is cycling a sport?

[han-grrl]

Well Lance has proven to the world again that he can kick some royal butt in cycling. SOME people don't think it's that big a deal. check out
http://www.msnbc.com/news/785267.asp
this guy doesn't think it takes much to cycle! wish i can take him on some of my mtb rides and see how *easy* it is. grrr....

Han

[StormingColour]

that guy is an idiot. If he thinks that riding the in Tour is not a great feat, I would like to see his fat a$$ try. the only part of what he considers a "great athlete" that cycling doesn't have is hand-eye coordination, but trade that up for a ton of wit, the ability to persevere while in pain, endurance, self control, all the things we feel when we put our bodies to the test. This guy is a dork.

[assassin__x]

Wow, this is getting pretty wide spred. There was just a huge disscussion on this on the other fourm I frequent (East Coast Mountain Biking, ecmtb.com).

I just think it's a shame that he doesn't have an email address posted.

[han-grrl]

i was looking for a comment box to email to him too. I think he is just trying to rattle everyone's chain. I can't imagine ANYONE truly believing that cycling isn't a true sport. Someone mentioned to me that one of the athletes he mentions is a baseball player and baseball is considered a game not a sport. Anyway....

[Juliette]

This guy is clearly a jacka$$. Did you also notice that he covers boxing for the Boston Globe? That tells something. I don't understand how you can call it a "sport" when your only goal is to deliver enough force from your body to render your opponent unconcious.

I find it interesting that the other posts on this topic so far are from Canadians. From my vast travels in Canada (all three, soon to be four times):p I've noticed that many Canadians seem to be more open-minded regarding interest other sports. In the States, if you don't follow football, baseball or basketball, you are pretty much considered out of the loop.

I did agree with him on one issue, golf is not a sport.

[StormingColour]

from my point of view (and I think that I can speak for many canadians), a sport requires any component of fitness. Therefore, endurance sports (Distance running, hiking, biking) are everybit as valid as track sports (sprinting, high jump). Individual sports are important (canoeing, biking, climbing) where you only truly compete against yourself and the elements. Even if you need a partner for some of these, it is still YOUR accomplishment. Team sports are where you have a group of people striving for one goal. Hockey is the most important one here in Canada. We have our own football league (Bigger field and more strategy based than NFL).

Some people don't get it if you don't like hockey, but not like Americans and their sports. They don't consider other sports not valid just because it doesn't involve a team. We are much different here when it comes to that. You cannot get into a university on an athletic scolarship, only with high grades in academics. University sports are ususally only enjoyed by the students, are not televised except perhaps on local cable.

Too, I think because our widely varying temperatures, we HAVE to be open minded about sports. I would love to see someone play baseball in Timmins in January :)

Are these sports:

Bowling
archery
golf
baseball

or are they games?

[ayermail2]

I agree - if it requires fitness, it's a sport!

Go, La-ance! Go La-ance! Go La-ance!

I'd like to see Ron Borges try the Tour de France and see if it was ***only*** his seat that was sore! But, the man is entitled to his own opinion - even if he only has 3% of the vote!

[assassin__x]

Bowling
archery
golf
baseball

I think that these are more games than sports. Except maybe archery, which I have no idea what skills are involved in that. They require skill yes, but to me a sport requires physical stregth/endurance/speed, etc.

[han-grrl]

that everything is just a game or activity until someone gets hurt. then it's a sport!

hahahahaha

[DoubleLori]

I have to agree that golf is not a sport. I see it in the same category as video games or billiards. Any game in which an 80 year old can do as well as a 20 year old cannot possibly be called a sport. Most golf courses these days won't even LET someone walk the course. You have to rent a golf cart and use it! Disgusting. And then the pros want to kick Casey Martin out because he can't walk far even though most courses won't let people walk at all!

[goddess1222]

amen to that. golf is definitely in the couch potato category. i work in a restaurant and wait on a lot of golfers from local private clubs, and i can tell you they are about as out of shape as they come. most golfers are also extreme alcoholics too. they drink before, during and after golf.

i'd like to see one of these "sporty" fat guys do a century ride with the likes of some of our ladies on these boards. hmmmmmm.

goddess1222

[Trek420]

A long article but worth it to read. check out

http://www.bicycling.com/cda/article/1,1596,2261-102-101,00.html

Editorial response to the idiot in Question

TREK420

[goddess1222]

thank you trek420! great article! you rock! fact based info is such a breath of fresh air. have a great sunday.

[angriecow]

btw, as to biking not being hand eye coordination.... you need to do some hairpins with potholes....

[presfoxm]

Since the guy writes for the Boston Globe I sent him an email there, point by point refuting his article and needless to say heard nothing....