I looked up several sources for Jan’s weight and they mostly list it around 160lbs for competition, while most have Lance Armstrong’s weight coming in at 160-170 (although I think I have seen other sources listing him in the high 150’s that I find more believable).
I’d just like to point out Jan doesn’t really ride in a “power” position compared to someone like Lance. Lance sits way back in the saddle whereas Jan rides much farther forward in the saddle, not quite steep tri, but I would guess at 76-77 degrees. Most pics of lance show hime to at about 73-74 degree position. Shallow is a power position provided the rider has the back and hamstring flexibility to ride aero, whereas steep riders trade peak power for more consistent overall power. IO said it in another thread that most pro-cyclist’s ride their “shallow” angled TT bikes steep by riding the nose of their saddles. I think the thread was on seat angles…about 2 weeks ago.
How can I say this nicely. . .this take is way off base. First, the head tube on the Giant, particularly in the size he’s riding, is short. . .much shorter than a comparable TCR composite frame. Second. . .this position bears very little resemblance to his road position. His angles on the TT bike are much more closed than on the road bike, more than even just few mm, which is enough different to demand some specific training in the position.
Ahh… but compared to say a P3 or a Willier (like he rode last year when his bars weren’t as angled downward) it’s quite long. The angles on this Giant TT bike don’t look particularly aggressive. Maybe 75 at most. I guess it’s really just a matter of pouring over photos until Giant decides to release the information on what angles the tubes are actually at. Perception and reality don’t really go together well.
Your point is well taken, though I was referring more to riding style than position. Lance favors a high cadence style of pedalling which results in lower peak pedal force and makes less use of upper body leverage. Jan is a lower cadence rider; much more of a “diesel” if you will (to use Phil Liggett’s analogy). I personally tend to use my arms much more for leverage when I’m doing low-cadence, big-gear work vs high cadence spinning.
Apparently, I can’t use the quote button either … anyway, my post was supposed to say that Ulrich looks pretty big there (for a pro bike racer). Heard that his trainer was saying that the tough stages of the tour don’t start until a week or two into the race and they plan on building fitness until that point. Is that possible? I can’t imagine building fitness while riding the TdF.
What’s up with Vino’s big chainring?
Saying that Jan is bigger than Lance refers not to length or weight, but rather to quad size. The numbers probably aren’t available, but Jan’s quad diameter would be much bigger than Lance’s.
Ahh… but compared to say a P3 or a Willier (like he rode last year when his bars weren’t as angled downward) it’s quite long. The angles on this Giant TT bike don’t look particularly aggressive. Maybe 75 at most. I guess it’s really just a matter of pouring over photos until Giant decides to release the information on what angles the tubes are actually at. Perception and reality don’t really go together well.
Bit of a Typo as Jan rode a Walser (Swiss made) TT bike last year not a Willier. I am sure the bars on them are either flat or point down slightly which Lance’s new HED bars seem (well to my untrained eye) to replicate slightly. It seems that Jan has taken this a stage (or two) further this year.
After all of this debate it would be funny if his bars had just slipped whilst he was warming up!
After all of this debate it would be funny if his bars had just slipped whilst he was warming up!
yes…that would be funny…
Vino was riding a SRM with custom-made biopace-like chainrings… probably to try what the power output difference would be… doesn´t matter much anymore now that he´s out for a few weeks (even out of the olympics if things don´t go better…)
Axel
jeez… I can’t believe ya’ll are still arguing about this.
Unnngk! Ullrich’s position is fast with the spinning of the wheels and the aerodynamics and the redorkulation of his centrifuge! Sgink!
“it would be funny if his bars had just slipped whilst he was warming up!”
no, he raced with the same setup:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos.php?id=photos/2004/may04/germany/stage1/cycling-germany-ullrich-51
(it won’t let me post the pic, sorry)
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“it would be funny if his bars had just slipped whilst he was warming up!”
no, he raced with the same setup:
yes… i know he raced with this setup, too… still thought it would´ve been funny had it been an accident…
Axel