Cycling Myths?

[Cicli]

So, I misread the "cycling gifts" title as "cycling myths". That got me thinking, what are some cycling mythis you have heard? Do you believe in any?
Discuss? I didnt search so hopefully this is a new topic. ;):bike:

[mg2ride]

Cyclist look sexy in Lycra.

[weisan]

I didnt search so hopefully this is a new topic. ;):bike:

tihsepa pal, are you gunning for the prize? :D

[weisan]

That you have to be an einstein in order to enjoy riding a bike...

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/b4/e2/43/b4e2433c5a980065d1ccf75da815ffff.jpg

[beeatnik]

One leg drills

[dave thompson]

Cyclist look sexy in Lycra.

My wife does...not a myth!

[MattTuck]

You mean, like things that people believe exist but don't actually exist?

I think lactic acid falls into that category.

Or do you mean things that the cycling industry tries to make us believe? like, we need disc brakes, a new bottom bracket standard, more stiff, more compliant, etc...

The biggest myth of them all is probably the 'this saves x number of watts'.

[Lewis Moon]

You mean, like things that people believe exist but don't actually exist?

I think lactic acid falls into that category.

Or do you mean things that the cycling industry tries to make us believe? like, we need disc brakes, a new bottom bracket standard, more stiff, more compliant, etc...

The biggest myth of them all is probably the 'this saves x number of watts'.

http://imgc.allpostersimages.com/images/P-473-488-90/65/6553/UNT4100Z/posters/the-x-files-i-want-to-believe-print.jpg

[weisan]

My wife does...not a myth!

yo dave, are y'all gonna have another one?

[Dead Man]

My wife does...not a myth!

New pic thread time

[flydhest]

That you have to be an einstein in order to enjoy riding a bike...



https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/b4/e2/43/b4e2433c5a980065d1ccf75da815ffff.jpg


That, like in life, you have to keep moving forward to avoid falling down. Einstein should have learned to track stand.

[cachagua]

...Things that the cycling industry tries to make us believe? Like, we need disc brakes, a new bottom bracket standard, more stiff, more compliant, etc...

Yes, all of that and more. That x+1 speeds is better than x speeds, that a more complicated system for this or that function performs the function better, that anything more than 6 months old is hopelessly obsolete, that electronically quantifying your riding makes it more enjoyable... that black cycling clothing is a good idea.

No, I'm mistaken, I just realized -- these aren't myths, they're plain old lies.

Edit: thought of one more -- that doping is really worth all that fuss.

[lhuerta]

My most favorite recent myth is: Press fit cups can be installed with just grease, no need to use Loctite.

My favorite old wives tale/myth is the one we have all heard many times: Your frame size/fit is correct when your handlebars block the view of your front hub/handlebars are in-line with your front hub.

[Dr Luxurious]

LA was a doper.



:rolleyes:

[marciero]

crank length determined by femur length
knee-over-spindle for saddle fore-aft
higher pressure is faster
stiffer is faster

helmets are... okay let's not go there.

[merckx]

No sex
Don't swim
No ice cream
No fun

[oldpotatoe]

Don't run when you can walk, don't walk when you can ride.

Don't stand when you can sit, don't sit when you can lie down.

Yes, the whole 'bike' thing is amazing and frustrating at the same time. Take a really great design, double triangle, 2 wheels...something that will take a full sized adult hundreds of miles easily...and completely goon it up..a lot of times by punts, posseurs and marketeers..

Seatmasts, oversized headtubes and tapered forks, wet disc brakes, thru axles, sloping top tubes, wide rims, tubeless tires...guess this is a good as a place as any to rant some...IMHO, BLAH...

Not a myth-The object of the ride is the ride, not the bike.

[vav]

:eek::eek::eek:

https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT3cwH6t1CQmO20gWZn91_EbOet2NdTl Fm43mQ1Kwzanl_OMISm

[marciero]

No water.

I read that in a Tom Simpson biography. Back then the soigneurs were like witch-doctor-gurus dispensing all kinds of crazy advice on diet, nutrition, training.

[El Chaba]

SRAM makes reliable components....

[ghcs]

Yes, all of that and more. That x+1 speeds is better than x speeds, that a more complicated system for this or that function performs the function better, that anything more than 6 months old is hopelessly obsolete, that electronically quantifying your riding makes it more enjoyable... that black cycling clothing is a good idea.

No, I'm mistaken, I just realized -- these aren't myths, they're plain old lies.

Edit: thought of one more -- that doping is really worth all that fuss.

:(
But everything I own is black. Not just cycling gear, everything.

[Rob1519]

:(
But everything I own is black. Not just cycling gear, everything.

I'm ordering white bib shorts today!

[sandyrs]

No water.

I read that in a Tom Simpson biography. Back then the soigneurs were like witch-doctor-gurus dispensing all kinds of crazy advice on diet, nutrition, training.

"Eating horse will make you fast because horses are fast" is still my favorite.

[dave thompson]

yo dave, are y'all gonna have another one?

What, are you kidding? It took us 18 years to get rid of our first on!

New pic thread time

This is the best yer gonna get. On our way to watch the Seahawks game at Smokeys Cantina.

[flydhest]

"Eating horse will make you fast because horses are fast" is still my favorite.


Not a myth if you pharmacist is also a horse breeder ...

[CampyorBust]

One I have heard and actually I find to be true in my case

It takes 6 years or friding to reach prime cycling form.

[MattTuck]

One that is similar to that, that I've always wondered about is how quickly you lose fitness when off the bike.

I remember reading that after last season (I think) Cancellara was off the bike for 1 or 2 full months. Certainly, Taylor Phinney was off the bike for a while, as are others who have injuries. But they seem to come back pretty fast once they get back on the bike.

Obviously, these guys are special cases... way at the tail of the distribution, but still. I never quite understood how I'd lose all my fitness after 14 days, but Cancellara takes a month off, and then works back up to being a pro.

[ltwtsculler91]

One that is similar to that, that I've always wondered about is how quickly you lose fitness when off the bike.

I remember reading that after last season (I think) Cancellara was off the bike for 1 or 2 full months. Certainly, Taylor Phinney was off the bike for a while, as are others who have injuries. But they seem to come back pretty fast once they get back on the bike.

Obviously, these guys are special cases... way at the tail of the distribution, but still. I never quite understood how I'd lose all my fitness after 14 days, but Cancellara takes a month off, and then works back up to being a pro.

It is both faster and slower than we think.. If you've been training nonstop for 10+ years as a pro has, you'll lose your fitness, but your baseline will also remain higher. At the same time, it is much easier to get back to where you have been versus break new ground, so with a bit of training they get back to their previous pro level.

The other thing to keep in mind is a "month off" for a pro/elite/collegiate athlete usually means a week or two of nothing, and then moving back to doing some sort of work that you're physically able to do while injured. Off the bike for a pro may mean they are off swimming or doing some other form of x-training instead

[bobswire]

One that is similar to that, that I've always wondered about is how quickly you lose fitness when off the bike.

I remember reading that after last season (I think) Cancellara was off the bike for 1 or 2 full months. Certainly, Taylor Phinney was off the bike for a while, as are others who have injuries. But they seem to come back pretty fast once they get back on the bike.

Obviously, these guys are special cases... way at the tail of the distribution, but still. I never quite understood how I'd lose all my fitness after 14 days, but Cancellara takes a month off, and then works back up to being a pro.

I don't think of that as a myth, more of a caution to keep up good habits and part of that is eating well when you are off the bike for any amount of time.
I weigh myself every morning as a matter of course, otherwise "out to sight out of mind".

[rzthomas]

Myths:


Campagnolo will make your rides sublime
Shimano has no soul
SRAM doesn't work and breaks when it does
People hate cyclists because they're jealous of us
Use the small ring or a fixed gear in the winter
No intervals until March
You can ride off bad dietary choices
A few days off the bike will make you slow

[Ken Robb]

My most favorite recent myth is: Press fit cups can be installed with just grease, no need to use Loctite.

My favorite old wives tale/myth is the one we have all heard many times: Your frame size/fit is correct when your handlebars block the view of your front hub/handlebars are in-line with your front hub.

Jeez, I hadn't thought of this one for 20+ years. Now I'll have to check my bikes to see how they comply. :-)

[coffeecake]

I posted this in the last myths thread:

Don't shave your legs the night before a race because re-growing hair immediately after will sap your body's energy .

I'm like, :confused::confused::confused::confused:

[bobswire]

#1 Myth:

Italian threaded bottom brackets are superior. Yeah, maybe if you ride backwards.....:)

[Red Tornado]

I posted this in the last myths thread:

Don't shave your legs the night before a race because re-growing hair immediately after will sap your body's energy .

I'm like, :confused::confused::confused::confused:

The way I heard it is that it saps your virility.
Either way, it ain't so. I know from experience. Leave it at that.

[Coalfield]

Tubulars are hard to change.

[campy man]

Myths:


Campagnolo will make your rides sublime
Shimano has no soul
SRAM doesn't work and breaks when it does
People hate cyclists because they're jealous of us
Use the small ring or a fixed gear in the winter
No intervals until March
You can ride off bad dietary choices
A few days off the bike will make you slow


Campagnolo will make your rides sublime
Shimano has no soul

Obviously you haven't been drinking the Campy Kool Aid :eek:

[campy man]

LA was a doper.



:rolleyes:

My favorite ... it's not really doping if everyone else is doing it :confused:

[rzthomas]

Campagnolo will make your rides sublime
Shimano has no soul

Obviously you haven't been drinking the Campy Kool Aid :eek:
Ha, I sold off all my Campy to go back to Shimano across all my bikes.