Doped Bike ! Some evidence?

limerickman said:

Interesting clip here about the motorised (doped) bike

Very interesting thesis

It is amazing how suspicious we have become :eek:

Steve has already posted first part of this video in http://www.cyclingforums.com/professional-cycling/476050-mechanical-doping.html .
But this video is more informative. It explains the technology and possibilities.
Lots of questions can be asked regarding this motor: how much power it can produce, how long battery lasts... I doubt that numbers are fascinating, but it doesn't justify its usage - it's cheating. And we don't want to be cheated.
Bike changes that Saxo did during De Ronde were very interesting, we've already discussed that.
I don't want to believe that Cancellara cheated. It was fantastic double and we all enjoyed watching it. It would destroy my interest in cycling as a sport where great achievements can be accomplished by human ability. I mean, doping is more than enough problem, this would be disaster. I'll treat this as a product of Belgian jealousy.

It looks like cheating is part of the show. Even we, fans of cycling, spend lots of time talking about it. But this is whole new level of cheating... With doping - competition stays on athletes, but this is very different.. And maybe this is new subject for fans to get amused.

limerickman said:

Interesting clip here about the motorised (doped) bike

Very interesting thesis

Cancellara dominated this year's Paris-Roubaix and Tour of Flanders. This video raises some questions, but perhaps he was just a bit fidgety on these days. However, when the video pointed this out right before he left Boonen in his wake on the Kapelmuur climb, it was pretty eye-raising.:eek: That attack looked effortless on such a steep/cobbled climb. It's so bizzare that it might be true... I think this sport and all its drama has made cycling fans, myself included, very cynical, especially after great performances.

I don't believe it. True, that I choose not to believe it, especially with Cancellara who's my favorite rider, but did you hear that lady riding by on the video ? That motor made a loud winding noise. Unless there's a stealth version, riders would notice.

I also think (and hope) that ASO and all other cycling authorities obviously seen this mechanism, and are on the lookout for such things. No ?

Yea this would suck very much, for every cycling fan, if this existed in the pro's. I guess sometimes ignorance is a bliss.

gman0482 said:

I don't believe it. True, that I choose not to believe it, especially with Cancellara who's my favorite rider, but did you hear that lady riding by on the video ? That motor made a loud winding noise. Unless there's a stealth version, riders would notice.

I also think (and hope) that ASO and all other cycling authorities obviously seen this mechanism, and are on the lookout for such things. No ?

Yea this would suck very much, for every cycling fan, if this existed in the pro's. I guess sometimes ignorance is a bliss.

They'll be on lookout now, that's sure. But, maybe, the damage is already done.
I'm not excluding the possibility (of cheating), I'm, too, choosing not to believe.
Cancellara looks like big sportsman, that strengthens my belief.
And, as steve noticed, we've become very suspicious... But we have right and reasons to be.

I'd have to say that I'm impressed by the ingenuity of this little motor. It seems as if doping is moving away from biochemistry and back to the crazy antics (nails, passenger trains, body doubles) they used in the early days of the tour! Someone could write an entire book about the history of doping and cycling and it would actually be quite entertaining. To a certain extent, motorized doping isn't as dangerous as PED's since the rider isn't risking an early death.

All of this is unacceptable of course. So far, I really can't believe a guy like Fabian would ever do something like that. The cobblestones are so disruptive that it would be weird if any rider were able to keep his hands still...Fabian could have just adjusted his hand position or he may have just rubbed a finger in that particular part of the lever. The video quality is too poor to be conclusive, so this is all speculation as of now. The prospect of motorized doping does concern me though...

As far as I can see, the video clearly shows him changing gears in the normal fashion. Did nobody tell these geniuses that the gear levers aren't on the down tube any more?

Has anybody heard rumours of whether the batteries connected to these electric motors might be rechargedable and hooked up to an alternator? Working in the same way as a car alternator, converting mechanical energy into electrical energy, just on a smaller scale. Talk about a hybrid....

pennstater said:

Has anybody heard rumours of whether the batteries connected to these electric motors might be rechargedable and hooked up to an alternator? Working in the same way as a car alternator, converting mechanical energy into electrical energy, just on a smaller scale. Talk about a hybrid....

I was thinking about that. And it's logical to be made that way. You'd want help of this device for entire race.

There was an incident with a lesser known rider a few years back using a battery enhanced bike. I will try and dig that out for my own curiosity.

Davide Cassani says in the clip that the guy who gave him the bike confirmed a professional rider has already used it. Cassani is the one who saw Michael Rasmussen training in Italy when he said he was in Mexico, bringing about his downfall so I have no doubt he's telling the truth about what he heard. But if what that guy said is true its shameful but not unexpected sadly. I have to say though that Cancellara's accelerations seem somewhat "impossible" when you look at them again carefully.

Eagle of Toledo said:

I have to say though that Cancellara's accelerations seem somewhat "impossible" when you look at them again carefully.

I remember Tom Boonen saying in an interview, the group was only doing about 25kph when he drifted to the back.

I guess everyone waited for Tom to chase spartacus? 🙄

I saw the video and posted it in the hope that it might stimulate some discussion.

My own view is that such a mechanism would have to give off a sound (presumably?).
How would an engine such as the one shown, be powered?
Electricity?

It is an interesting talking point nonetheless.

This is my 14,000th post.

How sad is that???😄😄😄

Yes it does give off a sound, but the road is a noisy place and the screaming of the crowds could potentially mask the whizzing sound.

14000 posts!

I would say its sad, but that would be mitigated by the fact that its 8 degrees outside so while I'm reduced to reading cycling forums in that case I'd say its a milestone. 😄

I am thinking, wouldn't a motor like this be discovered by the cycling authorities? I mean, they check the bikes of the riders to see they have the correct minimum weight, geometry, etc, right? Even if it is very well hidden a professional observer should easily be able to detect such device in my opinion.

However, I think this this small motor is a nice addition for us non-profesionals than only take the bike in the weekends.😄😄😄😄 I would buy it if it comes available in stores.

I could do with an outboard motor.
My climbing's terrible lately😄

sopas said:

However, I think this this small motor is a nice addition for us non-profesionals than only take the bike in the weekends.😄😄😄😄 I would buy it if it comes available in stores.

Haha, see for me, the difficulty of a ride, the work and the pain of becoming better and faster to a finish line is where I get my love for cycling (plus the bike itself is love). So something like that would totally destroy everything for me.

I guess I see you point of view, if you ride just for a calm weekend stroll in the park to enjoy the scenery.