|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Racing and motorcycles
Watching a bit of the TofB this evening, I couldn't help wondering how
much effect on riders the motorbikes used by the camera operators have on the cyclists. Particularly on the climbs, there was quite often a motorbike directly in front of the riders, travelling at quite slow speed, and it seems to me that they'd be getting a good gobfull of exhaust fumes at a time when they surely need every ounce of oxygen they can get. Not to mention that it looked pretty dodgy anyway with motorbikes weaving around the riders much of the time. Has anybody any experience with that? I mean we all cycle in traffic, but generally it's not to the same level of effort to those guys (well, certainly not in my case anyway!), and it must have some effect on their performance, surely? Nobby |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Racing and motorcycles
Nobby Anderson wrote:
Watching a bit of the TofB this evening, I couldn't help wondering how much effect on riders the motorbikes used by the camera operators have on the cyclists. Particularly on the climbs, there was quite often a motorbike directly in front of the riders, travelling at quite slow speed, and it seems to me that they'd be getting a good gobfull of exhaust fumes at a time when they surely need every ounce of oxygen they can get. Not to mention that it looked pretty dodgy anyway with motorbikes weaving around the riders much of the time. Has anybody any experience with that? I mean we all cycle in traffic, but generally it's not to the same level of effort to those guys (well, certainly not in my case anyway!), and it must have some effect on their performance, surely? Nobby There's nowt like a good lungfull of double-decker exhaust. Though the blaaat from a pair of up-swept pipes on a motorbike is a different experience. -- Come to Dave & Boris - your cycle security experts. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Racing and motorcycles
On 2009-09-18, Nobby Anderson wrote:
Watching a bit of the TofB this evening, I couldn't help wondering how much effect on riders the motorbikes used by the camera operators have on the cyclists. Particularly on the climbs, there was quite often a motorbike directly in front of the riders, travelling at quite slow speed, and it seems to me that they'd be getting a good gobfull of exhaust fumes at a time when they surely need every ounce of oxygen they can get. Not to mention that it looked pretty dodgy anyway with motorbikes weaving around the riders much of the time. Has anybody any experience with that? I mean we all cycle in traffic, but generally it's not to the same level of effort to those guys (well, certainly not in my case anyway!), and it must have some effect on their performance, surely? Interesting question, I don't know the answer. I would think that if you're close enough to inhale much exhaust you're probably close enough to be getting a decent aerodynamic draft, which would give you a bigger advantage than the fumes might take away. They do sometimes get a draft off the camera bike. Apparently the rules are they are allowed to if they can-- it's the camera bike's responsibility to get out of the way. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Racing and motorcycles
On 19 Sep, 11:08, Ben C wrote:
On 2009-09-18, Nobby Anderson wrote: Watching a bit of the TofB this evening, I couldn't help wondering how much effect on riders the motorbikes used by the camera operators have on the cyclists. *Particularly on the climbs, there was quite often a motorbike directly in front of the riders, travelling at quite slow speed, and it seems to me that they'd be getting a good gobfull of exhaust fumes at a time when they surely need every ounce of oxygen they can get. *Not to mention that it looked pretty dodgy anyway with motorbikes weaving around the riders much of the time. Has anybody any experience with that? *I mean we all cycle in traffic, but generally it's not to the same level of effort to those guys (well, certainly not in my case anyway!), and it must have some effect on their performance, surely? Interesting question, I don't know the answer. I would think that if you're close enough to inhale much exhaust you're probably close enough to be getting a decent aerodynamic draft, which would give you a bigger advantage than the fumes might take away. They do sometimes get a draft off the camera bike. Apparently the rules are they are allowed to if they can-- it's the camera bike's responsibility to get out of the way. It's not just television bikes. Even on quite small races you'll have a lot of motor marshals continually overtaking the peloton in order to marshal the next junction ahead, plus judges' and comissaires' cars, and sometimes neutral service. Team cars will normally follow the main peloton so aren't a problem for the guys off the front - but it's the guys off the back and struggling to get back on who are actually working hardest of anyone, and they're having to fight their way up through the rear caravan where there are a lot of vehicles and a lot of fumes. Even in the small British races I help out on there are often as many crew as riders, when you count in officials, marshals, routing/derouting crew, neutral service, team managers, soigneurs, medical and first aid, and police escort (if any). As you say it must have some impact on performance. I suppose everyone just treats it as part of the game. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Racing and motorcycles
On 19 Sep, 18:30, Simon Brooke wrote:
On 19 Sep, 11:08, Ben C wrote: On 2009-09-18, Nobby Anderson wrote: Watching a bit of the TofB this evening, I couldn't help wondering how much effect on riders the motorbikes used by the camera operators have on the cyclists. *Particularly on the climbs, there was quite often a motorbike directly in front of the riders, travelling at quite slow speed, and it seems to me that they'd be getting a good gobfull of exhaust fumes at a time when they surely need every ounce of oxygen they can get. *Not to mention that it looked pretty dodgy anyway with motorbikes weaving around the riders much of the time. Has anybody any experience with that? *I mean we all cycle in traffic, but generally it's not to the same level of effort to those guys (well, certainly not in my case anyway!), and it must have some effect on their performance, surely? Interesting question, I don't know the answer. I would think that if you're close enough to inhale much exhaust you're probably close enough to be getting a decent aerodynamic draft, which would give you a bigger advantage than the fumes might take away. They do sometimes get a draft off the camera bike. Apparently the rules are they are allowed to if they can-- it's the camera bike's responsibility to get out of the way. It's not just television bikes. Even on quite small races you'll have a lot of motor marshals continually overtaking the peloton in order to marshal the next junction ahead, plus judges' and comissaires' cars, and sometimes neutral service. Team cars will normally follow the main peloton so aren't a problem for the guys off the front - but it's the guys off the back and struggling *to get back on who are actually working hardest of anyone, and they're having to fight their way up through the rear caravan where there are a lot of vehicles and a lot of fumes. Even in the small British races I help out on there are often as many crew as riders, when you count in officials, marshals, routing/derouting crew, neutral service, team managers, soigneurs, medical and first aid, and police escort (if any). As you say it must have some impact on performance. I suppose everyone just treats it as part of the game.- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - I watched the Tour come through my particular part of the Westcountry yesterday. I would have said that there were as many accompanying cars and motorbikes as competitors. There were 20 police motorcyclists (numbered) in front of the motorbike marshals to carry out the rolling roadblock, followed by judges, officials, publicity vehicles, then the peloton , then service cars, ambulances, paramedics and finally two police vehicles bringing up the rear. Far more than when we used to chase the RAC Rally a few years ago. My wifes friend teaches at the local primary school who turned all the kids out to watch. She said the children were more impressed by the police motorcycles and escorting vehicles than by the actual race. I did enjoy the look of dismay on the local green activist who'd been rattling on in the local newspaper about how green and environmental the Tour was, when the motorcade swept past |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Racing and motorcycles
Nobby Anderson wrote:
Watching a bit of the TofB this evening, I couldn't help wondering how much effect on riders the motorbikes used by the camera operators have on the cyclists. Particularly on the climbs, there was quite often a motorbike directly in front of the riders, travelling at quite slow speed, and it seems to me that they'd be getting a good gobfull of exhaust fumes at a time when they surely need every ounce of oxygen they can get. Not to mention that it looked pretty dodgy anyway with motorbikes weaving around the riders much of the time. Has anybody any experience with that? I mean we all cycle in traffic, but generally it's not to the same level of effort to those guys (well, certainly not in my case anyway!), and it must have some effect on their performance, surely? Nobby Not cycling, but the London Marathon, the vehicles at the front carrying the elapsed time clock, used to be milk floats, but I seem to remember that that has changed now. I know milk floats would be no use for the TofB, they'd be overtaken within 100 yds. -- Tony Dragon |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Racing and motorcycles
On 2009-09-20, Tony Dragon wrote:
Nobby Anderson wrote: Watching a bit of the TofB this evening, I couldn't help wondering how much effect on riders the motorbikes used by the camera operators have on the cyclists. Particularly on the climbs, there was quite often a motorbike directly in front of the riders, travelling at quite slow speed, and it seems to me that they'd be getting a good gobfull of exhaust fumes at a time when they surely need every ounce of oxygen they can get. Not to mention that it looked pretty dodgy anyway with motorbikes weaving around the riders much of the time. Has anybody any experience with that? I mean we all cycle in traffic, but generally it's not to the same level of effort to those guys (well, certainly not in my case anyway!), and it must have some effect on their performance, surely? Nobby Not cycling, but the London Marathon, the vehicles at the front carrying the elapsed time clock, used to be milk floats, but I seem to remember that that has changed now. I know milk floats would be no use for the TofB, they'd be overtaken within 100 yds. Maybe the police, doctors, teams, etc. could all just ride fully-faired recumbents while the race takes place on the much slower but bigger-engined UCI-legal machines. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Racing and motorcycles
On Sun, 20 Sep 2009 09:15:22 +0100,
Tony Dragon wrote: I know milk floats would be no use for the TofB, they'd be overtaken within 100 yds. What a load of rubbish. Some unladen milk-floats can be a bit nippy - I know someone who was done for speeding in one (an electric one before anyone chimes in). I think the world speed record for an electric milk float is around 80mph (the vehicle had relatively few modifications). -- Andy Leighton = "The Lord is my shepherd, but we still lost the sheep dog trials" - Robert Rankin, _They Came And Ate Us_ |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Racing and motorcycles
Ben C wrote:
On 2009-09-20, Tony Dragon wrote: Nobby Anderson wrote: Watching a bit of the TofB this evening, I couldn't help wondering how much effect on riders the motorbikes used by the camera operators have on the cyclists. Particularly on the climbs, there was quite often a motorbike directly in front of the riders, travelling at quite slow speed, and it seems to me that they'd be getting a good gobfull of exhaust fumes at a time when they surely need every ounce of oxygen they can get. Not to mention that it looked pretty dodgy anyway with motorbikes weaving around the riders much of the time. Has anybody any experience with that? I mean we all cycle in traffic, but generally it's not to the same level of effort to those guys (well, certainly not in my case anyway!), and it must have some effect on their performance, surely? Nobby Not cycling, but the London Marathon, the vehicles at the front carrying the elapsed time clock, used to be milk floats, but I seem to remember that that has changed now. I know milk floats would be no use for the TofB, they'd be overtaken within 100 yds. Maybe the police, doctors, teams, etc. could all just ride fully-faired recumbents while the race takes place on the much slower but bigger-engined UCI-legal machines. The leccy motorbikes are supposed to come in to productions soon - but do they have the same capacity for mileage as the cyclists? -- Come to Dave & Boris - your cycle security experts. |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Racing and motorcycles
On Saturday, 19 September 2009 11:43:50 UTC+2, Keitht wrote:
Nobby Anderson wrote: Watching a bit of the TofB this evening, I couldn't help wondering how much effect on riders the motorbikes used by the camera operators have on the cyclists. Particularly on the climbs, there was quite often a motorbike directly in front of the riders, travelling at quite slow speed, and it seems to me that they'd be getting a good gobfull of exhaust fumes at a time when they surely need every ounce of oxygen they can get. Not to mention that it looked pretty dodgy anyway with motorbikes weaving around the riders much of the time. Has anybody any experience with that? I mean we all cycle in traffic, but generally it's not to the same level of effort to those guys (well, certainly not in my case anyway!), and it must have some effect on their performance, surely? Nobby There's nowt like a good lungfull of double-decker exhaust. Though the blaaat from a pair of up-swept pipes on a motorbike is a different experience. -- Come to Dave & Boris - your cycle security experts. Idiotic comment, I certainly am not inspired to come to D & B! |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
ctc and motorcycles | raisethe | UK | 396 | April 3rd 07 01:18 PM |
Government Seized Motorcycles | [email protected] | General | 0 | December 4th 06 10:14 AM |
hanging onto motorcycles | Bucky | Racing | 4 | July 20th 06 12:14 AM |
Descending, Sherwin, Liggit, Motorcycles | Michael Press | Racing | 25 | July 15th 05 07:07 PM |
Bike racks for motorcycles | Carla A-G | Mountain Biking | 9 | August 21st 03 06:11 PM |