Yesterday saw the final road event on the Alberta provincial racing calendar, the Hill Climb. Held at Mt Norquay in Banff National Park this is a favorite among the province's alpine purists being a challenging event offering personal rewards only 14 minutes of up and up can offer. This years event ran on a clear, but cold Sunday morning. In the last few days Banff and area has begun its transformation to a winter playground with white being the backdrop to still green trees.
For me this event ended up being a mission to prove to all the young kids out there that you don't have to beg mom and dad for that $5000 race machine just to be able to compete. I have seen this sad development unfold in the last few years in this province. Gone are the days of the $2000 road bike that does everything from crits to time trials. I raced raced everything there was to race on my trusty old R1000Si with standard wheels, from Abitibi to Nationals that bike saw it all. Now juniors are sporting road machines with carbon wheels and dedicated time trial rigs as the norm.
The bike I piloted to 5th place in Cat1/2 and overall this weekend was a 21 lbs cyclocross bike. The only modification I made was the obvious swapping of my knobbies for 23c slicks. 14:01 later I was only 5 seconds off the podium, 2 tenths off 4th. Cyrus took out the win with a solid 15 second margin with Webster only tenths behind. 21 lbs of black fury, a bike I have barely put $1000 into, I'll race the cross race on it tomorrow. I can second guess what would have happened if I had a road bike to ride. I don't know how many seconds 5 lbs lighter would have translated to and frankly I don't care. I hope I made a point and I hope we can turn this disturbing materialistic trend around before cycling in this province becomes a sport for the rich alone. Zipps, Record, Full Carbon, I'll admit its cool looking and fun to ride, but you don't need it. If there are any kids out there reading this train harder, love your bike and ride it with passion. That and that alone will get you much farther than a $5000 birthday present from mom and dad.
17 comments:
Well said...the ABA should role the JR Race like a japanese track race. Put 'em all on the same steal rig and give em elbow pads with their licence...cause you know the jits will crash...and if they do, there ain't no sponsor picking up that $5000 disaster.
love your perspective per - i too feel that there is a little too much money being thrown into the young punks these days. i was the same as you - 1 bike to rule them all!
however, i may take a wild guess here and say that this may only be happening here as people need something to spend their oil earnings on!
good luck this 'cross season.
why ride a 2000$ bike when mom and dad will buy you a 5000$ one?
I share your sentiments - too many jrs showing up on $5 K superbikes -especially in TTs (plus the Zipp disc and H3 front etc etc) - and they still don't go under 1 hr for 40km. Sure I have a TT bike but I'm old.
It still comes down to the legs. I'm looking forward to cross season too - see you out there Per.
not to mention the wealthy dude who shows up on a bike that no one else can afford, and then brags that it is underweight to boot, and the ABA and its bike weight restrictions can go to hell.
The top dude in cat 4 still beat his time and he was 200 pounds of mass on a heavy bike, too.
Well put. I did this last year on a 19.5lbs rig and was only 2.5 seconds fast this year on a bike that is 2lbs lighter (and a 5lbs lighter rider). Damn. As you showed, its not all about the weight.
Well put Per. I agree that the $$ spent is totally over the top.
But us juniors are so close together in ability that with a TT bike the extra seconds are enough for a win... Their parents see this as enough of a reason to shell out the >$5000. To get on the provincial team it is nearly crucial to have a TT bike.
Ya have to remember though, don't paint everyone with the same brush... there are still a couple of us with clip-on aerobars! ;)
BRob.
I love my steel bike. It was $2k new (four years ago) and has never broken down or been a problem. I will never ride anything but real wheels (handbuilts) and they won't be carbon either. As we used to say in the shop, it's cheaper (and more beneficial) to trim 5lbs from the person than 1lb from the bike.
Like the greatest cyclist of all time said: "Just ride lots"
Steel bikes are only fit to be used as boat anchor. You are a Neo-luddite and should start up an Amish cycling team.
So if mom and dad offer me a 5000$ bike, i should decline and get a 2000$ one, because of a bunch of jealous clicky roadies? Who cares what kind of bike anyone rides. Get the best one you can.
No not at all. If you have it, can get it, whatever. The point I am trying to make is that those who can't get it don't have to feel like they are disadvantaged to the point that they can't compete. That is all. Clicky roadies, thats not at all the point. Tangents getting out of hand again. Twisting my words. dang it.
I can appreciate the perspective, Per.
With respect to the experience's "I will never ride anything but real wheels (handbuilts)..." I find that remark to be elitist and insensitive to those people (parents, etc.) who buy a bike off the shelf. I think such an attitude is in fact what you're rallying against.
As for reduced body weight and riding lots--absolutely.
-cp
Clarification: Junior's generally don't make their own money, especially if they race extensively, therefor if they feel they need a better machine mom and dad step in. If the perception is twisted the need for excess could be conveyed to parents putting pressure on them to make unnecessary purchases.
if you got it flaunt it!
- miss piggy
The only thing I flaunt is my 25lb 8-gear with a kickstand. Bought it all on my own at the tender age of 10 with no help from my parents. Where did that get me you ask? Years as dead last in cat 5 and wondering if my daddy ever really loved me.
Hey Cp doesen't your bike have kyserium's and Durace? I think in one way shape or form we all over induldge when it comes to having the best we can afford whether we need it or not. I'm all for the Train harder regime. I look at Cyrus riding the Ardrossan time trial with virtually no aero equipment and still posting a very fast time In comparison to the other Cat 1/2's with the full on time trial Cervelo's complete with zip 909's.
Elitist to buy a hand built wheel? Hardly. You can get a better wheel for far less money if you go with handbuilt.
BTW, my boat anchor is titanium. Bitches.
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