Professional Cycling For the Fans - Floyd's Stage 17 was the equivalent of....

I say a football team scoring a touchdown on every possession.

what would you compare it to?

I would compare it to the way Vince Young took over this years Rose Bowl. Something that is isn't supposed to happen...

Golf: Leading a major after 2 rounds, then losing 12 strokes in the 3rd round to fall out of contention, then shooting 15 under in the 4th round to move back to within 1 stroke heading to the 18th tee.

Golf: Leading a major after 2 rounds, then losing 12 strokes in the 3rd round to fall out of contention, then shooting 15 under in the 4th round to move back to within 1 stroke heading to the 18th tee.

i think comparing golf to the toughest PHYSICAL sport on the planet is quite a stretch :eek: .

ed rader

I think it's a good comparison actually. Though the sports are very different to perform they both have easily measurable gaps between the contestants. I'm no PGA historian so I don't know if it's ever happened but the scenario above would be comparable, IMO.

Btw isn't the schtick of belittling other sports in an attempt to aggrandise cycling a bit overworn? We're all cycling fans here and speaking for myself, I've seen/heard way too many commentators belittle cycling in favor of _______ "mainstream" sport to think that trying the reverse is productive.

I admire anyone who can go out and compete in an athletic event at a high level on a consistent basis.


:beer:

i think comparing golf to the toughest PHYSICAL sport on the planet is quite a stretch :eek: .

ed rader

I hate golf. Never have played or watched. I know the basics, and think Pizza's analogy is pretty good.

Richard

I hate golf. Never have played or watched. I know the basics, and think Pizza's analogy is pretty good.

Richard

Me too.:)

Stage 16 was throwing away a 6-0 lead in the botom of the 9th in game 5 of the World Series while up 3-2.
Stage 17 was throwing a perfect game while hiting 4 homers in game 6.
Stage 19 will be game 7.
GO FLOYD!!!
Top

It was the equivalent of the US olympic hockey team beating the Russians in 1980.

Doug Fluties hail mary to top Miami.

Me too.:)
me three - that exact same golf tournament analogy is what i came up with ('imagine tiger woods at the master's, british open, etc.') to explain what happened to non-cyclist sports fans......

It was the result of a man not deterred in the face of failure, criticism, and hopelessness.
It was the result of dedication, hardwork, and pure determination.
It was the result of Floyd "come get sum, how ya like me now, where is everyone ?!?" freaking Landis !!!

Red Sox coming from 3 down to beat the Yankees in 4 straight.
Buffalo Bills coming back from being down 35-3 to start the second half against the Houston Oilers.
I am sure there are a lot of great comebacks in sports and this has to rank with the best of them.
As far as Individual efforts, I cannot think of any that are bigger.
Kenal0

to keep with the thread-
It was like when my Tampa Bay Bucs won the superbowl

It was like getting your bestest christmas present ever and not even being able to get the words out to express your joy! :D

Go Floyd!

Koffee

it was him finally not being a *****. If he would of took control a week in half ago he would of never been in that situation. it was impressive but i think most of it is just media hype to finally give this tour a face and a story. they need a new lance. the hip thing is a nice touch. also how many pulls did he get off his team car with all that water bottle bs, when is that considered cheating

I would say that it was Whiskey compared to wine. Heavy Metal compared to Britney Spears pop music. More of a Braveheart type battle compared to an athletic event.

Gonna be a hell of a time trial....C'mon FLOYD!!!!!!!!

Golf: Leading a major after 2 rounds, then losing 12 strokes in the 3rd round to fall out of contention, then shooting 15 under in the 4th round to move back to within 1 stroke heading to the 18th tee.
Good analogy here Pizza Man. From the heights to the depths of despair, then rising from the ashes to conquer adversity...brilliant dude.

Cheers,

Brian

Climbing to the peak of Mt. Everest, getting hit by lightening and falling into cravace, then sprouting wings and flying above the clouds :)

i think comparing golf to the toughest PHYSICAL sport on the planet is quite a stretch :eek: .

ed rader
It's snobby, elitist responses like this that make me realize what jerks a lot of cyclists are.

The Red Sox coming back in game 4 of the ALCS against the Yankees

it was him finally not being a *****. If he would of took control a week in half ago he would of never been in that situation. it was impressive but i think most of it is just media hype to finally give this tour a face and a story. they need a new lance. the hip thing is a nice touch. also how many pulls did he get off his team car with all that water bottle bs, when is that considered cheating

I disagree. His team was NOT strong enough to have gone all out earlier. I think giving 29 minutes to Pereiro was his only option. Did you see how outside of Merckx, no one was able to give Landis much help in ANY stage? Makes what he did even more amazing.

His team was NOT strong enough to have gone all out earlier. I think giving 29 minutes to Pereiro was his only option. Did you see how outside of Merckx, no one was able to give Landis much help in ANY stage? Makes what he did even more amazing.

I agree. We NEVER saw any Phonak rider other than Merckx with Landis after any splintering of the peloton.

Phonak was kind of the "anti-blue train", compared to Lance's support in prior years.

i think comparing golf to the toughest PHYSICAL sport on the planet is quite a stretch :eek: .

ed rader

Cross-country ski racing and Water Polo are actaully more physically demanding sports that bicycle racing. The best players at the top of those sports usually also have higher max VO2's.

it was him finally not being a *****. If he would of took control a week in half ago he would of never been in that situation. it was impressive but i think most of it is just media hype to finally give this tour a face and a story. they need a new lance. the hip thing is a nice touch. also how many pulls did he get off his team car with all that water bottle bs, when is that considered cheating

I fail to see how his giving away the yellow jersey to the 30 minute breakaway had anything to do with his massive solo effort on Thursday. Sure, he was down 8.08 to Perreiro, but he was down a whole lot of time to a whole lot of other people too that weren't in that breakway. He cracked on a climb and got passed by pretty much everybody, and the next day pulled off an amazing feat. I don't necessarily think that was "media hype" regarding their coverage of his amazing breakaway on Thursday. That was an testament to what a man who refuses to give up can accomplish. If Hollywood made a movie with a stage like that, would anybody believe it?

Climbing to the peak of Mt. Everest, getting hit by lightening and falling into cravace, then sprouting wings and flying above the clouds :)

Touching the Void (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060730552/sr=8-2/qid=1153612664/ref=pd_bbs_2/002-8478097-9710416?ie=UTF8). It wasn't Mt. Everest, but they climbed to the top, one fell, broke his leg, fell into a crevasse, was left for dead, and still somehow crawled out. Was actually made into a movie a year or two ago. Apparently the two climbers are still friends. I'm not sure "friend" is the term I'd be using to describe a man who left me to die.

Touching the Void (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060730552/sr=8-2/qid=1153612664/ref=pd_bbs_2/002-8478097-9710416?ie=UTF8). It wasn't Mt. Everest, but they climbed to the top, one fell, broke his leg, fell into a crevasse, was left for dead, and still somehow crawled out. Was actually made into a movie a year or two ago. Apparently the two climbers are still friends. I'm not sure "friend" is the term I'd be using to describe a man who left me to die.

I though it might be a lil dramatic, but how about the guy who had his arm stuck in a crack of a rock wall from falling, amuptated his own arm above the elbow and walked for hours to find help :eek:

Golf is a game, just like pool, horseshoes, and bocci.

It is not a sport.

The Red Sox coming back in game 4 of the ALCS against the Yankees
I like that analogy the best of the one's presented. The only problem is, unlike the Red Sox TEAM, where the he!! was the Phonak team. I wonder how team Discovery would have handled day 16, or for that matter, the rest of the tour, if Landis was part of their group?

Golf is a game, just like pool, horseshoes, and bocci.

It is not a sport.

You have a point. Giving blood is harder than golf.

Golf is a game, just like pool, horseshoes, and bocci.

It is not a sport.
Then neither is basketball, baseball, or football. They're all 'games'.

Hell, neither is cycling, for that matter.

You have a point. Giving blood is harder than golf.
Versus cycling, where most of the participants appear to be the recipients of donated blood.

If you really think giving blood is harder than golf, then how about you borrow a set of clubs, head out to your local muni course, and play a round. I expect your score to be par or better. Oh, and make sure you donate a pint of blood before you do it.

Some of you guys are so ignorant it's laughable. Putting down other sports just because they arent as strenuous as cycling is stupid.

Because I think people said what Floyd did would be impossible, you have to find another achievement that is or was said to be impossible, so I am going to compare it to pitching back to back no-hitters

http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/submit/Frommer_Harvey37.stm

Making it to the professional cycling world but not winning, getting cancer, and then becoming arguably the most dominant racer in history? No?

bah, ignore me. I'm just bitter because the recording I have of stage 17 cut to some stupid hosts talking for 10 minutes BOTH times that Floyd jumped ship from a group to launch forward.

Versus cycling, where most of the participants appear to be the recipients of donated blood.. . . Some of you guys are so ignorant it's laughable. Putting down other sports just because they arent as strenuous as cycling is stupid.

You're an idiot.

You're an idiot.
What's the matter? Can't respond with anything logical so you resort to namecalling?

I stand by my statement that denigrating other sports that others here may enjoy isn't just dumb, but also rude. And your namecalling's been reported to the mods.

Quit with the name calling or else I'll start blocking access to this forum.

Thanks!

Koffee Brown

Forum Moderator

I thought all the kids were in the BMX forum:D :D .

What's the matter? Can't respond with anything logical so you resort to namecalling?

I stand by my statement that denigrating other sports that others here may enjoy isn't just dumb, but also rude. And your namecalling's been reported to the mods.

I assume that you no longer stand by your previous statement: "cycling, where most of the participants appear to be the recipients of donated blood." Not even a kid in the bmx group would believe that. Not even in a game of extreme golf (where the participants run between each hole) would they believe that.

I assume that you no longer stand by your previous statement: "cycling, where most of the participants appear to be the recipients of donated blood." Not even a kid in the bmx group would believe that. Not even in a game of extreme golf (where the participants run between each hole) would they believe that.
Well, obviously. That statement was meant to be SARCASTIC and tongue-in-cheek, which you evidently don't have the ability to recognize.

My purpose for doing so was to show that your comment about golf was just as ridiculous as mine about cycling. And that's a statement I also stand by.

Is there anything else that you missed that you'd like me to clarify? Feel free to ask, I don't mind helping out.

It was the result of a man not deterred in the face of failure, criticism, and hopelessness.
It was the result of dedication, hardwork, and pure determination.
It was the result of Floyd "come get sum, how ya like me now, where is everyone ?!?" freaking Landis !!!

LOL! Where is everyone was right!

I just messaged that guy who did the youtube video for Lance's 2001 alpe d'huez video. "If this don't make your booty move your booty must be dead". :D

He has just GOTTTT to make one for Floyd's stage 17. What song to use though.

Well, obviously. That statement was meant to be SARCASTIC and tongue-in-cheek, which you evidently don't have the ability to recognize.

My purpose for doing so was to show that your comment about golf was just as ridiculous as mine about cycling. And that's a statement I also stand by.

Is there anything else that you missed that you'd like me to clarify? Feel free to ask, I don't mind helping out.

Its amazing how many people on this forum think riding a bicycle is such a difficult thing. Lets see, you put your butt on the saddle, your feet on the pedals and make circles. Man, I wish Einstien was alive to explain it to me! Having played golf professionally I can promise you it is a hell of a lot harder to hit a golf ball than riding a bicycle.
Trying to compare one sport to another is a waste of time. All sports have some degree of difficulty and challenge. Its the art of each sport that should be admired and taken as the beauty of the game. Some sports require mental skills, some physical but all of them require a passion and love of them, along with dedication, to be even the least bit good at let, alone great at.

Its amazing how many people on this forum think riding a bicycle is such a difficult thing. Lets see, you put your butt on the saddle, your feet on the pedals and make circles. Man, I wish Einstien was alive to explain it to me! Having played golf professionally I can promise you it is a hell of a lot harder to hit a golf ball than riding a bicycle.
Trying to compare one sport to another is a waste of time. All sports have some degree of difficulty and challenge. Its the art of each sport that should be admired and taken as the beauty of the game. Some sports require mental skills, some physical but all of them require a passion and love of them, along with dedication, to be even the least bit good at let, alone great at.
Very well explained, cbip. I just don't understand the elitism and snob attitude that people here have with cycling over everything else. I'm sure there are other people who ride a bike AND play golf, and are happy doing either.

Whatever sport or activity you choose to engage in, if it makes you happy and confers some degree of fitness or relaxation or passion, then great. But why bust on other peoples' choice of hobby/diversion with dumb statements like 'giving blood is harder than golf'? The only thing that proves (besides ignorance) is that you're insecure about your own choice of recreational activity...

Golf: Leading a major after 2 rounds, then losing 12 strokes in the 3rd round to fall out of contention, then shooting 15 under in the 4th round to move back to within 1 stroke heading to the 18th tee.

Miller's 63 at Oakmont.

Its amazing how many people on this forum think riding a bicycle is such a difficult thing. Lets see, you put your butt on the saddle, your feet on the pedals and make circles. Man, I wish Einstien was alive to explain it to me! Having played golf professionally I can promise you it is a hell of a lot harder to hit a golf ball than riding a bicycle.
Trying to compare one sport to another is a waste of time. All sports have some degree of difficulty and challenge. Its the art of each sport that should be admired and taken as the beauty of the game. Some sports require mental skills, some physical but all of them require a passion and love of them, along with dedication, to be even the least bit good at let, alone great at.


I'd agree that you can't really compare sports, and I'd also agree its easy to ride a bike. But it is most definitely not easy to race a bike, particularly at that level. When you say that you put your buttin the seat and pedal circles your displying a profound lack of knowledge about bike racing.
It would be the equivalewnt of saying anyone can hit a golf ball, you tee it it up and swing, and exptrapolating to its easy to play tournament golf.

I'd agree that you can't really compare sports, and I'd also agree its easy to ride a bike. But it is most definitely not easy to race a bike, particularly at that level. When you say that you put your buttin the seat and pedal circles your displying a profound lack of knowledge about bike racing.
It would be the equivalewnt of saying anyone can hit a golf ball, you tee it it up and swing, and exptrapolating to its easy to play tournament golf.

That was exactly my point.
As hard as it is for us to understand the skill and beauty of bike racing as a sport, it is equally as difficult for most people to understand the skill and beauty of other sports like golf. The ignorance and ego's displayed on this forum are no different than the ones I see while out riding my bike. But, it is not confined to just this forum, it is a reflection of the world and those that live in it.
Unfortunatly this world we live in is full of unhappy, disgrunteled, small minded individuals who value themselves and their ideas way more than their fellow man's. They have not the time nor the capacity for listening and understanding and will go through life with the firm belief that they know more than others and they are right and everyone else is wrong.
The lack of respect for others and the selfish, self centered attitudes displayed world wide, are ruining what should be a beautifull and happy life.

it was impressive but i think most of it is just media hype to finally give this tour a face and a story.


You have GOT to be kidding me...."media hype"?

I hate to say it but Boston coming back to beat my Yankees in the ALCS after being down three games to nil is a good analogy (modulo the historical rivalry), IMO.

Calling his recovery media hype... sorry, that's ignorance, IMO. Have you followed the last 20+ Tours?

These analogies are misleading. I'm not saying that it wasn't an incredible effort - it was - but you also have to remember that CSC made a huge mistake in letting him go. They just thought he'd tire out like on the previous day. It's not like baseball or golf where one team or player simply outplays the competition. Once CSC realized that Landis wasn't going to burn out, they made up a lot of time on him. If they'd chased him down as soon as he attacked, there's no way he would have worn yellow in Paris. So CSC's failure is as much the reason for Landis' success as Landis' own strength and will to win.

FreeridinLoon took my answer, and with the first response no less. Nice work.