The wind tunnel testing has begun. Armstrong will make attempts at both of Boardman's hour records. Interesting that it was Eki's first time in a wind tunnel...

http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id=tech/2005/features/lance_tunnel

how can you have a 'possible' conventional bike - either it's conventional or it aint.

Eki didn't need wind tunnel testing to beat Armstrong in the 2000 Olympics...

how can you have a 'possible' conventional bike - either it's conventional or it aint.

Eki didn't need wind tunnel testing to beat Armstrong in the 2000 Olympics...

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2005/tech/features/lance_tunnel/2003_0107parts0047.jpg

AH, but what's conventional to you and I isn't conventional to the UCI. From looking at the pics on Cycling News that frame ain't going to fly. It violates at least part of section 03.05.026 in that the tubes are not "straight, circular section tubes with a minimum diameter of 2.5 cm." See above pic. The UCI is ridiculously strict on the special rules for the Hour Record, it's why the record was reset after Obree and Boardman spent all of that time developing special positions, bikes, etc and the record was splint in two. The Hour Record and Best Hour Performance.

fyi, here's the list of requirements for both bikes, as per the current UCI rulebook:

Hour Record
The Hour Record is the greatest distance achieved in one hour on a traditional bicycle, as defined in
articles 1.3.006 to 1.3.010 and 1.3.019 of the rules, and as further defined in the following specifications:
• Triangular frame composed of straight, circular section tubes with a minimum diameter of 2.5 cm.
• Traditional style handlebars with an overall width of 50 cm maximum and 34 cm minimum.
• Two wheels of equal diameter, measuring 65 to 70 cm, including tyres.
• Tyre section of a minimum of 16 mm and a maximum of 25 mm.
• Spoked wheels with a minimum of 16 and a maximum of 32 spokes; the spokes may be round,
flat or oval provided that none of their cross-sections exceeds 2 mm. (See diagram 1 below).
• Shallow, unelongated, non-profiled rims; shallow rims are understood to be rims whose crosssection
fits inside a 2.2 cm square. (See diagram 2 below).
• Other measurements in accordance with those defined in articles 1.3.012 to 1.3.017 (see figure
“Measurements”) and 1.3.022, 1.3.024 and 1.3.025.
(1) The spokes may be round, flat or oval as long as the width of a cross-section at any point is no broader than 2 mm in any direction. 2 mm
(2) Shallow rims are understood to be rims whose cross-section fits inside a 2.2 cm square.
2.2 cm
Riders must wear a helmet certified according to international safety standards, intended solely for the purposes of protecting the head, without a visor, and without any devices or shapes added to or moulded into the helmet with the intention of or having the effect of reducing air resistance.
Articles 1.3.026 and 1.3.033 will be strictly applied.


Best Hour Performance
The Best Hour Performance is the greatest distance achieved in one hour on a bicycle conforming to articles 1.3.006 to 1.3.010.
The bicycle shall be submitted to the Equipment Commission for approval 15 days before the date of the attempt.
The rider starts from the pursuit line as defined in article 3.6.083.
The timekeeper shall, by ringing a bell, indicate the last lap (or the lap during which the hour
expires) when the time remaining to ride is less than the average time realised over one lap of the
track.
The attempt shall terminate when the rider crosses the pursuit line from which he started. The end shall be indicated by a double pistol shot.
The distance covered in the hour shall be calculated as follows:
D = (L Pi x TC) + Di C
Di C = L Pi x TRC
TTC
Where: D = distance covered in the hour
L Pi = length of track
TC = number of complete laps before the last lap
Di C = additional distance
TTC = time of the last complete lap
TRC = time remaining to ride at the beginning of the last lap
The distance covered shall be rounded down to the nearest metre. Neither the Hour Record nor the Best Hour Performance may be beaten by less than one metre.
If, between the expiry of the hour and the end of the last lap, an incident occurs to prevent completion of the lap, the additional distance shall be calculated on the basis of the time of the lap before last.

LA was riding with a back fracture in the 2000 olympics.

the UCI established the athletes record because they felt that the technology was superceding the achievements of the rider. So they put all those strictures on the bike, position, kit, helmet in order to throw the emphasis squarely back on the rider and his abilities. So why does Armstrong feel the need to push the limits of that as far as he can and not simply rely on his abilities as an athlete (and, yes, I understand he will try for the best performance record, too where he can play with the technology to his heart's content).

Here's what current Athlete's and Best Performance Hour record holder Chris Boardman thinks: Boardman wants hour parameters (http://www.procycling.com/news_archive.aspx?ID=856)

is that for the 'LA is the greatest ever' types, that he has the opportunity to test himself
as close to mano a mano with Merckx. Funny, the only one to break his record (Boardman) didn't have nearly the season eddy did when he set the record.
Personally he should get a guy like Sachs to build him a lugged steel frame, race a whole season do well and then go for the record.

completely disproves that cyclists have made exponential leaps in ability. 1 guy, who focused his season (actually his career as he retired after doing it) is the only one to beat the cannibal in 3 decades.

the UCI established the athletes record because they felt that the technology was superceding the achievements of the rider. So they put all those strictures on the bike, position, kit, helmet in order to throw the emphasis squarely back on the rider and his abilities. So why does Armstrong feel the need to push the limits of that as far as he can and not simply rely on his abilities as an athlete (and, yes, I understand he will try for the best performance record, too where he can play with the technology to his heart's content).

Here's what current Athlete's and Best Performance Hour record holder Chris Boardman thinks: Boardman wants hour parameters (http://www.procycling.com/news_archive.aspx?ID=856)

Did Lance get you or your sister pregnant by any chance?

C'mon Lance, if you're really the man, you'll ride a 25 pound Fuel on the record attempt!

he can use whatever for boardmans (within UCI Guidelines) for the aero event
but I'd like to see him on steel w/ 32 spokes for Boardman / merckx attempt.
I can't win, in one post I'll be labeled a "Lance Homer' and another a "Lance Hater'.
just call me a bike fan.

silver, does Lance give you good head? Good grief, what a puerile statement.

atp, good point about going mano a mano with the ghost of Merckx and what the hour record proves. It's a shame it's fallen out of favour and, if nothing else, Armstrong making an attempt has brought it sharply back into focus. It will be interesting to see if he does finally go for it - he has said before that he'll give it a go and it's always been pushed back. And yes, it will give him another opportunity to shut up people like me who think he's a bit of a one trick pony...

No it won't. If he breaks the record on a bike that just conforms to the UCI rules, you'll say he used his vast amount of cash to cheat his way to a record. If he breaks it on a bike that doesn't go down to the limit, you'll say he's doped.

completely disproves that cyclists have made exponential leaps in ability. 1 guy, who focused his season (actually his career as he retired after doing it) is the only one to beat the cannibal in 3 decades.
6 men beat Merckx's record 11 times operating under the same rules as Merckx did. One person beat Merckx's record under a more restrictive set of rules than Merckx had to operate under, but those have only been in place for a little over 4 years.

Did Lance get you or your sister pregnant by any chance?

C'mon Lance, if you're really the man, you'll ride a 25 pound Fuel on the record attempt!

LOL - BG is a famous LA basher.

it's a tough job but somebody's got to do it...