L'Etape du Tour meets the Ny Times
05-30-08, 05:56 PM
#51
Despite all my rage, I am
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05-30-08, 06:13 PM
#52
Peloton Shelter Dog
05-30-08, 06:20 PM
#53
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I think it's great. He'll suffer through the flat parts but make it. He'll crack on the first climb and have to rest, then he'll get timed out and pulled before he starts the second climb.
The great part is that he'll write about how hard it is, and normal people who don't do this stuff and think that cycling is easy ("you just pedal a bike!") will get a little tiny clue.
The great part is that he'll write about how hard it is, and normal people who don't do this stuff and think that cycling is easy ("you just pedal a bike!") will get a little tiny clue.
05-30-08, 06:52 PM
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05-30-08, 07:51 PM
#55
Peloton Shelter Dog
05-30-08, 08:23 PM
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05-31-08, 06:08 AM
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05-31-08, 08:01 AM
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There's usually some writer, somewhere, writing a fluff piece for some 'outside' mag about how cool it is to learn to do tow-in surfing like "Laird" does.....
All goes well in near shore, practicing in small shorebreak. They drag his ass out in piddling 6' reef break and he actually....falls, gets cleaned up and is towed back to the boat....while kids are paddling into same w/o a jet-ski parking them in the face.
Most of these writer/clowns sheit themselves if/when they actually head out to an off-shore break like Jaws and hear the sound of waves the size of a four-story building breaking over a reef. Their stories then switch from "I'm going to try tow-in surfing" to something along the lines of "I went out to watch the pros do tow-in."
All goes well in near shore, practicing in small shorebreak. They drag his ass out in piddling 6' reef break and he actually....falls, gets cleaned up and is towed back to the boat....while kids are paddling into same w/o a jet-ski parking them in the face.
Most of these writer/clowns sheit themselves if/when they actually head out to an off-shore break like Jaws and hear the sound of waves the size of a four-story building breaking over a reef. Their stories then switch from "I'm going to try tow-in surfing" to something along the lines of "I went out to watch the pros do tow-in."
05-31-08, 09:05 AM
#59
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There's usually some writer, somewhere, writing a fluff piece for some 'outside' mag about how cool it is to learn to do tow-in surfing like "Laird" does.....
All goes well in near shore, practicing in small shorebreak. They drag his ass out in piddling 6' reef break and he actually....falls, gets cleaned up and is towed back to the boat....while kids are paddling into same w/o a jet-ski parking them in the face.
Most of these writer/clowns sheit themselves if/when they actually head out to an off-shore break like Jaws and hear the sound of waves the size of a four-story building breaking over a reef. Their stories then switch from "I'm going to try tow-in surfing" to something along the lines of "I went out to watch the pros do tow-in."
All goes well in near shore, practicing in small shorebreak. They drag his ass out in piddling 6' reef break and he actually....falls, gets cleaned up and is towed back to the boat....while kids are paddling into same w/o a jet-ski parking them in the face.
Most of these writer/clowns sheit themselves if/when they actually head out to an off-shore break like Jaws and hear the sound of waves the size of a four-story building breaking over a reef. Their stories then switch from "I'm going to try tow-in surfing" to something along the lines of "I went out to watch the pros do tow-in."
Which is probably for the best. You can climb an HC climb slowly, you can descend slowly, and take most of the danger factor out. You can't tell a wave the size of a four story building to take it easy on you.
05-31-08, 09:10 AM
#60
Peloton Shelter Dog
I did an HC climb in Greece. But in my case that stood for Hors Chester (Out of Chester). It was nasty. Probably 2500 vertical feet, average grade had to be in the 8% range with 15% + sections over like 6 miles (all approximated). I'm not sure what that would be in a UCI race, maybe Category 1 or 2, not true HC. The other side was similar. Toughest climbs I've ever seen. I can't imagine stringing 2-3 or those and two tougher climbs together in a 100+ mile stage and then RACING up them. Hell, I can get up any climb if I can ride my own pace. Trying to chase somebody else up them is a whole other box of pain.
If you don't think big time bicycle racing isn't the hardest sport on the planet you are completely out of your friggin mind or you don't ride a bicycle much, or both.
If you don't think big time bicycle racing isn't the hardest sport on the planet you are completely out of your friggin mind or you don't ride a bicycle much, or both.
05-31-08, 11:47 AM
#61
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Yes. Even if I hadn't, how would that change the author's chances of making it by training on that "central park climb?" Are you trying to say HC climbs are much easier than most people think? If you're just looking to argue, that's fine.
05-31-08, 12:05 PM
#62
Fear no hill
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But of course I barely rode my bike all winter"
It is possible for him to make it with 3 months training if he is genetically predisposed, but if he is like most of us he is going to find out just how hard hauling your butt up and down hills can be.
07-07-08, 09:08 AM
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Funny how people were saying that the guy would croak after a few hours but he made it up in a respectable time.
Good for him!
Good for him!
07-07-08, 09:12 AM
#65
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As Etape course go this one's pretty easy. (only one categorized climb.) With a month to train, some coaching, the right equipment, I think there's a shot he can make it under the time limit.
The author's key is going to be wether he can work in a group to get towed up to the Tourmalet quickly without spending a lot of energy.
In 2005, my fat ass got a silver medal and a top third placement, so it's not impossible.
The author's key is going to be wether he can work in a group to get towed up to the Tourmalet quickly without spending a lot of energy.
In 2005, my fat ass got a silver medal and a top third placement, so it's not impossible.
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
07-07-08, 09:16 AM
#66
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As Etape course go this one's pretty easy. (only one categorized climb.) With a month to train, some coaching, the right equipment, I think there's a shot he can make it under the time limit.
The author's key is going to be wether he can work in a group to get towed up to the Tourmalet quickly without spending a lot of energy.
In 2005, my fat ass got a silver medal and a top third placement.
The author's key is going to be wether he can work in a group to get towed up to the Tourmalet quickly without spending a lot of energy.
In 2005, my fat ass got a silver medal and a top third placement.
07-07-08, 09:21 AM
#67
pan y agua
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Ok, I'm obviously way late to the thread.
Typically Etape has been run on the first rest day of the TDF. I'm surprised this year's Etape is already done.
Typically Etape has been run on the first rest day of the TDF. I'm surprised this year's Etape is already done.
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
07-07-08, 08:58 PM
#70
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Awfully quiet here.
