Treefox

Photos from the Asian Games in Doha


And somewhat curiuosly, whilst everyone else has serious top-end gear, the poor North Korean time trialist is riding a standard road bike (with water bottle cage!) and standard helmet... (at least it's a Look with a disk wheel)

fujiacerider

105, no sponsors...

Squint

It's proof that Communism works.

botto 

she's also sporting a triple.

Treefox

Yeah, I saw that.

And what look to be off-the-shelf Pearl Izumis

UmneyDurak

Second. Not bad I guess.

Talewinds

Yes, curious, but not surprising. The people have no internets there. They have no access to BikeForums. Only the almighty powerful Holy Kim Jong Il has the WWW. He probably Ebay'd all the parts.
Correct me if I'm wrong. I'm relatively open minded.

operator

I don't really think getting the latest zipp disc wheels is a priority when you have no food.

Snuffleupagus

That seems strange to me. I guess I'd assume that the North Koreans would at least want to project a facade of prosperity, like they do with their military.

It's not like they can't afford 3-4k for a full on TT rig and a national kit. They export enough illicit drugs and weapons...

Snuffleupagus

I imagine doping controls aren't a huge priority for the Chinese track cycling team lookit the size of her freakin' legs!

botto 

has cyclingtom hijacked your account?

Snuffleupagus

Nah, I'm channeling him today apparently

Talewinds

Yes, interesting point. Your words "would at least want to project a facade of prosperity", how do you define that? How do you measure that? One answer is that in America, seemingly the most blatant example, people measure prosperity by turning on the television and seeing what kind of elaborate wedding Tom and Katie are having, or by seeing (insert overpaid NFL player here) on MTV cribs and his current car collection. Or the latest shoes that Katie Couric is wearing, or that the Plasma TV is the must have in electronics. And on and on and on.
In N. Korea, they have ZERO access to that information, no idea that half of the rest of the world measures success in that manner.
I am surprised though that General Kim didn't do his homework and show up with the meanest of TT rigs.

Treefox

Too true. They're probably more worried about their athletes defecting.

RatherBeBiking

I feel bad for her. I mean, if you're on a pro team, they should supply you with some real pro equipment!

Not to say she isn't riding a nice rig, though.

UmneyDurak

That is really wierd miss match of components. on one hand she is riding with disk wheel and carbon semi aero front wheel. On the other she doesn't have TT bars. I think helmet is pretty high end. For that price you can get a TT helmet. Might not be the best one, but would be better suited for TT. Frame looks descent with what looks like campy, but she is running tripple on it. It's like the bike was put together with spare parts or something.

DocRay

That comment is hilarious coming from a guy in a country with a rich history of doping in world competition.

Amazing the number of racist, nationalist thread responses. Perhaps we should carpet bomb these people to "free" them?

Those legs are typical of track sprinters, from any country.

MacMan

Totalitarianism != Communism. But that would be a long conversation and I doubt you'd understand it.

Snuffleupagus

Did you look at the rest of the photo series? She's far and away the biggest girl...hence my comment.

Talewinds

Can you list them specifically and then elaborate on which parts get your feathers ruffled? Because I read and re-read all of the posts again and again. I can't identify a single one, except for maybe the sarcasm about communism, but hey, the it's track record speaks for itself.
What is it that you find so objectionable?
Why do I find myself shaking my head at almost every post you make in any thread? Can people really be that different? I mean, heck ,I've looked and looked for some common ground, and can never find it....

Dead Roman

Perhaps she rides one frame and doesnt/didnt have time to switch out parts.

Snicklefritz

Kim Jonh Il had his www and ipods taken away...

botto 

Dead Roman

Truthfully though, how typical are they of FEMALE track cyclists? No hostility here.

DocRay

I realize when you get a bunch of like-minded guys together, it all sounds normal, but the communist comments and political stuff have nothing to do with this racing. Then the "chinese riders must dope" comment is just cold war mentality that implies that morally pure Americans don't dope, but other filthy foreigners do.

Move it to the KKK sports forums.