Bike Ping
I am completely blown away (and disappointed). I thought this was science fiction!
Posted on 02/02/2016 9:16:22 PM PST by Baynative
Cycling officials on Saturday detained a bicycle ridden during the cyclocross world championships in Zolder, Belgium, to investigate "technological fraud," and on Sunday they confirmed the bike had a concealed motor in the frame.
The International Cycling Union said the bike belonged to 19-year-old Belgian Femke Van den Driessche.
It is the first official case of "mechanical doping" or "bike doping" at cycling's highest level. If used at the right time during a race even a small motor can provide a critical burst of power and speed.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
"I never thought that such schemes were possible. It's a scandal that Femke's entourage have deceived the Belgian federation," he said.
The news is a fresh blow to a sport still recovering from the Lance Armstrong doping scandal after the disgraced American cyclist admitted to cheating throughout his career in 2013 following years of denials and ruthless attacks on his accusers, AFP noted.
The UCI has been taking the possibility of technological fraud more seriously over the past few years. New penalties include disqualification, a suspension of six months, and a fine of up to 200,000 Swiss francs (about $195,000). Teams could be fined 1 million francs (roughly $977,500).
If there’s a way to cheat in anything, people will do it.
I’d think that bike doping would make the bike heavier. Do they ever weigh them prior to racing events?
Shocking.
I am completely blown away (and disappointed). I thought this was science fiction!
I read about this years ago. It has been going on a long time. Batteries are a lot stronger now, can last longer.
Thy can compensate. Plus batteries are lighter now and more energy dense.
At that level, with time differences being so small, a person would only need a very small energy burst at a critics time to win a race. It may have been undetectable, even on the scales.
In before pictures of Democrat Politicians on bicycles.
The gear drive is hidden inside the down tube and lithium battery packs are designed in water bottles. I guess the officials are walking the line pulling the bottles out of their cages before the race begins.
Ya hit my chuckle nerve with that one!
A tiny brushless motor and li battery could supply close to 1 hp and weigh well under 450 grams (perhaps the article clarifies the technical details).
I was competitive for a number of years and have followed the sport since getting off the bike. Yet, I’ve never heard of this. I guess I’ve been asleep.
Others have been accused of it. I remember watching some videos online as they had specific people doing uphill segments and were shown having a pretty easy time compared to other times when either they werent using it because maybe they were depleted, or didnt have it in the bike. I just kow there was footage of several thought to be doing it and it did seem a legitimte concern.
Why not sponsor a special event for cheaters?
There was a lot of film of bicyclists being pulled off their bikes in complete exhaustion having to get massages, rest, and huge amounts of food (mostly pasta) to get ready for the next day's events.
Now it seems that after every race the bicyclists just pop off their bikes and pop down to the nearest Starbucks for a Cafe Latte. Something's wrong with the picture.
This thread on eng-tips.com has more details on bike motors - plus a link to the longer article with other comments, plus an alternative scheme where the magnets are inside the hub around the rim, rather than using a small geared motor hidden inside the tubing.
http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=402911
There is one.
it’s called NASCAR. Pretty populat actually ... using motors to drive people sitting on car seats above wheels. 8<)
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