munro3

Rachael's obviously an exceptional athlete - we all know that - but she seems like a genuinely outstanding person as well. Great role model!

@Albe23: You're right about the comparison being a bit unfair. Rachel's results would be collected from a trainer and the pro cyclist results are being generated after a long ride. However, as MSAM says, the sprinters are basically reaching their Max Wattage at the end of a race. That's what they're paid to do and they're very good at it. Their results at the end of a race aren't much different from their results on a trainer. They aren't reaching 2000 Watts on a trainer - and they definitely aren't doing it easily! If you want to know what 2000 (plus) Watts looks like on a trainer Google search Chris Hoy or Robert Forstermann. Seriously, take a look at their legs and use that as a reference for 2000 Watts. It's an absolutely enormous number and requires beastly legs to achieve it!

As far as I know the top female cyclists (on the road) top out at about 750-800 Watts during their final sprint and the males peek at around 1600 Watts. So if the numbers provided are correct... Rachel Atherton is going to win a gold medal for Great Britain in the Olympic Road Race this year. If these numbers are correct she'll win by a considerable distance, actually.

A tribute to the Spin Doctors.

Hey Nikoniko, I'm glad you found my response useful! I think you make some very good points as well - and I enjoyed reading your original post and second response. I think you got it right when you said that the filming and editing process takes time and practice. It's a steep learning curve that benefits from freedom! I like where your head's at! Cheers Nikoniko!

I break a lot of the rules too - but I do it intentionally - and that makes a big difference. I can't overstate the importance of understanding the rules before you break them. For instance, the rules are almost always broken in movies about murderers from the South (horrors). Most horror flicks begin primarily with smooth steady-cam footage and wide shots to establish the setting, story, and main characters. The director wants you to know who the main characters are and will introduce them in a pleasant way. They won't do the same for the villain, though. The murderer is often introduced with the use of POV (shaky shot from behind a tree branch) or as a mere shadow, or even a musical note (like in Jaws). As the murderer or villain becomes a bigger part of the story, and the main characters are in greater danger, the filmmaker will use more close-up shots and increasingly shaky camera work. This is done to create tension, pace, and a perceived sense of losing control as the story reaches a climax. All of the stylistic choices (and broken rules) that you see in a horror flick are done for the sole purpose of telling the story properly. The director doesn't simply walk on set with a camera and choose not to use a tripod because he/she doesn't feel like setting it up that day. It would be wise to understand the rules of filmmaking before breaking them. If you choose to deviate from the rules, which can be a good thing, ask yourself why you are doing it first. Cheers.

These engineers are constantly pedalling new ways of thinking - I can't handle it! Sometimes I just want to tell the engineers and advertisers to get a grip. Seriously, though; the debate over 26" ad 29" wheels has single handedly forked the mountain bike community I half. I think it's time that we got back to our mountain biking roots by cranking up the music and taking a brake from the 26" VS 29" debate.

Rachel's 1989 Oakley Razor Blades are ridiculously cool! In fact, I have been sporting an identical pair for the past 10 years (while on my roadie) and never questioned the cool-ness of them. They look better on her than I, though.