tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4786784182488135171.post6101069458003951770..comments2023-07-21T17:26:24.127+04:00Comments on Ron George: Hincapie and Backstedt Break WheelsRonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16268869622833968439noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4786784182488135171.post-28014986744249727592008-04-24T19:41:00.000+04:002008-04-24T19:41:00.000+04:00Ditto what Steve D said. Hincapie has a history of...Ditto what Steve D said. Hincapie has a history of choosing equipment that differs from the tried and true, and I believe this is one of his fatal flaws. <br><br>You'd think after crashing out with an equipment failure last year he'd have gone with a completely safe set-up this year. As soon as I saw his bike with carbon wheels, I knew his day was over.Kerryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12470920795488769240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4786784182488135171.post-9106700008680676992008-04-24T18:26:00.000+04:002008-04-24T18:26:00.000+04:00Thanks for this post. It's dead on and I'...Thanks for this post. It's dead on and I've been saying this for the last week and a half. I want George to win Roubaix just as much as every other American cycling fan. I think he's a great rider and seems like a good guy. But the notion that this was just another case of bad luck for George is dead wrong. He picked the wrong equipment, which is especially disappointing because he was strong (and because he should've known better since he broke that steerer tube). Boonen won on box-section rims (for the second time).Steve Dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4786784182488135171.post-14708728822695358632008-04-24T18:24:00.000+04:002008-04-24T18:24:00.000+04:00Hincapie decided to run his regular road bike setu...Hincapie decided to run his regular road bike setup because of the fine weather. His team and sponsor had built him a Paris-Roubaix special that had aluminum box-section rims, but he decided to leave it at home.<br><br>I emailed the folks at Hed to ask about the failure. Andy at Hed claimed that Hincapie flatted on the Hed, then changed to a different wheel (not a Hed Stinger) - don't know what wheel - but that one broke a spoke.seanandrewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4786784182488135171.post-10865864469778004502008-04-24T12:59:00.000+04:002008-04-24T12:59:00.000+04:00the sponser stuff in the cae of George is BS. Team...the sponser stuff in the cae of George is BS. Team Highroad doesn't have a wheel sponser. They use unlabeled Zipp wheels, Lightweight, shimano and in P-R HED stinger 50.<br><br>Als don't forget Backstedt weight is around 90kg 220lbs and Martijn about 65kg.<br><br>Also it makes perfect sence to use carbon hoops cause most of the race is flat tarmac! There is about 52 km of pave thats less then 1/5 of the race. And don't forget the aero advantage in the sprint on the velodrome or in a extreme solo effort.<br><br>I have ridden the paris-roubaix cyclo-sportif myself without any mechanical troubles (besides the occasional flats.<br><br>Greetz from the NetherlandsXLR8R-carbonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4786784182488135171.post-36191386382785907722008-04-23T05:28:00.000+04:002008-04-23T05:28:00.000+04:00I hear Martijn Maaskant (slipstream) had 44mm dept...I hear Martijn Maaskant (slipstream) had 44mm depth 303 wheels from ZIPP that day. Nothing happened to him apparently and he got away in 4th.Ronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394865788996482667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4786784182488135171.post-64482556949096373312008-04-22T19:19:00.000+04:002008-04-22T19:19:00.000+04:00I think there were several "forces" in p...I think there were several "forces" in play here.<br><br>1. Sponsor pressure. As you mentioned, Ron, this is a very real thing. It's a huge thing to be able to claim "The carbon wheel that won Roubaix!" After that, they can go on and claim how the superior aerodynamics, strength, and comfort qualities of their wheels played a huge part in the rider's victory. However, it's more about the motor than the machine.<br><br>2. A rider or mechanic's over-analyzation of the course and conditions. As you also cited, Ron - Maggie and George may have been thinking about needing the aero advantage in the velodrome. (Anyone notice that Boonen's winning move was nearly identical to his 2005 sniping of George?) I'm sure George has replayed the 2005 finish in his mind many times and is looking for any way to avoid that result again. However, guys - you have to get to the velodrome with the leaders (or at all in Maggie's case) to take advantage of your aero wheels...<br><br>I love my aero wheels and feel they're pretty strong - but on rough roads I go with the ol' 32 spoke 3-cross wheels.<br><br>Good post, RonMatt Mageehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02961912675726868313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4786784182488135171.post-19376220960295174292008-04-21T22:49:00.000+04:002008-04-21T22:49:00.000+04:00Like I said, I think traditional wheels are far be...Like I said, I think traditional wheels are far better for a course like this, plus you don't have to trash around expensive equipment. Even if you do decide to race on something other than your sponsor's stuff, you probably will pay it out of your own pocket. <br><br>Could it be possible that both of them thought that they'd breakaway and make a run for the velodrome on the last section, not really sure.Ronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394865788996482667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4786784182488135171.post-74963468242080726312008-04-21T21:31:00.000+04:002008-04-21T21:31:00.000+04:00One needs to be careful with large loads AND high ...One needs to be careful with large loads AND high load/strain rates! Carbon is strong, just don't strain it too quickly or it will break.<br>One must ask the question for Roubaix, what is the advantage of carbon wheels????Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4786784182488135171.post-23779324905740526322008-04-21T18:39:00.000+04:002008-04-21T18:39:00.000+04:00Makes me want to go back and watch the race again ...Makes me want to go back and watch the race again just to see how many others went with deep section wheels. That'll be no problem because I love watching that race.Donaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08664201924669063313noreply@blogger.com