Professional Cycling For the Fans - What a drop off in activity since Lance is gone!

I knew there would be fewer people here but I had no idea it would be this severe. Wow.

Yep....was predicted.


No surprises.

Thats ok, Id rather have cycling fans on here than Lancerbators

"Dood, wassup with his one donwtube shifter???"

My sponsor/shop told me that they are looking at around a 12% drop in business over last year at this time. Is it the 'Lance' effect or is it the fact that interest rates are rising and the economy isn't so rosy for those of us not in that special 1%?

LANCE IS THE GREATEST ATHLETE OF ALL TIME. Even better (WAY better) than the man in my signature.

LANCE IS THE GREATEST ATHLETE OF ALL TIME. Even better (WAY better) than the man in my signature.

wow, a yank with a sence of humor! :D

wow, a yank with a sence of humor! :D
Hey, I try.

I'm wondering how many of those Lance-lovin' wannabe's will soon sell their top of the line garage ornaments??? CraigsList, eBay...look out!

wow, a yank with a sence of humor! :D


I don't believe it.

Nah. My dropoff is due to the fact that everyone eliminated the night before the race were the key riders that were guaranteed to give us the most exciting tour in years. Instead, we have a "meh" tour with some greats, but this whole suspension crap the night before the tour is bogus. I just have less interest than before the announcement. Before that, I was all set to tivo and burn dvds. :(

Koffee

It is still way early in the tour...
I bet activity will perk up as we hit the mountains.

It is still way early in the tour...
I bet activity will perk up as we hit the mountains.


Cadel Evans.

Flying.

Listen to the OLN coverage feels like lance is still there.

There should be a drinking game (shot every time Lance's name is mentioned). He's still the most uttered name in the broadcast.

That would be worse than the old "Hi Bob" game I played back in the day.

Everyone would be crawling on the floor telling everyone they bumped into "I love you man" drunk within the first half hour.

The only competition might be drinking every time we saw Enzyte's Bob. :)



:beer:

The only competition might be drinking every time we saw Enzyte's Bob. :)

:beer:
Speaking of which, I don't think the commercials are as good as last year. I kinda miss the guy trying to get an interview with Levi, and the kidnapper trying to make the guy talk by calling the Department of Motor Vehicles on his victim's cell phone. I don't miss that idiot taking her special cake in to AOL, though...

[QUOTE=jslopez]Listen to the OLN coverage feels like lance is still there. [QUOTE]

I totally agree, and it's a bit annoying. But whatever they need to do to keep the ratings up so we even get to watch is fine with me.

Nah. My dropoff is due to the fact that everyone eliminated the night before the race were the key riders that were guaranteed to give us the most exciting tour in years. Instead, we have a "meh" tour with some greats, but this whole suspension crap the night before the tour is bogus. I just have less interest than before the announcement. Before that, I was all set to tivo and burn dvds. :(

Koffee

I was all set for a Basso vs. Jan slugfest...

Yeah. The race sucks now :rolleyes:

I don't believe it.
Come on now.

I'm awesome.

My sponsor/shop told me that they are looking at around a 12% drop in business over last year at this time. Is it the 'Lance' effect or is it the fact that interest rates are rising and the economy isn't so rosy for those of us not in that special 1%?

Really?

Where we are, we are at record sales. We cannot build bikes fast enough.

Nah. My dropoff is due to the fact that everyone eliminated the night before the race were the key riders that were guaranteed to give us the most exciting tour in years. Instead, we have a "meh" tour with some greats, but this whole suspension crap the night before the tour is bogus. I just have less interest than before the announcement. Before that, I was all set to tivo and burn dvds. :(

Koffee

My overseas cycling friends agree with you. Between the elimination of three major contendors and the "final four" of the World Cup all being European countries, the TdF is struggling a bit "over there" as well, per my Belgian friends.

I knew there would be fewer people here but I had no idea it would be this severe. Wow.

It wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that three big contendors for the race were eliminated before it even started, does it?

Or does your "Lanceenvy" continue...;)

I have only been following racing for a few years but I do enjoy it even w/o Lance. :) The interest will pick up by stage 8 TT and when they hit the mountains where more strategy is needed. I see more roadies now than ever. Lance pulled a lot of people off of mountain bikes, comfort bikes, and hybrids and put them on road bikes w/ kits. He's been good for business.

Nah. My dropoff is due to the fact that everyone eliminated the night before the race were the key riders that were guaranteed to give us the most exciting tour in years.
It's interesting to note how different views we can have on this. I understand your point of view, but I regard what happened totally different. For me, it's really satisfying that the sport is finally taking the doping problem seriously and pulling riders out of the race no matter who they are. I have no illusions about all the remaining racers being clean, but what has happened this year is a powerful signal. For me, THIS may be the most exciting tour in years.

For me, it's really satisfying that the sport is finally taking the doping problem seriously and pulling riders out of the race no matter who they are. I have no illusions about all the remaining racers being clean, but what has happened this year is a powerful signal. For me, THIS may be the most exciting tour in years.

I'm not saying it's a bad thing. Just that all the buildup... has resulted in neither one even turning a pedal.

At least an American (or three) has a shot now. Perhaps that will make me more interested.

It wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that three big contendors for the race were eliminated before it even started, does it?

Or does your "Lanceenvy" continue...;)

No, it has more to do with Lancy being gone. A whole ton o' people decided right after Lance hoisted his last trophy that they had no need to watch anymore.

Lanceenvy? It was like Lance annoyence.

It's interesting to note how different views we can have on this. I understand your point of view, but I regard what happened totally different. For me, it's really satisfying that the sport is finally taking the doping problem seriously and pulling riders out of the race no matter who they are. I have no illusions about all the remaining racers being clean, but what has happened this year is a powerful signal. For me, THIS may be the most exciting tour in years.

While I can hope this is the case. I miss the Jan Ivan duel. Even if I thought George had a chance with them there. I'm a vey poor spectator, but at least I'm interested in it a little.

Joe
:beer:

I am happy that Armstrong is not in it anymore. I also think it is great that they got rid of the cheaters, if they really are.

Now that Armstrong is not in it anymore the tour is interesting for the rest of the world. For me I am actually watching the tour again daily instead of just reading about it. The tour is exiting now.

I enjoy any bike race regardless of who is in it. I love watching the break aways and seeing if they can last. I love watching the sprints during the race for points and at the end. I love waiting to see what the strategy play will be in each leg. I do hate the crashes and today was a bad day for a lot of good riders. All I know is I still can't wait to watch every day, and it provides me even more incentive to get on my bike and ride.

I've been enjoying this year's tour de france very much. I think today's and yesterday's finish have been very exciting with Kessler going on the late break. I think if you love watching racing, this year's race is awesome. Although, i was sad to see Valverde dropping out today. I wanted to see how the new raw talent do at this year's tour.

I've been enjoying it too. It's certainly been whacky so far - Hincapie losing prolouge by mircoseconds, Thor's camera crash, Landis's flat tire, Boonen and McEwen's great sprinting. It seems every day has had interesting things happen. Not that I want to see guys crashing out, but it's interesting for sure!

I couldn't find the TDF forum! It was moved out of road cycling, so I thought the mods just killed it off.

Yea - I thought that too! "Doping even killed off the TdF thread" :eek: :)


I couldn't find the TDF forum! It was moved out of road cycling, so I thought the mods just killed it off.

Initially I did lose interest. I am watching stages because I love cycling. I am confident that new names will rise to make the TDF as interesting as ever. For instance, Kessler of T-mobile. I have enjoyed watching him "take on the world."

Listen to the OLN coverage feels like lance is still there.

There should be a drinking game (shot every time Lance's name is mentioned). He's still the most uttered name in the broadcast.

I swear Bob Roll IS playing that game. I KNEW I heard him slur the other night. :p

You maybe too young to know this, but Cassius Clay (mohammad ali) was a draft dodger.

NFields

I swear Bob Roll IS playing that game. I KNEW I heard him slur the other night. :p

Isn't there something wrong with being a commentator for the TDF and being a paid spokesman for Trek?

i.e. Bob Roll aka Bobke

He was a conscientious objector, and was willing to goto prison for his beliefs. Bit different than a dodger, and has nothing to do with his abilities in the ring.

He was a conscientious objector, and was willing to goto prison for his beliefs. Bit different than a dodger, and has nothing to do with his abilities in the ring.
Fair enough, my opinion was formed as a youngster by my father who was a WW2 war veteran.

Sincerely,
NFields

Indeed a WWII vet would see it that way. The world seemed much simpler back then.

I think it has more to do with the tour being shattered by doping... all the interesting ones are out.


Yep....was predicted.


No surprises.

Fair enough, my opinion was formed as a youngster by my father who was a WW2 war veteran.

Sincerely,
NFields

I got lucky. My father gave me the facts and let me form my own opinion. It has to do with his respect for me.

Koffee

You maybe too young to know this, but Cassius Clay (mohammad ali) was a draft dodger.

NFields
Someone already corrected you. And even if he did dodge the draft (he didn't), he would still be one of the greatest athletes to ever walk this earth. Lance isn't fit to wash Ali's jock.

edit: Assuming you were talking to me, your comments may be a bit presumptuous, don't you think? How young do you think I am? I have forgotten more about Muhammad, his career, and boxing in general than you will ever know.

I'm 49 now, but had a very abusive childhood, broken bones, the works. I admiried Muhammed Ali, his confidence, his sassyness, his precise boxing skills. I wanted to be like him. He helped be survive and become a tough, confident adult. Anyway, that's my Ali story...

While it has been dissappointing to see my top three picks eliminated (two by scandal before the race started and one by crash and injury today), I have been and will continue to be glued to my set every day watching the tour. Whoever is in there is going to give it their all and more to try to win. While I enjoyed and was occasionally thrilled by Lance's rise, fall, resurection and reign, I'm glad to see his era end. It was never all about any one rider. It's the tour.
I think it is shaping up to be a great race.

Now the big Questions :

If Mr Hincapie does the improbable and wins ( but we all know Cadel Evans is going to take it right ;) ) Will the American public give a hoot? will he even be recognised as American by a largley cycling ignorant public with a non Southern Fried Steak name like Lance Armstrong?

Now the big Questions :

If Mr Hincapie does the improbable and wins ( but we all know Cadel Evans is going to take it right ;) ) Will the American public give a hoot? will he even be recognised as American by a largley cycling ignorant public with a non Southern Fried Steak name like Lance Armstrong?


Brief story....

After Lance won in 1999, I was attending an awards banquet/ceremony honoring athletes of various disciplines...among the ones being honored were the Women's Olympic Hockey Team, the Women's Soccer World Cup team, some skiers, a snowboarder, and Lance. There were others...I've forgotten.

As a sponsor, we were invited to a private party after the event with the honorees...and I stood and talked to Lance for about 15 minutes and nobody was paying any attention. His story was really just unfolding...and the snowboarder won the award...

Point...if you were not a cycling fan in 1999, few really took note of Lance's win. As few took note of Lemond's first win. But as time unfolds, we tend to think that the way it is, is the way it's always been.

In 1999, barely anyone noticed. It was not until 2001, that OLN started showing the tons of TdF coverage they do now. Once he got closer to the record, more coverage, shows...it was in 2001 that Nike did "The Road to Paris" special.

People will take note, sort of like how they took note of the women's soccer team winning a world cup...I think it will build...if he can hang in there, coverage will pick up. But then we will be subjected to the overweight smoking sportswriters writing about how cycling's not a sport and cyclists are not athletes...

I knew there would be fewer people here but I had no idea it would be this severe. Wow.

In my mind, it was predictable, but not an indication of cycling interest. Lance is like the Yankees. They both create lot's of emotion. Many more people either love them or hate them, than the average pro. Such emotion causes more people to make comments and just as many people with an opposite opinion to react. This is simply human nature. Not much emotion over riders who are not dominating the sport.

I think cycling interest is as high as ever in the states, at least if the number of cyclists I see on the road is any indication. It's certainly more than ever in my area.

http://i.eurosport.com/2006/06/24/290725-1212041-458-238.jpg
no comment.