I'm studying sport science and while the course has a lot to be desired organization wise, I adore it's content. I originally studied and dropped out of Sports Technology, ironically due to not being able to hack the maths; ironic because I now fly through the more "mathsie" parts of Sports Science.
Studying Sports Science and being a proffessional athlete with experience at elite level in two distinct sports allows me to be particularly pragmatic in my analysis of sports and the science.
The Sport Scientist is the all important jack of all trades. The sport scientist is the person who knowing a lot about the diverse sciences in sport can take a bit of Biomechanics, mate it with Physiology and propose a way to ameliorate performance in the field.
Anyway, I made a site:
Sport Science Connect
The idea is simple: Tie everything together, so that real world results can be achieved. A way of blending basic sciences and applying them in the real world so to speak.
I believe in this idea, and encourage anyone to contribute.
A blog by Tomás Metcalfe about professional cycling (what's left of it!) in Portugal.
Sunday, 31 July 2011
Thursday, 28 July 2011
Why I must change teams -take 2- or: Being the exception.
Last night we had a dinner as a team. As usual the atmosphere was great on the cyclists table, although we drank far more moderately than usual.
I recognised the scene pretty well and knew that such an event only takes place because they can't pay or they have some demand to make of us.
Anyway, after an excellent grilled chicken and some chat of started the speeches which went something like this:
"Blah blah blah, no money, pay you "amanha", blah, blah, blah."
"doing us proud, fighting spirit, pay you "amanha"
"The first all Portuguese team, well no, nearly, except Tomás, but he's an okay worker."
I am actually the best worker as voted by my colleagues in the peloton. Plus I have never been given an opportunity to race for myself.
"bla, blah, blah, we need a Portuguese winner for the Volta a Portugal, so not Tomás, hahaha!"
One man, sorry about the situation actually came up and apologized, even gave me a hug -I think he was the only person in that room who realized the seriousness of the situation...
I beamed a broad smile throughout the proceedings. It wasn't an ironic smile, it was a victorious smile. Victorious because I've thought not a few moves ahead, I am several games ahead.
They say a captain should go down with the ship, however guess who are the first I have identified scurrying from the sinking ship? Yep, you've got it ;-).
Starring at the obvious I thought I would compile a list of facts on why a British cyclist is an important asset:
So where is Portugal in these statistics?
Plus I only remember of one company stating an aim to invest in Portugese cycling and guess what, it's British:
http://jornalciclismo.com/novo-patrocinador-da-team-sky-pondera-investir-em-equipa-lusa
So there you have it, just a spinet of what I have to tollerate.
I recognised the scene pretty well and knew that such an event only takes place because they can't pay or they have some demand to make of us.
Anyway, after an excellent grilled chicken and some chat of started the speeches which went something like this:
"Blah blah blah, no money, pay you "amanha", blah, blah, blah."
"doing us proud, fighting spirit, pay you "amanha"
"The first all Portuguese team, well no, nearly, except Tomás, but he's an okay worker."
I am actually the best worker as voted by my colleagues in the peloton. Plus I have never been given an opportunity to race for myself.
"bla, blah, blah, we need a Portuguese winner for the Volta a Portugal, so not Tomás, hahaha!"
One man, sorry about the situation actually came up and apologized, even gave me a hug -I think he was the only person in that room who realized the seriousness of the situation...
I beamed a broad smile throughout the proceedings. It wasn't an ironic smile, it was a victorious smile. Victorious because I've thought not a few moves ahead, I am several games ahead.
They say a captain should go down with the ship, however guess who are the first I have identified scurrying from the sinking ship? Yep, you've got it ;-).
Starring at the obvious I thought I would compile a list of facts on why a British cyclist is an important asset:
- The United Kingdom is the 6th largest economy in the world. 1
- Britain ranks 4st in the world for ease of doing business. 2
- The UK has seen a 25% growth rate in 2010 for bicycle imports.3
- Britain is a market of 62M million people.4
- The UK cycle market is worth 2100000000 £.5
- Britain has a projected growth of 2.3% in 2012. 6
- 16% growth in British Cycling memberships 09-107
- http://siteresources.worldbank.org/DATASTATISTICS/Resources/GDP.pdf
- http://www.doingbusiness.org/rankings
- http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/2010-sees-bicycle-imports-jump-by-almost-25/010861
- http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/tgm/table.do?tab=table&language=en&pcode=tps00001&tableSelection=1&footnotes=yes&labeling=labels&plugin=1
- http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/uk-bicycle-market-to-smash-2-billion-in-2010/09995
- http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2011/update/02/pdf/0611.pdf
- http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/zuvvi/media/bc_files/corporate/BC-ANNUAL-REPORT-2010-WEB.pdf
So where is Portugal in these statistics?
Plus I only remember of one company stating an aim to invest in Portugese cycling and guess what, it's British:
http://jornalciclismo.com/novo-patrocinador-da-team-sky-pondera-investir-em-equipa-lusa
So there you have it, just a spinet of what I have to tollerate.
Why I must change teams:
I'm not happy with this team and I don't mean the cyclists -I know them well and consider each one a friend and a few close friends.
I was left waiting unnecessarily in the sun for 30 minutes after a longer 1hr delay waiting at home. needless to say I mentioned my disgruntlement to the boss (politely) upon which he got kind of heavy; accelerating and smacking the dashboard. I am an extremely tolerant person and can take a lot of shit; too much in fact, as people take advantage. Now this type of mistake is tolerable once in a while. But incessantly? No.
My reaction was completely cold and I simply went all in. I said "You continue like this and I will stop working with you this instant". And yes, I would skip the volta, perhaps even terminate my career right now without very much thought. He cooled his tempers, but I know he's vindictive so I'm awaiting reprisal.
I think the story is a bit like the pigs in Animal Farm. Something starts out well intended and then people (pigs) get corrupted by power and projects decay. I'm Boxer in this whole story.
I have to switch teams. So any teams interested, contact me.
I was left waiting unnecessarily in the sun for 30 minutes after a longer 1hr delay waiting at home. needless to say I mentioned my disgruntlement to the boss (politely) upon which he got kind of heavy; accelerating and smacking the dashboard. I am an extremely tolerant person and can take a lot of shit; too much in fact, as people take advantage. Now this type of mistake is tolerable once in a while. But incessantly? No.
My reaction was completely cold and I simply went all in. I said "You continue like this and I will stop working with you this instant". And yes, I would skip the volta, perhaps even terminate my career right now without very much thought. He cooled his tempers, but I know he's vindictive so I'm awaiting reprisal.
I think the story is a bit like the pigs in Animal Farm. Something starts out well intended and then people (pigs) get corrupted by power and projects decay. I'm Boxer in this whole story.
I have to switch teams. So any teams interested, contact me.
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