big john

Went downtown today. The TT is pretty exciting in person, especially with a massive crowd screaming and ringing cowbells.

big john

Fabian.

JimF22003

I'm not a big fan of watching TT's on TV. I always end up fast-forwarding to the last 3 or 4 starters, and then end up just fast forwarding to the end.

It's kind of like NASCAR. Unless there's a crash the whole thing is too boring to watch.

kr32

I tend to agree with Jim. I was watching yesterday a little but went out in garage and started to mess around because I was thinking this is sort of boring.
Now if I raced TT's maybe I could relate somehow, what with the effort they are putting in and all.
When I watch a race I want to see competitors in close to each other a race.

BluesDawg

Watching TT's is different. There is an interesting story development, but it comes in small pieces, spread out over a long time. Zipping to the end doesn't work for me because I miss all the buildup. I tend to watch while also doing something else. I try to keep just enough awareness of the TV coverage to be able to focus on it when something interesting happens. The DVR helps if I miss something and need to backup a little. Another approach is to read the text live coverage to get the story line and then watch the last few riders live on TV.

Speedskater

During the Time Trial, Versus TV graphic information was next to useless! Didn't the Versus people watch the Winter Olympics where in the TT cross-country events the graphics display each competitors standing as they pass each check-point. Their finish-line coverage at most of the stages is also rather poor. Lots of the camera angles should only be used for replays. For live finishes we need to see the actual line and the approaching riders.

Retro Grouch 

That too. I also think the Versus coverage is disappointing.

I'm used to race coverage which shows the actual catch of break-away groups. I'm used to TT coverage that shows a list of the riders and times as each rider passes the finish or intermediate timing point. It seems to me the Versus coverage of TDC is just a hodge-podge of people riding bicycles vidioed from innovative angles. I'm thinking the Versus people have totally missed out on the story of the race because Levi hasn't been able to play the leading man role that their script predicted.

I'm still going to watch it this afternoon.

Metric Man

I've never considered Versus a top shelf sports coverage...but it beats having no coverage at all!

Hermes

I like to watch all the stages in pro race. Many times there is not much action but subtle or not so subtle nuances. I raced a local TT in the morning and watched the ToC in the evening. I like to observe the riders position, cadence, equipment, cornering, road conditions, wind and etc. The TT course road looked rough and there were a couple of turns that were 90 degrees without much room. The pros were shutting down power, coasting on the bull horns and easing through those tight turns. They appeared to be bouncing a lot on the aerobars. That is not great and it is possible to have your elbow come off the pad. Plus they were always looking for smooth road since the bikes are very stiff and the wheels offer zero shock absorption.

big john

I think being there you can see the differences in the riders and their styles better than on t.v.



This guy sure looks little in person.

BluesDawg

The final stage was a battle!

big john

It was an exciting finish, wasn't it?

Rick@OCRR

Great photo Big John!

Rick / OCRR

Hermes

I attended two prologs in the ToC when they were in SF and Stanford. Yes, you can see the equipment and the riders up close but not how the perform on the bike. But then again, I do not have to go to a pro race to see pro style riding and equipment. Here is a link to a set of photos from last weeks TT in which my wife and I competed. It is hard to tell the difference between us and them but for the speed. https://edwardfalsken.smugmug.com/Cyc...79461849_EzGui

big john

Yes, Hermes, you guys sure look the part. Who's faster in the TT, you or your wife? Do you go the same distance?
Here is a photo my friend took.

Hermes

She got me by 17 seconds in that race and generally the men and women do the same distance in sanctioned races. In championships, the 55+ women do 20K TT versus 40 K for the men. You have to be 70 before the distance is reduced for men. She won the W4 35+ category and I was 8 of 16 in the M Cat 5.

big john

She's awesome!