The Official Olympic Thread

[Muddled]

If teams all.contribute it makes it easier for the peloton to come back.

But why not seize the initiative and move to the front of the peloton and set the pace so that the difference between the leaders is not that great?

Hell, why not have a peloton at all and just cycle as fast as you can for six hours?

[PTP]

Still doesn't make sense tho..what the **** is the peloton and why the **** do they all have to help each other to crawl "it" (I assume the lead?) back.....why the **** aren't they worrying about what they need to do themselves to win

Anyway gibbo don't knock the handball, it's quality

[Shaggy]

But why not seize the initiative and move to the front of the peloton and set the pace so that the difference between the leaders is not that great?

Hell, why not have a peloton at all and just cycle as fast as you can for six hours?

That's what I think. If I'd invented cycle racing I'd have done it differently - I'd have loads of men on bikes racing against each other with *all of them* trying to win the race. The one who crosses the line in first place and the fastest time is the winner. Forget the pelicans, forget chatting, forget waving at the crowds, take it more seriously and have a ruddy good race.

I read this just now - it's quite helpful.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peloton

[Chazza]

Gold No1 for Phelps coming up?

Looking ropey

[Chazza]

Phelps 4th

[RichC]

Phelps 4th

[Boogs]

But why not seize the initiative and move to the front of the peloton and set the pace so that the difference between the leaders is not that great?

Hell, why not have a peloton at all and just cycle as fast as you can for six hours?

The GB team were at the front doing all the work to bring them back. Leading the peloton your working 30% more than the man behind. More people helping out you don't use as much energy. The team consist of 5 people and if they are doing all the work at the front over a long time they tire faster. No one else took up the lead and let team GB do all the work and they could not pull it back as they were ****ed.

[PTP]

That's what I think. If I'd invented cycle racing I'd have done it differently - I'd have loads of men on bikes racing against each other with *all of them* trying to win the race. The one who crosses the line in first place and the fastest time is the winner. Forget the pelicans, forget chatting, forget waving at the crowds, take it more seriously and have a ruddy good race.

I read this just now - it's quite helpful.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peloton

Interesting and it did help a bit....so basically they all form this pelican, stick close and move around to make it easier for everyone to ride their bikes for 4 hours, until the last bit where they all break and sprint for the finish...

Still seems a bit mad tho...relying on rivals to help you win?

[Muddled]

That's what I think. If I'd invented cycle racing I'd have done it differently - I'd have loads of men on bikes racing against each other with *all of them* trying to win the race. The one who crosses the line in first place and the fastest time is the winner. Forget the pelicans, forget chatting, forget waving at the crowds, take it more seriously and have a ruddy good race.

I read this just now - it's quite helpful.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peloton

That is helpful! I had not even thought about slipstreaming.

Your point still stands though and I completely agree, go as fast as you can for the length of the race and forget about your compatriots and go for gold.

Ruddy good race FTW!

[Shaggy]

The GB team were at the front doing all the work to bring them back. Leading the peloton your working 30% more than the man behind. More people helping out you don't use as much energy. The team consist of 5 people and if they are doing all the work at the front over a long time they tire faster. No one else took up the lead and let team GB do all the work and they could not pull it back as they were ****ed.

I really enjoy a bit of gentle trolling/playing dumb sometimes - it's fun - but I genuinely had no idea about any of this stuff. Whoever would've thought bike racing was so....quirky.

I thought they just had a race.

I get the whole peloton **** now...quite interesting.

[PTP]

The GB team were at the front doing all the work to bring them back. Leading the peloton your working 30% more than the man behind. More people helping out you don't use as much energy. The team consist of 5 people and if they are doing all the work at the front over a long time they tire faster. No one else took up the lead and let team GB do all the work and they could not pull it back as they were ****ed.

Well that to me, just means it team gb fault for relying on other people....why not one of them think **** this pelaton lark off, none of these other countries want to help so I'm going for the the leaders

[Shaggy]

Your point still stands though and I completely agree, go as fast as you can for the length of the race and forget about your compatriots and go for gold

[Boogs]

Well that to me, just means it team gb fault for relying on other people....why not one of them think **** this pelaton lark off, none of these other countries want to help so I'm going for the the leaders

it's a great sport to watch on TV. I was at Hyde Park today and watched them ride out and then watched it on the big screen to finish.
They also do not allow radio contact between riders and the team to keep getting updates through out the race like they do in the tour. That makes a big difference to know when to push on.
London has a real buzz about it now

[Muddled]

I'm gonna watch Team GB in the handball.

If this is ****, I'm blaming PeeTeePee.

[Muddled]

Jovanovic is playing for Montenegro in the handball.