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Replies: 15
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All-In [38592]
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Tour de France
Jun 28, 2021, 3:38 PM
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Help for the few who don't quite understand it --
I understand watching 180 of the World's best athletes on TV in spandex is not for all (Bob?).
Like with most sports there is a learning curve for us spectators (like with soccer).
Every year I look forward to it to get me through July. I am not a biker. I have owned $$ carbon fiber bikes and won Bi-biathlons in the geezer division --> but did that due to running. I am a pi$$ poor biker.
It is a TEAM event. These guys have mental and physical ability beyond most. They put more hours into training than any sport I can think of. The best (all of these guys) make a good living at it.
Few are there to win overall. The team supports one guy and will quickly sacrifice themselves for him.
Within the race are many different races going on, not just the overall. There is excitement in most every mile.
Muscle guys with fast twitch will hope to show out on stages with a sprint finish -> incredible what they can do. Slow twitch guys will do incredible things in the mountains. Many different types of athletes are here, just like on a Tiger Football team.
Merely going out day after day and hanging with maybe the best athletes in the world is an accomplishment few can do. Unlike most sports, you have to go day after day after day at a "high level". The physical and mental aspect is off the chart. Making it to Paris is a dream. Just refueling each day is a job.
It is high teck, those bikes cost around $15K. Every beat of a heart is recorded now, and a team will rest a guy for a day if needed.
More will break bones in any year than the last ten years in say NASCAR.
Tour de France is an incredible event. These are incredible athletes.
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Heisman Winner [134484]
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wonder what was on the sign that caused all of the
Jun 28, 2021, 3:44 PM
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trouble.
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All-In [38592]
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Re: wonder what was on the sign that caused all of the
Jun 28, 2021, 3:53 PM
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As this event may have more spectators than any other, it is amazing how rare this is.
No other event of this importance has spectators as close to the athletes. They have 24000 cops and spend months with messages educating fans along the routes. Cars go ahead with speakers to warn fans back.
Part of the appeal is the great fan interaction, but idiots do show.
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CU Medallion [64590]
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Allez Opi-Omi!
Jun 28, 2021, 4:56 PM
[ in reply to wonder what was on the sign that caused all of the ] |
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which is a mix of French and German and loosely translates to "Come on granddad-granny".
The girl holding the sign was looking at the TV camera and didn't see the riders rapidly approaching her from behind and the rider had no way to avoid her and went down after crashing into her arm taking a whole lot of other riders with him. A total of 26 riders were injured.
There was actually a second pile-up that occurred just a few kilometers short of the finish line that took out a few more riders.
Rough start.
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All-TigerNet [10782]
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Re: Allez Opi-Omi!
Jun 28, 2021, 10:05 PM
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thanks for the update and explanation.
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All-In [38592]
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Re: Tour de France
Jun 28, 2021, 4:13 PM
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Fans like to be close
My first Boston Marathon was in '83 (2:44). Back then you needed under 2:50 to get a ticket. There were less than 5000 runners, all were better than me. The great Joan Benoit (my favorite runner) set a World Record.
On Beacon Street (22-25 miles) the crowd was uncontrolled.
Bars are open and fans are allowed to go in and out with booze. It is a legal holiday in Boston even schools close. They are the best fans, and some of the most knowledgeable fans I have experienced. The race has been going by them all their lives. It is a great experience that will break your ear drums.
On Beacon that year fans were in the street and it was one lane for runners. To pass someone who was dying off, you had to push folks aside. I think it would have been difficult (scary) to quit on Beacon. They would have picked you up and carried you in.
Here is Joan today --
Message was edited by: tugalooriver®
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Letterman [282]
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Re: Tour de France
Jun 28, 2021, 4:37 PM
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I'm an avid cyclist so I too watch the Tour religiously. Although they may look frail and sissified in their spandex, they are some of the toughest athletes out there. 2000+ miles in 21 days is unbelievable, especially at the level they do it.
Most don't realize how fit these guys are. The best local athlete you know couldn't hang with those guys for 1 day on the flats, much less a mountain day. They're averaging 26-29 mph for 125 miles.... I do good to average 17 on a 30 mile ride.
My upcoming ride for alzheimers fundraising is 250 miles in 3 days. Many folks are astonished at that feat (I do not look athletic in any manner). The pros could do it in a day, at a much faster pace.
Getting on a bicycle makes one appreciate just how good those guys are.
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All-In [36409]
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Still pretty Soy in my book
Jun 28, 2021, 5:36 PM
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Let one of those coddled, bike boys come sit thru 80 plus hours a week of Powerpoint decks and Zoom calls and not put on a single pound or be ready to conduct a mass shooting after dealing with sociopaths in corp America.
I would gladly trade my work existence with them.
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Oculus Spirit [76963]
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Re: Still pretty Soy in my book
Jun 28, 2021, 10:15 PM
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Not often to you post something I dislike, but regardless of my feelings on the sport/event, this was a #### funny post. Plus one!
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All-TigerNet [10639]
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Re: Tour de France
Jun 28, 2021, 5:51 PM
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Exactly right Tugaloo ..... I am a cyclist, but don't ride competitively. I used to do the Greenville Spinners time trials at Donaldson, but once I did the 10 miles in 30 minutes (20mph average) I asked myself why I was torturing myself and don't do them anymore.
However, absolutely despise those morons that hold out signs into the roadway like the lady did yesterday wile posing for a camera, or like to run beside the bikes when they are climbing or otherwise interfere with the cyclists. I loved it several years ago when some moron in doctors scrubs tried to run beside on the the guys that was accused of doping. The cyclist delivered a beautiful right hook and dispatched of the dood!
Message was edited by: TigerLinks®
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Hall of Famer [22331]
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Yes, I enjoy it too, for several reasons. One of my best friends
Jun 28, 2021, 6:21 PM
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is a serious cyclist... as in, he'd do the Mount Mitchell Assault in his younger days. I can remember him building/modifying his bikes in the 80s... ordering parts from Italy out of a magazine and talking about how much lighter they were. Saved a pound here, 6 ounces there, etc. It was all over my head. He's my age (64) and still rides all the time. Blows my mind... we'll be talking on the phone and he'll say - Oh, I rode up to Caesar's Head and back. I ask when... "this morning". JFC.
The other reason I love to watch is the scenery. Just incredible. And the history of some of those villages... the stone houses/farms that people still live in today, and you can tell they're like 500 years old or something. Freaking castles and chit. Amazing.
It's taken him many years to explain all the intricate strategies involved......
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CU Guru [1215]
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Re: Tour de France
Jun 28, 2021, 9:55 PM
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when i hit a climb my garmin thinks i have paused .
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Heisman Winner [111617]
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I used to have a bike.
Jun 28, 2021, 10:11 PM
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I preferred to ride my bike downhill. It had 12 gears, but I only used 3 of them. A homeless guy stole my bike from outside a bar by the beach.
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Oculus Spirit [76963]
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Re: I used to have a bike.
Jun 28, 2021, 10:20 PM
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Have you ever seen those bait bike operations? Ah man, the best one I ever saw was when they electrified this 10 speed. This poor “working girl” hopped on and just when she thought she had gotten away the juice kicked in and fried her like a mozzarella stick. That was awesome.
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Heisman Winner [111617]
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no
Jun 28, 2021, 10:37 PM
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do you have instructions on how to make one of these?
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Oculus Spirit [76963]
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Joined: 12/1/18
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Re: no
Jun 28, 2021, 10:46 PM
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T-mail me...
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