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#135625 12/02/04 11:19 PM
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Carpal Tunnel
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ROW  LETTER  FINGER

BOT M MIDDLE
TOP I MIDDLE
BOT N INDEX
TOP I MIDDLE
BOT M MIDDLE
TOP U INDEX
BOT M MIDDLE


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Main Entry: peloton
Definition: in cycling, a densely packed group of riders who stay together for mutual advantage
Etymology: French `ball, heap'

If I tried to ride in a densely packed group we would definitely wind up in a heap.



#135627 12/03/04 01:21 AM
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Very, very interesting. So it can be grouped in threes by noticing the finger used, and it can be grouped in twos by noticing the row. I like it.


Some people say camping is boring. I say it's in tents.

#135628 12/03/04 12:57 PM
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Carpal Tunnel
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Faldo:

While you may use your middle finger to type an m, the correct finger to use is the right index finger:

http://www.crews.org/curriculum/ex/compsci/keyboarding/questions.htm#keyboard



TEd
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If I tried to ride in a densely packed group we would definitely wind up in a heap

It's not so bad if you end up on top of the heap, Zed ... without the peloton on top of you.

[In Europe, that would be a "pelotonne", I assume.]




#135630 12/03/04 10:23 PM
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the correct finger to use is the right index finger

See, just goes to show. Question Authority, or else.


#135631 12/03/04 10:29 PM
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from French, peloton, platoon, ball, from Middle French, ball


#135632 12/05/04 03:06 AM
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"peloton" ??? [7th position]

I’m probably stating the painfully obvious here, but, no doubt, ‘peloton’ came in seventh due to the fact that Lance Armstrong, an American, won the Tour de France (TdF) for a sixth time, breaking the standing record of five wins held by Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Induráin. Since professional cycling is not valued highly by the majority of Americans, most are not familiar with cycling’s terms. Armstrong’s fifth win was big, but his attempt at a sixth win pushed professional cycling into the consciousness of more Americans than ever before: thus the interest in the word ‘peloton.’


Definition: in cycling, a densely packed group of riders who stay together for mutual advantage

'Peloton' is indeed “a densely packed group of riders who stay together for mutual advantage.” The word, however, is not used only to refer to the riders of the TdF. In the English-speaking cycling world, ‘peloton’ is used to describe riders grouped together in any professional road race. Amateur cyclists also use the word to refer to any large group of cyclist riding together in training rides, rallies, or races.

‘Pro peloton’ refers to all professional road cyclists, especially those who race in Europe, whether they are racing at the time or not.


If I tried to ride in a densely packed group we would definitely wind up in a heap.

Riding in a peloton can indeed be unnerving, especially if there are a bunch of beginners in it. Riding in a peloton of experienced cyclists is actually fairly comfortable. That’s not to say, however, if one rider goes down, especially at the front, he or she won’t take the majority of the peloton down too. If you are unlucky enough to be in the middle of a fast group, and someone up front goes down, there is almost nothing you can do to avoid wrecking – and bikes don’t have crumple zones. Bones seem to crumple (so to speak) fairly easily though.



#135633 12/05/04 12:07 PM
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If you are unlucky enough to be in the middle of a fast group, and someone up front goes down, there is almost nothing you can do to avoid wrecking

Wonder what the advantage is of riding in a peloton, Dgeigh?

There can't be much of a slip stream effect as there is in car racing because the peloton is not a solid mass at the leading edge of the wedge.

No doubt, it is harder to pass a peloton than a single cyclist, but, on the other hand, if you are inside the peloton it's harder to get out of it to break away. I take it this latter consideration is not really a problem because the peloton is actually a 'team' and they would cooperate with anyone inside the 'heap' wishing to break out.

Perhaps it is just moral support or pacing control. Long distance runners run with friendly pacers to keep them on their mark. Interesting phenomenon suggestive of Canadian Geese flying in a "V", in any event.

Aha! Here we have the answer -- not a "V", but an "X":

"Peloton Strategy: "X" marks the spot"

http://www.active.com/story.cfm?story_id=9720


#135634 12/05/04 01:24 PM
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Actually it is the slip stream effect. I've never actually ridden in a peloton, but I have ridden many a mile with other riders and indeed it is easier to pedal when tailgating another rider than it is to pedal while riding alone.

I used to ride with a pretty lady named Glenna, and while I did my share of infront miles it was a lot more fun to be riding right behind her. Awesome view!

And apparently the effect is much greater in a peloton. I have carefully watched closed course races and seen that in the peloton there is a constant flow of riders from the back to the front of the pack. Those at the front get tired and drop all the way to the back, so everyone gets a turn in the lead.

The TdF is actually a team event with individual rider prizes; one of the grand strategies is for a team to "protect" its strongest rider by forming a peloton in front of him and letting him preserve his strength for the dash to the finish line.



TEd
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