 km/hr. As much as I liked the UCI Hour Record, it was already corrupted by that difference. If you want to see how you stack up to Merckx, you better find a hairnet helmet and toe clip pedals. I’d watch that.

Chapeau to Jens for kicking off what we can only hope is a rebirth in this great event. It is doubtful his time will stand for too long but he had the heart to jump on the track and see what he was made of, like Eddy did before him.

Gianni

Gianni has left the building.

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wiscot says:

Sep 22 2014 at 10:15 am

@ChrisO

OMG I've only just seen the video of the Rabo-Liv crash in the women's world TTT.

Looks horrific, although I think Van Vleuten who crashed first got off lightly and it was van der Breggen in third position who fractured her pelvis.

People are blaming the barrier legs but I'm not sure it would have made any difference - van Vleuten misjudged the corner and was going down whatever happened. With van der Breggen it was just the way she hit the ground.

Hope she recovers OK - I guess if you're going to get a nasty injury now is the best time, if there is such a thing.

Agreed, they were going full gas and rider #1 took a line too close to the barriers. With such a tight formation at that speed there's no way to take avoiding action.
TBONE says:

Sep 22 2014 at 12:54 pm

@wiscot

@Barracuda

Put Jens, then Sparticus and Martin on Eddy's old bike. Problem solved.

Well, not really. It's kind of like saying to Federer et all, you've got to use wooden raquets or to Usain Bolt, here's your trowel, dig your starting holes on a cinder track, or asking a pole vaulter to use bamboo instead of fibreglass. The progress in bike technology has been profound since the 70s (and Merckx pushed the technology of his day to the limit in his HR ride). I think coming up with a rule that says the bike to be used must meet UCI standards for a track/pursuit bike is the way to go.

Just put them on a standard track bike. This isn't about technology as much as it's about position. Said track bike can be made out of whatever the hell they want. Drop bars, spoked wheels. Simple. None of this modified road TT bike BS.
Barracuda says:

Sep 22 2014 at 4:29 pm

@wiscot

@Barracuda

Put Jens, then Sparticus and Martin on Eddy's old bike. Problem solved.

Well, not really. It's kind of like saying to Federer et all, you've got to use wooden raquets or to Usain Bolt, here's your trowel, dig your starting holes on a cinder track, or asking a pole vaulter to use bamboo instead of fibreglass. The progress in bike technology has been profound since the 70s (and Merckx pushed the technology of his day to the limit in his HR ride). I think coming up with a rule that says the bike to be used must meet UCI standards for a track/pursuit bike is the way to go.

Damn, the sarcasm font did not work again.

I agree, track bike is the way to go!
Geraint says:

Oct 3 2014 at 2:01 am

Sosenka is planning another attempt:

http://road.cc/content/news/132122-festka-build-new-bike-ondÅ™ej-sosenka's-hour-record-attempt-2015