Road Cycling - Bob Roll?

What is he on?

Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwens race reports on the Le Tour website are great.

Is this guy even watching the race.? He seems to be in a zen like state elsewhere. No analysis, nothing.

who? lol never heard of him

Brendon

Bob Roll's funny as hell, though I don't think he intends to be. As I watch the race, I'm almost at the edge of my seat waiting to hear him say the Tur Day France. And what's with the hands? He's gonna poke an eye out.

He's a classic! Ever read any of his old columns in cycling mags or his book? The guy will make you pee you pants if you are a cyclist and read his ramblings. Cycling needs unique and creative people like Bobke (his nickname).

I guess I'm showing my age by knowing who the guy is and his history. His insights into the minds and tactics of Tur Day France riders is interesting and helpful I think.

Originally posted by chewa
He seems to be in a zen like state elsewhere. No analysis, nothing.

He does offer some analysis; however, his "zen like state" is what sets him apart from the rest. His added comic relief makes for a good balance on OLN.

Bob Roll for President!!!!! :D

they don't make duct tape strong enough to tape down his hands when he talks. it drives me nuts. comic relief....yes! putting him together with kristen gum is like beauty and the beast.

This is his comment on stage 7

My first ride at the Tour de France was the Prologue in Paris years ago. We had a beautiful hotel, and the team's morale was high. I had just turned pro and had done only a few pro races before my Tour debut.

Our hotel was one of the few that had air conditioning and T.V. since I had been racing in Europe, and I thought my desperation for civilized treatment had arrived. We spent almost a week in the Sofitel Grand, and I think I gained a couple of pounds on their delicious buffets.

Subsequently, I got killed in the Prologue and my morale went to rock bottom. "C'est la vie," I thought, "at least it is nowhere but up from here." I was wrong, and would have to plunge to the depths of my physical and psychological reserves before I began my reconstruction that eventually enabled me to finish in Paris. I was however, an entirely different man.

Great. It's nice to be kept abreast of developments. wtf?

The guy is GREAT! What a character! I think he offers some good insights on the race, and particularly what may be going through the minds of the riders and race strategy. It's nice to see someone who is not a typical 'talking head' doing the coverage. I think Kersten is doing a good job with the other three members of the analysis team in fitting together in their coverage format. I'm thoroughly enjoying the OLN coverage and think they are dong a very nice job. Their website could be better, though. Not much content. I think the VeloNews site is much better.

I am not sure what he adds insofaras useful content but he does generate some odd humour.

I like Bob Roll. He is funny and insightful. He rode in the tour so he has unique view of it.

Originally posted by RiPHRaPH
they don't make duct tape strong enough to tape down his hands when he talks. it drives me nuts. comic relief....yes! putting him together with kristen gum is like beauty and the beast.

Maybe his flying hands will accidently smack Kirsten. :D

He’s funny, well spoken, and has personal insight to the tour. So why is the bimbo anchoring the pre-race show?

Originally posted by KevinG
I like Bob Roll. He is funny and insightful. He rode in the tour so he has unique view of it.

Actually, as far as professional bike racing knowledge goes, I think Sherwin has more than either Bobke or Liggett. But I still wouldn't trade or want to see Bob or Phil leave. I like all three of them in their own right. I just wish they would put Bob back with P&P and give him more exposure instead of sticking him with Kirsten.

Bobke? love him.
Maybe its an American thing.

He does have some great insights into the tour and
what it takes to get to that level of cycling.

He is opinionated, he is brash, he IS the ugly American
He's funny he doesn't take himself seriously.
and that is exactly why I like him.

I particularly like the 2 commercials:
first (see Bobke on couch, looking like a hippie burnout)
"last year I wasn't at the Toor day fraance, It was a bummer"

then when he is in Bosses office his reaction to being
told he is Back on the Tour group is priceless, you can see
the shiver of delight, that palpable rush going through him
as he almost moans "...yesssssss..."

There are already too many pundits on the tour,
we have the sightseeing chick (politically incorrect term eh?),
the pretty face who hasn't got a clue, Phil and Paul,
Chris Carmichael, and Frankie all trying to be serious, and
then theres Bobke.
BTW did you see his explanation about his yellow watch?

Marty

He's friggin hilarious - like John Madden with NFL.

Originally posted by bikeCOLORADO
He's friggin hilarious - like John Madden with NFL.

Plus Bobke also spoofs Madden in one of the commercials. I just can't get enough of Bob Roll's sense of humour.

Bob Roll, I feel, offers his own unique perspective of this great spectacle we call The Tour. As his commercials demonstrate, the guy is not afraid to laugh at himself, and has become somewhat of a parody of himself: (the exaggerated fingertip-to-fingertip commentary, that gap-toothed grin, his supposedly stubborn refusal to concede to French pronunciation.)
I find his contributions refreshing and insightful, and I realize the sometimes pedantic tone is for the benefit of the less-rabid cycling fans among us. I'm just grateful he finally shaved off those hideous God-awful lambchop sideburns!
The Tur Day France wouldn't be the same without him.

Bob Roll is awesome, cracks me up. . :lol:

"This guy right here, this is a meat and potatoes kinda guy. ." :D

I have to give more respect to Bobke than Petacchi. At least Bob finished the Tour even though he was nowhere close to the lead!

Cheers to Bob:beer:

Originally posted by lotek
BTW did you see his explanation about his yellow watch?

Yup - too cool. I am so glad to see Bob back on this year's tour. Apparently, so is he! :D

Originally posted by WaterlooBoy
I'm just grateful he finally shaved off those hideous God-awful lambchop sideburns!


Hey now that was one of the best things about Bobke.
I have been known to sport the chops every now and again.

:D

Originally posted by bikeCOLORADO
He's friggin hilarious - like John Madden with NFL.

More along the lines of Dennis Miller if you ask me.

He was following up a description of an incident made by Carmichael and simply repeated exactly what he had just heard - almost word for word...

But I'll admit he's a riot to watch...and Gum ain't tough on the eyes... so together I think they work.

R

I love Bobke but feel the pressure is on all of them a little too much...They seem to try too hard and just gush with a kinds of exaggerations...especially Kirsten. I would love to see her gone...just too .........peppy and unknowledgeable. Without her we would get a more real approach to the race...I can't believe she is really attracting a new audience that was missing before, which is the only reason I can imagine her being hired. Bobke's commercial with the imitations is one of the best ever!!!

Bob Roll is awesome. He definitely adds spice to the sport.

Originally posted by jkoman
Bobke's commercial with the imitations is one of the best ever!!!

Yea his Phil has me cracking up everytime!:)

Bob Roll is so funny. Love his commercials. Classic Bob.

He even dyed his hair to be Phil.

Did Bob ride with the 7-11 team. Seem like a caught part of a story about them crashing in the team TT.

Yes Bobke did ride with 7-11 team and yes they
did crash in the team time trial first year (I believe I saw
Bob sliding into a curb).
Bobke rode leTour 4 times.
He also raced for Motorola.

Marty

Bobke is DA MAN ! he is insightful without being snobbish abotu racing... he is like you or I... he knows about the sport, but still shares what he knows to people hwo don't know anyting... like uhhh Kirsten Gum... although nice to look at... even my wife (who knows very little about bike racing, but will watch TdF with me) said to me this morning after Bob's and Kirsten's segment "She doesn;t seem like she knows a whole lot does she ? What is she doing there ?" And she thinks Bob is weird looking.. i have to agree there... anyone who can floss with rope, is a little goofy.. but ya gotta love him !

Jeff

Re Kirsten Gum: Seems like OLN thought they needed to have a pleasant face to represent the person who's just gotten interested in bike racing and doesn't know much about it. I don't know. She seems okay but it's getting a little crowded in the OLN booth, doncha think?

OTOH, they should can the woman who does the "local flavor" bits. Yes, we know they have fancy food in France. Yes, we know they make wine and cheese. Now, shut up and lets get back to the stage!

I've seen it 10 times now but I still crack up at that one ad: And Armstrong is accelerating like a grand prix motorcar! :)

Today Bobke picked Tyler and Jan to beat Lance in tomorrows TT. Interesting. Or maybe, as they are want to say on OLN it's the "Running of the Bull". ;)

I agree with most people on this post, Bob is just awesome, maybe it's an american thing or just a biker thing or what not, but in my mind, he's really complete...A great commentator on the Tv, funny and also can offer some good stuff seriously on races, (ie. summer sportzone??) but also a good rider personally..I've heard that Lance goes riding with him in Boone N.C. and other places, and regards him as a good training partner, so he can't be that bad of a rider....Now to me that's a complete package, and I like that!!..

Go Bobke!!

I like the contrast between two authorities on the Tour- Sherwen (7 tours, 5 finishes) is a conservative voice with a good feel for the differences of approach between different european riders from different traditions. He also worked for Motorola, so he has insights into the American approach (and rode alongside Lemond and Boyer). Bob Roll represents the Gonzo side of american cycling; he's a character, who's been there- and has unbroadcastable anecdotes to prove it.......

Ligget is the doyen of english-speaking broadcasters. How many tours has he done, now? 26? 27?

Any extra 'human interest' journalism is wasted on me......but I can understand the networks trying to attract new audiences, etc. I'd drop the rest of them, and play more race footage but I'm not the target consumer..........