The Coach - Cycling reality TV looking for contestants

[louiebaby]

Is the technical term "chopper"? If so, it looks like Bike Channel is on the look out for a couple to become Pros.

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/th...

http://www.bikechannel.co.uk/the-coach/

Seems to be based on an Italian format, and might be worth an entry just for the sheer hell of it...

[louiebaby]

"Auditions" are open:

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/th...

http://www.bikechannel.co.uk/the-coach/

I thought there might be more interest / discussion about this?

[anonymous-user]

Everyone is pretending they are above such things... it's for choppers and tubby wobblers, not real racers like us.

[CoolC]

If they do a version where they turn a tubby wobbler into a chopper I might be interested

[JustinF]

Too old, too slow, like beer too much.

[yellowjack]

Me: "Hi! I'm 45, slightly overweight and have major issues with sticking to a strict diet. I'd like to be a pro cyclist please."

The Bike Channel: "Next!"

[okgo]

""head to head in the final prestigious sportive



What a load of utter st. Surely the best way to see would be to enter them into say 10 races and see who got the most BC points or something.

[louiebaby]

I've seen "chopper" and "tubby wobbler" a few times, and kind of think I know what they mean. Can someone confirm for me please:

Chopper: Fairly skinny bloke on a good bike riding sportives pretty quickly, but with no road sense or etiquette, and manages his reasonable speed by jumping into fast groups without doing any of the work.

Tubby Wobbler: Fat bloke in a full Rapha, on the latest Dogma, averaging 13.5mph round a relatively flat sportive.

[tobinen]

JustinF said:

Too old, too slow, like beer too much.

yellowjack said:

Me: "Hi! I'm 45, slightly overweight and have major issues with sticking to a strict diet. I'd like to be a pro cyclist please."

[SixPotBelly]

Chopper: A term of derision often used by those who solely race BC to describe those who don't. Since adopted with pride by those who worship in cycling's broader church. eg Gruffy.

Tubby Wobbly: Someone too slow to be a chopper. eg SixPotBelly.

[louiebaby]

SixPotBelly said:

Chopper: A term of derision often used by those who solely race BC to describe those who don't. Since adopted with pride by those who worship in cycling's broader church. eg Gruffy.

Tubby Wobbly: Someone too slow to be a chopper. eg SixPotBelly.

I wasn't miles out.

[lukefreeman]

Naively, I thought this was a brilliant idea........The idea of having say 3 months of training/nutrition/support, and the prize being to join a race team for a year.......

How wrong am I :-( That's not the TV show at all.

[yellowjack]

lukefreeman said:

Naively, I thought this was a brilliant idea........The idea of having say 3 months of training/nutrition/support, and the prize being to join a race team for a year.......

How wrong am I :-( That's not the TV show at all.

Having re-read the Bike Channel page, I have to agree.

The bit where it asks (in big letters) "THINK YOU’VE GOT WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A PRO RIDER?" led me into the belief that it was going to give two lucky (and young, and already talented) amateur riders a foot in the door with a minor pro-level team. Sadly this looks more like "Team Cycling Plus" training and equipping a slack handful of randoms for a season of "the toughest Sportives" and chasing personal goals, but adapted for television.

It might well be entertaining, and could even provide useful tips for training solo at home. But what it is (or at least seems to be) is more "being trained by an ex-pro rider" than "training to be a pro rider". Not surprising that 'the media' would blow this up to be something more than it actually is, though. Good luck to whoever gets chosen, but I bet it'll be as much about being telegenic and confident in front of a camera as it is about cycling ability and desire. A nice "tough childhood, broke cancer survivor" back story will help too...

[The_Jackal]

At the end of the day it is just a program to promote cycling and get people out on their bikes.
I think people are too caught up on the prize from a personal point of view.

[anonymous-user]

Agreed, much like the f1 driver competition a grew years ago where the driver was pretty much selected before the competition even started they will be after someone who is already at a good standard they can push on a bit.

Rob is a nice guy and wouldn't be involved if it was cack or fixed though. It will be good exposure for the bike (Beacon?!) and kit supplier too.

Ultimately there is nothing to lose and something to gain, I've entered!

[JustinF]

pablo said:

Agreed, much like the f1 driver competition a grew years ago where the driver was pretty much selected before the competition even started they will be after someone who is already at a good standard they can push on a bit.

Rob is a nice guy and wouldn't be involved if it was cack or fixed though. It will be good exposure for the bike (Beacon?!) and kit supplier too.

Ultimately there is nothing to lose and something to gain, I've entered!

Are you a tubby chopper?

[anonymous-user]

No it's just the way my trousers hang....

[JustinF]

[Gruffy]

SixPotBelly said:

Chopper: A term of derision often used by those who solely race BC to describe those who don't. Since adopted with pride by those who worship in cycling's broader church. eg Gruffy.

Tubby Wobbly: Someone too slow to be a chopper. eg SixPotBelly.

As far as I can work out other traits include enjoying Strava 'more than I should', being a big fish in a small pond (quicker than his mates but would be instantly spat out the back of a Cat 4 race) and probably sporting all the fast and fancy gear with ideas above his station. That's me banged to rights

[louiebaby]

pablo said:

I've entered!

I don't see a lot of harm in chucking my hat in the ring. Just a 50 second video to start with, right?