monkeybanana86
07-21-2012, 03:36 PM
Ride, Britannia
How Britain Conquered the Cycling World
(http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/23/sports/olympics/2012-olympics-how-britain-conquered-the-cycling-world.html?_r=1&hp)
Now, as the British defend their Beijing triumph at home, in what The Guardian recently labeled a “cycling nation,” Sir Chris Hoy and his teammates will compete underneath the brightest spotlight their sport has ever seen. Ten years ago, even Britain’s track cyclists would have laughed at that notion.
“In the last four years, cycling in Britain has gone through the roof,” said Phil Liggett, a renowned analyst who witnessed the boom. “All the cyclists at this level have become superstars. They talk about them in the street now. And everyone loves Chris Hoy, of course.”
....Staff said Brailsford spent millions of pounds to develop a faster, lighter helmet. This included a prototype, meticulously researched and developed, then tested to make sure it was legal. “So they spent all this money,” Staff said, “and as far as I was aware — because they still limited what they’d tell the actual athletes — but I’m led to believe there wasn’t any gain. But everyone sees that Britain has its own custom helmets. Then it’s more of a mind game.”
How Britain Conquered the Cycling World
(http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/23/sports/olympics/2012-olympics-how-britain-conquered-the-cycling-world.html?_r=1&hp)
Now, as the British defend their Beijing triumph at home, in what The Guardian recently labeled a “cycling nation,” Sir Chris Hoy and his teammates will compete underneath the brightest spotlight their sport has ever seen. Ten years ago, even Britain’s track cyclists would have laughed at that notion.
“In the last four years, cycling in Britain has gone through the roof,” said Phil Liggett, a renowned analyst who witnessed the boom. “All the cyclists at this level have become superstars. They talk about them in the street now. And everyone loves Chris Hoy, of course.”
....Staff said Brailsford spent millions of pounds to develop a faster, lighter helmet. This included a prototype, meticulously researched and developed, then tested to make sure it was legal. “So they spent all this money,” Staff said, “and as far as I was aware — because they still limited what they’d tell the actual athletes — but I’m led to believe there wasn’t any gain. But everyone sees that Britain has its own custom helmets. Then it’s more of a mind game.”