Why so many fractures?

[Maxiton]

Exactly, Jan shows how it should be done.
Keep your arms on the bike and make a role

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPsktl4T-S4

Notice also that Ulrich tucks his head as he's going over.

1.91m and 68 kg is just pathetic for an athlete. That's an BMI of 18.6
We need a regulation like in ski jumping! 20 really should be the minimum!

I agree. If cycle sport is to be truly professional (it isn't yet), there need to be additional safeguards for the health of the athletes. Minimum BMI is one of them. (Once again it comes down to the UCI and what a poor job they do.)

Having said that, the primary contributing factor to fractures in the peloton, by far, is bone density.

 

[veganrob]

he is actually doing weights. those are really heavy for him

Hahah. You could be right.

 

[WD-40.]

Exactly. I BMI regulation would really help everyone. I just don't get why this is never discussed in cycling.

Perhaps because it is a complete bill$hit idea that only gets talked about by those who are overweight and jealous of those who can ride better than them due to being thinner.

You see it with motorbike racing too, guys ***** about riders being too thin when in reality they are just too lazy to lose weight and must attack those who are "better" to make them feel like they are superior in some way then convince themselves that they are right ... jealous, jealous, jealous. The fairer sex show this behavior a lot too.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Perhaps because it is a complete bill$hit idea that only gets talked about by those who are overweight and jealous of those who can ride better than them due to being thinner.

You see it with motorbike racing too, guys ***** about riders being too thin when in reality they are just too lazy to lose weight and must attack those who are "better" to make them feel like they are superior in some way then convince themselves that they are right ... jealous, jealous, jealous. The fairer sex show this behavior a lot too.

Yeah cause it's such a bull**** even skijumpers invented it
Yeah i guess everybody is jealous of gesink's body

 

[thirteen]

Perhaps because it is a complete bill$hit idea that only gets talked about by those who are overweight and jealous of those who can ride better than them due to being thinner.

You see it with motorbike racing too, guys ***** about riders being too thin when in reality they are just too lazy to lose weight and must attack those who are "better" to make them feel like they are superior in some way then convince themselves that they are right ... jealous, jealous, jealous. The fairer sex show this behavior a lot too.

gee. thank you for adding your insightful sexist comment to this thread

it adds so much to my understanding of fractures in the TDF.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Exactly. I BMI regulation would really help everyone. I just don't get why this is never discussed in cycling. Would be a really really good thing in the interest of all riders!

agreed. guys like brajkovic and gesink are pathetic, it's also unhealthy in multiple ways

 

[Damiano Machiavelli]

1.91m and 68 kg is just pathetic for an athlete. That's an BMI of 18.6
We need a regulation like in ski jumping! 20 really should be the minimum!

BMI was designed to be used for the statistical analysis of mortality of large numbers of people. It was never intended to be used for individuals, and it fails miserably when doing so. A metric more complicated than BMI would have to be used.

I can see it now.

Pierre: "Hello. Is this stick boy? I mean Mr. Wiggins?"
Brad: "Yes"
Pierre: "This is the Pierre Manrod acting on behalf of the UCI. I am sorry to inform you that you have been suspended for two weeks for being too thin to race."
Brad: "Bl00dy 'ell. WTF!"
Pierre: "It is for your own safety. Crashing, you know."
Brad: "But what about Andy Schleck? He is as thin as me."
Pierre: "We checked Andy. His arms, legs, and torso had their girth carefully compared with their lengths and weights. Cross section aspect ratios were verified by commissaires using the latest certified test jig. Bone mass to muscle mass ratios were checked using CT scans. All the data was entered into the UCI's thinness fomulae and he passed."
Brad: "What am I supposed to do? Drink at the pub all week until I get a beer belly?"
Pierre: "A new study by the UCI has found that beer bellies offer significant and substantial cushioning during some forms of crashes. Unfortunately it will not increase the girth of your arms and legs. For that we recommend a steady diet of Big Macs and fries."
Brad: "But I'm British. I don't like Big Macs."
Pierre: "Fish and chips should work as well. The greasier the better."
Brad: "I don't think I will be able to ride well on a diet of fish and chips."
Pierre: "Safety first. Perhaps with your body type you were not meant to be bike racer. Cheers and good luck. Do not get too fat. The UCI's new guidelines on excessive weight come into effect next season."

 

[benpounder]

another thing is riders have no idea how to fall. like falling with their hands down is ludicrous. I come from mma and when I crash from my bike I make sure I always roll and fall on my back

That is a good point, and one that the sport of skiing acccentuates. Two 35 year olds of equal fitness fall in a similar fashion, the one who learned to ski pre-teens will have a much smaller risk if bone/tendon/ligiment injury that the one that learned in their twenties. The former learned at a formulative age (when bones ligiments and tendons are much more pliable), that while one would prefer not to fall, if they fall in a certain way, they dont get hurt as much.

 

[benpounder]

You're such a hero. Now go ride the Tour and see how you'll apply those rules in a massive pileup.

Ryo's point wasnt to brag. Anyone who has done serious mtn biking has done an endo. In most terrains (not bolder gardens or really jagged rock fields) it is better to tuck and roll upon launch over your handlebars.

The point about unexpected is valid however, because those initally going down in a big crash dont have alot of time to react. Those coming up from behind have a bit more time and are usually less injured.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

gee. thank you for adding your insightful sexist comment to this thread

it adds so much to my understanding of fractures in the TDF.

Men do X. Women do X too.


OMG, he did not just say that, that is sooooooooo sexist!

 

[christianpetrin]

I need you to ride, ride fast on the descent and easy on the climbs

Vaughters just ordered his guys doing this: 'I need you to ride, ride fast on the descent and easy on the climbs'.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/feature-garmin-cervelos-dramatic-day-at-the-tour-de-france

It seems that just after that order, on the next downhill, happened the huge crash that took Vinokourov, VDB and others out of the tour and into a hospital.

I wonder why so many crashs have happened in this tour... narrow, wet, roads? Skill-less rides? Or irresponsible directors?

 

[Cobblestones]

Vaughters just ordered his guys doing this: 'I need you to ride, ride fast on the descent and easy on the climbs'.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/feature-garmin-cervelos-dramatic-day-at-the-tour-de-france

It seems that just after that order, on the next downhill, happened the huge crash that took Vinokourov, VDB and others out of the tour and into a hospital.

I wonder why so many crashs have happened in this tour... narrow, wet, roads? Skill-less rides? Or irresponsible directors?

Riis blames Garmin for riding too hard.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Riis blames Garmin for riding too hard.

my god, it's not like caughters stuck a gun out saying you HAVE to follow us. it's all part of cycling

 

[thirteen]

Men do X. Women do X too.

OMG, he did not just say that, that is sooooooooo sexist!

yeah yeah yeah.

the point was that what he said was absolutely asinine. and then had to drag women into it when they were not part of the discussion at all because that somehow validated the statement

 

[brianf7]

Over training will cause bone dencity to lower so more chance of fracturs . so is the tour over training?
the body wont hold calcium in the blood if you are over reaching . as soon as they rest it comes back up in winter.
There are some meds that they can use to help but not perfect.they cant use testosterone unfortunatly. that is the best med for building bones

 

[Winterfold]

Yeah if Vino drank more milk he might be Ok

The dude hit a barrier on a 65 kmh descent flew off the edge of a cliff and hit a tree.

I see a lot of fat mountain bikers achieve the same breaks doing 10 kmh on soft ground in my local hills. With full face helmets and body armour.

Given the choice I know who's physique I would rather have.

Really some of you people have too much time on your hands, do something fun like ride a bike rather than dream half baked theories. I promise you will not die from brittle bones...

 

[TourLeTour]

The lack of meat and dairy probably was the cause of DZ's wrist fracture

I am so taking this quote straight to my vegetarian (now ex-)girlfriend, who has been telling me that this prooves I don't need meat!

 

[ProfTournesol]

lack of exposure to sunlight is not a criticism that can be leveled against cyclists. think about it.

It depends if they use sunscreen. Even in Australia, there's a surprisingly high rate of Vitamin D deficiency as sunscreen prevents it's production by the body

 

[ProfTournesol]

oh c'mon even overeem can break all his bones descending on a wet road in a 200 guys peloton riding at 80 km/h.look at poor vino,he is big boned,not looking like you're average skinny climber.when shiit happens,you will go down no matter if you are gesink or bert grabsch.
they crashed since the beginning of the sport and they still will

Of course bone density is not the only factor, hit a tree like Vino did and anyone will break a bone, but it's likely to be a factor. Bone size (being big boned) is not the same thing as bone density, you can be 'big boned' and also have osteoporosis.

 

[ProfTournesol]

Yeah if Vino drank more milk he might be Ok

The dude hit a barrier on a 65 kmh descent flew off the edge of a cliff and hit a tree.

I see a lot of fat mountain bikers achieve the same breaks doing 10 kmh on soft ground in my local hills. With full face helmets and body armour.

Given the choice I know who's physique I would rather have.

Really some of you people have too much time on your hands, do something fun like ride a bike rather than dream half baked theories. I promise you will not die from brittle bones...

Drinking milk will not necessarily give you strong bones, nor will big muscles. Weight bearing exercise will though. Do you know of any evidence to back up your promise?

 

[rata de sentina]

The lack of meat and dairy probably was the cause of DZ's wrist fracture

Yep, that vegan diet is a recipe for osteoporosis. Causes neurological deficiencies too which might explain the poor balance.

 

[Damiano Machiavelli]

Yep, that vegan diet is a recipe for osteoporosis. Causes neurological deficiencies too which might explain the poor balance.

Vitamin B deficiency, a danger for vegans, causes blurry vision. Poor DZ probably could not see where he was going. Bones embrittled from a lack of dairy products then snapped like twigs. The lack of manly fortitude that comes from red meat then caused him to succumb to his injuries and drop out.

 

[craig1985]

this. I knew a guy who fell out of his windown on a streetlight(lantaarnpaal) from 3 high. he didn't die, because as his doctor said, you are so muscled, it's like a harnas. that's what protected him

another thing is riders have no idea how to fall. like falling with their hands down is ludicrous. I come from mma and when I crash from my bike I make sure I always roll and fall on my back

I never stick my arms out or anything, but I still broke my collarbone in a crash.

gesink is 191 and 68 kg right? very unhealthy although very fit I suppose

Gesink is 187cm.