"John Forrest Tomlinson" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:
[email protected]...
> On Sun, 08 Apr 2007 23:10:55 GMT, "Mike Jacoubowsky"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>Or needs to. Lance certainly didn't ride with an aggressive drop. Didn't
>>seem to slow him down much.
>
> Well, Ballan has won a monumental classic with that position,
> something Lance wasnt' able to do. And both rode classics about the
> same amount of time. All else being equal, aero is better in racing.
> --
> JT
Based on my long-past years as a race official, a few observations may
still have some credence today.
Huge advances have been made in equipment since I last stood on a start line
as chief ref. My son, at age 40, still races and some of his equipment is
absolutely amazing. He just sold his Pinarello magnesium frame to ride his
team issue frame. His Campy Bora wheels survived a crash in Indio last
weekend that would have "potato chipped" any wheels from the past!
Incredible advances in both material and aerodynamics of equipment.
But...
No advances in the design of the human body. Ballan's bike looks "normal"
to me for a guy who is around 6'4", if I'm translating his height in meters
to feet and inhces accurately. Compound that by the fact that all 6'4"
human frames are not created equal. Some guys have very very long legs.
Others have more traditional trunk-to-leg height distribution. But in ALL
cases, with guys that tall, if they're going to be competitive at the most
elite levels, they have to do everything in their power to push their bodies
into the most aerodynamic race position possible. For them, it's their
"norm." They don't even think about it. It's just something they've had to
do since they started racing. The ONLY time it's a problem is in a team
time trial if the other riders are much shorter. Makes drafting off them
easy for the short guy, but nearly impossible for them when they're behind a
very short guy. But it's better than no draft at all...
Caroline