question about the TDU race
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Cooper City, Fl
Posts: 765
Bikes: Cannondale CAAD9 R5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
question about the TDU race
new to this but from all the other videos I have seen of crit racing 99% of people are in the drops...but 99% of the peloton for this race were on the hoods....
just wondering is this because these main grand tour riders don't have the experience of racing crits?
or is there a reason to this?
Chad
just wondering is this because these main grand tour riders don't have the experience of racing crits?
or is there a reason to this?
Chad
#3
Batüwü Creakcreak
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: The illadelph
Posts: 20,791
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 229 Post(s)
Liked 288 Times
in
160 Posts
The evolution of bike fit has come to an increased drop in order to utilize the hoods more than the drops. In the 70's/80's bikes were fit to be ridden in the drops.
Now the fit is to the hoods, with drops being used for a 'break' and a more aero position for sprints and such.
Now the fit is to the hoods, with drops being used for a 'break' and a more aero position for sprints and such.
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Cooper City, Fl
Posts: 765
Bikes: Cannondale CAAD9 R5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The evolution of bike fit has come to an increased drop in order to utilize the hoods more than the drops. In the 70's/80's bikes were fit to be ridden in the drops.
Now the fit is to the hoods, with drops being used for a 'break' and a more aero position for sprints and such.
Now the fit is to the hoods, with drops being used for a 'break' and a more aero position for sprints and such.
Chad
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Cooper City, Fl
Posts: 765
Bikes: Cannondale CAAD9 R5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#7
Batüwü Creakcreak
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: The illadelph
Posts: 20,791
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 229 Post(s)
Liked 288 Times
in
160 Posts
Depends on how well you can handle a bike.
Drops traditionally offered a much lower position. They still do, but the hoods are lower now than they used to be in the 'fistful' of seatpost days. So you have a lower center of gravity while turning in the hoods.
Drops traditionally offered a much lower position. They still do, but the hoods are lower now than they used to be in the 'fistful' of seatpost days. So you have a lower center of gravity while turning in the hoods.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 4,279
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
new to this but from all the other videos I have seen of crit racing 99% of people are in the drops...but 99% of the peloton for this race were on the hoods....
just wondering is this because these main grand tour riders don't have the experience of racing crits?
or is there a reason to this?
Chad
just wondering is this because these main grand tour riders don't have the experience of racing crits?
or is there a reason to this?
Chad
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Cooper City, Fl
Posts: 765
Bikes: Cannondale CAAD9 R5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I think it's a given that the majority of the European riders don't have the crit experience that the US ones do...
133 what's a cat 1/2 field?
Chad
Chad
#11
slow up hills
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 4,931
Bikes: Giant TCR, Redline CX, Ritchey Breakaway, Spec S-works epic
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
It's not the draft, it's the course. Watch a road race -- how many sharp corners are there? If there are some, you'll bet lots of guys are in the drops. Watch a crit -- there's a 90+ degree corner more than once a minute. That's where most of it is.
ps p/1/2 fields around here are ~80 ish oftentimes
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Blacksburg, VA
Posts: 4,850
Bikes: Yeti ASRc, Focus Raven 29er, Flyxii FR316
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
If you're in a large field but not in the top 5-10, and there aren't many hard accelerations or much braking due to the nature of the course and attitude of the field, there is little need to be in the drops.
#13
mountain troll
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: santa cruz mountains
Posts: 1,127
Bikes: the hummer brand mountain bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
in a pro field like that there's probably no braking going on so they are all staying comfortable on the hoods... those dudes touch eachother constantly, wheels, shoulders, hands, no big deal! when you're at that level it's just like saying "hello you are looking spiffy in your tights today! cheers!" and US racers have LESS experience in everything compared to these dudes across the pond.
#14
starting pistol means war
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 3,150
Bikes: Cervelo R3
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Hoods vs drops? It's all preference.
As stated above, many guys have there bars very low compared to the past. Obviously forcing many to sit on the hoods/tops.
I have a 4cm drop from my saddle to the bars. I can ride drops anytime and stay in them almost exclusively for crits/circuits.
As stated above, many guys have there bars very low compared to the past. Obviously forcing many to sit on the hoods/tops.
I have a 4cm drop from my saddle to the bars. I can ride drops anytime and stay in them almost exclusively for crits/circuits.
#15
pan y agua
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 31,303
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1447 Post(s)
Liked 727 Times
in
372 Posts
Sprinting, cornering, hard accelerations, riding on the front, solo efforts are all best done in the drops.
Crits are going to have a lot of the first 3, so its typical to ride in the drops.
Stage of a grand tour (or just a road race in general) good portion of the day sitting in the pack, there's not much need to be in the drops, and the hoods are more comfortable, particularly with an aggressive bike fit.
Crits are going to have a lot of the first 3, so its typical to ride in the drops.
Stage of a grand tour (or just a road race in general) good portion of the day sitting in the pack, there's not much need to be in the drops, and the hoods are more comfortable, particularly with an aggressive bike fit.
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.