How's this tidbit from the Cervelo Newsletter regarding inquiries about Ivan Basso's ride from some very sharp-eyed spectators.
"Some people have been contacting us as they are confused about Ivan’s bike choices for the mountains. Ivan won the first real mountain stage on his Soloist Carbon, then rode an R3 for the second mountain stage, his Soloist Carbon again for the third mountain stage and an R3 for the fourth. As we are in touch with the team almost on a daily basis during big races like the Giro, we thought we would give you some insight into what’s happening.
Ivan rode the R3 in a couple of stages largely as an experiment. He had never ridden an R3 but had heard Cancellara and Kroon talk about it, so he wanted to try one out himself. It's not a very useful bike for him as it falls below the UCI weight limit so he needs to add weights. Ivan's Soloist Carbon is put together at a hair over 6.8kg, just to be on the safe side of the UCI weight limit (if your bike is weighed and it comes in at 6.799 instead of 6.8kg, it is an automatic disqualification, and you never know how accurate the scale will be). "
Just as the clothes don't necessarily make the man, the bike doesn't necessarily signal how good the rider. But for Basso to "experiment" on a bike he's never ridden on some difficult stages, of a Grand Tour no less, speaks volumes about the confidence in his condition while also saying something about his supposed competition.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Insult To Injury
How's this tidbit from the Cervelo Newsletter regarding inquiries about Ivan Basso's ride from some very sharp-eyed spectators.
"Some people have been contacting us as they are confused about Ivan’s bike choices for the mountains. Ivan won the first real mountain stage on his Soloist Carbon, then rode an R3 for the second mountain stage, his Soloist Carbon again for the third mountain stage and an R3 for the fourth. As we are in touch with the team almost on a daily basis during big races like the Giro, we thought we would give you some insight into what’s happening.
Ivan rode the R3 in a couple of stages largely as an experiment. He had never ridden an R3 but had heard Cancellara and Kroon talk about it, so he wanted to try one out himself. It's not a very useful bike for him as it falls below the UCI weight limit so he needs to add weights. Ivan's Soloist Carbon is put together at a hair over 6.8kg, just to be on the safe side of the UCI weight limit (if your bike is weighed and it comes in at 6.799 instead of 6.8kg, it is an automatic disqualification, and you never know how accurate the scale will be). "
Just as the clothes don't necessarily make the man, the bike doesn't necessarily signal how good the rider. But for Basso to "experiment" on a bike he's never ridden on some difficult stages, of a Grand Tour no less, speaks volumes about the confidence in his condition while also saying something about his supposed competition.
"Some people have been contacting us as they are confused about Ivan’s bike choices for the mountains. Ivan won the first real mountain stage on his Soloist Carbon, then rode an R3 for the second mountain stage, his Soloist Carbon again for the third mountain stage and an R3 for the fourth. As we are in touch with the team almost on a daily basis during big races like the Giro, we thought we would give you some insight into what’s happening.
Ivan rode the R3 in a couple of stages largely as an experiment. He had never ridden an R3 but had heard Cancellara and Kroon talk about it, so he wanted to try one out himself. It's not a very useful bike for him as it falls below the UCI weight limit so he needs to add weights. Ivan's Soloist Carbon is put together at a hair over 6.8kg, just to be on the safe side of the UCI weight limit (if your bike is weighed and it comes in at 6.799 instead of 6.8kg, it is an automatic disqualification, and you never know how accurate the scale will be). "
Just as the clothes don't necessarily make the man, the bike doesn't necessarily signal how good the rider. But for Basso to "experiment" on a bike he's never ridden on some difficult stages, of a Grand Tour no less, speaks volumes about the confidence in his condition while also saying something about his supposed competition.
1 comment:
-
53rd Tooth said...
-
I've ridden both as the Soloist was in final contention for my recent purchase. With stock wheels, the Soloist climbed like a stuck pig but cut through the straights like butter. The r3 was built like a rock star with 404's, the new FSA all in one stem/bars, so on and so on. It handled like a 911 Turbo but still doesn't accelerate or descend like the Madone.
To Granny's point: The rider is all the difference. Basso could be on Schwinn World Sport and still be 5+ minutes up. -
3:58 PM
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
I've ridden both as the Soloist was in final contention for my recent purchase. With stock wheels, the Soloist climbed like a stuck pig but cut through the straights like butter. The r3 was built like a rock star with 404's, the new FSA all in one stem/bars, so on and so on. It handled like a 911 Turbo but still doesn't accelerate or descend like the Madone.
To Granny's point: The rider is all the difference. Basso could be on Schwinn World Sport and still be 5+ minutes up.
Post a Comment