Hesjedal Wrongly Accused?
The good folks over at Dirt Mag posted this video and it’s caused a shit storm on social media. They asked “Is this video proof that roadies really are the biggest cheating bastards ever?” Subtle! We know the crew at Dirt love taking the piss, so maybe they are busting themselves laughing at the tempest they have created? The comments are hilariously aggressive and there’s very little logic at play. Dirt has seriously pissed off a lot of people. Which is kind of funny when you consider that accusing roadies of cheating is a little like accusing politicians of lying.
And what happens does appear at odds with physics. The video seems to show Hesjedal’s wheel in contact with the ground after the bike has come to a stop and before Ryder has clipped out. That should have stopped the wheel’s rotation. After he clips out the bike begins to rotate and seems to accelerate, finally appearing to travel uphill and into the path of one of the following motos. The clip is in slo mo but it’s hard to say if it would look worse or better at full speed. And none of those crying foul has explained how such a system could work without turning the cranks. Concealed systems which do just that, turn the cranks using a concealed electric motor in the downtube, do exist and are available for sale. Clearly that’s not what’s going on here.
Behold the Vivax Assist Drive Unit!
Probably there is a logical explanation, and certainly things aren’t always as they seem, but it looks unusual at the very least. The best part of this is the reaction online. Lots of seriously annoyed people! I think a rap battle is in order.
A video posted on Instagram tries to explain it with a demonstration but the conditions are decidedly different, which does nothing but add fuel to the flames. And what was the internet made for if not conspiracy theories?
What do you think?
Here’s Ryder’s response.
Let’s keep this discussion entirely serious! In fact, before we start this battle would you pee in this cup?
Comments
Jerry Willows
9 years, 7 months ago
the only way to find out for sure would be to check the hub. That's the really the only way as the video doesn't have enough evidence either way.
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guest
9 years, 7 months ago
can you blame people for assuming he is cheating? Cheating is pretty much ingrained in road racing nowadays and its shameful. If racers want the public to think they're playing fairly, they have a long uphill battle. Yeah, the cranks aren't moving so Ryder isn't using the same system that Cancellara was - he's probably got the latest and greatest cheating technology that's built into the hub.
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Merwinn
9 years, 7 months ago
If there was an assisting motor in his seat tube, the cranks would be turning. They're not turning.
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SeanS.
9 years, 7 months ago
Just sayin'. I could care less either way. Now I want one.
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Dave H
9 years, 7 months ago
Wrongly accused? Other than saying there's no such system how does this show anything?
For years drugs cheats passed tests because of the mentality "if they were doping they'd test positive".
That instagram video doesn't really prove anything either way due to every condition being substantially different
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uncle duke
9 years, 7 months ago
this video here is more conclusive….
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Dirk
9 years, 7 months ago
I think this video is proof that you should just lock yourself in the basement and never try to do anything, ever, because if you do somebody on the Internet will try to ruin your life.
This one thing happened once that was kind of weird. Ergo, everything is terrible and everybody is horrible and aren't these guys jerks and PS I'm awesome.
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Al
9 years, 7 months ago
pretty typical physics involved with flywheels and such… media just trying to draw attention away from the moto running over the bike cause he was filming too close 😉
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Larry
9 years, 7 months ago
Here is another view of the crash
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Paul g
9 years, 7 months ago
Take the glasses off and then tell us
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Rulord
9 years, 7 months ago
He's got a point about the motor only assisting the crank, not the wheel itself. either ways he look kinda nervous
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