NWR the Cycling Thread

Yes although that TdF in 1989 was rather different in that the final stage was an individual time trial. LeMond started the stage 50 second behind Fignon, who was in yellow and turned the deficit over to take back yellow (which had been swapped between them several times during the 3 weeks) by 8 seconds. As per usual in a TT, the yellow jersey (Fignon) starts last, so LeMond obviously went flat out but Fignon was still to finish. Obviously with less than a minute between them at the start of the day it was fully competitive and if Lemond had eased up to allow Fignon to keep the yellow who know how far down the GC he may have ended up and possibly off the podium so they both had to go flat out. Having said that, LeMond's use of the aerodynamic TT handlebars (and possibly the use of a teardrop helmet) probably helped his cause - I know the first time I used bolt-on aero bars in a TT I knocked a minute off my previous best in a 10 miler, and managed to maintain that time thereafter, so they definietly made a difference for me (a HRM, with alarm settings between 165 and 170 bpm helped me knock another minute off a 10).
 
Gutted for Cavendish. He got a bit boxed in and didn't quite get onto van Aert's wheel. Hopefully he'll come back next year to make the record all his own. They'll probably be rueing not going for the stage on Friday.
 
My employer's cycle to work scheme is with Evans - which I initially thought was good news, and maybe it is. But looking at their selection of road bikes... Nothing is really appealing. And extraordinary to me that you can spend over £1k and get Sora (not that I think it's all about the groupset badge at all). Outside of Evans I'd be going for a Decathlon I think. But the CTW scheme benefit is pretty substantial. Be interested in what other forumites would go for. Ideally I'd want the ability to take a pannier rack while being sporty.

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My employer's cycle to work scheme is with Evans - which I initially thought was good news, and maybe it is. But looking at their selection of road bikes... Nothing is really appealing. And extraordinary to me that you can spend over £1k and get Sora (not that I think it's all about the groupset badge at all). Outside of Evans I'd be going for a Decathlon I think. But the CTW scheme benefit is pretty substantial. Be interested in what other forumites would go for. Ideally I'd want the ability to take a pannier rack while being sporty.

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Be grateful. :) A few years ago, I had to use Halfords.
 
Over the last few years there has been close to 100% price increase on bikes and the last 2 years have been really painful. When I think we have 3 titanium bikes (with SRAM red, shimano Ultegra and 105) and 1 carbon bike Lapierre with Ultegra... each bike having cost between 1300 and 2000£ (new), I can't believe what you can get nowadays. I know the £ depreciated a bit but I am happy I don't need to buy anymore... (well, small inflation when compared to Burgundy...) . Granted, they don't have disk brakes...
 
I was saying to myself, go on, treat yourself, spend, say, £1.2k and get something really nice... Though maybe I'm out of date. Seems I certainly am now. Also struck by the lack of choice, still. I see Ribble take Evans cycle to work vouchers so perhaps that's best...
 
Re the greatest show on earth…with apologies to Guy

As Russell noted an enthralling tour. And as Antoine noted for Van Aert to win on Ventoux, the penultimate day time trial and then to beat Cav on the Champs Elysees is simply magical. I think if Cav stuck to plan A the outcome might have been different. It was a great tour for Jumbo-Visma and Cervelo despite Roglic’s early withdrawal. While you have to take a bow to the prodigious talent that is Tadej Pogacar the rider that caught my eye was the young Dane Jonas Vingegaard, who came second and wasted valuable time in the early stages chaperoning a wounded Roglic. He left Pogacar for dead on the final steep incline on Mont Ventoux, just as Chris Froome did to Bradley Wiggins in 2012. I am not convinced Pogacar will have it all his own way but clearly at the tender age of just 22 he is bound to improve even more. But Vingegaard is only 24, and Ben O’Connor another rising star is only 25. And Roglic at 31 still has a coupe more years to shine.
 
Indeed, Cavendish chose to follow Van Aert with a view to jump him in the end but Van Aert was aware and closed the door, great tactical move as I think Cavendish probably had the best finishing capacity.

Maybe, there was a desire to show he could win without his teammates... I don't know but Morkov was there to help. On the other hand, Van Aert started sprinting very early and we don't know how far could go Morkov

The good news is we may have more of Cavendish next year as he will be more willing to come back. Had he won today, he may have chosen to retire on a high. Still 34 is a great performance....
 
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I was saying to myself, go on, treat yourself, spend, say, £1.2k and get something really nice... Though maybe I'm out of date. Seems I certainly am now. Also struck by the lack of choice, still. I see Ribble take Evans cycle to work vouchers so perhaps that's best...
The bikes in Decathlon are pretty good. They're good value for money. You'll get a decent groupset for the money. I went in to buy a wee bike for the son (who was 11) and ended up buying a Triban for a commuter 4 years ago which had a Tigra group for myself as well, with a granny ring, Only £330. Crap wheels and tyres and seat, but you can upgrade those.

Looking at their website you can pick up a Triban with a shimano 105 group set for £850. The newer Van Rhysel bikes are very good as well I'm told by a fella in the club who bought one pre covid. Bike prices have gone up massively and supply is like gold dust!
 
Indeed, Cavendish chose to follow Van Aert with a view to jump him in the end but Van Aert was aware and closed the door, great tactical move as I think Cavendish probably had the best finishing capacity.

Maybe, there was a desire to show he could win without his teammates... I don't know but Morkov was there to help. On the other hand, Van Aert started sprinting very early and we don't know how far could go Morkov

The good news is we may have more of Cavendish next year as he will be more willing to come back. Had he won today, he may have chosen to retire on a high. Still 34 is a great performance....
36 Antoine. I'd say the main obstacle will be his boss....
 
Decathlon operate the cycle to work scheme. I don't think you're tied to a specific retailer.
Depends on the scheme. Some shops won’t accept it as they lose a chunk of margin on the sale. Halfords used to be able to order in anything they didn’t sell, I was looking at a Condor but ended up getting an Airnimal through them a few years back.
 
Depends on the scheme. Some shops won’t accept it as they lose a chunk of margin on the sale. Halfords used to be able to order in anything they didn’t sell, I was looking at a Condor but ended up getting an Airnimal through them a few years back.
Decathlon Croydon have it listed. I've just bought a new Wiliers GTR Centaur under the "honest Mr Accountant I bought the bike for the business to deliver internet orders to the customers" scheme.:rolleyes:
 
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