Watching the Jensie set a “new” record was somehow not-that-interesting and riveting at the same time. One guy going around the track for an hour; only cycling aficionados could find it so compelling. The thing I can’t get out of my mind is Eddy Merckx still did 49.43 km/hr with toe clips, spoked, box section wheels and a hairnet helmet on a track bike. That is a Man.
Eddy recently said if he had Chris Boardman’s plastic helmet, shoe covers and clip-in pedals he would have gone over 50 km/hr. As much as I liked the UCI Hour Record, it was already corrupted by that difference. If you want to see how you stack up to Merckx, you better find a hairnet helmet and toe clip pedals. I’d watch that.
Chapeau to Jens for kicking off what we can only hope is a rebirth in this great event. It is doubtful his time will stand for too long but he had the heart to jump on the track and see what he was made of, like Eddy did before him.
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@Haldy
@Puffy
Gents, I agree with you. Merckx's bike was a technological wonder. The lightest baddest bike of it's day. Was Ernesto Colnago the builders? He held his breath until Eddy was up to speed on the thing because if it was going to fail it was going to fail during "take-off".
My point, if I in fact had one, was that riders want to be able to compare themselves to Merckx and the UCI Record really is not the way to do that. Boardman's setup was already too different.
The other point was only that fucking Merckx was a damn animal to crank out that speed being that un-aerodynamic. His torso was catching all sorts of air in that photo.
@Gianni -
Same with Moser..who I will point out...went farther than Jensie...
51.115 KM I think the mark Voigt set has hidden (or maybe not so hidden) meaning.
Rule 5, Rule 1, Rule 11, Rule 5
They all apply to Jens and his career as a cyclist.
@Kevin
Surely that is a +1 badge right there?
He did it. He is the current record holder. And at 43 years of age. Well done him. Whether is record falls sooner or later is irrelevant, the effort is impressive.
With those who don't think it will last, but enjoyed it nevertheless. Kudos to Jens for going for it when he had no real compelling reason to do so. Not fighting for next years contract, not proving he's the man the team should support. Great way to go out, IMHO
Why would. Merckx even wear the hairnet?
I don't accept that the rule change has removed/reduced the capacity for riders to compare themselves to Merckx. If a big name pro wants to put a comparable bike to Merckx's together and schedule some time on the track s/he can do so anytime. I accept that some riders have a part of them that likes that comparison idea, but I suspect when it comes to the record, there's also a significant part that wants their name in the books. Not because of the comparison it represents, but because if the honour and achievement it represents. Moreover, the UCI isn't the arbiter of cycling's narrative and memory. They're just a bit player. Eg. Just because they say Boardman's 56.3 doesn't count anymore doesn't mean I'll forget it. And if Spartacus really wants to compare himself to Merckx and proceeded to do so with an athlete's hour bike, I'd take note and remember it, even if the UCI didn't. Plus, he could always spend less time complaining and this free up time to take a crack on an athletes hour bike for his own eddyfication (boom!) as well having a crack in current UCI record spec bike for the books.
That is to say: nice article, I concur.
The tech is irrelevant, The clock, the bike, the will to break the record. That's what makes it fascinating. Props to Jensie for setting the mark. Hopefully the 3 or 4 truly sublime time trialists will take up the challenge. We could be looking at a new golden age for the hour. So so looking forward to it.