So, who's been inspired by the olympics then?

[prand]

Wow, what a weekend for GB cycling. And it's still going on today (watching the sprint qualifiers on the screens in the office right now). Amazing performances from the men & women, who seem utterly invincible.

So even though it was raining, I took to the road this morning with the tri-bars on the bike, and took a minute off my 10k ride to work time. Well chuffed!

Anyone else been out on their bike practising sprints this weekend??!

[v8 jago]

How good were our team of 4 around the track and breaking the wr by 3 seconds.
Pure class. Well done lads.

[prand]

Just saw that. immense.

[v8 jago]

I was on the edge of my seat for the first few laps as they were only around 1.1 sec and 1.5 sec infront then when it showed them being on the same straight as the rivals i was just proper exited.. Its good to know we are good at something.

[littleandy0410]

Yep, I've been massively impressed by the track and road cycling - I have always been a mountain biker, through and through, but I've found myself checking eBay and all the online bike shops for a bargain road bike, and reading all the road forums for advice/info.

Can I really go over to the dark side!? Me, in lycra?

Of course, living in East Anglia, I have to travel for decent MTBing, but there's a road right outside my front door!

[henrycrun]

Should be showing BMX on Weds and Thurs

[spenny_b]

Yup, really impressive stuff...I was another MTB'er (well, still am) but I was fortunate enough to "stumble" across road riding 3-4 weeks before the TdF following a health-scare. That was inspiring enough with Cav and his 4 stage wins, but then to see the guys n gals whoop-ass in Beijing is just pure inspiration in-a-can. Fabulous.

(and then the nay-sayers on the radio start whinging about cycling and rowing being elitist sports, using Formula 1 technology, blah, blah, blah...FFS, some people are never happy are they?!?!)

[Kylie]

Yes congrats to you Brits the guys are real inspiration for all cyclists worldwide esp that Bradly fella hes true class. Our young Kiwi squad really looks up to the Brits and did ok hauling a few medals but no gold this time

[Saddle bum]

Being a life-long bike rider and moderately successful racer, I feel quite proud of the boys and girls at the Olympics. The pedals seem to going round a little bit easier these days.

[raceboy]

Well in respect of Shanaze Reade our great BMX Olympic hopefull crashing more than I usually do, I'll be visiting a local track thats just been rebuilt, and as a mark of respect to her acceivements I'll probably be failling off a bit too.

[prand]

Shanaze seemed to have trouble with the tarmac sections which seemed really slippery to me (and her, obviously). Shame she couldn't even get a medal, as she looked really good when she got going. I've never seen BMX riding competitively, which seemed really cool too!

I feel sorry for Mark Cavendish too, who watched all his team-mates get all the medals and then get blocked out by all the other meanie countries in the Madison to come 9th with Bradley Wiggins.

Mountain bikes tomorrow (women's) and Sunday (men's).

Looking at the medal tables it seems like Australia and Germany are sneaking up on GB. In wonder if we can squeeze a few more golds out before the end?!

[raceboy]

prand said:

Shanaze seemed to have trouble with the tarmac sections which seemed really slippery to me (and her, obviously). Shame she couldn't even get a medal, as she looked really good when she got going. I've never seen BMX riding competitively, which seemed really cool too!

Don't think she ever really got over the 1st fall in the 1st time trial on Wednesday, you could see how gingerly she was going into the 1st turn and when she hit the floor in the 1st Semi as well it didn't look good, to get up and still be in a physical position to get Silver was very good, but Shanaze is a death or glory type, so it was go for Gold and it didn't pay off....she'll be back and I can see her taking a medal in the BMX in 2012 and a track cycling medal as well.

[pdV6]

raceboy said:

prand said:

Shanaze seemed to have trouble with the tarmac sections which seemed really slippery to me (and her, obviously). Shame she couldn't even get a medal, as she looked really good when she got going. I've never seen BMX riding competitively, which seemed really cool too!

Don't think she ever really got over the 1st fall in the 1st time trial on Wednesday, you could see how gingerly she was going into the 1st turn and when she hit the floor in the 1st Semi as well it didn't look good, to get up and still be in a physical position to get Silver was very good, but Shanaze is a death or glory type, so it was go for Gold and it didn't pay off....she'll be back and I can see her taking a medal in the BMX in 2012 and a track cycling medal as well.

It was more than that apparently. In true "death or glory" style she decided to push out a triple jump to gain an advantage in the 1st semi, overcooked it and crashed out.

Got to admire the "gold or nothing" approach in the final though - how many others would simply have settled for silver?

[raceboy]

pdV6 said:

Got to admire the "gold or nothing" approach in the final though - how many others would simply have settled for silver?

Either that or she just saw the chance to nail a Frenchie, but came off worse.
That move was never going to work though, see'd have stood more chance trying to overhaul her down the last straight but then us armchair sports critics always know best...