The Water Cooler, Scuttlebutt, Chit Chat Thread
#4426
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
In bike news, I've gotten the spousal blessing to buy a mountain bike. I'm leaning towards a hardtail which I think will be optimal for the local race series, but half my friends say I should get a full suspension.
Likes For caloso:
#4428
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 13,445
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4234 Post(s)
Liked 2,949 Times
in
1,808 Posts
#4429
fuggitivo solitario
#4431
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,292
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8280 Post(s)
Liked 9,042 Times
in
4,475 Posts
Likes For big john:
#4432
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
Whoa. That's hot.
#4434
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,292
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8280 Post(s)
Liked 9,042 Times
in
4,475 Posts
What's amazing is how much saddle to bar drop he runs, the bar is actually below the top of the headset. And he still doesn't use a dropper seatpost, doesn't want the extra 200 grams. With 7 world championships I guess he knows what he's doing.
I would recommend a full suspension bike if you're going anywhere with rough terrain, rocks, roots, or braking bumps. Hardtails can go fast and I still see people going fast on bumpy stuff but the rear suspension gives you more control and makes the rear brake work better. You also don't have to be so careful with your line choice.
There are so many choices now it's mind boggling. Wheel size, suspension travel, geometry/fit, and money. I bought a new mtb in 2018 and I agonized over all the variables. Ended up with an enduro style bike with 27.5x 2.8 tires, 150mm rear travel and a 160mm Fox fork. It's about 32 pounds and has most of the recent geometry changes which started coming to mtb in 2017. Long wheel base, slack head angle, but a shorter reach than most others. You wouldn't want to use it for XC racing but it can go through a pile of rocks better than anything I have ridden short of a motorcycle.
If you start looking at bikes be sure to look at the geometry charts. The reach can vary by inches for 2 same sized bikes. There is less standard than there is for road bikes when it comes to fit.
I would recommend a full suspension bike if you're going anywhere with rough terrain, rocks, roots, or braking bumps. Hardtails can go fast and I still see people going fast on bumpy stuff but the rear suspension gives you more control and makes the rear brake work better. You also don't have to be so careful with your line choice.
There are so many choices now it's mind boggling. Wheel size, suspension travel, geometry/fit, and money. I bought a new mtb in 2018 and I agonized over all the variables. Ended up with an enduro style bike with 27.5x 2.8 tires, 150mm rear travel and a 160mm Fox fork. It's about 32 pounds and has most of the recent geometry changes which started coming to mtb in 2017. Long wheel base, slack head angle, but a shorter reach than most others. You wouldn't want to use it for XC racing but it can go through a pile of rocks better than anything I have ridden short of a motorcycle.
If you start looking at bikes be sure to look at the geometry charts. The reach can vary by inches for 2 same sized bikes. There is less standard than there is for road bikes when it comes to fit.
Likes For big john:
#4435
Not actually Tmonk
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 14,132
Bikes: road, track, mtb
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2638 Post(s)
Liked 3,151 Times
in
1,658 Posts
I would second the FS choice. I ride a 650b (27.5) hardtail and I enjoy it for my solo riding - small, light, snappy, and I can throw it around with much more agility. But it's just slow compared to a bigger wheel FS bike... in the few XC style races I've done, I just get frustrated at much faster the 29" FS bikes descend, cruise over rough terrain or just roll on the flats. I got to demo a Giant Anthem (full on race bike) carbon FS 29" and boy... that thing was freakin' fast!!!
__________________
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
Likes For TMonk:
#4436
Newbie racer
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 3,406
Bikes: Propel, red is faster
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1575 Post(s)
Liked 1,569 Times
in
974 Posts
Mentioned this in the Road forum topic. For promoters and people interested in the decline of American "roadie" things.........https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowling_Alone
I've read it, and it hits home.
I've read it, and it hits home.
Likes For burnthesheep:
#4437
Globo Gym lifetime member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Redmond, Oregon
Posts: 5,204
Bikes: Fast ones
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 410 Post(s)
Liked 614 Times
in
306 Posts
*cough*
...I also have an inside man feeding me data on Quinn. If he can hold it together, the Classics are going to be a bloodbath. Bllodbath, as in 3-minute power of 639W at 77 kg. That's 0.74 W/kg more than Cancellara at his peak.
We'll see if he can hold this madness into some meaningful results. At some point, his body is going to crack...right?
...I also have an inside man feeding me data on Quinn. If he can hold it together, the Classics are going to be a bloodbath. Bllodbath, as in 3-minute power of 639W at 77 kg. That's 0.74 W/kg more than Cancellara at his peak.
We'll see if he can hold this madness into some meaningful results. At some point, his body is going to crack...right?
__________________
Likes For Cypress:
#4438
Newbie racer
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 3,406
Bikes: Propel, red is faster
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1575 Post(s)
Liked 1,569 Times
in
974 Posts
The pro training numbers are just comical compared to clubbies and fun racers.
Once you see and understand it, you can totally see why they can do what they can.
I can't fathom 3min at power like that. Lots of folks can do that for a single minute. But THREE?!!! Hunnngggggggggg
Once you see and understand it, you can totally see why they can do what they can.
I can't fathom 3min at power like that. Lots of folks can do that for a single minute. But THREE?!!! Hunnngggggggggg
Likes For burnthesheep:
#4439
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 2,910
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 140 Post(s)
Liked 327 Times
in
161 Posts
*cough*
...I also have an inside man feeding me data on Quinn. If he can hold it together, the Classics are going to be a bloodbath. Bllodbath, as in 3-minute power of 639W at 77 kg. That's 0.74 W/kg more than Cancellara at his peak.
We'll see if he can hold this madness into some meaningful results. At some point, his body is going to crack...right?
...I also have an inside man feeding me data on Quinn. If he can hold it together, the Classics are going to be a bloodbath. Bllodbath, as in 3-minute power of 639W at 77 kg. That's 0.74 W/kg more than Cancellara at his peak.
We'll see if he can hold this madness into some meaningful results. At some point, his body is going to crack...right?
#4441
Globo Gym lifetime member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Redmond, Oregon
Posts: 5,204
Bikes: Fast ones
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 410 Post(s)
Liked 614 Times
in
306 Posts
On that note, Quintana's performance on Ventoux was extremely suspect. I know he's got the "nothing" face, but most of the pictures and video of that climb had him pretty much breathing through his nose - at an estimated 6.8 W/kg - for over 28 minutes. Apart from the initial attack (Sepp did 650W for 16 seconds and got dropped like a murder weapon), he looked like he was riding in Z2 the entire way up. And this is all AFTER holding >415W for almost 7 minutes prior to the attack.
I know he's a freak, but that hearkened back to the late 90's early 2000's dirty days. I'm 90% sure there's something fishy going on.
This is not the face of someone that JUST SET THE RECORD GOING UP VENTOUX
I know he's a freak, but that hearkened back to the late 90's early 2000's dirty days. I'm 90% sure there's something fishy going on.
This is not the face of someone that JUST SET THE RECORD GOING UP VENTOUX
__________________
#4442
Globo Gym lifetime member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Redmond, Oregon
Posts: 5,204
Bikes: Fast ones
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 410 Post(s)
Liked 614 Times
in
306 Posts
Those are his tested numbers, but those are also the tested numbers from the other riders (same conditions and protocol)..
__________________
#4443
Newbie racer
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 3,406
Bikes: Propel, red is faster
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1575 Post(s)
Liked 1,569 Times
in
974 Posts
On that note, Quintana's performance on Ventoux was extremely suspect. I know he's got the "nothing" face, but most of the pictures and video of that climb had him pretty much breathing through his nose - at an estimated 6.8 W/kg - for over 28 minutes. Apart from the initial attack (Sepp did 650W for 16 seconds and got dropped like a murder weapon), he looked like he was riding in Z2 the entire way up. And this is all AFTER holding >415W for almost 7 minutes prior to the attack.
I know he's a freak, but that hearkened back to the late 90's early 2000's dirty days. I'm 90% sure there's something fishy going on.
This is not the face of someone that JUST SET THE RECORD GOING UP VENTOUX
I know he's a freak, but that hearkened back to the late 90's early 2000's dirty days. I'm 90% sure there's something fishy going on.
This is not the face of someone that JUST SET THE RECORD GOING UP VENTOUX
Other than dope, just a hunch the wind helped?
#4444
fuggitivo solitario
In other words, not quite apples to apples. The 6.8 w/kg number also relies on power numbers of Kuss (b/c Kuss is the only one to have published actual power data); the extrapolation assumes that Kuss is at 60 kg, whereas Kuss may be actually 63-64 kg, so that'll knock the 6.8 w/kg number down a bit more (to 6.5 w/kg). 6.5 w/kg is certainly within the realms of possibility.
Last edited by echappist; 02-19-20 at 05:14 PM.
#4445
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 2,910
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 140 Post(s)
Liked 327 Times
in
161 Posts
I should have been specific. I was referring to the 28k kJ of work over 31+ hours in 7 days. Was that a training week or a stage race? Either way that amount of work would put any of us mortals into a coma.
#4447
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,292
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8280 Post(s)
Liked 9,042 Times
in
4,475 Posts
Ever watch "My 600 pound life"? When I did loaded touring I ate about 6000 calories per day. I carried food on the bike, pigged out at dinner, and hit the market after dinner to get road food for the next day and snacks for that night.
#4448
No matches
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 11,647
Bikes: two wheeled ones
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1398 Post(s)
Liked 444 Times
in
250 Posts
And yeah, there was one the other night, for breakfast he had 2 medium pizzas, a cheese bread thing, and a cinnamon thing. And then had second breakfast shortly after...
I've only eaten like that rarely, on the days I did 100+ miles inside a big block I'd need like 5k or so. It was a lot of eating, took a lot of time.
#4449
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,292
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8280 Post(s)
Liked 9,042 Times
in
4,475 Posts
All the time, lol. My wife loves it (it's on at this minute, midnight here, going to bed with it on, one of our go tos)
And yeah, there was one the other night, for breakfast he had 2 medium pizzas, a cheese bread thing, and a cinnamon thing. And then had second breakfast shortly after...
I've only eaten like that rarely, on the days I did 100+ miles inside a big block I'd need like 5k or so. It was a lot of eating, took a lot of time.
And yeah, there was one the other night, for breakfast he had 2 medium pizzas, a cheese bread thing, and a cinnamon thing. And then had second breakfast shortly after...
I've only eaten like that rarely, on the days I did 100+ miles inside a big block I'd need like 5k or so. It was a lot of eating, took a lot of time.
Some of the people can't get by the victim mentality. "It's not fair" and "you don't understand". I think that doctor understands. What are people like that going to do when he stops working?
#4450
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,292
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8280 Post(s)
Liked 9,042 Times
in
4,475 Posts
We were having a snack break on a ride and one of the women, a great climber, was complaining about having been as high as 125 pounds for a time. One of the guys said "My 125 pound life". We lol'ed.