OT: Tour de France started this morning
- Thread starter zoby
- Start date
Low US ratings will do that. When Armstrong was racing, US TV ratings were over 600k a day. They fell to 300k a day after the retirement. No US riders have been doing well at all the last years. Time to roll out Lance lol
I was shocked to see Armstrong on the tour coverage so far this year as I figured he'd at least have to do a few more years penance before anyone would give him time - ash..... is probably right. Plus with only 4 American riders in the tour, that can't help. Back to Lance, a friend of mine suggested Betsy Andreau be given equal time :) I'll admit to listening to his podcast a few times last year and thought he and George were pretty good.
And I agree with the previous poster (WB?) that Bob Roll is doing a really job in the sorely missed Paul Sherwen seat.
That finish to yesterday's stage was as difficult as any one I can remember and I've been watching since the Greg LeMond days. 24% gradient at the end, even for a relatively short distance, is just insane.
There are other Rutgers fans who watch the TdF? I’m all in! I started watching during the the Lance years and love the sheer magnitude of the event, the weird traditions, the team/individual interplay, etc. Hate the doping scandals but it’s still an amazing race.
I hope there are more than just us! We need to keep this thread going.
Like someone said in a previous post, going to Paris and seeing the finish is in the bucket list.
I ride one day events out here in CA and can’t imagine riding another 100 miles the next day and the next day and so on. Riding the 100 is just as much mental as it is physical. The guys that ride the tour are tough.
I ride one day events out here in CA and can’t imagine riding another 100 miles the next day and the next day and so on. Riding the 100 is just as much mental as it is physical. The guys that ride the tour are tough.
What kind of bike does everyone here ride? Got my first "10 speed" Schwinn La Tour, my senior year at Rutgers [1975] when a judge took away my drivers license for breaking about 7 laws riding my Indian motorcycle. Said he would throw me in Rahway if he caught me driving in New Jersey. Next was a steel Bianchi [with of course down tube shifters] which I rode for 34 years til I got hit by SUV. Now I have a steel Bianchi Vigorelli. 105s work perfectly for me. Ride about 3500 miles ayear. Enjoy group rides on the weekend. Sometimes 10 people show up, sometimes 50. Can still spin 50 miles in a peloton going 20 -22 mph.
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Trek 5000 the first of their OCLV carbon fiber frames. Have changed components over the years and newer Mavic wheels. Got rid of the standard road handle bars and raised them as well for a much more comfortable ride.
Work weekends so most rides are solo. Advantage riding solo about is I can change route on the fly. Downside is I'm out front pulling the whole way.
At 1,200 mile so far this year. Have no target for miles this year's but have several long rides (60miles +) I like to get done. Rode around Saratoga and up to Saratoga National Park this week. They have an 11 mile road loop with great views. (don't let the 9 mile sign fool you, it's longer and hilly).
'83 or '84 Celeste Bianchi Alloro. Swapped out most of the components for a friend's Shimano 600 stuff several years ago. Bike is not light but it looks great and rides so well, I can't part with it.
Speaking of weird traditions, I noticed awhile ago that bike racers rarely have tattoos. I still haven't seen one this year. This week I noticed that I dont see tats on spectators either - at least not on the non-urban roads
Hmm - never noticed that but you’re right. Not aerodynamic? The ink is too heavy? They get destroyed by road rash? Haha
I have follower the TDF since Greg LeMond years and more so during the Lance years. I LOVE the visuals with the beautiful small towns. During the LA years I lived in the UK & followed by van a few years...watching finishes then getting to the next finish town in time to get the free food samples, wine and chocolates they give out in advance of each venue finish. On some of the mountain finishes I would park my campervan near the end to see the contenders struggling UP the huge inclines,,,it was amazing.
Think about it,,,+/- 21/23 days.....in July.....2,000+ miles.... UP HILL
I would HAVE to have major drugs...just to finish
Think about it,,,+/- 21/23 days.....in July.....2,000+ miles.... UP HILL
I would HAVE to have major drugs...just to finish
zoby,
Nice bike. Celeste is the best bike color ever, imo. I still have the same style pump that yours has, came with the bike, still works well, Celeste color, Bianchi shield in gold on it. Impero might be the brand.
Nice bike. Celeste is the best bike color ever, imo. I still have the same style pump that yours has, came with the bike, still works well, Celeste color, Bianchi shield in gold on it. Impero might be the brand.
About a year ago, I changed the saddle. Now have a Brooks Swift. Love it. Added a quarter pound of weight, but lost I 10 pounds in the next two months.
Wout van Aert, while leading in the Individual Time Trails, crashes and is out of the race!
Wout van Aert, while leading in the Individual Time Trails, crashes and is out of the race!
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First, Bob Roll is doing a fine job.. but I do miss Paul Sherwen, (RIP)
sorry, I hate seeing Armstrong...and just fast forward past it.........
sorry, I hate seeing Armstrong...and just fast forward past it.........
I mentioned Bob Roll earlier and he has been great. But Paul Scherwen is very missed and Roll would be the first to say it.
I expect a big tribute by the NBCSports on the lead into Paris.
Apparently this happened both last year and this year. Videos of at least those two are on youtube.
Part of yesterday's interview with Bradley Wiggins during Stage 16 cracked me up. He was talking about what an interesting tour this has been so far this year and, when asked about what it was like when Sky was winning the tour year after year after year, he basically said he didn't give a crap how boring it was as long as they were winning.
It's been a seriously hot last two days. Will be an interesting 3 days starting tomorrow.
It's been a seriously hot last two days. Will be an interesting 3 days starting tomorrow.
Tomorrow is the day.
What has helped him is that his main rival and last year's TDF champ Geraint Thomas has had 3 major falls this year. Two in the TDF with one recently.
Neither should have. Late stage, hot as balls and a minor incident. BS
I can't imagine riding in weather like that. They postponed the BMX World Championships in Belgium for heat.
Agree - I love to descend (although I’ve never tried huge mountains like that) and I was holding my breath each time he approached a corner.
Wow- controversy today. Yellow jersey changes. Stage stopped early. Snow, hail. Enjoying the fact we are through so many stages and there is no Froome to have it locked up already.
Wow is right. One day 108 degrees, next day, stage stopped because of snow and hail. And yellow jersey changes. Something to argue about for the next 20 years!
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