Those of you stuck inside while it rains, if you want a taste of bike racing history, check out the video section of
velonews.com which is showcasing a documentary about the early 70's "Raleigh Boys" US racing team. Those are the years I got into road bike riding, not because of racing, but because of the bikes, which fascinated me deeply. That team, with the sponsorship of Raleigh bicycles, helped bring America back to the European racing scene as a serious contender. The vintage footage (most likely shot on 16 or 8mm film) is phenomenal. They're also showcasing the 1973 Ireland tour from the Raleigh team perspective. On a personal note, I ride a Raleigh bike.