"Biathlon" on NBCSN today was a bit light on cycling...
03-23-19, 07:19 PM
#1
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"Biathlon" on NBCSN today was a bit light on cycling...
- Doesn't a "Biathlon" seem like it ought to be a bike/run event instead of a Nordic skiing event combining cross-country skiing and rifle shooting?
03-23-19, 07:31 PM
#2
Non omnino gravis
Methinks the bike 'n run is a "duathlon," because the first biathlon club was founded in Norway in 1861, so I think the ski 'n shoot guys get claim to that name.
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03-23-19, 08:22 PM
#3
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Duathlon is run-bike-run.
The second run hurts.
-Tim-
The second run hurts.
-Tim-
03-23-19, 08:28 PM
#4
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03-23-19, 08:32 PM
#5
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Lol.
I never understood the Biathalon. Skiing and guns.
It's like they decided to combine two random things. Like horseshoes and rock climbing. But then act as if was completely normal.
I never understood the Biathalon. Skiing and guns.
It's like they decided to combine two random things. Like horseshoes and rock climbing. But then act as if was completely normal.
03-23-19, 08:42 PM
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No, it makes perfect sense. Combine two sports of the wealthy, skiing and shooting at harmless things for no reason.
What about decathlon?
What about decathlon?
03-23-19, 08:54 PM
#7
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...or, inherently racist displaying Norwegians picking off Euro-contaminated German invaders.
03-23-19, 08:59 PM
#8
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I think biathlon was a competition created by rural Nordic people who actually needed to ski and hunt in order to survive.
Sort of like lumberjack competition was started by those who actually climbed up and chopped down trees.
Rodeo is the same. Bunch of cowboys started bragging about how good they were, someone else asked of they wanted to put their money where their mouth is and next thing you know it is a bonafide sport.
-Tim-
Sort of like lumberjack competition was started by those who actually climbed up and chopped down trees.
Rodeo is the same. Bunch of cowboys started bragging about how good they were, someone else asked of they wanted to put their money where their mouth is and next thing you know it is a bonafide sport.
-Tim-
03-24-19, 12:16 AM
#9
Senior Member
I think biathlon was a competition created by rural Nordic people who actually needed to ski and hunt in order to survive.
Sort of like lumberjack competition was started by those who actually climbed up and chopped down trees.
Rodeo is the same. Bunch of cowboys started bragging about how good they were, someone else asked of they wanted to put their money where their mouth is and next thing you know it is a bonafide sport.
-Tim-
Sort of like lumberjack competition was started by those who actually climbed up and chopped down trees.
Rodeo is the same. Bunch of cowboys started bragging about how good they were, someone else asked of they wanted to put their money where their mouth is and next thing you know it is a bonafide sport.
-Tim-
From wikipedia:
According to Encyclopćdia Britannica, the biathlon "is rooted in the skiing traditions of Scandinavia, where early inhabitants revered the Norse god Ullr as both the ski god and the hunting god". In modern times, the activity that developed into this sport was an exercise for Norwegian people that was an alternative training for the military. Norwegian skiing regiments organized military skiing contests in the 18th century, divided in four classes: shooting at mark while skiing at top speed, downhill race among trees, downhill race on big hills without falling, and a long race on flat ground while carrying rifle and military pack. In modern terminology these military contests included downhill, slalom, biathlon, and cross-country skiing.
Biathlon: Skiing and shooting
Duathlon: Running and cycling
Aquathlon (or aquathon): Swimming and running (easier for tri clubs to organise as you don't need to close any roads for cycling)
03-24-19, 07:27 AM
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I thought Biathlon was a purchasing event/sport taking place on the Friday after Thanksgiving.
03-24-19, 09:43 AM
#11
Sr Member on Sr bikes
Initially, when the run-bike-run events were established as an alternative to triathlon back in the 1980s (mostly because non-swimmers wanted a multi-sport event)...it was called biathlon. But the nordic ski people took issue with calling it that since they already had the "XC ski and shoot" event they call biathlon.
Regarding the nordic ski/shoot biathlon...for those who wonder about the combination of those two disciplines...the history of the ancient Olympics kind of answers that. The ancient games were set up as friendly competitions among armies. The events were things that soldiers of that era might be called to do: run, ride a horse, swim, archery, row, sail, throwing spears, pole vaulting, etc. In the modern games that concept is somewhat maintained...there is shooting in the summer games and frequently those Olympians are active duty military folks. And even today, there are military troops that specialize in mountain, and winter combat conditions...and skiing and shooting is part of their training. Now...I just don't see where rhythmic gymnastics, synchronized swimming, and ice dancing fit in.
Dan
Regarding the nordic ski/shoot biathlon...for those who wonder about the combination of those two disciplines...the history of the ancient Olympics kind of answers that. The ancient games were set up as friendly competitions among armies. The events were things that soldiers of that era might be called to do: run, ride a horse, swim, archery, row, sail, throwing spears, pole vaulting, etc. In the modern games that concept is somewhat maintained...there is shooting in the summer games and frequently those Olympians are active duty military folks. And even today, there are military troops that specialize in mountain, and winter combat conditions...and skiing and shooting is part of their training. Now...I just don't see where rhythmic gymnastics, synchronized swimming, and ice dancing fit in.
Dan
Last edited by _ForceD_; 03-24-19 at 07:00 PM.
03-24-19, 12:29 PM
#13
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How is cross country skiing a sport of the wealthy? Bikes cost far more than a set of XC stuff. I would venture a guess that the vast majority of shooters are not wealthy. Either tongue in cheek or ?
03-25-19, 02:08 AM
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There's actually bicycle biathlons: MTN Bike Biathlon
Here, duathon normally is run/swim.
scott s.
.
Here, duathon normally is run/swim.
scott s.
.
03-25-19, 02:41 AM
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03-25-19, 06:58 PM
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I have 4 bikes in regular rotation, the most expensive one I put together 2 years ago for $3500.
Either way both of these sports are expensive. Doing both is really expensive. Which probably explains why I'm driving a 20 year old car...
03-25-19, 07:22 PM
#19
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03-25-19, 08:58 PM
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Well, there are 1 or 2 more threads in road cycling that don't belong there/here either. Ask the people in charge. Go ahead, ask them.
03-25-19, 10:32 PM
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03-25-19, 10:34 PM
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03-25-19, 10:46 PM
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If you get a Nordic Track maybe you can alternate Zwift with Nintendo Duck Hunt
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03-26-19, 04:14 AM
#24
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The Olympics was originally a military event, the original competitors were Spartans and the warrior class of Greece. The Olympics continued to be a mainly military event well into the 20th century. Most of the competitors of the early 20th century were ordinary soldiers, even sprinters and endurance runners. The biathlon was an Olympic sport which was a real military activity. In Northern Europe there were indeed ski Infantry, these were especially numerous in Russia, Germany, and Scandinavia, not to mention Canada and even America.
BTW, there was (and still is in some places) bicycle Infantry, who ride from place to place and shoot at targets. I doubt we would see it introduced into the Olympics, though I would prefer it to so-called sports like synchronized swimming.
It wasn't until the second half of the 20th century that non-military events were introduced and became commonplace.
