[Percy B]

Very nice, Yos.

Here's a short bit of footage from a 24hour time trial - for all those who think that testers are mental, here's the proof. Stick it out to the end where they have to lift him off his bike. 541 miles on a lumpy course in 24 hours...... nuts!



And whilst I'm on, we're off to Tenerife for a week at the end of September - anybody care to recommend some good rides - we're on the west coast.

[mikester]

Wilko is a legend - truly a great athlete, and a nice, modest bloke to boot. And he's in his late 40s now! I think his LEJOG record still stands as well.

As for Tenerife...we stayed down south a couple of times where the riding was a bit limited. Nonetheless,  the ride up Teide is the obvious challenge, whether from N or S it's a great climb: sea level to > 2000 m is hard to achieve many places. Some of the minor roads in E of island were lovely too, but didn't explore very much - just up and Teide a lot!

We now go to Lanza a lot - beautiful roads, really varied, spectacular riding and a good cycling scene.

Right off up the the Izoard now...

[fatkid2000]

Well Bradley is back.

Good to see La veulta has picked Brits abroad capital to start the race.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cycling/14541419.stm

[Adam Lincoln]

Just joined the darkside! 

This is now getting sold as i just don't have the time anymore. When i do go out, its on the mountain bike. Bike is still as new!  Looking for just over a grand before i pop it on ebay, if anyone knows someone after a road bike.

[fatdoc]

i'd keep it mate.

When it's too muddy for MTB you will keep fit, you will be able to push a way bigger gear / be more stable / go faster on  MTB once you've a few  1000km of road under your belt.

You'll find the time  - just not at the moment. Not worth loosing all that cash on the sale... unless you need that cash obviously.

[heelhookofglory]

When it's too muddy for MTB...

Pardon? 

[chappers]

Just joined the darkside! 

This is now getting sold as i just don't have the time anymore. When i do go out, its on the mountain bike. Bike is still as new!  Looking for just over a grand before i pop it on ebay, if anyone knows someone after a road bike.

with cosmic carbone wheels, and a carbon campag group set? you must be losing some money to sell if for a grand, keep it!

[Adam Lincoln]

Got a cycle ops turbo trainer for sale also if anyone is after one. The classic one.

[Mark Lloyd]

Managed to haul myself around The Ride of The Falling Leaves yesterday heres a link to the route http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/42672304 for all you sheffield based roadies up for a training ride.

[The Aaronator]

Apologies if this is a re-post... Mrs Aaronator posted it on my FB page after I spent a little to much time polishing my new road bike. It tickled me...

[Dolly]

http://p.twimg.com/Ad97gm3CEAEMws2.jpg

[Stubbs]

Two year ban for Bertie but Armstrong's case dropped

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/feb/06/alberto-contador-ban-tour-cycling

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/feb/03/lance-armstrong-doping-investigation-closed

[lukeh]

As a newcomer to the sport I find it incredible that the Contador case has only just been 'resolved'..

I mean, in a sport struggling against an image that doping is common this seems pretty weak. To convict someone of doping a year and a half after the incident, and then issue them with just a two year ban seems crazy. He may lose two titles but he has still been able to compete and stay in shape for 3/4 of his ban. By the sound of it he wont even miss all of the grand tours this summer...

Maybe(/hopefully) some who follow the sport more closely'll be able to correct me but this seems to have shown cycling and the anti doping bodies powers in a pretty poor light...

On the bright side, I'm still looking forward to another summer of (watching) quality racing!

[mr__j5]

some who follow the sport more closely'll be able to correct me but this seems to have shown cycling and the anti doping bodies powers in a pretty poor light...

Definitely.

Just saw an interview with Eddy Merckx on Eurosport saying that he thought that cycling had just succeeded in making themselves look stupid with this incident. Everybody basically accepted that the amount of substance found in Contador was almost negligable and not able to produce a positive effect on his performance and very few other sports would have done anything about it so you wouldn't even have known that it happened.

The fact that it took so long to resolve, further makes the UCI look stupid, which is thier fault for having such a stupid system.

The UCI doesn't have the power to ban a rider for anything. It is the riders national federation that has to ban the rider. Then if the UCI doesn't agree with the result then they can take it to the CAS for appeal and it is accepted that everybody will accept the final decision of the CAS and go with that. On top of that the UCI claim that they don't have enough money to employ more than 1 or 2 lawyers and so it takes forever for them to process the case.

[webbo]

From what I read on the cycling weekly site. The UCI don't seem convinced Contador took the stuff intentionally.Which is why they probably back dated the ban.

[clm]

What really bugs me is that mini-shrek is now credited with the tour win. All the clueless journalists banging on that he should have won anyway if his chain hadnt come off...happily ignoring the fact that the whole peleton waited six minutes cos he cant stay on a bike. Bloody downhill shy pipecleaner.
And an astounding, and according to the tests clean, giro performance has been discredited.

[Duma]

Go Boonen!

[cofe]

Just watched it on Eurosport. Awesome!

[Duma]

Really enjoyed that, can't believe 4 sky boys couldn't pull him back. Was convinced it was a tactic to let him dangle at 30 seconds and tire himself out, but he just wore them down. 

[Yossarian]

That race was epic.

[clm]

Very good aaronator. But I think this just trumps it.
http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=GB#/watch?v=hgCqz3l33kU

[ianv]

http://www.bigringriding.com/post/20966776702/boooooooonen-fuck-yeah

Pretty god vid from the omega pharma team. I was at the Ahrenberg and Boonen was not ahead at that point.


010 by ianvincent, on Flickr

Those cobbles looked brutal, especially for the slower/knackered guys at the back 


IMG_3197 by ianvincent, on Flickr

[saltbeef]

can't believe no one has commented on this. Wiggins - what a mutant. today beat Cadel by 01:45  in 16.5km! with a slipped chain!

[Duma]

I'd missed this completely! beast!

[Stubbs]

I didn't see Cuddle's TT but he has definitely been taking it relatively easy for the rest of the week, but Wiggo did kill it yesterday, despite his stupid Osymetric chain rings!  Young Talansky gave him a run for his money though, one to watch!