Matt

I applaud anyone that comes on here and has the balls to step up to the plate and bring this up. We really need to start a Private Facebook Group for pros and start discussing this stuff internally as well. We need change and it isn't happening.

A few to add:

Alistair
Chrissie

T.O. (look at his last few Kona bike results puts him at or near the fastest) //

Well this is just my mens list, we can start a Womens if people care. Bike companies don't seem to, women uber bikers just don't and never have sold a single bike.


And I do not consider Allistar an uber biker just yet, but he is knocking on the door. We need some more non drafting results under his belt first, the 70.3 WC should be a good final exam for him.


And no on T.O., he is part of that group just under, has the occasional uber ride, but not a consistent uber biker. There are lots of guys that have that occasional uber ride, but you almost always see it when a "real" uber biker is not present, or off form for some reason. The real uber bikers almost always showed superior form on the bike, and almost never rode in the lead group for more than a brief rest period.


I forget the guys name, a British kid that was a front pack swimmer and off the front biker. He seemed to fade after a couple years though, what happened to him, anyone know? When he first hit the scent I though he would achieve that uber status, but like the Ralerts something different happened and kind of fizzled out.

Hey Matt thanks for the input. As you know, unless you are in that lead group, or the one chasing him, it is hard to tell just how strong Ali really is. We all know he is a beast, but it really doest show to the fans until he rides some races on his own. His first test against Lionel was in uber territory for sure, and like I said earlier, one or two more like that will erase all doubt.

Of course you were in many of those races with him up close and personal, so you have a much closer perspective on it. Not to mention that you have had your share of uber rides yourself. And since you are here, you seemed to be super aggressive and uber in ITU racing, never really settled or comfortable just letting the lead group be your fairing. When you came to non draft it seems(to me) that you toned down that aggressiveness on the bike? You had strong rides for sure, what was your strategy once you moved over?

Ok so 10 minutes, can we then attribute the other 10 to the run? Going that much faster on watts that don't justify it don't happen in a vacuum. That was my point in talking about the top 10 Womens times. Never before have I seen such a grouping of average pro women, and with such fast bike times all right around each other.

Yes the swim was short about 300 meters, but that wouldn't account for their overall times. It had to be a faster and easier than normal bike that led to much faster runs than usual too. And the weather played right into this perfect storm too. It all just smells fishy...

There's a few reasons why I dialed it back a bit on the bike.

1. From 2008-2011 I really only opted to go hard on the bike because ITU breakaways were very rare and I felt like my chances of success increased if I could get 30-60s lead on the competition. To my dismay, once I walked away from ITU the front group of 15 swimmers eventually figured out that if they all ride hard the first 15-25km instead of a 5km lap, they all perform well in the end.

2. I think one of the biggest problems in non-draft for smaller guys is that we're essentially on the same size and weight bike as someone that weighs 10+ pounds more, just with smaller engines. In terms of frontal surface area, we're very close as well. It just helps to have a few extra pounds of muscle for the engine.
Brent told me he put on a few Kg since his ITU days. I have too, but not as much as I like.
---this brings up another point about Tim's bike in Brazil. Him and I weigh virtually the same and tiny guys arent known for being Uber bikers.
Case in point: Nairo Quintana in the last stage of the Giro lost it not only because he's a "bad time trialist." The smaller you are, the greater disadvantage you have on a flat course where being light isn't beneficial

3. My strategy now that I've moved over to long course is the same. "Ride hard enough to stay in the race without emptying the tank for the run"

You do the math. :)

monty wrote:

Sindballe

Hellriegel

Thomas H. made my first cut, you must have missed him on my list on page 1 here. And for Sinballe, he also goes into the T.O., Spencer Smith, Wolfgang, and many other category. Had uber rides in his career, but I would not classify him as one of my complete uber riders. You yourself have had some uber rides too, but not enough or dominant enough to make that list of I think 13 I have now. Check it out closer and let me know what you think of all those guys.

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1. TriRoost has a private forum for pros.

2. What about that Pro Union or whatever it was called (and Jesus, no one needs to tell me it's not a real union.)