We close out the 6 Days of the Giro with our sixth and final installment.
A body at rest, stays at rest. A body in motion, stays in motion. Things get a bit more ambiguous when it comes to a body on a bicycle tearing down a twisty mountain descent at speed, particularly in the rain. But it is here, on the boundary between clarity and ambiguity, where things get interesting.
Cornering feels a bit like you’re stealing from Physics, as if you’re getting away with something. Momentum, as fundamental as it is, doesn’t know what’s good for us and stubbornly wants to carry us on its merry path. The faster we go, the bigger its influence becomes and the harder we push against it, balancing on the knife’s edge between our body’s lean and the bike’s pull. For those skilled in this craft, the bicycle and rider carve through the bend in perfect harmony.
I’m not particularly good at cornering, which is to say I’m not particularly good at descending. Its a shame, too, because given my size I’m not very good at climbing, either. The way to get better is to practice, and not to give Rule #64 too much thought. You will crash if you want to get better, but you mustn’t lose your nerve. A nervous descender is a bad descender and everyone knows where to find bad descenders.
The riders getting the most practice in this discipline must surely be les grimpeurs for it seems they would be riding down all those mountains they’re riding up. The surprising truth is that this does not always appear to be the case; one need look no farther than Andy Schleck to find evidence of that particular postulate. Furthermore, one would think that a professional, who by the very nature of their occupation is quite used to finding themselves on the tarmac, would be most able to come off and not lose their nerve. This, also, doest not always appear to be the case.
The Giro, known for its narrow mountain roads, is won as much on the descents as it is on the climbs. Who can forget the 1988 Giro, which was won on the descent of the Gavia, not its climb. Or the 2002 and 2005 editions when Il Falco used every millimeter of road as he swept through the hairpin bends to distance his rivals. This year, Brad Wiggins had already put himself on the back foot on GC when he came off on a slow bend and spent the rest of the stage riding like his tires were made of glass. On the same stage, Nibali attacked and came off on a high speed corner before jumping back on his machine and rejoining the leaders moments later. The difference is a question of not only skill, but fearlessness.
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View Comments
@RedRanger
It isn't that bad, I'm 6'1" on a 56.
I must be more flexible than I think. My Niner is a large with a 110 cm stem in the -6 degree position. I find it pretty comfy and helps get my back in a good position. I like being stretched out on the bike.
@PT
Yup. I stopped trying to find the HR strap a few weeks ago and I am not concerned about my speed. I do like to know my cadence on climbs as that is a better indicator of my effort - for me at least, so the cadence magnet and computer have stayed. Although, I need to keep turning it on when it automatically shuts down as it is not registering speed.
@frank
Monster slam!
@frank
@frank - It was a writers comment I saw in one of the VeloNews photo galleries from the ATOC. Surprised me too. Just had a quick look but can't find the comment - sorry. Will repost if I can. It may have been the TT gallery. Perhaps he rides different sizes for different races. Or it was just an erroneous comment.
@PT
Sorry to seem obsessive, but tall guys is my specialty and I'm hugely invested in understanding what/how they ride. I am only about 6'4" but have the inseam of a guy much taller. We tall guys are fucked as far as center of mass goes, and we have completely different issues to deal with than smaller folk, who are really just worried about reach and saddle height. We, on the other hand, need to get our mass down low and have to figure the best way to do it. I used to suffer from severe back pains when I rode the way a multitude of experts said I should. Then I started dropping my stem and my back pain went away. My theory: I was riding too high and my back was being used to stabilize my bike and body, not to emit The V. The lower I go, the better I feel.
Johan rides a 61 in every photo I can find - whoever said he was on a 56 was confused. Or, you might have been mixed up because they often quote the weight of a bike based on a 56, so they'll show the number 56 in the text around the photo of their frame on Google Images, even though that's not the frame they ride. (Google is clever, but not that clever.)
[dmalbum: path="/velominati.com/wp-content/uploads/readers/frank/2013.05.20.01.38.01/1/"/]
And lets not forget the best-ever JVS photo:
When descending, it's preferable to keep one's feet on the pedals. Especially when descending on a bumpy surface.
At about 9 minutes in on:
http://www.redbull.com/en/bike/stories/1331591002477/watch-live-uci-women-xco-from-albstadt
@ Frank.
I've found the link:
http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/05/gallery/gallery-tt-tech-decisions-at-the-amgen-tour_287312
Its his P5 TT bike, not his road bike. Its definitely a 56 which is pretty small for a very tall guy. I've also seen a Cervelo ad (last year after the Giro) with Ryder on a 54 P5 so it seems that they all go pretty small on that frame. Nevertheless, apologies for the confusion and hop its still interesting. No need for you to apologies for obsessing - I'm a bit OCD in this area myself anyway.
pete
Ps - that is a fantastic photo showing the post-Roubaix filth. Plenty of V. there.
@Beers
As in Fucking annoying, you mean?