In the “Thinking Man’s Triathlete” article in this month’s Triathlete, TJ Tollakson addresses the “online forums” when talking about his handywork regarding his waterbottle system, aerobar modifications, etc.
Triathlete Mag: When you use jock cups for armrests, the peanut gallery certainly comes out in the online chat community. I take it that doesn’t bother you?
TJT: I’ve never really given a S*^@ about conformity. If people think I’m a lunatic, that’s fine. I know I’m pushing the envelope, but it’s easy to be an armchair quarterback. You don’t really know until you put yourself into the wind. That’s the way I live my life, and it won’t change. The people on Slowtwitch can say whatever they want.
What? ST is a bunch of “armchair quarterbacks”? No way…
I wondered why I hadn’t seen a thread about that article and comment yet. I was too busy giving people shit about their own personal business to start the thread myself.
Of course the great irony is that Slowtwitch is one of the places where things like putting a bottle cage between the aerobars first got discussed. Between Tom A., Jens, Gary Tingley, and others, I would say there are plenty of folks here who have been innovating longer than TJ’s been racing. Don’t get me wrong, I think TJ is a first rate person, athlete, and engineer. But there are plenty of folks here who have been doing the sort of experimentation that he’s doing for a long time. Thankfully, Slowtwitch is not LetsRun…
In the “Thinking Man’s Triathlete” article in this month’s Triathlete, TJ Tollakson addresses the “online forums” when talking about his handywork regarding his waterbottle system, aerobar modifications, etc.
Triathlete Mag: When you use jock cups for armrests, the peanut gallery certainly comes out in the online chat community. I take it that doesn’t bother you?
TJT: I’ve never really given a S*^@ about conformity. If people think I’m a lunatic, that’s fine. I know I’m pushing the envelope, but it’s easy to be an armchair quarterback. You don’t really know until you put yourself into the wind. That’s the way I live my life, and it won’t change. The people on Slowtwitch can say whatever they want.
What? ST is a bunch of “armchair quarterbacks”? No way…
Brad
Aww, c’mon…now, I’m just as quick to use whatever material is handy to get the job done as TJ apparently is…BUT, when you use a couple of nut cups for elbow rests AND admit it, you gotta know that you’re just setting yourself up for some ribbing
Just because people give him shit about the nut cups, it doesn’t mean that we don’t think it’s a clever kludge-job…
Well, as the interviewer I can direct the question any which way I like. I think TJ Tollakson is great athlete and find it interesting what he does. I also agree that people here can say/think what they want.
Of course the great irony is that Slowtwitch is one of the places where things like putting a bottle cage between the aerobars first got discussed. Between Tom A., Jens, Gary Tingley, and others, I would say there are plenty of folks here who have been innovating longer than TJ’s been racing. Don’t get me wrong, I think TJ is a first rate person, athlete, and engineer. But there are plenty of folks here who have been doing the sort of experimentation that he’s doing for a long time. Thankfully, Slowtwitch is not LetsRun…
Jordan,
As with most things here, the more vocal are usually the less knowledgeable…I think thats where the perception comes from
Plus, for real, this place is full of armchair quarterbacks to say the least.
We’ve got some first rate hackers, and some purely third rate bench warmers…but sometimes even the least talented engineers come up with a good idea. It’s then up to the more gifted engineers to solve the problem in a reasonable way, ie. without using jock cups. A good example of a proper solution to the problem would be PVC plumbing elbows. Easily shaped with a hacksaw and belt sander, and come in different sizes for different elbows.
Well, as the interviewer I can direct the question any which way I like. I think TJ Tollakson is great athlete and find it interesting what he does.
I also agree that people here can say/think what they want.
Well, as the interviewer I can direct the question any which way I like. I think TJ Tollakson is great athlete and find it interesting what he does.
I also agree that people here can say/think what they want.
really? seems people get banned for that.
+1.
Kudos to TJ for making that statement. ST’s sense of self-importance has become so inflated that it borders on grotesque and frequently has me laughing my ass off. Dan’s recent article entitled “Is Chrissie Wellington ST Approved?” is an excellent case in point of ST trying to assert supreme authority when in fact it belongs to someone else. (The question is not whether Chrissie is ST approved, but rather whether ST is Chrissie approved. It’s Chrissie who’s the benchmark for excellence in the sport, not some on-line forum.) I no longer post anything of substance here, and I have a feeling I’ll be erasing my profile and deleting the bookmark rather soon.
Well, as the interviewer I can direct the question any which way I like. I think TJ Tollakson is great athlete and find it interesting what he does.
I also agree that people here can say/think what they want.
really? seems people get banned for that.
+1.
Kudos to TJ for making that statement. ST’s sense of self-importance has become so inflated that it borders on grotesque and frequently has me laughing my ass off. Dan’s recent article entitled “Is Chrissie Wellington ST Approved?” is an excellent case in point of ST trying to assert supreme authority when in fact it belongs to someone else. (The question is not whether Chrissie is ST approved, but rather whether ST is Chrissie approved. It’s Chrissie who’s the benchmark for excellence in the sport, not some on-line forum.) I no longer post anything of substance here, and I have a feeling I’ll be erasing my profile and deleting the bookmark rather soon.
Wow, seems the membership is not so happy with the “forum” attitude. wonder why?
Well, as the interviewer I can direct the question any which way I like. I think TJ Tollakson is great athlete and find it interesting what he does.
I also agree that people here can say/think what they want.
Well, as the interviewer I can direct the question any which way I like. I think TJ Tollakson is great athlete and find it interesting what he does.
I also agree that people here can say/think what they want.
** **
really? seems people get banned for that.
I should have said within reason.
Funny because Slowlytriing got banned for saying that. I know - she is my girlfriend.
regardless of how high-tech or low-tech some of his contraptions are, I think last year’s “aero drinking system” should be illegal. That thing seems to create a cocoon for the arms on the aero position, making the front end of the bike a little more slippery. Maybe I’m just totally wrong.
regardless of how high-tech or low-tech some of his contraptions are, I think last year’s “aero drinking system” should be illegal. That thing seems to create a cocoon for the arms on the aero position, making the front end of the bike a little more slippery. Maybe I’m just totally wrong.
Nope, you’re right. I think that was the WHOLE IDEA. Maybe the aero wheels, blade type forks, and streamlined frame make the rest of the bike more ‘slippery’ too. I bet he has one of those silly, pointy hats as well. All of these newfangled aero thingies need to get outlawed from the sport before they become entrenched and there is no turning back. And the way a lot of guys are now leaning over onto these special bars to become more aerodynamic, it just has to be unsafe, they can’t even reach their brakes for cryin’ out loud.
Greg
Dan’s recent article entitled “Is Chrissie Wellington ST Approved?” is an excellent case in point of ST trying to assert supreme authority when in fact it belongs to someone else.
I always understood the phrase “Slowtwitch Approved” as ironic and self-deprecating. Obviously, a two-time world champion doesn’t need our approval. The title was a nod to that fact as Dan undertakes an objective analysis of Chrissie’s fit within established criteria. I don’t think that’s arrogant; quite the opposite.
I suspect I’m on my way to hell for explaining too many jokes.
