To all those ppl criticising the sport, you cant sprint for the full 3 laps, they go slow at the start as they are trying to force the other person in front as it is easier to ride at the back in the other persons slipstream. It is all about tactics in the sprint. They try and get the other person to go first and often dummy etc... They then sprint flat out after one of them decides to go for it. Ps: it is actually extremely hard to go that slowly when ur at the top of the track as it is sloped, especially on the corners. It takes a great deal of skill and bike control to be able to do it. Also, it is difficult because of the extremely high gears that they ride in (they cant change gears)
Dude this sport is extremely dangerous. 60kph on a bike with no gears, fix wheel and no brakes. HAHA any one criticising it are either brain damaged from birth or from falling off one of these bikes.
I don't see why people are finding this odd. It's a battle over position, timing and power (which ultimately decides speed). Sprint too early, and you'll lose power. Lose your position, and you'll get overtaken. Mess up your timing, and you'll lose out on power and position.
Yet another PA fan here, and as fascinating as this is to watch, I must admit I'd watch the hell out of the 100m cat relay. I figure each team would bring their own cat, and you've gotta admit it'd be adorable to have the cat being held by the winning team's anchor as their flag went up.
Dammit to hell. I was making fun of this event...and then, suddenly, I was really excited and rooting for Hoy and really pleased when he won. Screw everyone for making me care about this.
It's rather sad that the big man won't be performing in the arena named after him, but Sir Chris Hoy is just one of those, once in a lifetime, guys who could knuckle down and kick everyone's arse into oblivion. As a Scot, and a Brit, I am proud of this man, who has thighs that could kick a North Korean missile back from whence it came. He squats 240kg. Sir Chris, thank you for all the glorious, at times, nail-biting victories. Between you and Andy Murray, last year you both did Scotland proud.
These are two men who have formed comedy in a unique way for over ten years. Their material is never directly meant to be offensive, and is meant to simply be taken lightly. The article itself that led everyone to this channel was mostly saying that the author didn't understand the sport, and developed a comic jokingly poking fun at other sports that many Olympic followers may not understand. I myself cut jokes at the Winter sport of Curling, despite understanding it enough to see the skill.
The gearing on these bikes is crazy. The slow start is necessary, and its a tactical as well as power based race. Hoy has both the legs and the tactics. Seriously these bikes are almost unridable its one gear. the fact that these guys are able to reach these speeds is incredible. irs an olympic sport because the training and sheer power involved is staggering.
Why has everyone downvoted this? It's a common question which everyone always asks... no point in making it invisible by downvoting, let other people see!
The powerhouse that is, Sir Chris Hoy. Just constantly testing and proving himself time and time again! Track racing will be left with a black hole after London 2012! Step up Jason Kenny??
If you think about it a bit, you'll find that most adults don't really ever jump or run, throw anything heavier than keys (or beer cans), and only lift significantly heavy things when moving furniture. Depending on where you live, most people don't cycle and while they may occasionally "go swimming" in the summer, most people don't actually swim. The fact is that everyone *can* do these things but most people never do if they can avoid it.
It's just a race, where one of them gets a bit of head start. They start off relatively slowly because it's only a short race, and neither one wants to burn himself out too quickly, but nor can he allow the other to start his sprint before he's ready. The cyclist in the rear can also take advantage of the other's slipstream, which gets more advantageous the faster they're going (race bikes don't have brakes, either). The velodrome is sloped because it aids speed, especially on corners.
Comedy pokes fun at everything, and is almost never meant in an offensive fashion. If you don't like the method that a comedian uses, that is your right, obviously. However, I'm not understanding why there is the need to degrade them for it because of a personal preferance. Or Americans in general, for that matter. I personally enjoy them because the humor IS simple and stupid. Takes away from what I'm dealing with and generally forces a chuckle or two. To each their own, though. I respect it.
Short version is this: At the start of the race one rider wants to stay behind the other in order to draft when the riders go to speed, passing at the last minute. Thus the lead rider doesn't go fast while the trailing rider is behind him (or her). This makes much of the race about positioning and the lead rider waiting for the trailing rider to make the first move. Read more at wikipedia at Sprint_(cycling)
Did you read my comment? I just explained what the set up is and how it works, the UK existed since after King James VI of Scots took the English throne in 1603. What you are talking about is the political union, which is not the same as the Monarchy union. The political union (1707) started 104 years after the UK union (1603). Either way, Great Britain is a geographical term that became a political union in 1707. Being British is a collective term, Britain has three distinct nations in it.
I'm not flaming, but that's simply your opinion. Olympic champions are the best in the world at their competition. The guy who finishes 7th in the 100m sprint would wipe the floor with everyone in this commentary section. They train endlessly to get there, and the mental aspect is just as critical. They are both competitions; if anything, esports should get more acknowledgement, other sports should not be torn down. Anyone can play SC2, not everyone is good at it. Same thing with running.
Now to everybody who is wondering... Why are they going so slow if the first one over the line wins? The answer is pretty simple: if you go fast right from the start, you will very probably lose. That is the short version. Why it is so would take a bit more space to explain, but the drafting benefit is a large part of that.
PA readers: think of it like a game of Starcraft, where there's a best of 3 series format, and each player starts by macroing for a while, with a couple small micro engagements maybe in the first laps, before going for the big push.
They draw lots to see who goes first, as there are advantages to both (e.g. you have to overtake on the outside, so it's pretty hard work). Note that this race would have been a best of three, but Hoy won the first two... In this particular race Sir Chris Hoy (the Brit) would have been expected to win, as he'd previously won three gold medals at Beijing (that's why he was knighted!) - he's just now gone on to win more gold medals in London, making him our most successful Olympian ever.
For those of you trying to figure out what the "metagame" is in things like M:tG, this is the prime example. It's not all about raw power, it's about taking the most efficient path to victory. In this case, through rather unconventional means.
As someone who enjoys both cycling and gaming, I can say definitively that competitive gaming is not a sport in the same way chess is not a sport. Yes it requires hours of practice and skill, but it is in no way physically taxing. If you rode on a bike with as high a gear as that (they only have one gear), then you would almost certainly fall over. I couldn't do it either and I cycle often. So don't question its inclusion in the Olympics.
When you are going fast on a bike you generate a slip stream behind you. If you are close behind the leader it is easier to pedal, push bike tactics is to sit behind your competitor until right up to the end and pass him. They go slow to try and force the person behind them to take the lead or try and get enough of a gap so that the the guy behind can't catch up.
The word "sprint" isn't confined to foot running; it can be applied to almost any activity that involves movement, or even effort--you can correctly talk about "studying at a sprint"--it refers mainly to a short, high-level exertion.
"First person over the line after 3 laps wins". HOWEVER, it is advantageous to be cycling behind someone, because then you can slipstream/draft them. If you're behind someone for 3 laps, then you can just quickly overtake them at the end cos you have conserved energy for previous laps. So the first lap or so is mindgames, trying to be the person behind, until one person decides they're just gonna go for it.
The goal is to get behind your opponent for the first couple laps, so you can get an aerodynamic advantage, then sprint past him at the end (since he's tireder from blocking the wind). They go slow, so the other person will go ahead, then they can get behind them like a windshield, which saves energy.
Thanks so much, that's what I assumed just watching the video. Is there a reasoning behind who has to start first and is it more advantageous to start second? I'm just asking because knowing who is the underdog here would add to the excitement.
Great Britain is two things; 1.A 1707 political construct formed by the parliaments of Scotland and England on May 1st 1707. 2.A Geographical term encompassing the nations of Scotland, England and Wales, exactly the same way that Scandinavia is a geographical term encompassing the nations of Norway, Denmark and Sweden. Yes Scotland is British in terms of geography, but it is a separate nation from the other nations of Britain. Sir Chris Hoy is still a Scot though he represents Great Britain too.
Because the person in front is pulling the guy behind him who has an easier time as long as he sits in that slipstream. That means the rider in front shouldn't go for it until he believes he is within range to power on through right to the end without the guy behind being able to overtake him. It's a question of poise, cool and finally speed - like a duel between two gunslingers.
Well said, and it's the same in martial arts, where you really are actually facing your opponent. Students are actually taught not to stare their opponent in the eyes - it can have a "hypnotizing" tunnel-vision effect, and it's better to read body language via hips and shoulders.
Once, in a secondary competition. He is the 4th best player on the tour at best and won't be a contender for the number one spot until he wins the sports top prizes i.e. the majors.
Okay I admit it, I got to this particular video from Penny Arcade but unlike Tycho, I had seen multiple track cycling events. I mean, I live in the UK now. They don't let you in the country unless you can tell the difference between a pursuit, a sprint, a keirin and name all the events that go into making a Omnium ^.^
You got one part right. I'm from the US. But really I'm just trolling. I can honestly say I'm not much of a road fan. I love track cycling and if road season didn't mix with Mountain then I'd give road a chance.
I'm sure used to play this game in the streets of my estate when I was a kid. Actually the Keirin is even more bizarre - 8 laps of following a motorbike at a gentle pace plus 2 laps of hard biking. But the overall point is - it doesn't matter the specific biking event, Team GB will still rule.... except for the road race of course where we were ganged up on !
Apparently you have no idea how hard it is to break 40 mph on a unfaired bike. the drag is a squared function so think of the drag you generate at doing 20-30 mph and multiply it by 4, as someone else mentioned the run up is necessary because they decide where the sprint starts(sort of) and those bikes have some of the most monstrous gearing possible. Actually these athletes hold some of the world records for the maximum torque and power generated by a human, were talking kilowatts.
I was aware of Men's Sprint before PA. It's a little odd to look at at first, but then you realize that there's a -lot- of mind games going on here. It's the sort of sport where blinking can cost you the win.
Great rides. Levy rode a tactically sound first ride but Sir Chris's top end proved too much. The coach applauding Chris from the apron looks like Jason Stratham.
Well in the case of Football the Olympics is the least prestigious international tournament of the 3 (Euros, World Cup, Olympics) and I would bet that any professional tennis player would take a major victory over a gold medal and there is no way to argue even with a gold medal that Murray is the best in his sport. As for the other sports the Olympics is the standard to prove they're the best because it is the biggest competition the sports hold.
The beauty of the structuralism of the English language is its subtlety. Depending on context, words can be utilised contrarily. For example, "he was a good sport" is just as applicable as athleticism, which completely dismantles any semblance of a point you were trying to make. If you'd actually bothered to look up the definition of sport, you'd see there were 17 different entries. Just because something doesn't back up your point doesn't mean that its not "true." That's ridiculous.
can some please ecplain to me why they do not sprint at the beggining? sorry im very ingnorant when it comes to this sport but would like to know MOAR!!
Olympic Gold Athletes are the best of the best of the countries that could participate in the event except where better athletes weren't discovered or were disqualified by the exotic rules of the Olympics or simply had something much more profitable to do with their time.
Did you really not see the part where they propel themselves to over 40 miles per hour? The beginning is all tactics, fighting for position and not expending undue energy fighting drag resistance by charging ahead in front.
There are different forms of comedy for almost every walk of life on the planet. Just because you do not understand this particular form does not mean that you have to insult it. Come to think of it, that sounds awfully familiar... where did I hear that from?
Uau. I'm really surprised how people are ignorant. This is a sport that requires a lot of skill as technique, plus explosion. I use to respect all the sports even if I don't know anything about. Some people should practice anything to estimulate their brains.
I was watching this yesterday and yes I was confused, while I'm glad that I wasn't the only one I'm sad at how people have reacted. While I know nothing about this sport I can see the power needed just to get up the hill. Would someone be so kind as to explain a bit about this sport for the people who care and not the people making ignorant jokes?
Yes well, do a quick search for "Men's sprint 2012 olympics" Not much comes up, does it? Couple slide shows, some crappy cell cam footage. That's because NBC would take down any reposts of their events. Hence this old event that shows you what sprint is in a good, complete example of a race.
I make no such claims. I am reasonably sure however, if a better tennis player was around, he would have shown up on the pro circuit by now. If a better basketballer existed, the 1000's of college scouts would have found him and got him into a college program in the US (and then into the NBA). The same argument can be applied to almost every other kind of professional sport. I don't need to evaluate anything as thousands of scouts, talent agents and money do so for me
