Spiderman photo: G. Watson
How can anyone be such a great cyclist and look so ungainly on a bike? Does this not violate a basic tenet of V-philosophy? Would he not be faster if his knees and elbows were tucked in neatly, aligned with his forward motion?
On riding style alone Quintana has a huge edge, he just looks good as he climbs. He should be able to summon some extra V just on the looking-good-is-feeling-good-factor.
Pinot versus Bardet: Pinot always looks like he is in a fight with his bike on the uphills. Again, wouldn’t less fighting and more souplesse translate into more speed? Like Tommy ‘man of a thousand faces’ Voeckler, his climbing style of off the back, sprint forward, out of the saddle, jersey open, drift off the back again…and repeat. It makes no sense but the guy gets it done.
Looking good on the rivet on the flats is easier: a flat back, everything tucked in, body pulled low over the bike, almost everyone looks pretty awesome going hard when the terrain is level. Put the road into double digit ascent and everything comes off the rails. One’s inner climbing monkey comes out and some monkeys just look better than others. It’s not a reflection of inner beauty or Hardness or a life more cleanly lived. To paraphrase Don ‘puddin’ face’ Rumsfeld, you climb with the monkey you got, not the climbing monkey you wish you had.
My monkey is a slothie, sweaty old beast with one paw in the grave. It’s always been my monkey and we have become good friends. Froome’s is a Sumatran spider monkey, hopped up on a diet of buffo toads and fermented bananas. When that monkey appears, everyone better get out of the way.
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Poor old Froome. Not matter how many Tours he wins he'll always look crap on a bike.
Hence my comment about people who wanted to throw stuff at Froome choosing to throw a copy of the Rules or a photo of Moser. I thought it was quite funny but no one else gave a shit.
Yes, Froome doesn't look good, but what the fuck is looks? Who cares? Quintana may get him this year but not because Quintana looks better, but because Quintana may be faster!
@Dave from VA
Do you know what website you're on?
@RobSandy
That is funny, a photo of Moser. F'ing genius.
I was with it till "everything can of off the rails" does that make sense in some lingo I no sprecho?
@RobSandy
+1
@Dave from VA
Are you new here? I mean, there is literally no reason for this site to exist other than caring about this sort of thing. Caring far, far too much about style is the very essence of what this is all about.
It boggles the mind how such a powerful athlete can look so sickly.
I'm a simple man with a 'do what works' mentality, but I'm far too self-conscious to look that bad (on a bike or otherwise) to accept it as function over form. I look my best in matching kit with a helmet on so no one can see my thinning hair, and I'll be damned if give that boost up just to climb a little better.
@SamV
Therefor, you will never win an uphill finis. But will look good finishing in the bunch just in time to make it to the start the next day.
@Teocalli
3rd grade typing and proofing, do you spreck that, mon? Fixed. grazie.