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Author Topic: Wiggins - could he do The Hour?  (Read 2612 times)

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Wiggins - could he do The Hour?
« on: 30 November, 2012, 10:20:26 pm »
Just reading about Merckx's attempt on the hour record in the Daniel Friebe biog, with comments by Chris Boardman, it struck me that it's something Brad Wiggins would surely be ideally suited to.

Is it something he has ever talked about trying? I'd love to see him give it a go.

d.


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Biff

Re: Wiggins - could he do The Hour?
« Reply #1 on: 01 December, 2012, 01:23:11 pm »
Can't see it happening, he'd have to dedicate his whole season to do it justice. Most of the last few attempts (Boardman, Rominger, Indurain) have done it at or near the end of their career, so perhaps in 5 years?. Would be great to see, esp in front of a home crowd, a la Boardman.
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giropaul

Re: Wiggins - could he do The Hour?
« Reply #2 on: 01 December, 2012, 02:20:45 pm »
It's a slightly strange record. It gained occasional popularity -often, as has been said here, in the autumn of a rider's career.

Personally, I don't think that there is much kudos or cash attached to it at the moment, so I can't see Mr Wiggins taking a great interest. He is into tradition and history though, so maybe in a few years?
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Exit Stage Left

Re: Wiggins - could he do The Hour?
« Reply #3 on: 01 December, 2012, 02:32:15 pm »
Merckx was 27, Indurain 30 and Boardman 32 when they did the Hour.
Wiggins is now 32, and has done everything a rider like him could expect to do, apart from the Hour.
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citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: Wiggins - could he do The Hour?
« Reply #4 on: 01 December, 2012, 02:53:59 pm »
Quote from: Exit Stage Left on 01 December, 2012, 02:32:15 pm
Wiggins is now 32, and has done everything a rider like him could expect to do, apart from the Hour.

That's pretty much what I was thinking.

The Hour does seem to be the domain of cycling "pioneers" and eccentrics. Rominger and Indurain are the most "credible" record holders since Merckx, though obviously their records don't really count any more. It doesn't help that the current official record holder is a no-mark dope cheat. Wiggo attempting it would restore some of the former kudos to the record, though it's a fair point that he would probably have to sacrifice some more lucrative rides to do it.

But given his track pedigree and superlative endurance, you'd have to back him to break the 50km mark if he really put his mind to it.

d.
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Exit Stage Left

Re: Wiggins - could he do The Hour?
« Reply #5 on: 01 December, 2012, 06:04:53 pm »
The bike would be interesting. Brad is quite tall. I don't know his back length, but getting an aero position without tri-bars and within the restrictions might be difficult.


The current record holder is about 2 metres tall, and this was his bike.



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Oaky

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Re: Wiggins - could he do The Hour?
« Reply #6 on: 01 December, 2012, 06:09:31 pm »
Chain's a bit ...
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padbeat

Re: Wiggins - could he do The Hour?
« Reply #7 on: 01 December, 2012, 06:18:17 pm »
 ;D
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Frank9755

Re: Wiggins - could he do The Hour?
« Reply #8 on: 02 December, 2012, 06:24:14 pm »
Obree said when he pulled out of his shot at it last year that the g-forces on the rider's body on the tight corners in a velodrome meant that you needed a lot of upper body / arm strength - unless you move to Moscow and do it on the larger track they have there. 
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Biff

Re: Wiggins - could he do The Hour?
« Reply #9 on: 02 December, 2012, 06:35:00 pm »
I'd love to see Cav riding that bike.
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trumpet

Re: Wiggins - could he do The Hour?
« Reply #10 on: 02 December, 2012, 07:10:44 pm »
Quote from: citoyen on 30 November, 2012, 10:20:26 pm
Just reading about Merckx's attempt on the hour record in the Daniel Friebe biog, with comments by Chris Boardman, it struck me that it's something Brad Wiggins would surely be ideally suited to.

Is it something he has ever talked about trying? I'd love to see him give it a go.

d.

Do you have the web link???
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Ewan Houzami

Re: Wiggins - could he do The Hour?
« Reply #11 on: 02 December, 2012, 07:41:24 pm »
Quote from: Biff on 02 December, 2012, 06:35:00 pm
I'd love to see Cav riding that bike.

 ;D
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citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Wiggins - could he do The Hour?
« Reply #12 on: 02 December, 2012, 08:34:04 pm »
Quote from: trumpet on 02 December, 2012, 07:10:44 pm
Do you have the web link???

Not sure what you mean - the Merckx biog is a book...

http://amazon.co.uk/dp/0091943167

d.
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Rhys W

  • I'm single, bilingual
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Re: Wiggins - could he do The Hour?
« Reply #13 on: 02 December, 2012, 10:40:42 pm »
Blog/biog confusion there I think...

I know you should "slam the stem" but that bike is ridiculous. I'd love to see a photo of the rider on it!
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Karla

  • car(e) free
    • Lost Byway - around the world by bike
Re: Wiggins - could he do The Hour?
« Reply #14 on: 02 December, 2012, 10:53:26 pm »
Your wish is my command.
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Biff

Re: Wiggins - could he do The Hour?
« Reply #15 on: 03 December, 2012, 12:08:44 am »
Revised wish to see: a tandem with Cav as pilot and Sosenka as stoker.
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