The One Hour Record

gntlmn

Well, we basically have 3 different athletes we are comparing now: Merckx, Boardman and the new challenger, Armstrong (if he follows through, which I think he will). Merckx and Boardman did it at different altitudes, and Boardman had more technological advantage than Merckx did. I'm not talking about the bike. Of course the bike was UCI regulation on his athlete's record. I'm talking about for training. Boardman had the use of heart rate monitors, power meters, hypoxic tents, more nutrition advances garnered over the 28 year period, and he also probably had more track experience than Merckx, although Merckx was not strictly a roadie either. He, like Boardman, had great successes on the track too.

Since Boardman only beat the record by 10 meters or so, Merckx' record at elevation is going to be in the discussion because of all the differences mentioned above. This is why it is difficult to decide exactly what elevation the standard should be set at, not to mention that each athlete has his own idea of what elevation would bring out his greatest strengths.

Along comes Armstrong. What elevation does he choose: the sea level one or the 8,000+ ft. one of Mexico City elevation? Apparently, he will choose neither. Instead he will choose 6,000+ ft. This is because there is no clear elevation standard yet. Merckx record was only beaten by a hair, and he will still be in the discussion until his record is beaten by a great amount. I think Armstrong can beat it by a pretty wide margin at 6,000 ft because of all the advantages he has, mentioned above, that Merckx didn't have when he was riding. For this reason, I think people will be talking about Merckx for a long, long time.

trackmaster

You can't compare Lance to Merckx because of all the technological advantages there are for him. I'm sure Lance will
woop merckx's record because he has the best of everything; trainers, equipment, nutritionist and apparently he's going to get a world class velodrome built just to break the one hour record. Geesh.
What Lance doesn't have yet is a shirt from www.kingzoftheroad.com

peace.

ric_stern/RST

It isn't Merckx's record to "woop". It's Boardmans.

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gntlmn

Very well said. For the same reason, we cannot compare what Boardman did to what Merckx did, even though he did best the distance, albeit by only a few meters.

trackmaster

I know it's Boardman's record now.
My point is Merckx set the bar pretty damn high with what he had back in the day which is pretty remarkable. Merckx is the Man!

ric_stern/RST

in other words you agree with me, and your previous comment was incorrect

ric

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trackmaster

No my previous comment isn't incorrect Ricky.
Why don't you go back and read it first.
The comment wasn't about who Lance is going to "beat" but how you can't "compare" the two.
I think we can all agree that Lance will break the record no matter whos it
because of the advantages he has in 2005.
The fact that you posted a thread just to try and get me to say I was wrong and agree with you makes me laugh!
Have a nice day Ricky

gntlmn

I agree with you about Merckx, that his record is still the standard against which current rides, with the current advantages, are compared. Clearly, there have been many improvements in training since then. On the other hand, I don't think a significant change has occurred since Boardman set the record in 2000. Lance will still need to use the bicycle approved by UCI, which will be the same as the one Merckx and Boardman used. So that won't change. The difference will be in any training advantages Armstrong has that Boardman didn't. I don't think there are any at the moment, not to preclude the possibility that there might be significant improvements between now and the end of 2006.

Do you figure Lance has a disadvantage against Boardman and Merckx due to lack of much track experience? Boardman had the most track experience of the 3.

gntlmn

An exercise physiologist, Dan Heil at the University of Montana, has submitted a paper to the European Journal of Applied Physiology in which he contends, based on a sophisticated mathematical and physics based model, that Lance Armstrong may smash both hour records by a margin that will put them out of reach of any other athletes for decades to come. He predicts that Armstrong may add as much as 2 km to each record.

http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=7500

I don't want to discredit what this scientist is proposing, but out of fairness to the other athletes who were also analyzed in various ways by physiologists, it will be interesting to see what really happens when Armstrong makes his attempt. That will be the ultimate test.

Maybe Lance really is going to try for both records: the One Hour performance, and the Athlete's One Hour Record.

gntlmn

This series of articles makes it sound like Lance is only now getting on a track bike for the first time. Even Ekimov entered a wind tunnel for the first time now after his long and fabulous career.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php...es/lance_tunnel

I guess it might make it tough for others to beat the record if they build the velodrome at altitude and then tear it down after Lance sets the record. Heh heh. I don't know if they'll do that, but they mention it.

gntlmn

Actually, it occurs to me that there is a speed, a distance in one hour, beyond which even Eddy Merckx would tip his hat to Armstrong, even after considering all the advantages time has conferred upon Lance. So it's a little bit premature to say that Armstrong is the lesser rider because of all of the advantages. We have to see what he does first. Then we can consider whether it's far enough to be better, even after adjusting for advantages.

Certainly Armstrong is going to use all the modern tools at hand for him, just as anyone else will do in the future. If he does it at elevation, this too will be an option in future attempts to break the record. It is allowable by the UCI. So he has to put forth a mighty effort to be historical. I am eager to see what he does in this event. He still has a long time before his attempt, but there has been a lot of interest in it judging by the internet posts.

gntlmn

I wanted to add that if Lance wants to set the record at altitude, he has few venues available. To build a velodrome at that altitude, set the record, and then tear it down may appear to be a tactical road block against future athletes with similar aspirations but without financial means. I don't think that's the intention. It's a practical solution to the dilemma he faces, which is to find a velodrome which will serve his needs without spending too much of a fortune doing it. If he were to leave the velodrome standing after building it without funding its upkeep, then he would be exposed to the liability that results. If a community would agree to upkeep and insurance, that would be a different story.

The velodrome in Colorado sounds like less problems to solve, although I think it's still up in the air as to where Lance will make his record attempt. I don't see anything on the internet about it lately.

bikeguy

I would agree that lance can beat Boardman's record handily, based on his 38 minute 470ish watt effort on that hill climb that's been reported. Considering he was in the middle of the stage and dehydrated and fatigued somewhat from the first bit, and that I think he weighed around 72ish kg and probably has a drag area that's pretty good (looking at the guy, he doesn't look like he has much frontal area) I think he can beat the record IF he does go for it.

-Bikeguy

gntlmn

Stage 16, 2004 Tour de France, time trial up l'alpe d'huez--a memorable ride indeed, rowdy fans and all.

http://www.velonews.com/tour2004/de...les/6631.0.html