pastorbobnlnh 

Like many a casual fan, I have come to enjoy the TdF and sort of look forward to it each July. Sort of because July is one of the best of three months to ride here in the NH mountains. Watching the TdF requires too many hours in front of the tube. Even with a DVR, it's a big investment of time.

So I try to be selective in what I watch. Next Tuesday's race on the classic cobblestones should be a fun one. Apparently many riders were testing their legs yesterday, and secretly wishing for the steel framed bikes of yesteryear!

Lance and Team Radio Shack


Frank Schleck, sans helmet


More here:
https://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/...o-special.html

cb400bill

I like how Lance is up front so he doesn't have to eat dust.

I can't wait for the Tour to start.

raverson

Seniority in every sense of the word.

Scooper

I enjoy watching the TdF too, but I have to discipline myself to watch it in small doses. It really can take a big bite out of more productive endeavors.

pastorbobnlnh 

Stan,

Your new puppy is a real cutie. How's his training going?

ldmataya 

Talk about classics, check out Frank's tires. I would like to see larger tubulars with the nice white sidewall like those Dugasts make a comeback.

jan nikolajsen 

I've never been into organized sports, whether passively or actively. Doesn't help that I haven't lived with a TV since I was 16; that I'm hopelessly uncoordinated with any ball shaped object in my hands; and simply don't understand the rules of those mysterious American games, football and baseball.

But I LOVE the European road races. All of them. Thanks for bringing a snippet of the excitement to C&V, pastor.

I'm rooting for Saxo Bank, being Danish myself. The Schlecks are wonderful, Cancellara is simply amazing (Kapelmuur, anybody?), and Riis..well, I like him.

gomango

We have cycling.tv and my next door neighbor has versus.com.

We are well covered on the tour coverage this year, in fact, both households are projecting big screen!!!!

This has been working very well with the World Cup soccer matches.

Can't wait, as it was fun to watch the Giro D' Italia in a wall size version.

The Versus coverage package looks outstanding, and it is just a matter of personal taste whether you enjoy Sherwin & Liggett or the commentators on cycling.tv.

It doesn't matter to me whatsoever.

CardiacKid

Since July is actually one of the worst months to ride here in Central Texas, I have been known to put my trainer in front of the T.V.. Watching the TdF is pretty boring and riding the trainer is pretty boring, but they sort of cancel each other out.

David Newton

My wife & I, who watch no sports whatsoever on TV, will stay up late to watch the reruns of the TDF on Versus.
So the cobblestone stage is Tuesday?

Scooper

Thanks, Bob! He's five months old now, and weighs fifty pounds! He's got all the common commands (sit, stay, down, off, drop it, leave it, etc.) down pat, and we haven't had an indoor accident in over two months. He's turning into a really bright, happy, mellow companion. I couldn't be happier.

pastorbobnlnh 

I don't really watch any other sports or even the Olympics (although I was hooked on Curling this winter), so it seems odd I find cycle races exciting.

embankmentlb

I am with you! I will be on the trainer with the tour on!

Otto Rax

I have a feeling Team RadioHacks is going to take it this year. Any bets on the overall?

jebensch

Saxo Saxo Saxo! I like them Schlecks. Being a sinewy s-c-h named guy myself, it's hard not to! I'll record it and play it while I'm working on my current project (thanks, Jan).

Just on a finer note - seriously, Team Radio Shack couldn't have come up with a better kit? Gruesome.

cyclotoine

Contador for the win.

cb400bill

Likely so.

Jens Voigt FTW!

old's'cool

Ixnay on the urlingcay...! We don't want it to become a popular, commercialized sport like all the rest!

look171

I raced as a Jr back in 83 and learn to hate all thing that has to do with a ball. the freaking tennis ball would break my glassed playing catch, and was always the last to get pick. racing and white water kayaks were it. I am with you on that one except for the TV thing but just do not really watch it. But I am not Danish. Go Schleck brothers.

Jeff

YoKev

so true

tcs

One of the many changes to the ToF over the years is improvements in the roads. The French highway department widens roads, cuts down hills and straightens curves just like their counterparts all over the developed world. Beyond that, when the Tour route is announced these days, they go out and make sure those roads are in top shape. A few years ago they claimed the entire race route had been repaved during the three months leading up to the race. Last year Phil Ligget rode his bike over one of the major climbs and mentioned the higher speeds he was able to carry on the way back down because of the beautifully smooth asphalt that had been recently laid down.

IIRC it wasn't until 1964 the Tour was run 100% over pavement - at the least the high Cols were gravel roads before that.

tcs

PS - Thomas Stevens mentioned the nice roads of France when he cycle toured through that country in 1885!

prettyshady

When I see a road being resurfaced nicley I say, must be on this years tour route! The small road they used up to bedoin before ventoux last year was resurfaced and it is now as smooth as a F1 track.

Vintage bikes? Here are two former Tour Winners on vintage bikes,


https://www.steephill.tv/2010/tour-de-france/photos/stage-00/

maym036

Go Schleck Brothers! Go Luxembourg!

pastorbobnlnh 

Here in USA-New Hampshire, newly paved roads mean only one thing--- tax dollars we haven't paid are being put to work.

Great picture of the former TdF winners and their vintage rides!

tcs

Joop Zoetemelk - 16 Tour de France starts, an all-time record. One win, six second place finishes, three fourths, one fifth place, and no DNFs (obviously also an all time record).

tcs