When you’re posting footage of a spectacular crash to social media, it’s probably not a bad idea to clarify whether or not you were the person riding, so as not to alarm your friends and followers.
Yesterday, retired pro Joaquim Rodriguez posted a video, apparently shot by a chest camera, to Twitter and Instagram of a rider losing control on a descent and being thrown over a barrier.
In the text accompanying the video, Rodriquez says: “Behaviour of a cyclist when you crash! First, I’m fine, Second: How is my bike? Third: Sort out the handlebars and carry on.”
Comportamiento de un ciclista cuando te caes!!
Primero: Estoy bien
Segundo: Como está mi bici??
Tercero: Poner bien la maneta y continuar! pic.twitter.com/rtWJn28w4C— Joaquim Rodríguez (@PuritoRodriguez) January 16, 2017
Many people in the comments sent their best wishes to Rodriguez, nicknamed Purito, or remarked that he’d had a lucky escape.
Except, it isn’t Rodriguez. For one thing, that doesn’t look like Andorra, where he lives, in winter (granted, he could be elsewhere). Secondly, the two riders who stop to check on the condition of the person who has crashed are dressed for a triathlon, and have race numbers. Third, there’s also a race number on the bike that crashed, and the set-up in terms of cabling, stem height, handlebars etc isn’t what you’d expect from a pro.
Finally, the biggest clue of all is the bike itself – a Race Lite, formerly made by Merida, but at the opposite end of the Taiwanese company’s range from the Scultura that Rodriguez should have been racing this season until he reconsidered his plans and confirmed his retirement. He has instead taken on a backroom role with the UCI WorldTour outift.
Feliz año a todos!!!! Estos son mis nuevos colores y mi nueva compañera de batalla!!! @Bahrain_Merida https://t.co/ACOZQA6lIw pic.twitter.com/LUYy4LAiw0
— Joaquim Rodríguez (@PuritoRodriguez) January 1, 2017
19 thoughts on “Video: Joaquim Rodriguez posts footage of spectacular crash – but it’s not him”
Joaquim Purito Rodrigeuz is a
Joaquim Purito Rodrigeuz is a lucky bike rider! Crash like this can be extremely fatal. Stay safe team road.cc
Schweiz wrote:
Why is he lucky?
bendertherobot wrote:
ROFLing. He is having lady luck for a friend if he can ride away after THAT CRASH!
Good advert for not
Good advert for not descending on the hoods, if you ask me.
Looks like he just brake too
Looks like he just brake too late and been over speed then got understeered from hard brake at last seconds
Lucky him though he not get fatal, you could end up in ambulance on the way to hospital that way . . .
ColT wrote:
Why??
cyclisto wrote:
Good advert for not descending on the hoods, if you ask me.
— cyclisto Why??— ColT
Seriously?
I thought it was fairly common knowledge (and common sense) that descending on the drops give far better control. Being on the hoods increases the risk of hands slipping off…
In this case, I’m guessing that the rider could have braked more efficiently. I could be wrong, of course, in which case, forgive me for wasting your time. 🙂
Just Gooooooogled it – plenty of debate, but this explains “why?” (for me):
“Gripping the drops on descents keeps your hands closer to the brakes so that you can easily control your speed and apply maximum braking power to stop in a hurry if needed. It ensures that your hands won’t come off the bars if you hit a bump. It lowers your center of gravity for better cornering. And, it makes you more aerodynamic so that you are less buffeted by the increased wind at speed, and can go faster if you want to, too (just gently apply the brakes if you don’t).”
Col
ColT wrote:
also lowers weight onto the front for grip, hands are lower on the levers for better feel and modulation, hence less likely to lock up and fly over the bars
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also lowers weight onto the front for grip, hands are lower on the levers for better feel and modulation, hence less likely to lock up and fly over the bars
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I would add it depends on where you are descending if it’s very steep your arse will already be high and thus more likely to go over the top. Also wind resinstance can be your friend as well as your enemy meaning less braking needed! Horses for courses. One rule for every situation?
I would hope my mates were a little more concerned than they were, oh and don’t thump the handlebar sideways when riding. That way leads to ouch!
whobiggs wrote:
surely getting lower allows you to push your rear end back quite far – you can even lay your tummy flat on the saddle, but of course, one must be wary of snagging one’s tackle between the rear tyre and brake, that will sting a little 🙂
Straight back on, what a
Straight back on, what a champ!
takes the undergrowth out of
takes the undergrowth out of the helmet, mounts up and rides off – legend 🙂
Would Purito really have his
Would Purito really have his bike computer place where it is on the handlebars?
I recall some advice from
I recall some advice from Bernie Eisel regarding hairpins. The ones you really want to worry about are the ones with crash barriers on them as they’re typically protecting steep drops. If you have to hit them, slide into them as you want to avoid going over them as the video shows
As ColT said, what possesed
As ColT said, what possesed the man to descend on the hoods.
Disc brakes are dangerous.
Disc brakes are dangerous.
Good job he was wearing a
Good job he was wearing a helmet
Nice sleuthing. A three-time
Nice sleuthing. A three-time World Tour #1 on a £1k bike does seem rather unlikely.
Looks like he wasn’t riding
Looks like he wasn’t riding to condition – some muppet in the comments who thinks he is class.
Hope he was wearing a helmet – some muppet looking for a flame war.
He disappeared faster than Frank Schleck’s career – some muppet who thinks he is funny.