Cow bells and Allez Allez Allez!

[Rouge Penguin]

TDF starts this weekend.

Looking good for the British, what a great time to be a cycling fan. Team Sky are looking strong....

I wants to go. How about a drinkies next year half way up a mountain?

 

[dave2]

When people go and watch the Tour de France do they follow along the cyclists? Or is it basically watch them cycle past once and be like "Right, pack the picnic basket up that's us done." ?

It seems to be one of the worst spectator sports in the world.

 

[nealmac]

Unless you're gonna be following them in a chopper, then yeah, it's the second one.

I saw it once, I happened to be on holiday in the south of France when I was a kid. We waited fucking hours. My dad (Jack D Rips) said he always wanted to see it, so we all went with it. Anyway, eventually the cyclists arrived. 5 fucking seconds. No exaggeration. I had assumed it would be like watching a marathon or something, where they would all go by in dribs and drabs, maybe in bunches of 5 or 6.

So unless it's something you'd like to see for yourself, then don't bother.

 

[JonesyRed]

I think watching a mountain stage is the way to go, but only if you are not a prick and stand in front of a cyclist until the last moment, I hate that crap.
Anyway really looking forward to seeing if team sky can live up to the hype.

 

[nealmac]

Another option would be to go to a time trial.

 

[LarryHagman]

How come the Irish love bike racing? How did that start?
I was working in Dublin when there was a leg of the TDF there once. 98 or 99 I think.

 

[Athens]

How come the Irish love bike racing? How did that start?
I was working in Dublin when there was a leg of the TDF there once. 98 or 99 I think.

No idea but in the 60s my uncles used to cycle the routes of the TDF. After the race of course. They got the train for the difficult parts!

 

[livvy145]

Fuck knows but Roche and Kelly got me into the sport back in the eighties. Great days.

 

[livvy145]

What a ride from Cancellara, Wiggins second in the time-trial.

 

[Rouge Penguin]

It's not just about sitting on the side of a road, you ride up and wait for the peleton to go past and then finish the ascent.

 

[doctor_mac]

Heard that this year sees the first black competitor. FFS it's 2012! Why has it taken so long for a black person compete? Are all these cycling types racist bastards or what?

 

[Rouge Penguin]

They've not been able to produce a receipt for the bike previously.

 

[Rouge Penguin]

On a serious note, in all my years of riding, I've seen 2 none white riders on my outings. I don't think people see why you'd want to just ride without a real point I'm shit nasty weather, other than to cover miles.

I think that as cycling really has been discovered and growing massively with Cav and Brad, there will be a lot more out there.

 

[livvy145]

Cav wins with a great sprint finish.

 

[Sunny]

Heard that this year sees the first black competitor. FFS it's 2012! Why has it taken so long for a black person compete? Are all these cycling types racist bastards or what?

Is it because of the heavy/dense bones thing ? Same way you don't see black swimmers ?

 

[Athens]

Is it because of the heavy/dense bones thing ? Same way you don't see black swimmers ?

Or perhaps their bodies don't respond in the same way to EPO...

 

[doctor_mac]

On a serious note, in all my years of riding, I've seen 2 none white riders on my outings. I don't think people see why you'd want to just ride without a real point I'm shit nasty weather, other than to cover miles.

.

You mean you don't think black people see why you'd want to just ride without a real point etc. don't you? Thereby proving that cucling types are indeed racialists.

Can of worms has been opened. Hornet's nest has been kicked.

 

[Rouge Penguin]

No, I mean people. If I meant black people I would have said it.

 

[JonesyRed]

I was very surprised with the no black competitors until now in the Tour statistic, is it just a sport for rich europeans?

Anyway Cav is going to have to do it the hard way this year, which I think will show the true worth of the man.

 

[doctor_mac]

No, I mean people. If I meant black people I would have said it.

Nerve touched. Point proven.

 

[Rouge Penguin]

Huh? Some of my best friends are black.

Get back in your car you bike Nazi

 

[doctor_mac]

Huh? Some of my best friends are black.

Hello Johnny.

http://www.blackpeopleloveus.com/

 

[Rouge Penguin]

Get back on topic, honkey

 

[the_khl]

I heart Tour De France.

With regards to the lack of national diversity in the pack.

There's an apparent lack of cycling culture in most countries outside Europe and Northern America, hence you don't see that many African, Asian and to some extent even Southern Americans (bar the odd Columbian climbing phenomenon) riders at the highest level.

They obviously also lack the facilities and knowhow to hone talents in 3rd world countries as well as the general interest perhaps is low, and that is something the sport has it eyes on. The Danish Cycling Union for instance have send like 10,000 bicycles to Angola, I reckon it was. And then followed this up with a few coaches to develop their skills too, invited the most promising talents to training camps etc.

Maybe it never really will be a sport appealing to all nationalities but that would make little sense as it's pretty awesome. I can't wait for an Usain Bolt with cycling skills.

 

[Athens]

....There's an apparent lack of cycling culture in most countries outside Europe and Northern America, hence you don't see that many African, Asian and to some extent even Southern Americans...

There are 9 million bicycles in Beijing. That's a fact.

Or so I'm led to believe.

 

[the_khl]

There are 9 million bicycles in Beijing. That's a fact.

Or so I'm led to believe.

Katie is soooo cute.

It is strange that you just don't see Chinese riders. They've always produced good marathon runners which in terms of stamina and endurance is in the same bracket you should think.

 

[Oncy]

Really good race so far. Wiggins is looking faaaar more accomplished than I expected. He is looking like the winner right now. Evans has got unbelievable stamina though so you cant write him off.
Im loving watching Peter Sagans star rise. What a cyclist he looks.
And yeah, ive never ever seen a black lad out on the road. When we did the palace to palace ride a year or so back there was one lad who I set off with.

 

[Rouge Penguin]

Poor the Cav, although i feel like he's trying where he can and following the team line the rest of the time. Nice training session for his attempt at Olympic Champion, where Sky will repay the favour.

Shame, gotta love the Green.

 

[the_khl]

Impressed with Wiggins and Froom too. Will be interesting to see how they cope with the highest peaks.

 

[Ryan]

Really good race so far. Wiggins is looking faaaar more accomplished than I expected. He is looking like the winner right now. Evans has got unbelievable stamina though so you cant write him off.
Im loving watching Peter Sagans star rise. What a cyclist he looks.
And yeah, ive never ever seen a black lad out on the road. When we did the palace to palace ride a year or so back there was one lad who I set off with.

Yep, it's been great.

I think this is Wiggins' race to lose now.

Evans can attack, but he's got (so far) zero support from his team, and 2 mins is a lot to make up on someone who's looked pretty accomplished on the mountains thus far. Evans will likely try and stretch him on the descents over the next few days cos he falls like a fucking stone and this is where Wiggins came unstuck last year.

Remains to be seen though if Wiggins can repel attacks every day though. Set up for a fucking brilliant next week.