77T with 12T @90rpm is like 41mph
.
If you can push it… or maybe he is compensating for something else…
he enjoys low cadence?
There’s some evidence in the scientific literature suggesting a direct correlation between optimal chainring size and scrotal volume.
Validity’s questionable, however, as the most widely cited study had a sample of 6 grad students who were “moderately trained” and used a caliper-like device to estimate volume rather than direct measurment (which, as I understand it, requires shaving, electrodes and an incision).
It’s out there on pubmed somewhere if your interested. IIRC, the authors reference coggan’s related work on the subject.
I have a 60, btw.
He can actually push it at about 65rpm in TTs ( http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/Bowdler_makes_his_mark_on_the_BBAR_article_271573.html ).
He can actually push it at about 65rpm in TTs ( http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/…_article_271573.html ).
God damn it man! We must call him a poser and doubt his abilities…this is ST after all. Yes I say, Yes, he is a poser and that photo with out doubt is his version of a Corvette with the top down.
Same bike and rider I posted on Boxing Day.
http://forum.slowtwitch.com/gforum.cgi?post=2141465;search_string=boxing%20day;#2141465
Shit man, more facts. Please stop this madness.
Summer time-trialling in the UK can best be described as “chasing trucks up and down motorways”. I did a 25-mile race in 51 and change on a Saturday afternoon on the A19 (a busy dual-carriageway) many years ago which is over 29mph average (prob about 320W) and my best time for ‘100’ was 3h47. Every time a big truck comes past you can change up a gear - if you get a small convoy then you’re in the 12-sprocket and spinning your legs. It’s cool riding so fast, but doesn’t bear comparison with anything else - Norman Stadler put the better part of 40 minutes into me at Kona in 2004!
The community has thrown up some great characters tho. Graeme Obree everyone knows about, but my personal favourite was Mick Bradshaw who said that as soon as he was in the ‘12’ sprocket in the National Championship one year, he pulled out some cable cutters and cut his gear cable so he had no choice but to grind it out. He won, naturally.
The sport also throws up some surprisingly fast rides by some surprisingly old people using surprisingly low cadences. I’m looking forward to getting involved again in about 20 years’ time!
One advantage I can see - if you get a flat on a training ride, you don’t need a spare tubular. You just take off the wheel with the flat, then pop a 12" tire for a kid’s bike over the chainring and ride home like that.
The sport also throws up some surprisingly fast rides by some surprisingly old people using surprisingly low cadences.
Indeed, everyone goes on and on about what some of the fast tri cyclists and some road Pros would/could do on the bike course at IMH. Actually the guy they want to see doing this is Michael Hutchinson who holds the “world record” for the 100 mile ITT.
I did a 25-mile race in 51 and change
I demand you change your user name under the trade description act 
.
OMG… No Cervelo or Zipps…He must be crap!!
Kev Dawson has the UK record with a 3h22 which is near as dammit 30mph. On a calm day at Kona, riders like Kev / Michael would be around 4h10 with none of that getting off and running nonsense to worry about - a ‘100’ on the Queen K with an amateur TT field would get won just inside 3h50 - it’s lumpier than you realise.
Jens Voigt is the man I’d like to see on the Queen K … he could eat the rocks if he ran out of gels.
Plenty of reasons:
It looks cool
You don’t have to spin 80 rpm with a little tailwind
You don’t need small gear if there are no hills around. So why not take extra big gear you don’t need, instead of 15 extra small gears you sure never use
Some athletes are strong, and they want to show it
It might be the fastest set up for this athlete. You don’t know this from a picture.
He has been a topic on slowtwitch already a few times.
A little bit bigger chainring and he can screw the pedal directly into the ring. Wouldn’t need a crank arm on that side.
Styrrell
Kev Dawson has the UK record with a 3h22 which is near as dammit 30mph. On a calm day at Kona, riders like Kev / Michael would be around 4h10 with none of that getting off and running nonsense to worry about - a ‘100’ on the Queen K with an amateur TT field would get won just inside 3h50 - it’s lumpier than you realise.
I don’t think people realize what a specialty this is. They think that Pro roadies even of the stature of Lance Armstrong can just jump on a bike and ride under 4 hours at Kona! It’s a totally different kind of riding than these guys are used to doing. This is what Hutchinson et al specialize in - ultra long distance ITTs
Well, that’s how sponsorship works - they pay you cash - you ride what they tell you and try to win. Or be second or third… I think most of Hutch’s income as a pro comes from sponsorships and not from the prize money. Yes, equipment could cost him some seconds/minutes but his professional rivals are not riding the fastest equipment either. Amateurs don’t produce times close enough to his for equipment to be of concern with that part of the field…
Jason MacIntyre (RIP) used to ride his own Cervelo P2C forgoing sponsorship income from frame manufacturers in order to be more competitive. And he was.
duuude
you are on to something there, haha
A little bit bigger chainring and he can screw the pedal directly into the ring. Wouldn’t need a crank arm on that side.
Styrrell
I know who made that chainring and they have made bigger. They are currently making some for me, not that big but more aero.