Road Cycling - It's over! The TdF is over! Noooooooooooooooo

What will I do now that I don't get my 2 hours (4 if I watched a later replay) of OLN TdF coverage?!?!?!?! Sure, there's the retrospective Thursday, but it's just not the same! *Gasp* Quickly! I've got to tape the 11pm broadcast. Where's a tape? A blank tape?!?!?!?! Quick! This one? CSI? Tape over it!
MUST HAVE MORE TOUR

:rolleyes:

Shhhhhhhhhhh, don't say anything. I couldn't watch it live and missed the first broadcast so I have to stay up until 2:00 to see it.

I hope Lance wins.

Yes, it's over...

...but wasn't it glorious?

Yep! AWESOME! Just wish I had $90 for the 10-hour DVD (or even $50 for the 4-hour) :P

Withdrawal hurts!!!!! :D

every night for the next month or so i'll be staring blankly at the t.v. hoping the bass fishing shows are just a commercial.

Originally posted by CarlJStoneham
Yep! AWESOME! Just wish I had $90 for the 10-hour DVD (or even $50 for the 4-hour) :P

We don't have cable so saw none of it (except a few excerpts on the OLNTV web site)...so we decided to "bite the bullet" and get the DVD...can't wait till it comes!

mark
t

You'll love it Mark! One of the best Tours ever!

Things I won't miss from OLN's TdF coverage:
1. The same commercials OVER and OVER and OVER ("nothing stays these couriers from their appointed rounds" ARGH!)
2. Bob Roll's "5 finger temple" waving back and forth on the screen
3. Tour Day France
4. What's-her-name that did the local stories around France. MAN she needs some lessons in French phonetics! :irritated:

Things I WILL miss:
1. Bob Roll's "I wanna do the tour this year. Maybe I should change my act"
2. "Tour du... nah. Tour day France. Tour DAY France. TOUR day France!"
3. Phil and Paul :cry:
4. Everything else

Originally posted by CarlJStoneham
[B]
Things I won't miss from OLN's TdF coverage:
2. Bob Roll's "5 finger temple" waving back and forth on the screen


:roflmao:

I kept expecting him to pock out Gum's eye at any moment!

Ohhhh! How I will miss the le Tour! If only we could Hibernate and awake in time for the 04' tour.

*Gasp!* But then we would miss all the good biking in between!
:p

I have no reason to get outta bed now. :(

As Lance would say, this sport is "epic". Nothing compares to it. I'm hooked!

I loved the entire cast of charactors on OLN's team. Bobke rules! I just hope OLN will have the same crew covering Tour of Spain.

Has anyone watched the Vuelta a Espana before? Is the coverage as good as on the TDF?

Cheers - here's to next year!

They've started to advertise for the Tour de Spain in September. I know it's not "The Tour", but at least it's cycling. It's got to better than the 8 days of the running of le bull. And when did that turned into a spectator sport with commentators??? "Oh - there's a good goring" " and another"???

So can I expect the same type of team activity and the same riders in the Spain event, or do these guys go home and take the next couple months off?

Originally posted by Ridge
Has anyone watched the Vuelta a Espana before? Is the coverage as good as on the TDF?

The coverage of the vuelta is good. Granted it’s not the Tour Day France, but there is some excitement. Too bad there is no angry lou this year.:eek:

yeha the Vuelta is fun to watch., but usually there are lesser known guys racing.. at least the major players in the TdF aren't there.... but the racing is good... and there are some killer mountains in Spain.. I think they were even triple ringing last year !

Jeff

Originally posted by CarlJStoneham
Yep! AWESOME! Just wish I had $90 for the 10-hour DVD (or even $50 for the 4-hour) :P

Does anyone have experience with any of these DVD's? I've seen 'em advertised but don't want to shell out that $90 if they're no good. How far do they offer the DVD option? To the 200 TdF...??

I feel so empty. So lost. What will I ever do? This is the most time I have spent on the computer in the last three weeks. I feel like I'm trying to kick some addiction. I even turned OLN on at 8 pm tonight. Oh Darn Bull Riding.

It hurts. I think I'll just curl up in a ball in the corner for now.

Formtight: I think they only go back to 1903. The 200 TdF is only on BetaMax ;)

RunYun: Don't forget Thursday at 8pm EST. Retrospective. may hurt since it'll be like sneaking a smoke after quitting for 2 weeks, but sometimes sneaking feels oh so good...

For those suffering addicts can I recommend a hard pedal up your local col with a buddy - be a kid and play pretend.
In relation to the Vuelta many did opt for triples up the angliru - a real beastie apparently.
As far as non-entities go - there was a whisper on cyclingnews.com that Ullrich and chip-on-the-old-shoulderri may be having a spin around Spain.
And don't forget all the late season classics and the worlds in North America this year.
Nah the above didn't work for me either - would you boys mind terribly doing a second lap around France please???

When and by whom might the worlds be broadcast?

Originally posted by CarlJStoneham
When and by whom might the worlds be broadcast?

It won't be by those idots at CBS SPORTS. I'm still totally pissed they didn't show the last day of the Tour live. My hats off to OLN for the coverage they provided. Three cheers to OLN :beer: :beer: :beer: As for CBS, they have their heads up their :eek: . OK I'll stop while I'm ahead. I just had to let off some steam.

yea whats with them not playin the tour on any of the big networks ... geez, not even ESPN ran it.

Oh well ... i guess i know how my dad feels about the big networks not running the sailing world cup either.

Well, OLN canada is back to its usual crap of infomercials, dog shows and of course, strong man contests. I'm a tremble with excitement! What kind of stuff does OLN US show when it's not showing cycling? As for the running of the bulls, I wondered about that. It's so gory! Literally. And I remember Phil and Paul commenting on bullfighting during last year's Vuelta coverage, and how they think it's hideous! They'd be appalled! And yet they had to read promos for that stuff.

As for the Vuelta, it's a great race, although my favorite grand tour really is the Giro. But last year's vuelta was just brutal, they dropped like flies! And they had two real killer climbs that were worse than anything in the tour, even worse than Ventoux! It's funny that Lance never does the vuelta, because it's his kind of race- there are FOUR time trials this year! But in a way that's whats GOOD about the vuelta, lance isn't there.

So I guess I'll be watching some tapes of races, like this year's giro again!

My wife is kinda glad it is over, I can become a full time husband again and quit telling her EVERY detail of what happened, but man, this is kinda like withdrawal.
Heres to one of the best tours ever and HERES TO LANCE :beer:

.....tom

Worst 3 weeks of my life every year. No sleep, No riding, all screwed up.

Tour- 5:30 am to 8:30 am
Work- 8:31 am to 7:00pm
Wife asking if I was going to watch tour again- 7:01pm to 7:05pm
Tour-7:06 pm to 8:30 pm
Dinner- Running of cows and bull mounting- 8:31 pm to 8:51pm
Tour- 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Look at bike- 11:01pm till done looking at bike
Bed
Tour-5:30 am

Wabbit:
OLN US seems to have a lot of bull-riding/rodeo, motocross, fishing and RV shows. Not much better. In fact, I'd prefer a strongman competition to most of the crap they offer here. Though they do have some decent extreme sports shows, etc...

OLN still has some cycling all year round. Thurday nights and a sprinkling on saturday mornings usually are the slots for random cycling coverage. Most of the race coverages are not live of course and some of the shows are well... reruns from several years ago (Bicycle Journal).

I turned on OLN yesterday morning forgetting that they wern't showing the race until the evening. Instead I watched a hunting show for about twenty minutes. I was in awe to say the least.

"Look at this buck I just shot and killed, with my big rifle, ain't he a beaut!" - ummm, He looked beautiful when he was alive now he's dead.

"...and remember, teach a child about gun safety, take a child hunting. - BANG!!!" - ahhh....how about NO.

I'm with all the people who are going thru withdrawl also, while I didn't get to watch every stage each day, I could count on the 5 to 7pm showing here in detroit, and I would catch some of that showing while I was getting ready for the 615pm-ish rides that we have here and I do, I really enjoyed it..But I really noticed it here in the morning, I follow what goes on each day on cyclingnews.com, the live updates, work here is kinda slow in the morning, so I can follow it each day and by the time I go to lunch, I know who's won..Then I watch it on TV in the evening if I get a chance, after the evening ride..But now I don't have the live updates in the morning, I TOTALLY miss it!!....This year as I and most of my riding buddies are saying, was the BEST tour we have every seen!! I mean Lance and Jan, then Tyler and all his amazing stuff and overcoming all that!! I mean he is just TOTALLY THE PICTURE OF AN ATHLETE!!, amazing Man...I also enjoy following the green jersey clash, it was really fun to see Pettachi when he was in it, and was just winning every flat stage there was!! Great sprinter!! with a great leadout train!!....I'm also as time goes along finding that I'm watching the White jersey competition, that's the future of our sport and will probably be the great cyclists in the future...Yesterday on the evening ride, I decided to wear the white Jersey that I got last year, wore it this year in commeration of Denis Menchov's win in that catagory..I was saying to my mom, I know I'm only 28, but when I wear that kit, I just feel ten years younger, and it's such a good feeling..But really for they guy's who wear it or win it overall at the end, like Basso last year, and Menchov, it must be a great honor and I would think that they would have the same feeling inside them, they have a great future to look forward to I would think and that must make them feel really good!!...

Well to get back to the post topic, (sorry about the tangent), yeah it's sad to see the tour go away, but I will look forward the 10 hour DVD that I want to get, and also the Vuelta, yeah the coverage isn't as much, but at least it road bike racing on TV, and I always enjoy watching top class road racing..Bring on September!!:)

And also I can't wait till next July, will be very very interesting, see if Lance can put himself all by himself with 6 TDF victories???


Hope all your second half of the cycling season goes well, oh and also for our Australian friends down under there, I know you're just probably coming close to spring, since we're headed for fall, so hope things are coming along well down there also..

Benjamin

As a relative newcomer to the appreciation of cycle racing, I must commend the members of this forum whom enhanced my first intensive viewing of "The Tour". Prior to this year, through an ignorance of the process, I viewed it as a rather elite european indulgence not to be taken seriously. What a revelation; these boys are simply awesome; and, by extension and through your unique insights, so are you folks.

Thank you,

David

Thanks David for the kind words, and I'm sure all the people here on the forum feel the same way..

Thanks again,

Benjamin

Hey, caadman. Just another illustration that all us "old dogs" (I'm 58) can indeed learn "new tricks". This tour has also inspired me to increase my efforts to become as physically fit as possible (no obssesion, of course).

Who are you kidding? I don’t know a cyclist who isn’t obsessed. :)Even my son, after watching the tour is going out now and trying to become a sprinter. I know I’m more motivated.

So right you are, Michael. I should have inserted a coupla winking smileys there. Anyhow, thank you folks again for the inspiration and unwitting support. So, now I'm gonna sign off and do my usual morning routine (which I was finding it difficult to get into this morning) of yoga, calisthenics and weight followed by a ride.

Will ride to the Bronx ( I live on the lower east side of Manhattan, NY), a ride which I intended to do with my spouse on the weekend; but, which was truncated when she expressed a reluctance to cycle the distance (20-30 mis.) in the heat and sun present at the time.

Now there you go David, if anything came out of this tour, I would hope that it would motivate people to stay in shape, that's my big cause, there are sooo many benifits to that, so good for you keep it up and never quit trying to keep it up!! Very good!!..

And like Michael say's what cyclist here isn't obsessed?? very good point Mike!!..And very true also Dave, don't be ashamed to admit it!!..

Enjoy the rides and the future tour's to come!!


Benjamin

I too am suffering "Tour" withdrawals. However, the neatest thing to me during the "Tour" was when my six year old son asked if he could go riding. Naturally, I said of course. So as I got his single speed Schwinn off of its hook in the garage he is putting on his helmet and sun glasses. As he is putting on his sun glasses I noticed he placed the arms outside of his helmet straps. I asked him why? His response, the guys in that race you are watching wear them that way. "Oh" I said. He asks if I want to go with, of course I will. I grab my helmet and take my oldest son's mountain bike and off we go. We get down the road and all of a sudden my son starts peddling standing. I've never seen him do this so I again ask why? He says, "Because that famous guy in the race and in the commercials does it. And he goes fast." Again I say "Oh". We ride around the neighborhood in the hot Texas afternoon and enjoy each other's company.

The "Tour" has reached out to a younger generation.

Don

Originally posted by MoonBear
We get down the road and all of a sudden my son starts peddling standing. I've never seen him do this so I again ask why? He says, "Because that famous guy in the race and in the commercials does it. And he goes fast."

Cooooooool. :)

Don that is SOOO SWEET!!, encourage your son, I'm sure you're imensly proud and happy that you spent time both on the tube and on the bike with him, that is awesome!!...

I know my neice, she is 2 and a half, her and her mom live with me, my neice's name is Rebecca, and she's alway's asking is she can ride her tricycle, I think she rides it every day either with her mom or grandmother who takes care of her during the day!...It's soo cool..

Benjamin

Originally posted by stiffee_shane
I turned on OLN yesterday morning forgetting that they wern't showing the race until the evening. Instead I watched a hunting show for about twenty minutes. I was in awe to say the least.

"Look at this buck I just shot and killed, with my big rifle, ain't he a beaut!" - ummm, He looked beautiful when he was alive now he's dead.

"...and remember, teach a child about gun safety, take a child hunting. - BANG!!!" - ahhh....how about NO.

ewwwww! How totally gross, how can they show something like that? I don't think they have that show in Canada, thank god. I guess OLN over there isn't much better, but they do show cycling at least, not just the tour but MTB as well and the spring classics. We get crap all year and just the Tour for cycling. You guys are still better off than we are. Now OLN canada is showing "the Great race." When it's on network tv anyways. Yeah, show that instead of cycling, you idiots, we can't get enough of a bunch of idiots traipsing around the world and fighting with each other in exotic locations.

I was out riding (well sort of, see my other post) yesterday
and I was wearing my CSC/Tiscali jersey (I work for CSC so
it isn't poseur :D ) and some kid yells to me:

"DO YOU KNOW TYLER?"

I almost fell over, round here most kids only know
Jeff Gordon.
The impact of this years TdF continues to amaze me.

Marty

Originally posted by lotek
I was wearing my CSC/Tiscali jersey (I work for CSC so
it isn't poseur :D ) and some kid yells to me:

"DO YOU KNOW TYLER?"

I almost fell over, round here most kids only know
Jeff Gordon.

Wow! I can't even begin to imagine what would have happened if the kid had yelled, "DO YOU KNOW JAJA?!" :D

Yeah, I got out my bike yesterday and stood up in the pedals. of course, i sat right back down when I realized that I was in too easy a gear and my thighs began to burn :P

Yeah, the TdF really was something this year. *Sigh* Well, I guess the *only* good thing about it being over is that I know have two more hours a day to concentrate on winning the 2010 TdF ;D

Originally posted by lotek
"DO YOU KNOW TYLER?"

Awesome story. Perhaps cycling hasn't been left for the dead. Way cool!! :D

I would like to see something like a combination of the running of the bulls and the Tour de France, perhaps going towards each other? You'd have to use mountain bikers, though, since they're more proud of their injuries than their bicycles.
(I'll miss Bob Roll too...)

OLN may have a wrap up on tonight, Thursday, July 31. Kind of a best of the tour show.

Originally posted by Jaimie65
As far as non-entities go - there was a whisper on cyclingnews.com that Ullrich and chip-on-the-old-shoulderri may be having a spin around Spain.


I can't believe you wrote that.