The Hour Record

58x14 according to commentary at the event. He was intending to use 60-something on the front for an aero benefit (?!!) but decided at the last minute to go 58x14.

Doubt they'll be any faster than the Pinarello

Yeah but is he riding home?

i see in big letters B E E R so he's going down the pub first :)

FFS.. They got my worst side

"Everything becomes a dark zone beyond yourself. "

Bizarre! What does that even mean?!

Presume that you can only concentrate on yourself, block out everything else. Dunno.
Stupid phrase, utter pretentious bollocks.

Really?

I loved his typically tongue in cheek, deadpan reference to Armstrong in a post-race interview.

It's so refreshing when a sporting legend also has a great personality.

Nah it was reverted to Sosenka's record, so some of the Boardman/Obree records stood, others didn't.

Someone will correct me but I think they decided that it had to have been set on a pursuit legal bike at the time the record was set.

Nope, nothing as logical. Boardman's 56 was on a perfectly legal pursuit bike. They just said "whatever we've done before, here is our current recognised record (Sosenka's), and we're letting you beat it on any legal track bike". So whether Boardman's/Obree's records "stand" or not is a bit of a moot point; Boardman's 2000 "Merckx" record "stands" cos it has never been annulled, but all his others were obliterated when they made the "Merckx" rule-change. No records got 're-instated' with the latest change, so it's not a case of some records standing and others not; all of Boardman's/Obree's records (except 2000) were further than Sosenka in any case.

What I've not heard anyone talking about, though, is whether Rominger's bike would be pursuit-legal these days and if not why not; seems to have same-sized wheels and standard bars from what I've seen. -- Not that this has any bearing on the record, but if we say Boardman's record is unobtainable due to aerodynamics, what about Rominger? i.e. How much dope is required to ride a standard pursuit bike that fast for an hour?

If anyone else missed the party (the UCI channel isn't playing ball).

but all his others were obliterated when they made the "Merckx" rule-change

They didn't get completely done away with though (the other records). I belive there's the "best human effort" (or something) hour record where they all still stand (obree's 56km one on top) where you can use anything.

I know hardly the same.

Am I right?

What I've not heard anyone talking about, though, is whether Rominger's bike would be pursuit-legal these days

It has been gone over in either this or the Hour thread on TTF

seems to have same-sized wheels

You should have gone to specsavers

Boardman's 56km. And not quite anything (e.g. recumbents, full fairings etc.). But I think that is pretty much the "best on a track-legal bike of the time" record.

You should have gone to specsavers

Fair enough. And yes it seems there are a pretty limited number of conversation topics you can have about the hour record!

Mrs Wiggins be all like: 'Erm... Look I know you're tired but since youve had a shave do you fancy a crack at a different hour record? It's actually not a dissimilar position.'

She'll be lucky with that saddle position

Was Boardmans 56 on a Lotus or Merckx composite? I get the superman position might be advantageous but cant really see how lotus would be that much better than the pinarello? If traditional extensions. Kinda puts Boardmans record into perspective. Superman position must have been so annoying too.

Merckx was a rebranded Lotus.

Superman makes a huge difference. Obree found it quite comfortable apparently, locks the whole body in position and lets you focus on churning out the power. But then that's Obree.

Yeah, his mantis position must have been even worse. The masochist. Locked out his blood flow too. :-S

I must have missed that, poor hearing on my part. What did he say then?
Mike

Cant wait to see what the aston Martin bike will look like now.

Thanks to wiggo for keeping the record alive instead of smashing it beyond reach