How have GB got so good at cycling?

Commonwealth Games in Manchester and Dave Brailsford.

we used to be good runners, but cycling is easier,

simples, innit


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we used to be good runners, but cycling is easier,

simples, innit


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Three In One oil..

It's a sport where you can succeed with the a high level of investment. Sports science plays a massive part in cycling and rowing. That's why some athletes swap one for the other.

not ben paying too much attention have you? it all started with Chris Boardman 20 years ago

Because the authorities have thrown millions at this minority sport.  Why is this indoor cycling on BBC1 and not one of the minor stations?

There is only about 10 teams in this sport.  It's even worse than Rugby Union & League

worse than rowing

Brilliant stuff

ovett , coe and cram ruled the tracks, then johnny foreigner got good so we got on our bikes

like good thatcherites should !

Dominating the World BBC are stating?  Someone needs to tell them there is only a few countries that compete in this indoor sport.


Even the Scots are World Champions at Elephant Polo

donny - 100% correct.

The propaganda dished out by the Beeb is incredible. No wonder politicians court the media. The irony is hilarious.

We have the Leveson inquiry with Murdoch etc and then we have the Beeb telling us to get excited about indoor cycling. The media control the public's attention and therefore it's no shock that MPs wine and dine them

Tip of the iceberg mate.

Some very bitter people on this thread

Bitter or maybe not being sucked in by the hype?

cricket---1/4 chance

Just bitter I'm afraid bit hard not to hype up a gold medal and WR.

GB team gymnastic bronze far more impressive than any velodrome medal imo

Watching some of these cycling events does make me think it they're just different ways of going very fast for two laps. If you're good at one, you're going to be good at them all. It's not like running where you're not going to get the same winner in the 100m and marathon. The keirin is just sprinting after following an odd man on a moped for example.

Injera - sums it up brilliantly.

Kriskin, judorick, Injera..... I can smell it from here, and I'm in the South of France.

Pathetic individuals, who can't recognise greatness when it's right there in front of them.

Why so much bitterness ffs ?

Only need ellisjohn and the full set would be here.

Not bitter. I went on Wednesday to see the Hockey. Very high standard. Impressive.

Swimming, cycling and rowing are fun but very few punters could name the distances travelled. The cycling behind an electronic bike is quite ludicrous.

I admire the fitness and endurance and the competitors' training and fortitude are to be admired but the sports are truly bizarre and dominated by gym work and science.

If you want to be excited cos the Beeb hype it then great.

I'll make my own mind up, thanks.

These events didn't turn up just for London.
I think they have removed a couple of our best races as well

Jud - the gymnastics performance was incredible. Totally agree.

Indoor cycling.  Next it will be footpath cycling.
How about indoor rowing?  Johnny foreigner won't be much good at that.

It's all about the money invested.  Before cycling they tried Tennis.  Couldn't get enough decent players at that so they moved on to other sports like indoor cycling.  What will be next??

street hockey innit

Womens' Kieran - first ever event in an Olympics.

Dave Brailsford is brutal but possibly the most single minded man in the planet. Took British cycling to a different level. Everything is so professional

^ PMSL Like Chris Carmichael did.....

Why dont the yanks switch their second tier sprinters to cycling?

We have 18 athletes and 21 members of staff. Some teams have 2 members of staff.

just a joke !

What a load of miserable OLD GITS,sad lives you live if you can't get any enjoyment rout of that, and I haven't ridden a bike in years.

Kriskin 03 Aug 12 18:36 Joined: 08 Jun 03 | Topic/replies: 8,090 | Blogger: Kriskin's blog
Dominating the World BBC are stating?  Someone needs to tell them there is only a few countries that compete in this indoor sport.


Not often on this forum but who is this di ckhead.....

EVERY country in the world has track cycling, the fact that there is a roof on the Velodrome is irrelevant...

The greatest cycling nation in the World (per head of population)is the Isle Of Man and they have no "indoor" track..

Juice

The British bikes are the best in the world by a long way. A lot of investment has gone into them. I find the achievements of Ennis, Rutherford and Farah in the track and field much greater.

me too yommoma

the wind tunnel played no part in their success

It wos Halfords wot dun it

I totally agree that the 3 golds tonight in the athletics are much greater achievements than the cycling. I wouldn't knock the cycling though, it's a great way to put the golds on the board.

the success is down to the money invested in bike technology and the coaching, it's so well managed and intensive. I doubt our riders are better than the rest

In answer to the original question, Peter Keen, Dave Brailsford, Steve Peters, an extremely good talent-spotting programme and technology

In answer to the original question, Peter Keen, Dave Brailsford, Steve Peters, an extremely good talent-spotting programme and technology

Simon Hook

Where do you doubters come from..

Do you think that the rest of the Worlds cycling teams have simply picked up second hand bikes on the way over..

All countries have adapted to high technology some with more success than others....

As for the Athletes do you think they work 9-5 and then train barefoot !!

Some of you should take a long hard look at yourselves....

World record for Pendleton in the sprint.Is that 7 WR's in 7 events so farfor GB ?Technology is far too important for me .let's see them all with the same equipment.

Sorry not a WR ,my fault for listening to Porter.

What is this technology they use to give them such an advantage? 'technology' to me is another way of saying PED's

They mentioned the other day that Pendletons bike would set you back in the region of £20k ( anyone know how accurate that figure is ? ) .

Bikes, wind tunnels, helmets, skin suits, monitoring all aspects of performance through blood and all sorts of other tests all through the year etc. etc. - read any interview with Brailsford and there is a heavy emphasis on lots of marginal improvements.

Sports science is massive in rowing and cycling.

We're very good at it so that's something to be proud of.

The fact that one woman gold medallist only took up rowing 4 years ago says a lot.

The success is great but some perspective needs to be brought in. I'd like to see the comparable levels of investment across the nations. Man City spend hundreds of millions and win the PL, we invest heavily in cycling and win golds..

Absolute rubbish imho. You'd swear every other country trained like a stone age country.


Its cycling.......we all know why

We have not looked back since Boardman turned up on his Lotus designed track bike.
I can remember the pride then, that we could still have a secret service capable of bouncing bombs and buying up exocet missiles moments.

As long as it gets kids interested and participating in sport then it is a good thing......doesn't matter what sport it is.......I think the track cycling is really exciting and the atmosphere looks amazing.....couldn't get a ticket but would have loved one...

Like most other sports, its only a matter of time before the foreigners catch up, get the same coaching, training and equipment, then go on to dominate the events. In 12 years time, the media will be creaming themselves at team GB's gold in the 400m, 1k and 5k treadmill

Simon hook

bout time the UCI made them all ride with the same bikes, helmets, tyres and clothing

then we would find out who are the best riders

What a bunch of d ickheads on here...

Look at the medal table -  the most intensively coached sport in the World is Swimming....

Take out the 18 gold medals won by the USA and where would they be in the table.

Take a long hard look at yourself anyone who has a pop at the GB team.....

For me sport is about individuals or teams competing in their chose discipline on a level playing field. I don't think anyone is having a go at team GB but more at cycling as a whole. I've never taken to cycling but fair play to anyone who does, as everyone likes different things.

judorick 05 Aug 12 13:57 Joined: 27 Nov 11 | Topic/replies: 6,490 | Blogger: judorick's blog
bout time the UCI made them all ride with the same bikes, helmets, tyres and clothing

then we would find out who are the best riders


You are a complete mug and should be made to stand with your face to the wall and repeat Ad Infinitum ....

I must not vote Liberal Democrat..I must not vote Liberal Democrat....

You are the type of citizen who should have a restraining order preventing him/HER from ever having contact with a vulnerable person....

YOMOMMA 05 Aug 12 19:25 Joined: 11 Nov 10 | Topic/replies: 4,079 | Blogger: YOMOMMA's blog
For me sport is about individuals or teams competing in their chose discipline on a level playing field. I don't think anyone is having a go at team GB but more at cycling as a whole. I've never taken to cycling but fair play to anyone who does, as everyone likes different things.

Since when has sport EVER been played on a level playing field....

Every person/team/country has always tried to get an edge.Cycling has found heros and others have followed in.

You are a complete mug and should be made to stand with your face to the wall and repeat Ad Infinitum ....

I must not vote Liberal Democrat..I must not vote Liberal Democrat....

You are the type of citizen who should have a restraining order preventing him/HER from ever having contact with a vulnerable person....




and you're the type of kunnt that throws insults on an internet forum but if you met me in person would **** their pants

phuck off you little prick, i would rip your fecking head off

mug

The equipment plays a big part. You can't say that about pretty much all the other sports. Cycling is sad, I'm going, bye.

grow up

Furthermore cycling must be the biggest participant event in the World so that the cream must always rise to the top..

Has everyone tried the Long Jump,Sailed,thrown the Javelin,Swam,fired a Bow and Arrow etc etc...

How many potential World Champions have never heard of Judo,Fencing,Table Tennis etc etc...

I could go on and on....

judorick..

What a response..

I would suggest that you are more familiar with ripping the head off a part of your body that would not win an Olympic Medal even if coached by Dave Brailsford.....

he does get rather offensive when someone has a go at him does Judo.

i think the odds for british contenders in sprint are for overvalued, in my opinion Bauge is favorite beated 2-0 in the Worl champs in Melbourne, and started 1,5 as favorita and now is 3.. Mearer is another example started 2.0 and now is 5 . Keni and victoria Pendelton overrated with this euphoria...

i think the odds for british contenders in sprint are for overvalued, in my opinion Bauge is favorite beated 2-0 in the Worl champs in Melbourne, and started 1,5 as favorita and now is 3.. Mearer is another example started 2.0 and now is 5 . Keni and victoria Pendelton overrated with this euphoria...

Good luck with that one zuzi....(aftertiming !!)

The Australians are now serial losers and have had more seconds than Billy Bunter....

Money has helped and coaching has improved