bicycle racing

[atronic92]

I just finished watching an exciting race on TV...it wasn't on horses, it wasn't in cars, it was on bicycles! Here in the U.S. where I live, bicycle racing isn't very popular. Today a new race started in Richmond, Virginia that will be an annual event. The winner was a Canadian, followed by an American in second. The race was very exciting, I used to think bicycle racing was boring, but after watching this event I am more interested in bicycle racing.

 

 

 

Now I am wondering, who here has seen a bicycle race? What about this race? Who here actively watches or participates in bicycle races?

 

 

 

Please discuss.

[Militaris]

I watched parts of the Olympic cycling races. Once you start watching it gets strangely addicting to watch more.

[vladmoney]

Tour de France and Olympics is all I watch. Plus I love bicycle bloopers and fights (my fav http://youtube.com/watch?v=KkcpRPeEd4E ), if that counts I don't know. Its really not that exciting, but a lot better than NASCAR. Mainly because it is so long, and sometimes uneventful does it not excite me that much. I like the dirt bike races I see on TV sometimes, those are pretty cool. Now that I think about it, I always watch when they do a recap of a race on ESPN or some other channel those are pretty nice. I actually like biking, so I got nothing against it, its just I don't have time to indulge into every sport I have a mild interest in.

[Bubsa]

Gah, I can't get the song out of my head now! >.

[Deeno13]

Tour de France and Olympics is all I watch. Plus I love bicycle bloopers and fights (my fav http://youtube.com/watch?v=KkcpRPeEd4E ), if that counts I don't know. Its really not that exciting, but a lot better than NASCAR. Mainly because it is so long, and sometimes uneventful does it not excite me that much. I like the dirt bike races I see on TV sometimes, those are pretty cool. Now that I think about it, I always watch when they do a recap of a race on ESPN or some other channel those are pretty nice. I actually like biking, so I got nothing against it, its just I don't have time to indulge into every sport I have a mild interest in.

 

 

 

Dirt bike races are nothing like regular bicycle races.

 

 

 

I love watching bicycle races. Those athletes, in my opinion, are some of the fittest people in the world. To get up everday for weeks on end and compete on the level they do is mind boggling. As a recreational bicycler I understand how hard some of the stuff they do is. Sprinting for two miles after riding 100+ would be something no one on these boards could do easily. I have a lot of respect for those who can.

[richpoepaap]

Here in Flanders, bicycle racing is actually pretty big. During vacation, I watch races regurarly. It's "de ronde van Vlaanderen"(Tour of Flanders?) today. Going to watch that for sure :)

[ThoseTheBrokes]

I race with my Dad.

 

 

 

It's pretty common around were I live, Pretty flat with alright scenery.

 

 

 

No yet competed, And we're not in a club, We just set a course and race each other.

[The_Dragon_Reborn]

Gah, I can't get the song out of my head now! >.<

 

 

 

I want to ride my bicycle! I want to ride my bike!

 

 

 

 

 

Two of my friends (twins) bike. They normally ride about 50 miles every weekend. I don't find it that interesting, but it must be addictive (like jogging) if so many people do it. Also, the Tour de France = awesome.

[Parabola]

It's hardly a bike for racing, but when I've saved enough money I should be getting one of these:

 

 

 

[MyPurpleCrayon]

I never have done Bike Racing persay, but I used to ride BMX all the time. :P

[vladmoney]

Tour de France and Olympics is all I watch. Plus I love bicycle bloopers and fights (my fav http://youtube.com/watch?v=KkcpRPeEd4E ), if that counts I don't know. Its really not that exciting, but a lot better than NASCAR. Mainly because it is so long, and sometimes uneventful does it not excite me that much. I like the dirt bike races I see on TV sometimes, those are pretty cool. Now that I think about it, I always watch when they do a recap of a race on ESPN or some other channel those are pretty nice. I actually like biking, so I got nothing against it, its just I don't have time to indulge into every sport I have a mild interest in.

 

 

 

Dirt bike races are nothing like regular bicycle races.

 

 

 

I love watching bicycle races. Those athletes, in my opinion, are some of the fittest people in the world. To get up everday for weeks on end and compete on the level they do is mind boggling. As a recreational bicycler I understand how hard some of the stuff they do is. Sprinting for two miles after riding 100+ would be something no one on these boards could do easily. I have a lot of respect for those who can.

 

 

 

*mountain bike, not dirt bike my bad. You're right though

[Flametrooper]

It's hardly a bike for racing, but when I've saved enough money I should be getting one of these:

 

 

 

 

Where do you SIT ??1?!?!/1!?!?1!?1!?1/1!?1?1!????

[hellbellz]

Up in Richmond? Only a couple hours from here. I'm sure I would of saw an ad for it. :-k

 

 

 

I'm not big on pro biking. I like to race my friends around a neighborhood. :P

[tzone92]

Up in Richmond? Only a couple hours from here. I'm sure I would of saw an ad for it. :-k

 

 

 

I'm not big on pro biking. I like to race my friends around a neighborhood. :P

 

 

 

Well the race actually started in a different part of Virginia. The racers made their way down a long road to Richmond, where they made laps around a circuit in the city.

[Parabola]

Where do you SIT ??1?!?!/1!?!?1!?1!?1/1!?1?1!????

 

 

 

Believe it or not you sit on the handlebars and pedal backwards, resulting in you going the way your back is facing.

[The_Dragon_Reborn]

Where do you SIT ??1?!?!/1!?!?1!?1!?1/1!?1?1!????

 

 

 

Believe it or not you sit on the handlebars and pedal backwards, resulting in you going the way your back is facing.

 

 

 

Have fun getting destroyed by cars.

[MyPurpleCrayon]

Where do you SIT ??1?!?!/1!?!?1!?1!?1/1!?1?1!????

 

 

 

Believe it or not you sit on the handlebars and pedal backwards, resulting in you going the way your back is facing.

 

Ah, now that's what I'm talking about. :P

[Parabola]

Have fun getting destroyed by cars.

 

 

 

Were you taking me seriously?

 

 

 

If you want to know why there's no seat, watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSxOzbHiRwY

 

 

 

For those who can't be bothered to watch the video, the answer is because given the nature of the riding, you'd be smacking your balls on the seat every single manoeuvre.

 

 

 

You should be bothered to watch the video though, it's very impressive.

[The_Dragon_Reborn]

Have fun getting destroyed by cars.

 

 

 

Were you taking me seriously?

 

 

 

If you want to know why there's no seat, watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSxOzbHiRwY

 

 

 

For those who can't be bothered to watch the video, the answer is because given the nature of the riding, you'd be smacking your balls on the seat every single manoeuvre.

 

 

 

You should be bothered to watch the video though, it's very impressive.

 

 

 

It was a joke. :-$

[MyPurpleCrayon]

Yeah, I can't watch the video because I'm in school right now, but I know what you're saying.

 

 

 

First of all, when you're riding BMX you don't ride in the street around cars. Secondly, you rarely sit down when you're busy in the air and doing different 'tricks'.

[Parabola]

I'm not sure if you were referring to the bike I am getting as a BMX. For anyone who didn't know, it's a trials bike and not a BMX. The main differences are the drivetrain (both are fixed gear but trials bikes have much smaller front sprockets), the tyres (they're super fat, almost like motorbike tyres) and the brakes (trials brakes are focused on locking the wheel in place - these ones are Magura HS33 hydraulic rim brakes).

 

 

 

I ordered it today, I'm excited.

[MyPurpleCrayon]

I'm not sure if you were referring to the bike I am getting as a BMX. For anyone who didn't know, it's a trials bike and not a BMX. The main differences are the drivetrain (both are fixed gear but trials bikes have much smaller front sprockets), the tyres (they're super fat, almost like motorbike tyres) and the brakes (trials brakes are focused on locking the wheel in place - these ones are Magura HS33 hydraulic rim brakes).

 

 

 

I ordered it today, I'm excited.

 

Ohh. I thought the tires were kind of thick to be a BMX bike. I didn't do any research on it or anything, I just kind of assumed that's what it was used for. Hah, guess I'm wrong.

 

 

 

EDIT: I didn't realize you actually got it, that's awesome. :P

[Parabola]

Well, not got it quite yet - they've got to build it up from scratch then send it to me so it will be a couple of days - I hate waiting :(

 

 

 

For those who are interested, there's a good explanation of bike trials and the techniques involved on this site.

 

 

 

Some links to action shots from that site:

 

 

 

http://www.trials-online.com/forum/albu ... ?pic_id=77

 

http://www.trials-online.com/forum/albu ... ?pic_id=49

 

 

 

I've got nothing to do with that site, by the way. I just found it yesterday.

[MyPurpleCrayon]

Oooh! I have seen some of that on T.V., that is ridiculously amazing. I love it, and I used to try it with my friend on our regular BMX bikes, but we couldn't do a whole lot. If you get good at it, show me some sweet videos. :P

[Parabola]

For those who care and for those who don't, it came!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's some years since I've ridden - I thought it would be 'just like riding a bike' and it isn't. I'm terrible. I have awful balance and awful stamina, hah.