Professional cycling mechanical doping

[KrisZ]

This just popped into my feed and I was genuinely surprised. Everyone just looks at the drug type of doping with athletes, but nobody seems to pay any attention to a mechanical type of cheating, unless it's motorsports of some kind.

I honestly never even thought that these cyclists would use some type of electric motor assist, but why not? If some of them go as far as blood transfusions, there is no telling how far they and their teams are willing to go.

Funny how, now after watching this video, it's obvious that we should be checking for these devices, but I never gave it a single thought before hand.
I guess that's cheating innovation for you, do something so obviously "duh" but hide is so well that no one will even think of checking for it.

 

[#18FAN]

It's why they Xray Tour de Frace bikes pre and post race.

 

[KGMtech]

Naturally these cheating athletes should be barred from any future participation, regardless if their method is medical, mechanical or electrical.

 

[AZjeff]

Didn't watch the video but it's been around for years. First was a motor in the bottom of the seat tube and helical gears on the bottom bracket. Now race officials us infrared temp guns to look for heat in the hubs, bottom bracket as well as xray. If it's racing there will be cheating.

Naturally these cheating athletes should be barred from any future participation, regardless if their method is medical, mechanical or electrical.

At the elite level it's the team doing the bike cheating. Ban the entire team for a year and it would stop. The riders ride the bike they're given.

 

[Nessism1]

I didn't watch either. Too long.

Femke Van den Driessche was busted in 2016 for having a motor hidden in your bike frame during the Wold Championship races. This subject is old news.

 

[97prizm]

This just popped into my feed and I was genuinely surprised. Everyone just looks at the drug type of doping with athletes, but nobody seems to pay any attention to a mechanical type of cheating, unless it's motorsports of some kind.

I honestly never even thought that these cyclists would use some type of electric motor assist, but why not? If some of them go as far as blood transfusions, there is no telling how far they and their teams are willing to go.

Funny how, now after watching this video, it's obvious that we should be checking for these devices, but I never gave it a single thought before hand.
I guess that's cheating innovation for you, do something so obviously "duh" but hide is so well that no one will even think of checking for it.

I just saw this. It's eye opening. According to a few bike industry analysts you won't be able to buy a mechanical bike without a battery in ten years. It seems like the Lance Armstrong era was merely the tip of the iceberg.

 

[Nessism1]

I just saw this. It's eye opening. According to a few bike industry analysts you won't be able to buy a mechanical bike without a battery in ten years. It seems like the Lance Armstrong era was merely the tip of the iceberg.

No. This will NOT become the future reality.

A while back, while out on a ride in my area, two older gentlemen come up behind, pass me, then proceed to blast up an incline. All while carrying on a casual conservation. They had electric assist bikes, and they are enjoying them. No complaint here, but this will never become the norm. Most serious riders are into the process for fitness, not to just see how fast them can go with artificial stimulation.

 

[jadmt]

I didn't watch either. Too long.

Femke Van den Driessche was busted in 2016 for having a motor hidden in your bike frame during the Wold Championship races. This subject is old news.

was the time there was the crash and his rear wheel was spinning like crazy on the ground?

 

[Nessism1]

was the time there was the crash and his rear wheel was spinning like crazy on the ground?

Sorry, I'm not a historian on how that person got caught. I just know she was...

 

[jadmt]

 

[Kernel Potter]

I just saw this. It's eye opening. According to a few bike industry analysts you won't be able to buy a mechanical bike without a battery in ten years. It seems like the Lance Armstrong era was merely the tip of the iceberg.

For this exact reason I recently started looking for older OEM parts like shifters, cassettes and derailluers so in case my SRAM Rival stuff wears out or breaks, I'll have back-ups. I'm looking to get two of each. And most will be Force, maybe some Red and Rival depending on availability and price. I plan on acquiring them by March,

Lots of parts like seats, wheel parts, bearings etc., I'm not too worried about, And the cross titanium frame should be good to go for another 100 years or so ;o) But if I can help it, I'm not going to ride a bicycle that requires an electric motor in the derailluer, a computer and a battery to function at its most basic level.

 

[Nessism1]

For this exact reason I recently started looking for older OEM parts like shifters, cassettes and derailluers so in case my SRAM Rival stuff wears out or breaks, I'll have back-ups. I'm looking to get two of each. And most will be Force, maybe some Red and Rival depending on availability and price. I plan on acquiring them by March,

I think you are overreacting. Buying bike parts is never a bad idea, though.

A good buddy that's really into dirt riding has an electric assist bike. He's mid 60's in age, and likes to go fast. Apparently, having a little helping power to crest hills and so forth greatly increases his joy of riding. Not my style, but I get it. I still don't think the days of manual bikes is coming to an end, though.

 

[853okg]

was the time there was the crash and his rear wheel was spinning like crazy on the ground?

That was in a TdF. IIRC this was the girl who won a cross event. She suspiciously moves through the field, uphill, while casually stretching with her hands off the bars. Though to be fair Dan Chew did the same to me in a national championship in Arizona. Maybe I should have checked his bb after.
Anyway this girl, again IIRC, wins, dumps her boyfriend, and he dimes her out. Several lessons there, IMO.

 

[Kernel Potter]

I think you are overreacting. Buying bike parts is never a bad idea, though.

A good buddy that's really into dirt riding has an electric assist bike. He's mid 60's in age, and likes to go fast. Apparently, having a little helping power to crest hills and so forth greatly increases his joy of riding. Not my style, but I get it. I still don't think the days of manual bikes is coming to an end, though.

I'm certainly not overreacting. Many of the parts I'm looking for in the three upper SRAM component ranges show no availablity at all. Almost all the newer, upper end stuff is already exclusively electric shifting. And generally VERY costly. Luckily buying a few back-ups of derailluers, cogs and shifters is not that expensive for brand new stuff. At least not yet.