Kristen Faulkner, Harvard Grad wins 2024 Paris Olympic Road race

Wheels of Happiness

31 year old Kristen Faulkner, a Harvard grad, and former venture capitalist at New York, won gold in the  the Paris 2024 Olympics.  Its an interesting story because she  quit venture capitalist job to focus on cycling.  And that she achieved this because she was in injured in a car accident that broke her shin bone.  But she won the race.

It was interesting to note that in the race, the race favorites did not react to her attack with just 3 km to go.  They just looked at each other when she pulled away.

There was a story that when she started biking in Europe, she even lost her contact lenses.  However, when she was assigned to go with break away, she stuck with the job, and even forgot to eat because she was so focused on  her assignment.   She even went on to win the lap/stage

She just started biking in 2017 in New York so that she will be occupied, and to replace her PE with rowing (while at Harvard)

Her former sports was rowing.   She was born and grew up in Homer Alaska contributing to her grit and determination

She said that she was able to use her venture capitalist background to calculate the risk benefits as she biked.  One of the things we must be wary of is if we encounter riders like her who look very well deeply analyzing the data of every rider she may may meet on the road.  They would definitely have an advantage.   

I think riders now are better because they have better coaches, better science being employed to be better cyclists.  Data driven

Congratulations Kristen.

Beating Europe's best. Beat by Team USA

Avoiding Crash When Riding a Paceline or Peloton

As we monitor the Tour de France, we learn of the many crashes by top riders.  Alberto Contador had crash early on and now there is Horner quitting because of a bad crash which left him with broken nose, badly bruised leg disabling him from further continuing the Tour. At speeds of 50 kmh and above on flats, and up to 90 downhill, bad crashes are part of the game at Tour de France.

At the recreational level, crashes can be avoided by following certain rules/tips:
l  Focus.  Dont think of anything else or do anything else (like drinking water) when you are riding fast and furious.
2.  The lead rider must give timely and correct hand signal:  when to slow down, avoid obstacles, turn left etc.
3.   No swerving or sudden braking. even if it means destroying your rim or having a flat.  A multiple crash is more expensive. To slow down, let rise up to let the wind be your brake.
4.  Practice wheel touch.  Our reflex action is to avoid the offender but this really cause the crash.  They say you have to turn your wheel again to the contact point.  But then again, it can be learned by riding slowly at grassy ground and practicing wheel touch.
5. When turning, avoid ground with loose sand and gravel.  It can cause your wheels at the rear to slide and crash.
6.  Be safe.  Beware of:

     l.  Cars that may come out of garage or intersections.
     2.  Stay to the left of vehicles you are following so that the driver will see you at his rear view mirror (he often uses the left) and so that you can avoid his vehicle when he stops.  Be extra careful if its a tricycle or jeepney you are following.
     3.  Stay clear off parked cars by at least 2 meters because the doors may suddenly open and you may crash into their door.
     4.  Observe the precaution when riding in wet condition.  Ride more slowly.  Avoid steel manhole covers and paint on the road for road signs.  They are very very slippery when wet,  and dangerous too.