there are riders in the Tour de France that don’t know how to ride bikes. Actually, by watching all the stupid shit going on, it shouldn’t amaze me.
Case in point. During today’s coverage, I think before they got to the first cobble section, rider #26 on RadioShack, Dmitriy Muravyev, (a guy from KAZ that I’ve never heard of) was holding onto either the medical car or the RadioShack Team car. I couldn’t believe that he had his right hand out on his shift lever hood.
I’ve held onto a bunch of cars just out riding. I’ve probably held onto cars going over 60 mph. Maybe faster. Bob Roll once passed me on a Coor’s Classic stage near Squaw Valley going at least 60 mph holding onto a highway patrol motorcycle.
But, this hand position was so dangerous. It’s something that I learned not to do the first couple years I started riding. He needed to have his hand on top of the bar as close to the stem as possible. He is very lucky he didn’t fall.
If this is any indication of how most of these riders do things that are a little out of the ordinary, then it doesn’t surprise me why so many are so worried about getting hurt. Who wants to be riding around in a field of guys with so little knowledge? Not me.
Even this guy has better hand position than Dmitriy.
That’s hilarious.
Every time I see guys doing that it makes me cringe.
It’s so he can brake if something unexpected “pops out” at him. Pro’s do it all the time. I was just watching both Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain do it on old tour videos this week (i had to re watch them after you posted just to make sure). Granted it’s not as stable…but you can brake. I think it would depend on the type of situation you are in.
I’ve witnessed many riders holding onto automobiles. I see your point, but I can’t imagine that having the ability to use your brakes might come close to the amount of instability that you’d have from holding onto the top of your brake lever with one hand. Even just grabbing a musette, you should have you hand on the top of your bars.
Cancellara did the same thing today when he went back with 30k to go, with his hand on the brake hood, it must be for safety so he can brake. It is more stable in the middle, but I think so many things can come from the road side at the Tour youve got to be ready to brake at a moments notice.