Tandem Cycling - London Paralympics, Men's Individual B [tandem] Road Race

The most competitive event in tandem road racing (?), is in the quadrennial Paralympics, that follows the Summer Olympics in the same location. The road race is to take place on September 8th (http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/cycling-road/event/men-individual-b-road-race/index.html).

The B designation indicates tandem with a visually impaired stoker and sighted pilot. There are B men's and women's teams, but no mixed teams. (http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/cycling-road/events/index.html)

Of course, the visual impairment doesn't affect wattage, and so it will be interesting to see what these teams can do. Also, to see how with high-level racing what bikes are used, and how they are equipped.


http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/4553/paralympics.jpg

Do anyone know if there is there any video coverage?

The 18 cycling events started August 30th. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/8714125/London-2012-Paralympics-track-cycling-guide.html

Watch 780 hours live at http://paralympic.org (http://paralympic.org/) or more than 1,000 hours of film clips at http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5A037FE086F3A15E&feature=plcp

One of the favorites in the mens track events was Juanjo Mendez, who lost both an arm and leg twenty years ago. He will be featured in a documentary, “Unstoppables.” If you want to be inspired, watch http://vimeo.com/45185727. For more about the documentary, visit http://imparablesdocumental.com/eng/ He didn't do all that well in the velodrome, but I'll be cheering for him in the road races.

Added cycling (non tandem content) - The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and its partners have made a significant investment to ensure London 2012 is a sustainable transport Games, and are encouraging people to emulate their track and road heroes by doing their own ‘victory ride’ as they get to and from events. London 2012 is the first Games with a large scale walking and cycling strategy. Cycling provision during the Paralympics includes:
• 7,100 secure cycle spaces serving venues (4,700 at the Olympic Park).
• Led cycle rides suitable for families and groups.
• Police bicycle marking at the Olympic Park on select days.
• Free cycle maintenance repairs at the Olympic Park and Brands Hatch.
• New maps highlighting the variety of cycle routes around the Olympic Park, and easy to use journey planner offering cyclists a choice of direct, quiet or recreational routes

Wednesday featured the Men's Individual B [tandem] Time Trial (http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/cycling-road/event/men-individual-b-time-trial/phase=crm141100/doc=detailedresults.html). The winning Spanish team had a time fo 30:48 on the 24 km course, averaging 29.04 mph (http://www.csgnetwork.com/csgtsd.html).


The winning Women's Individual B Time Trial (http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/cycling-road/event/women-individual-b-time-trial/phase=crw141100/doc=detailedresults.html) had a time of 35:03, or 25.5 mph.

http://www.london2012.com/mm/Photo/sport/General/01/42/71/31/1427131_M01.jpg

http://www.london2012.com/mm/Photo/sport/General/01/42/71/37/1427137_M01.jpg
Phillipa Gray and Laura Thompson of New Zealand compete in the women's Individual B Time Trial on Day 7 of the London 2012 Paralympic Games at Brands Hatch.

A set on Flickr. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/glediator/sets/72157631427037718/with/7939446814/)

Here's a pic (http://www.flickr.com/photos/birdwatcher63/sets/72157631427095162/with/7939560556/) we can relate to. The Australian team' Co-Mo had a broken chain 30 minutes prior to race start. And look, they have a (watt robbing?) Gate's drive, that didn't break.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8322/7939080124_775277888e_b.jpg

On a tangent, a number of teams at Masters Nats were running belt drives, including, several Paketas with one sided drives.

I'm wondering how fast the course was. The men's result sounds around what you'd expect. The womans's sounds a bit slow, particularly for 24k

Here's a pic (http://www.flickr.com/photos/birdwatcher63/sets/72157631427095162/with/7939560556/) we can relate to. The Australian team' Co-Mo had a broken chain 30 minutes prior to race start. And look, they have a (watt robbing?) Gate's drive, that didn't break.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8322/7939080124_775277888e_b.jpg

Maybe because the belt is only taking half the power?
Also, why would you ride a TT at this level with empty water bottle cages on the bike?
No aero bars either, or if they are there they are only clip ons.

Maybe because the belt is only taking half the power?
Also, why would you ride a TT at this level with empty water bottle cages on the bike?
No aero bars either, or if they are there they are only clip ons.

To give the other teams a sporting chance?

Here's (http://www.flickr.com/photos/32293736@N04/7939436274/sizes/l/in/photostream/) the Canadian team on a Calfee, with a Gates drive. A nice set of pics here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/32293736@N04/sets/72157631426839704/with/7939436274/).

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8169/7939436274_068799d8c7_b.jpg


The winning Spanish team. That's a big chainring! They won even though an empty waterbottle cage was left on.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8435/7939437198_c79719c486_b.jpg

I've seen the aero stoker bars like the Spanish team has on a RAAM tandem before, it was a homemade setup.

I've seen the aero stoker bars like the Spanish team has on a RAAM tandem before, it was a homemade setup.

Apparently while having the hands tucked under and behind the captain might be more aerodynamic it might be at the detriment of leverage or they were strong enough to overcome whatever aerodynamic disadvantage they might have with them outboard. Here's a pick of the team you referenced uspspro.
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd35/Homey-B/RC508pic.jpg