Di Luca tests positive for EPO in OOC test.

[Cranky McSlik]

Di Liar....again!

Something that's erk's me still and even more now in light of ol' Di Liar's positive, Cyclingnews ran a story about Dani visiting a school,orphanage or ? and standing and talking with the priest he said that The Liar (the Killer) should look how the children are so innocent and to look deep in his heart to reevaluate what he was doing (dope). Supposedly Di Liar had an epiphany and vowed to clean up his act. Reading this story sickened me because it used children AND religion as tool's to try and make you believe Di Liar had seen the light and would change his ways. I say Bull F%$#in' S**t.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Well one thing's for sure...Voeckler would be ranked as the worst

Escartín, Mancebo, Soler, Froome?

All crazy ugly styles, but effective for them.

Taking all the bias out of things, when it comes to TT position, Wiggins is supreme. It's one of the reasons I find Froome so insane. His TT position is all arms and legs, like a spider on a bike. Wiggins, with his power output, his history as a trackie and as a TT specialist, and his absolutely textbook TT position, should obliterate his compatriot-of-convenience.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Something that's erk's me still and even more now in light of ol' Di Liar's positive, Cyclingnews ran a story about Dani visiting a school,orphanage or ? and standing and talking with the priest he said that The Liar (the Killer) should look how the children are so innocent and to look deep in his heart to reevaluate what he was doing (dope). Supposedly Di Liar had an epiphany and vowed to clean up his act. Reading this story sickened me because it used children AND religion as tool's to try and make you believe Di Liar had seen the light and would change his ways. I say Bull F%$#in' S**t.

Damiano Cunego, quizzed in 2009 as to why he couldn't keep up with the best in the mountains in that Giro (which was of course the CERA-fuelled di Luca): "Well, there are General Classifications, and then there are Life's Classifications".

 

[maltiv]

Escartín, Mancebo, Soler, Froome?

All crazy ugly styles, but effective for them.

Ugly yes, but nowhere near as ineffective as Voeckler. His pedal stroke is extremely uneven and he wastes a lot of energy in sideways motion. When you're standing on the pedals you're supposed to move only the bike back and forth, not the entire body...also, his cadence is always far too low.

Froome's style is mostly ugly due to his weird proportions, with those incredibly long arms it must be hard to have an efficient position while standing.

 

[thehog]

Hey, this is really interesting. I would like to hear your opinion on some of the other top guys' styles at some point if you can be bothered.

Bike position is a philosophical conversation and not one of science.

Too many bikefit studios opening up with knobheads putting average Joes into the 'postman' position.

Frustrating.

Often I tell people to think if you had to build a robotic legs and a robot and attach them to a bike - how would you design them?

You'd have full range or motion in the hip joint that would allow the knee and ankle to freely move up and down. If it were a robot it couldn't kick it's leg to one side like a human can to accommodate the tight angle in the hip. You see too many cyclists from behind kicking a legs to the side on the up stroke so they can accommodate the poor angles in the hips. Open up the hips, allow the leg full range of motion and 98% of the position will come from there.

Bikefit studios which place sensors on you and then depict you as a stick figure assist this process.

The next part is stem length. Way too many cyclists sit too upright. Now some have to as they have poor flexibility. But you should look to relax over a nice stem length to the hoods. Allow yourself to still reach the drops.

But get the hips right. The biggest crime in bike fit is treating your bike like a couch. Trying to make it comfortable. Wrong. You need to make it right in terms of power and then the comfort will follow.

Get a photo of yourself from the side and the front. Draw lines down your body and measure the angles in the hips and between your upper arm and chest. Your answers will lie there. Front on draw a line from your eyes down through your knew to the front of your foot. The next answer will lie there. Your knees should track in a line. Watch Andy Shleck climb. Look at his knees. Perfect. You knees should point from your hip slightly inwards towards the top tube. It's just the way a human body is shaped. Too many cyclists with knees that point out. Wrong.

The last problem with bikefit studios is vibration. The road vibrates through your bike. The bike and your body absorb the vibration. You need to build virtual suspension for this process. Bikefit studios get you in a very ridge position that doesn't accommodate the fact you your bike is rarely up right and stationary. It's actually moving around a hell of a lot.

It's all very hard to get right on your own. You just can't see yourself. You need someone to film you.


Edit: Someone above mentioned Frank Vandebroucke. Model yourself on him. Perfect position.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

I like pippo's style and positioning.

 

[horsinabout]

Bike position is a philosophical conversation and not one of science.

Too many bikefit studios opening up with knobheads putting average Joes into the 'postman' position.

Frustrating.

Often I tell people to think if you had to build a robotic legs and a robot and attach them to a bike - how would you design them?

You'd have full range or motion in the hip joint that would allow the knee and ankle to freely move up and down. If it were a robot it couldn't kick it's leg to one side like a human can to accommodate the tight angle in the hip. You see too many cyclists from behind kicking a legs to the side on the up stroke so they can accommodate the poor angles in the hips. Open up the hips, allow the leg full range of motion and 98% of the position will come from there.

Bikefit studios which place sensors on you and then depict you as a stick figure assist this process.

The next part is stem length. Way too many cyclists sit too upright. Now some have to as they have poor flexibility. But you should look to relax over a nice stem length to the hoods. Allow yourself to still reach the drops.

But get the hips right. The biggest crime in bike fit is treating your bike like a couch. Trying to make it comfortable. Wrong. You need to make it right in terms of power and then the comfort will follow.

Get a photo of yourself from the side and the front. Draw lines down your body and measure the angles in the hips and between your upper arm and chest. Your answers will lie there. Front on draw a line from your eyes down through your knew to the front of your foot. The next answer will lie there. Your knees should track in a line. Watch Andy Shleck climb. Look at his knees. Perfect. You knees should point from your hip slightly inwards towards the top tube. It's just the way a human body is shaped. Too many cyclists with knees that point out. Wrong.

The last problem with bikefit studios is vibration. The road vibrates through your bike. The bike and your body absorb the vibration. You need to build virtual suspension for this process. Bikefit studios get you in a very ridge position that doesn't accommodate the fact you your bike is rarely up right and stationary. It's actually moving around a hell of a lot.

It's all very hard to get right on your own. You just can't see yourself. You need someone to film you.


Edit: Someone above mentioned Frank Vandebroucke. Model yourself on him. Perfect position.

Frank Vandebroucke is he like ten feet tall. If so no good for me as a comparison.

Never seen such forensic from you well done!

I'm still accused of being thehog.

But I don't have facts like you do. Except.......

I never doped, not even that creatine sh*t.

 

[coinneach]

Watch this video of Contador training when he was suspended.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H97Vnt53YJY&sns=em

Watch his style in the non-race mode.

So fluid. You could draw a line straight down from his eye balls to his knees to his ankles.

If there are any young kids watching. Mimic your position on Contador.

If you have an uneven body shape then get a bike fit and work from there.

This is about the first post of the Hog that hasn't had me pressing the ignore button; but he's still wrong....Contador's arms are too straight (aprt from when he's in aero downhill tuck) and when he dances on the pedals, hes' wasting a lot of energy in his tyres rolling from side to side.

Mind you, Coppi had his saddle far too far down and Merxx moved his upper body far too muchso it's not just down to riding style.
IMHO

 

[thehog]

Frank Vandebroucke is he like ten feet tall. If so no good for me as a comparison.

Never seen such forensic from you well done!

I'm still accused of being thehog.

But I don't have facts like you do. Except.......

I never doped, not even that creatine sh*t.

What's your height?

If you get something like this then you're almost there. His right leg is almost straight and has excellent knee lift on the left. He's not pulling his leg into his stomach buts its driving up and down. He's probably a little hunched here but that's because he's making an effort. His arms are relaxed and his wrists up not pointing down.

Almost perfect.

 

[coinneach]

Oh, and by the way,to all those posters defending Di Luca's business interests and bike company I'd say....how many decent businesses are being put of business, how many teams are going to loose sponsership because of his selfish actions? Its just like Lance and other cyclists.

I seriously think the problem with cycling is the fans, not the riders, teams, doctors, UCI or associated excuses for our own behaviour

 

[thehog]

This is about the first post of the Hog that hasn't had me pressing the ignore button; but he's still wrong....Contador's arms are too straight (aprt from when he's in aero downhill tuck) and when he dances on the pedals, hes' wasting a lot of energy in his tyres rolling from side to side.

Mind you, Coppi had his saddle far too far down and Merxx moved his upper body far too muchso it's not just down to riding style.
IMHO

Probably should have said there's no right or wrong either. Well there is a lot of wrong. But everybody is different. No two humans are the same.

As for wasting energy as his tires are rolling form side to side.

Put a slow motion camera on a bike wheel. The the front tire actually leaves the road when cycling. Side to side holds it firm and as his weight pushes the pedals down. His legs are almost straight when of the saddle. He actually drives the bike forward from the front wheel. It's very impressive and helps his acceleration tremendously.

Basso spends way to much time in the saddle. Sassi used to tell him to get out and move your muscle groups around otherwise you get fibre spasms.

Again. I still feel bike position is philosophical and not a science.

 

[horsinabout]

What's your height?

If you get something like this then you're almost there. His right leg is almost straight and has excellent knee life on the left. He's not pulling his leg into his stomach buts its driving up and down. He's probably a little hunched here but that's because he's making an effort. His arms are relaxed and his wrists up not pointing down.

Almost perfect.

You bin drinking, this is unusuall for you......being positive and helpfull

 

[horsinabout]

This is about the first post of the Hog that hasn't had me pressing the ignore button; but he's still wrong....Contador's arms are too straight (aprt from when he's in aero downhill tuck) and when he dances on the pedals, hes' wasting a lot of energy in his tyres rolling from side to side.

Mind you, Coppi had his saddle far too far down and Merxx moved his upper body far too muchso it's not just down to riding style.
IMHO

No don't agree.....

 

[thehog]

What's your height?

If you get something like this then you're almost there. His right leg is almost straight and has excellent knee lift on the left. He's not pulling his leg into his stomach buts its driving up and down. He's probably a little hunched here but that's because he's making an effort. His arms are relaxed and his wrists up not pointing down.

Almost perfect.

Sorry one more.

Look at FvB left leg. Look at the angle of his foot. Pointing in to the pedal stroke.

Way too many spin instructors and knobs telling you scrap mud off your foot on the backstroke. Wrong.

You should pedal like you're doing the moonwalk in a forwards motion.

 

[thehog]

You bin drinking, this is unusuall for you......being positive and helpfull

If you're smaller rider Bettini's position is much the same as FvB.

You can probably see yourself better with a similar body shape.

Bettini was extremely fluid on all terrains.

 

[horsinabout]

Sorry one more.

Look at FvB left leg. Look at the angle of his foot. Pointing in to the pedal stroke.

Way too many spin instructors and knobs telling you scrap mud off your foot on the backstroke. Wrong.

You should pedal like you're doing the moonwalk in a forwards motion.

Well I ain't as tall as him in pic.....so scaled down I see what your sayin.....

Micheal Jacksons moon walk.........I get that, stroke backwards and up wards.....whilst going forwards.

http://youtu.be/kXhy7ZsiR50

Ride your bike like this....With style

 

[frenchfry]

Vandenbroucke, Lemond, Contador always look(ed) good on their bikes.

Agree on Voeckler, am always surprised when he actually increases a lead in a breakaway when it looks like he is riding a stationary bike in a 1940's movie.

As for real ugly on a bike, there was a picture circulating recently of Fat Pat. Gives cycling a bad name in many ways.

 

[thehog]

Well I ain't as tall as him in pic.....so scaled down I see what your sayin.....

Micheal Jacksons noon walk.........I get that, stroke backwards and up wards.....

Re: the moonwalk.

No dead spots. Fluid motion on the entire stroke. That's what the elliptical chainring attempts to compensate for. The dead spot. Most will pedal down and that's it. The force will come from your thighs. It's your strongest muscle group. You can't possibly pull up with the same force. Thus support the down stroke with the up. Don't pull up.

Very hard to get right.

 

[horsinabout]

If you're smaller rider Bettini's position is much the same as FvB.

You can probably see yourself better with a similar body shape.

Bettini was extremely fluid on all terrains.

There you go....

I have an hour and a half ride planned on the morrow, I will give it a whirl..thanks hog!

 

[LaFlorecita]

This is about the first post of the Hog that hasn't had me pressing the ignore button; but he's still wrong....Contador's arms are too straight (aprt from when he's in aero downhill tuck) and when he dances on the pedals, hes' wasting a lot of energy in his tyres rolling from side to side.

Who are you to decide a 7 time GT winner's riding style is wrong?

How can he not have straight arms when riding a bike

 

[BroDeal]

Oh, and by the way,to all those posters defending Di Luca's business interests and bike company I'd say....how many decent businesses are being put of business, how many teams are going to loose sponcership because of his selfish actions? Its just like Lance and other cyclists.

I seriously thing the problem with cycling is the fans, not the riders, teams, doctors or assiocated excuses for our own behaviour

At least DiLuca was fun to watch. The true fans loved him for it. Think about the teams "loosing" sponsorship because of Sky doing races by staring at their power meters. That is boring. That damages the sport, and the ultimate damage will be far more than a guy with a little enhancement flinging himself into breaks every other stage.

If you are going to dope then at least make the racing fun for the spectators. Sky failed miserably is that regard. DiLuca knows what brings in the eyeballs.

 

[thehog]

There you go....

I have an hour and a half ride planned on the morrow, I will give it a whirl..thanks hog!

Ride at a moderate pace. Think about your position. Feel your leg in the full 360 degree range. Visualise the motion as you ride. Feel your body looking fluid and riding fluid. Watch Andy Shleck in the 2008 Tour before you ride.

Be conscious of tight spots in your body. Does your shoulder hurt? Do your arms lock? Are your hips rotating over the saddle. Are you tight anywhere?

Don't sit in the bike. Sit on the bike.

A crude measurement when seated your front hub should be obscured by the tops of your handle bars. If you can see over he bars and see the hub you may be too far forward. And the same if you're too far back. Worry more about being too far forward than back.

Also you don't get the perfect position in one ride. It will take a few with adjustments.

PS Start with your hips first before you worry about any other adjustments. Get that right the rest will fall into place.

 

[Alpechraxler]

At least DiLuca was fun to watch. The true fans loved him for it. Think about the teams "loosing" sponsorship because of Sky doing races by staring at their power meters. That is boring. That damages the sport, and the ultimate damage will be far more than a guy with a little enhancement flinging himself into breaks every other stage.

If you are going to dope then at least make the racing fun for the spectators. Sky failed miserably is that regard. DiLuca knows what brings in the eyeballs.

I as a spectator do not feel betrayed by him. I was entertained by him. But some young blood instead of him at vini fantini would probably have done the same. So it's not about him it's about some youngster that couldn't ride that didn't gain the expieriance,

 

[gooner]

At least DiLuca was fun to watch. The true fans loved him for it. Think about the teams "loosing" sponsorship because of Sky doing races by staring at their power meters. That is boring. That damages the sport, and the ultimate damage will be far more than a guy with a little enhancement flinging himself into breaks every other stage.

If you are going to dope then at least make the racing fun for the spectators. Sky failed miserably is that regard. DiLuca knows what brings in the eyeballs.

So there we have it, it's OK to dope as long as you're an exciting rider as a result of it.

This is the same nonsense and argument that was used by some to give Vino a free pass and easier ride than others.

 

[UlleGigo]

Your post is a laughable overreaction. "gutter" "deeply ashamed" lol
Ianfra is entitled to call for a consumer boycott without you carrying on as some heinous crime has been committed.

Exactly my point. If people want to boycott companies, places, people, times of the day or night, and attempt to persuade others to do the same that is their prerogative. No need for name calling. Fairly obvious that some people have taken up arms against Ian for other reasons. I know nothing about that so I'll stay out of it but in this instance the name calling is totally unwarranted.

I have boycotted Sanitarium (a breakfast cereal company) because they are owned by a religious group and therefore don't pay taxes on their profits. I see this as unfair (amongst a myriad of other objections). Should I be railed against because of all the people packing the boxes that I'm not considering with my decision? No of course not.

In saying that though boycotting doper's products in cycling is like boycotting the sun rising. Do what you want but its going to come up eventually.