How are the roads in your area?

[ken cummings]

The Santa Rosa Circuit?

Roads looked pretty good... funny watching all these pros riding contraflow and golly :rolleyes: out of the BL.

The one bad area was near a brick crosswalk from what I could tell. Otherwise, that asphalt was near Disneyland smooth.

Too bad for Levi.

You posted too early. In a politic decision the commissars (bike race oficials) gave everyone in the lead pack the same finish time and he kept the jersey. I was leaving the area as he got it.

[Helmet Head]

The Santa Rosa Circuit?

Roads looked pretty good... funny watching all these pros riding contraflow and golly :rolleyes: out of the BL.

The one bad area was near a brick crosswalk from what I could tell. Otherwise, that asphalt was near Disneyland smooth.

Too bad for Levi.
I was there. Hopefully the road rash is not too bad and he can get a good night's sleep. I was there last year too, but this year we had extra time (they were over an hour late getting to town because of high coastal winds) so we walked more of the in-town circuit. I couldn't believe it. Crazy turns, and varying widths. The section where the start/finish line was seemed especially narrow (and that's where the big crash happened). What you couldn't tell on Versus' coverage was that they made the first lap (of three) clean. The peloton was all together. We were on the back side, and when they came around the 2nd time, at first I thought there was a breakaway group, but I quickly realized there must have been a terrible crash. There were no Discovery guys in the front/main group. None. And T-Mobile was driving pretty hard.

After the race I saw Levi ride up to a black Volvo wagon and get a team jacket out, perhaps to keep warm, but also maybe to cover the yellow jersey, which he probably figured he had lost at that point.
His shorts were ripped in a couple of spots. That had to hurt. We kept walking around, saw Paulo Bettini give a brief interview, then I saw the black Volvo again. As it drove slowly by me, I peered inside. It was empty, except for he driver... Johann Bruyneel! Then we walked back to the start/finish line and watched the end of the presentations. As we were making our way back through a bunch of people, I saw someone who looked just like... holy cow, it was Greg Lemond! People were stopping him to get autographs and pictures, and he posed with me for one too. Pretty fun!

The irony of Amgen -- maker of EPO -- being the title sponsor of this race is too much, eh?

Too bad for David Zabriskie, who had to get taken to a hospital for head injuries. But I guess there is still a chance he will start tomorrow... Fingers crossed!

(sorry for the diversion, but others started it, and at least it wasn't about you-know-what)

[sbhikes]

BTW, what is it with pickups, anyway? I've never, ever had a guy in a Prius lean out of his window and yell, "Get the f**K out of the road, a**hole!" but guys (and gals) in pickups have done it a few times now...

Well, with certain members of the population, the choice of vehicle to drive is somehow meant to convey posession of a certain large masculine object, however the reality is likely inversely proportionate. I suspect that a lot of this alpha dog talk and obsession about lane positioning is similar.

[chipcom]

Well, with certain members of the population, the choice of vehicle to drive is somehow meant to convey posession of a certain large masculine object, however the reality is likely inversely proportionate. I suspect that a lot of this alpha dog talk and obsession about lane positioning is similar.

I drive a Ford Ranger - does that mean I am conveying that my certain large masculine object is smaller, therefore the reality is inversely proportional and it's actually bigger?

[rando]

I agree with Chip. of course, I drive a Ford Ranger also. :)

[genec]

You posted too early. In a politic decision the commissars (bike race oficials) gave everyone in the lead pack the same finish time and he kept the jersey. I was leaving the area as he got it.

Nah I saw that... but it sure had to hurt none the less.

[AGGRO]

Ford Ranger? How cute :D

[powerhouse]

TOPIC; HOW ARE THE ROADS IN YOUR AREA?

The condition of the road surface where I often ride here in Maine were ignored to the point that, with the combination of heavy traffic and large potholes, I can't ride there anymore. In first dealing with the potholes, the various towns in the area patched them over repeatedly which only made things worse. After the population complained loud enough, the state came in and resurfaced it with a layer of asphalt. However, it was so thin in places that the "washboard surface" could soon be seen and felt. I would suspect that after one winter the roads will be back to their original condition.

CONDITION; Crappy.

[San Rensho]

The roads here in southern Florida are excellent to great. Doesn't quite make up for the horrible drivers, however.

[noisebeam]

Most roads here are generally excellent - especially the portions getting most wheel action.
There are scattered roads in terrible condition - worse than OP photo.
And roads under contruction with temporary patching and patchwork of patches and plates.
Hard debris collects in the least traveled areas.
Some roads have very deep wheel rutting/lifting due to soft pavement and poor road foundation.
Al

[Wogsterca]

I drive a Ford Ranger - does that mean I am conveying that my certain large masculine object is smaller, therefore the reality is inversely proportional and it's actually bigger?

I don't think the other poster intended that every one who drives a pickup is compensating, but many people do drive "LOOK AT ME", type vehicles, and they are usually compensating for something. The guy who runs 4 Rockford Fosgate 1000W amps, bridged so that you can feel the bass beat from a block away, is compensating for something. The guy with the loud pipes on the acid green Civic, and the windows tinted nearly black, is compensating for something. The yahoo in the fire-engine red 4x4 pickup, with twin stack pipes, and a gunrack in the back window, is also compensating for something. 95% of the time it's a masculine object that is smaller then what they would like the world to think.

[chipcom]

I don't think the other poster intended that every one who drives a pickup is compensating, but many people do drive "LOOK AT ME", type vehicles, and they are usually compensating for something. The guy who runs 4 Rockford Fosgate 1000W amps, bridged so that you can feel the bass beat from a block away, is compensating for something. The guy with the loud pipes on the acid green Civic, and the windows tinted nearly black, is compensating for something. The yahoo in the fire-engine red 4x4 pickup, with twin stack pipes, and a gunrack in the back window, is also compensating for something. 95% of the time it's a masculine object that is smaller then what they would like the world to think.

Why not say that many blacks are compensating for not being white, or many women are compensating for the lack of a willie, etc., etc., etc.? Here's a good one - the guy who spreads stereotypes is compensating for a lack of something, usually between the ears! :p Seriously, stereotypes are so like 90s. But I do agree somewhat with your point. ;)

Of course I know Diane was thinking of me when she posted that. She's always thinking of me, she can't help it, she's compensating for settling for some guy so much better than me! :eek: :D ;)