WalksOn2Wheels

topslop1

That's kind of my philosophy with living in different areas of the world.

People seem to mystify or romanticize moving to and working in another country. And I want to tell them that no matter where they go, they're going to bring themselves and everything else associated with them to that area... you can't escape life and or responsibilities by moving to another area

My quote would be something like:

No matter where you go, there you are.

Can't run from yourself.. but you can get find some short term success on the bicycle..

topslop1

Aw man, my bike doesn't even have fenders on it, and I was definitely wearing lycra / spandex. ****.

Dan333SP

I think at least a couple of you guys have a passing interest in motor racing.

I watched the F1 race from Spain yesterday after my ride. A freaking 18 year old kid in his first drive with his new team won the race. 18!!! He's the youngest winner by some margin in the sport's history. Pretty incredible. It was actually a fun race to watch too, which is a pleasant change from the usual snooze fest with a Mercedes driving by itself a lap ahead of the field thanks to the teammates for Merc crashing into each other. Bozos.

Things I was doing when I was 18:

Worrying about who my freshman roommate would be
Learning how to drink alcohol while living in New Orleans
Trying to get (something that rhymes with "paid").
Not being paid millions of dollars to fly around the world racing cars

Back to bikes. Pardon my interruption.

Doug28450

I am thinking of going to Indy Saturday for the first day of qualifications.

jtaylor996

Not. I've hit 31 on the flat (from standing start) and have a yuuuge potbelly. It really depends on the wind, not the potbelly. Peak speeds are even less meaningful than average speeds.

jtaylor996

Meh, it was OK. I hate these cars that can't pass. The last 30 laps were watching 2 faster cars (.5/lap faster, too, that's a lot) unable to pass those in front.

F1 is more about politics than racing. First was RB being too dominant, then Merc lobbied to have the rules favor them, and now they're dominant... who's going to whine the hardest next and be the most dominant?

TBH, IndyCar has been a much better series to watch the last 2 years or so. I mean, then F1 season is basically decided (WCC & WDC is down to 2) in qualifying at the first race.

LAJ

This will continue the land rush to get the next "sliced bread" into the cockpit of one of those cars.
He did well. So did the Benz guys....... Made the race interesting.

LAJ

Always been a fan of IndyCar, and I agree. It is the best racing out there. It sucked when Pikes Peak Int'l Raceway shut down

Dan333SP

It is annoying that they can't pass, but that's at least partially due to that particular track's configuration with the last couple slow corners leading onto the main straight not allowing a following car to get close enough to make a DRS pass. They've raced pretty well at other tracks the last few years. Also, my fav driver Dan Ricciardo at least showed that you can try a banzai move even if it didn't work out.

That said, I'm at a loss as to why they are trying to make the cars 5+ seconds a lap faster next year. That will just make them more aero-dependent and they'll have an even harder time running close together. They're getting plenty fast just on the normal development curve, they were 2+ seconds faster this year than last year at Barcelona anyway without any rule changes.

I also hate these engines. They're absolute marvels in that they're squeezing out something like 1,000 net HP from a 1.6L V6T with some batteries, but they sound like wet dogfarts compared to the old V10s. I grew up on the V10s and still get chills thinking about the 2001 Mclaren's sound. These are awful by comparison and that takes away a huge element of enjoyment from attending a race live.

IndyCar is also strangely predictable this year. Pagenaud is turning into a phenom.

jtaylor996

Careful with the spoilers. I haven't watched the IndyCar race from this weekend yet (it's on the DVR).

IndyCars have way more downforce than F1 cars, but they get much of that from the undertray, rather than from the wings. This means they can still pass with only a little assistance. Downforce is fine as long as it doesn't get interrupted by following another car.

There are so many ways to solve this problem (crap, reintroducing movable aero parts would fix it in 10 minutes), but in F1 the teams have to approve everything, and none of them want a level playing field, so nothing meaningful is going to happen. We'll just go from one dominant team to the next.

Dan333SP

I've been saying for a long time on various racing forums that F1 should re-allow underbody tunnels like the '78-'82 ground effects cars. They'd look a lot nicer without all the ghastly aero bits tacked on (the 2008 cars were the epitome of aero ugliness, while the ground effects cars were lovely things), and they'd theoretically be able to produce consistent downforce without as much disturbance following in another car's wake. Problem with the old cars was the suspension essentially having to be rock solid to keep the tunnels sealed via sliding skirt, but I'm sure they could use ride height control electronics that solve those issues.

It'll never happen though because it would require a complete scrapping of all of the chassis and aero rules that have been refined gradually over the years to be super-constrictive. The rule makers and the team's veto power essentially holds the sport hostage and keeps anything really exciting from happening. It's all too political.

Have you had a chance to go to Austin for the race? I went in 2012 and I loved the sightlines on the track, very nice as a fan.

Dan333SP

This went way off topic even for Addiction, sorry non-race fans.

I'm just excited because I'm T-minus ~4 weeks until I go to Montreal for the GP again. Love that town.

jtaylor996

"Off topic for addiction" is like an oxymoron.

jtaylor996

I've been there, but haven't raced the track or gone to the F1 race there (so damn expensive).

LesterOfPuppets

Speaking of OT. I might have to post two of these today, since I have the day off and there's a good chance of rain.

LesterOfPuppets

Ooh, they got the doors open!

Doug28450

I was looking at the Bicycle Indiana magazine yesterday. There is a ride in June at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Tour de Cure by American Diabetes Association: 2016 Indiana Tour de Cure

Dan333SP

It was a lot of money and the hotels that first year (2012) were trying to really rip everyone off. Fortunately I stayed with some friends of my brother and my mom treated me to the tickets since the GP happened on my birthday that year. Win/win. Loved me some beef brisket while I was there too.

Dan333SP

Pretty sure a guy on this forum did that event and posted about it (10wheels?). I'd love to ride there just for the history at that track, even though the actual riding would get a little boring. Other than lapping freds with potbellies. That would be fun.

topslop1

I mean you really have to born into something like that, I don't care who you are. You aren't going to have any income at age 8 or 10 to start racing go-karting or whatever it takes to get good in the first place. Tiger Woods didn't show up at 24 after a struggle with choosing a career while dealing with two non-supportive bickering parents to suddenly learn how to play golf.

He had a golf ball in his crib, he was chosen at an early age, he didn't have a conscious time to 'select'.


Can confirm: I was interested in diddling my girlfriend and drinking so much that I puked off of suburban back yard balconies. #goals . I was an honor student prior to my poor early life choices. Shame on me.

Doug28450

I was thinking much of the same thing. After about the third lap it would get rather boring.

Dan333SP

They could spice it up by letting one of the Indy drivers out on track at the same time as the riders and telling them to average at least 150 without killing anyone. I'm thinking Takuma Sato since he's a little reckless.

Doug28450

That sounds like a job for Paul Tracy. He was always good a finding stuff to crash into. His teammates were often good targets.

Dan333SP

Speaking of potbellies... PT has let himself go a little.