Sweet Jesus, here is a DS you can’t bluff. Having Raas, Tchmil or Sean Yates as a director must make you a better rider; you will be getting little sympathy from the team car with one of these guys behind the wheel. Some ex-racers really let go when they retire but only Sean Yates looks meaner and leaner after he quits the pro peloton. This photo is quite a contrast to an old photo from his early years in the professional ranks.
We have always held Sean in very high esteem. He has always appeared unstoppable, indestructible, a cyclist who actually might end up winning a bar fight. I bet he can put some of the present climbers on the Sky team in a spot of bother on the flats any time he rides with them. He even looks bandaged up here like he went down in a corner. And that black wrist band, I reckon it is a HTFU, Rule V special. No need to speak to a rider when he drops back to the team car to moan about the work being done on the front for Cav, just a quick look towards his black wrist band is all it takes.
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@Ron
Sean took Pharmy under his wing when Lance was a neo pro. Actually, a lot of pros hated him already for being a dick, but at the time I liked him. He was brash, did some good races, and was something fresh. Sean thought so too and tried to help him become acclimated to European racing. Sean failed, but Pharmy worshipped him, and I always - to this day - admired that fact about heuvo lanceros. At least he had the sense to honor Sean. It was only later he got to sour cream.
@Campagnolo Vince!
That suggests he is becoming a patron in the peleton. I don't see that, although I give him props for having his way with the francophone press at the Romandie interview.
@Campagnolo Vince!
I saw images of a stoned snowboarder and a tired/bored pro cyclist being interviewed. I'm a fan of Wiggo, he has the Modfather going, but definitely no "cool cat" style yet.
A Sinatra of Cycling
@Xyverz
It matches the kit and glass perfectly
@Ron
Seems to me that the current trend towards a raised position for the hoods gives a bit of an aerobar effect that gives the rider something to hold onto whilst resting his forearms on the bar and maintaining a low flat back but not actually being in the drops. Having small hands, I can't get away with it and end up with a much more vertical lever.
@Chris
As the sport becomes more scientific, fitters are taking a closer look at the body-angles certain component-shapes force on a rider, and as a result component-designers take a look at the ergonomics of their products. Modern lever-hoods, for example, are designed to form a flat, seamless surface with the upper part of an ergo- or compact-drop bar. This reduces lateral twist (and thus, pressure) of the hand-joint. With a classic-bend bar, you get a shorter flat surface (just the hoods, as they don't sit flush with the bars). That upward kink mostly serves as a "stop" for our hand - we then no longer need to grip the hood, but can simply rest on top of it. Again - reduced fatigue through improved ergonomics.
If you look at Sean's hands, they're not in an ideal position. Angled awkwardly, and too stretched out. Old levers and hoods were designed to provide comfort and control in the drops, and the hoods were more of an afterthought.
Yates ran his 'bars like that because he liked his hands to be tucked right into the hooks to reach his brake levers with two fingers while still having straight wrists. His in-the-drops-riding-hard-on-the-front style is simply unparalleled and near impossible to emulate. Even though I hated the look of his set-up it certainly worked for him. Legend.
Loving some of the pictures above, apart from the re-cumbents of course. Yates really was some rider, hard as nails!
@Buck Rogers
Posted this (video) as this Dude (Les Claypool) is a pure BadAss! It is disturbing, badass, crazy !!
Wishing he were a cyclist. Anyway, PIG HUNT Testimonials - Les Claypool and Vince Ballew
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWtLHD1mZEg
@Nate
And he will need a "Rat Pack" trio