Steve Abraham - One Year Time Trial.
Discussion
SpeckledJim said:
Steve is at a disadvantage to Kurt, but that's hardly Kurt's fault, and calling him a charlatan is ridiculous.
Steve was entirely at liberty to do this wherever he liked. He chose the UK (for good reasons).
you're right it is ridiculous to call him a charlatan and i meant that in jest...Steve was entirely at liberty to do this wherever he liked. He chose the UK (for good reasons).
however the need for parametres for this record is absolutely fundamental, surely you can see that, hence my point about the treadmill.
FWIW I agree with you that in principle Steve is doing it more in the spirit of the original record.
However,
I also suspect that to do 200+ miles on a trainer every day for a year would actually be just as hard if not harder. It would definitely require the same commitment and I’m fairly sure most people would not be able to do it.
However,
Rob_T said:
if the record is purely and simple about sitting on a bike and churning out the miles, what's to stop me putting my bike on a treadmill, setting the treadmill to a slight decline and spending the year effectively cycling down hill. i'm sure most people could do that.
It needs to be on the road, which road is up to the person looking to attempt the record. Someone set a very large monthly total earlier in the year but did it in Australia rather than Richmond upon Thames where they live. I also suspect that to do 200+ miles on a trainer every day for a year would actually be just as hard if not harder. It would definitely require the same commitment and I’m fairly sure most people would not be able to do it.
Rob_T said:
SpeckledJim said:
Steve is at a disadvantage to Kurt, but that's hardly Kurt's fault, and calling him a charlatan is ridiculous.
Steve was entirely at liberty to do this wherever he liked. He chose the UK (for good reasons).
you're right it is ridiculous to call him a charlatan and i meant that in jest...Steve was entirely at liberty to do this wherever he liked. He chose the UK (for good reasons).
however the need for parametres for this record is absolutely fundamental, surely you can see that, hence my point about the treadmill.
If you set your parameters somewhere near to what Steve is going to hit, then you're saying it's a
"One Year Time Trial (somewhere reasonably hilly)"
which isn't quite as juicy a nugget, and excludes anyone who lives somewhere flat from having a fair go.
Unless there's a set 'course' then there's no one way to make it 'fair'.
End of the day, Steve could be riding and re-riding a very flat shorter course somewhere in the UK, but he has chosen not to. Good on him. But his choice.
Where do you draw the line though? If absolute consistency is required then it would need to be in a velodrome.
This record(s) is a 'spiritual' one though and goes beyond a rigid set of criteria. Fans can tell the difference. While a bit of competition between the two on a more level playing field would make it more entertaining (and this is why/how the media are creating this drama), they're both going to win.
This record(s) is a 'spiritual' one though and goes beyond a rigid set of criteria. Fans can tell the difference. While a bit of competition between the two on a more level playing field would make it more entertaining (and this is why/how the media are creating this drama), they're both going to win.
right i readily admit i may need to get a life on this one and certainly with everything else that's going on in the world this is quite low down in the pecking order of global issues right now. to put my disclaimers in, i am not anti american, i am not pro english and i am certainly not suggesting i could do anything like either of these two are doing and i have complete respect for both athletes.
however certain aspects do not seem right:
climbing - there needs to be a set minimum climbing requirement to make the record attempt comparable.
use of recumbent bikes - doesn't seem right
drafting - shouldn't be allowed
now perhaps i could live with one of these as an exception but if you;re going to start taking the proverbial then the challenge can start to look like a bit of a farce when compared with the original record set by mr godwin.
however certain aspects do not seem right:
climbing - there needs to be a set minimum climbing requirement to make the record attempt comparable.
use of recumbent bikes - doesn't seem right
drafting - shouldn't be allowed
now perhaps i could live with one of these as an exception but if you;re going to start taking the proverbial then the challenge can start to look like a bit of a farce when compared with the original record set by mr godwin.
Rob_T said:
however certain aspects do not seem right:
climbing - there needs to be a set minimum climbing requirement to make the record attempt comparable.
There is a minimum. It is zero. Any more climbing than that is voluntary. Left up to the contestant.climbing - there needs to be a set minimum climbing requirement to make the record attempt comparable.
Rob_T said:
use of recumbent bikes - doesn't seem right
That's not much of an argument.Rob_T said:
drafting - shouldn't be allowed
Quite agree.If Steve wanted, he could do flat loops everyday. He could even just cycle around milton keynes for hours on end.
He opts for the routes (and climbs) he does.
I think the American guy will peak too early, he seems to be banging out quick rides each day. Steve is slowly building up for a big summer.
Either way, it's great for both riders to have the other push them along.
He opts for the routes (and climbs) he does.
I think the American guy will peak too early, he seems to be banging out quick rides each day. Steve is slowly building up for a big summer.
Either way, it's great for both riders to have the other push them along.
Edited by el stovey on Thursday 19th March 14:11
pembo said:
Hang on.....
If Steve is doing more up-bits surely this means that he will get more down-bits in which to rest a little?
He is doing loops most days after all isn't he?
But as we all know, the long slow uppy bits take a lot longer to ride than the faster downy bits...If Steve is doing more up-bits surely this means that he will get more down-bits in which to rest a little?
He is doing loops most days after all isn't he?
Personally I think its just an outright record, location etc cant be a factor. I think Steve's attempt deserves more kudos but ultimately its like the hour record where riders can choose their track knowing which ones have a reputation for being fast...
I'm disliking the whole hole picking thing that is going on. The challenge is to travel as many miles by bike in a year, it's a wide remit and rightly so as it's not a regular undertaking. Easily challenged records require tighter definitions as there are more people capable of making the grade, these guys are going beyond the ordinary and pushing the limits of endurance and willpower.
These guys are both competing under the UMCA rules for this one and that is the definition that counts, debating the in's/out's, right's/wrong's is pointless when the guys out there putting the miles in know what they have signed up for and have made calculated decisions about how they will best challenge each other.
Once they are both done you can chose to slice the pie whichever way you chose to slap a record label on it (UK record, jan 1st-dec 31st record, world record, upright position record etc etc). I'm fairly certain neither of them will give a toss which labels you chose....
These guys are both competing under the UMCA rules for this one and that is the definition that counts, debating the in's/out's, right's/wrong's is pointless when the guys out there putting the miles in know what they have signed up for and have made calculated decisions about how they will best challenge each other.
Once they are both done you can chose to slice the pie whichever way you chose to slap a record label on it (UK record, jan 1st-dec 31st record, world record, upright position record etc etc). I'm fairly certain neither of them will give a toss which labels you chose....
Agreed, if they start putting parameters on the mileage record it will become as big a farce as the hour record was until the UCI finally saw sense. Compare the number of attempts between 1994 and 2014 to the last 12 months. I like the fact the milage record is raw and not subject to UCI regs...
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