If they are so much more talented at running, how come they suck at Cycling?
If they are so much more talented at running, how come they suck at Cycling?
not every good swimmers either.
apparently, it's all to do with something called genetics.
Yeah they suck at Skiing too.
Cost of running (barefoot): $0
Cost of cycling: $Lots of money$
Kenya's Economy: Crap
It's a funny thing, that dollar sign.
so why are they so crap at Swimming?$$$$$$$$
World expert on Genetics wrote:
so why are they so crap at Swimming?$$$$$$$$
Hmmm, deserts are tough places to build pools.
How many Africans live in a desert? not many
As has been posted it is all about the cost of the sports. To be serious about cycling you need some serious money, and I would include middle class Americans as people having serious money.
I would say that less than 10% of the world have the oppotunity to compete in cycling, golf, football, swimming and many other sports.
Spyware? wrote:
It's a funny thing, that dollar sign.
Fine...then why aren't they any good at polo, smart guy?
Cycling in Africa is like tiger hunting in Texas. Straight up out of place.
Ah! I see. Kenyans can't afford bicycles.
It's more a power event, all talk of stamina aside.
There are many excelent South African cyclists. They are white but there still African.
Why was the movie Cool Runnings so funny? Maybe we should make a 'Cool Runnings 2' about a Kenyan bike team, or maybe about American Distance runners.
Cycling is as much equipment-required sport as it is endurance. Give the Africans the equipment needed for the training and then make your judgement. Until then don't generalize.
Are bikes really that expensive? I got a decent one for $150 at WalMart
Freddy Murks wrote:
Are bikes really that expensive? I got a decent one for $150 at WalMart
you got ripped off. i bought 2: $89 and another for $99. don't look back lance.
Biking - you need some type of facilities or at least some very good roads.
Swimming - you NEED good facilities period. one can get good at swimming by using a lake, but it is not the same as doing laps in a climate controlled pool.
the above are expensive sports...
running - all you need is a descent road or better yet some really good trails. Some hilly terrain and a large flat field where timed intervals can be done. finding a hill for repeats should not be hard. making a 440 yard dirt track is easy too. the kenyans, ethiopians and the tanzanians have done it and were doing it in the 60's and 70's before facilities were probably built in their homeland.
also, now both ethiopia and kenya have some great facilities spread throughout their countries...
furhtermore, training for long distance events in running costs next too nothing (shoes and clothing, but that can be found at a low cost). also, trails and hills are there by nature and it does cost much to make a 2 or 3 lane dirt 440 yard track.
that is my piece on this issue... some of the immature and ignorant posters on this board will probably criticize me, but i know there will be some that will agree (those who have REAL knowledge of distance running/training)...
There are no roads in Kenya???? Man, that sucks.
there are some good roads in kenya, but they are in the major cities and there are not too many in the remote areas that would be considered SAFE for serious cycling. here in NJ - you have the roads in and around the swamp and many country roads out in Morris, Hunterdon, Warren, Somerset, Union and almost every county for that matter that are safe for serious cycling... probably most of essex, part of bergen and all of hudson counties are way too congested.
those are the roads i am talking about - country roads that are in great shape. not much traffic and not extremely remote.