Tour of California

[sallen21t]

Has anyone been watching the Tour of California or following it? It has been pretty interesting. Lance Armstrong has been struggling unfortunately. Anyway, curious to hear what people think. ;)

[sallen21t]

In case you aren't following and want to check it out here is a good site I've been using to follow the action. Bruce Hildenbrand has a great blog featured on the site also.

Tour of California (http://www.active.com/cycling/tourofcalifornia.htm?act=AFC-SocialMedia&Property=Active&Sport=Cycling&PageType=Content_SpSections&Emp=SA&PostType=New_Forum_Thread&Site=TeamEstrogen&Dy=2_18_09&Note=)

[ItchyBits]

Struggling? - finishing in the pack - the ToC is not his A race - his A race is the TdeFrance.

[Kalidurga]

Yo, Betty! Very cool to see you here.

I keep wondering if people think that Lance is struggling because they don't understand that he's working in a domestique capacity for this race. He's publicly said that he's working for Levi to win. It's interesting to watch him in this new role. Just a few stages in, he seems to be handling it well.

[Becky]

I keep wondering if people think that Lance is struggling because they don't understand that he's working in a domestique capacity for this race. He's publicly said that he's working for Levi to win. It's interesting to watch him in this new role. Just a few stages in, he seems to be handling it well.

Very good point. The whole "crashing into a motorbike" thing is also a factor, I think: http://cyclingnews.com/road/2009/feb09/california09/?id=/news/2009/feb09/feb17news3

[Aggie_Ama]

He has said he is not quite in form which would not be expected. He is trying to peak for the Giro and ultimately the Tour de France. I was surprised to see he did something bone headed like hit his own motorbike, he had some mad bike handling skills which I witnessed when personally when he was mountain biking.

The race is Levi's to lose, he is a great form and is hungry. Unless he keeps falling over like yesterday he will be tough to beat. I am still hoping for the DZ upset, I just love the Argyle!

Overall the biggest loser in the ATOC is VS. The coverage sucks! And they keep cutting off for hockey, bull riding, basket weaving. :mad:

[kacie tri-ing]

I agree about the coverage! I was really looking forward to the end last night, and then they did not even show it! AH!!!!:mad:

[Kalidurga]

If you're following the race at the Amgen site, they keep explaining that their coverage issues are due to the weather. I assume that Vs. has the same situation, since it seems that Vs's TdF coverage is always borked when it rains.

[kacie tri-ing]

I know about the rain, but yesterday was tough because they started late, so they didn't get to show the end :-(

[Jo-n-NY]

I didn't think to go on the Amgen site. I see it is on now with sunny skies.

~ JoAnn

[Aggie_Ama]

No I understand the weather, it is the cutting out to start a hockey game that stinks. :mad:

[limewave]

Is it bad if I leave the kiddo at daycare an extra 15-20 minutes tonight so I can watch ToC? I did bring her in 20 minutes later than normal this morning . . .

[ItchyBits]

Hey there! I am lurking everywhere! He he he he:cool:

[Kalidurga]

I may unfortunately have to give up on the Amgen coverage. The site just froze my computer for the second day in a row. Shame, I really like having the video feed right next to live coverage. Edit: Problem solved. I remote-connected to another computer in the office that's not being used and pulled the site up there. Where there's a will, there's a way :D

limewave, it's only bad if your child grows up to hate cycling because of being left at daycare ;)

[limewave]

limewave, it's only bad if your child grows up to hate cycling because of being left at daycare ;)

. . . she never needs to know.

[Aggie_Ama]

Only if she hates daycare.

[emily_in_nc]

Even Lance twittered on Versus' poor coverage yesterday:

I heard from lots of folks that Versus cut off Tour of California coverage for hockey. Lame!
-about 19 hours ago from TwitterBerry

:D

[arielmoon]

Hey was I the only psyched to get to see the women's race from the day before when Stage 1 could not be seen?? Awesome!

Yesterday, I was really disappointed to tape 3 hours of versus only miss the end due to a hockey game. Grrr!

Today I have the live feed from the amgen sight. Liking that a lot.

So far, I am very impressed with Lance. He is doing a great job as a domestique with Levi on his wheel (sometimes too close- OUCH!) so much of the time.

[Kalidurga]

For anyone who's followed the last few days, Fatty's liveblogging (http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009/02/18/tour-of-california-liveblog-stage-4-merced-to-clovis/#comment-425515) again today.

[TxDoc]

No I understand the weather, it is the cutting out to start a hockey game that stinks. :mad:

Try cycling tv - at least they show the whole thing! Usually they have no or very few interruptions, unless there is a problem with the weather like the other day. The only downside of ctv is that it's live streaming video on the web, so it's supposed to be watched on a computer. BUT - you can always connect the computer to your tv to see the race on a larger screen :D

[emily_in_nc]

It ran over again today, but Versus covered the entire thing. Yay! :)

[Aint Doody]

Yes! They showed the finish. How exciting. I find myself getting all up and leaning forward at the finish. Hurray for VS today!

[smurfalicious]

OMG I'm gonna cry! My baby was supposed to win! He worked soooo hard! I caved and put it on a computer at the store because I couldn't handle it!!! Some inconsiderate customer had the nerve to want to buy things and I missed the end! Ugh, most courageous jersey boo!!! Stage win, it was supposed to be a stage win!

Alex the owner of the store we merged with was laughing at me! I was swooning, cheering, screaming, jumping up and down in full fan girl bloom. She said I looked like I was about to, um, eh hem, have a rather happy time. :D What? If I was born in the 50s back when girls swooned so bad they squealed and passed out at concerts I'm sure I would have. Being a product of the 80s this is my makeup for missing out on that.

*sigh* He used to shop at our store but has gone MIA. Hope that doesn't mean he didn't keep his puppies, or that he's not cheating on us at another store.

[Jo-n-NY]

It ran over again today, but Versus covered the entire thing. Yay! :)

+1

I get back from lunch at 2 and with my work pretty much done for the day I enjoyed watching the Amgen coverage on my computer until 3:30 when I leave for home then resume watching it on tv.

I also caught the ladies race the other day. Despite the coverage mishaps, I am still finding the ATOC very exciting!!!!

~ JoAnn

[limewave]

Well, I ended up picking DD up from daycare on time. But, surprisingly, she watched ToC with me between playing. She kept pointing at the screen exclaiming proudly, "I do that. And I run too." That's my girl!

I'm so happy VS showed the finish!!!!

[Aggie_Ama]

OMG I'm gonna cry! My baby was supposed to win! He worked soooo hard! I caved and put it on a computer at the store because I couldn't handle it!!! Some inconsiderate customer had the nerve to want to buy things and I missed the end! Ugh, most courageous jersey boo!!! Stage win, it was supposed to be a stage win!


He needs a cooler kit. Brighter blue or something, looks too much like the rest of the team. Fire Michael Ball from designing the national champion, we had such high hopes for the kit! We were laughing at Phil and Paul commenting on it.

Nice of Tyler to share coke with the boys on climb #2. The Belgian didn't want any but I guess Jason needed a shot of Caffeine. :p

At least I could understand Cavendish today, normally I want subtitles for him and he is speaking English! When it came to a sprint I wanted Thor to SMASH again.

I love Freire, such a chipper little man and now out. And Kirchen he just looks nice, that was a big bummer. At least it wasn't big George.

[ItchyBits]

Picked off RBR: "Overheard: "To have someone like him pulling in the wind for me at the end, there's no backing down, there's no excuses -- I have to come through." -- Levi Leipheimer on another personal motivator, teammate Lance Armstrong."

[kacie tri-ing]

He needs a cooler kit. Brighter blue or something, looks too much like the rest of the team. Fire Michael Ball from designing the national champion, we had such high hopes for the kit! We were laughing at Phil and Paul commenting on it.

Nice of Tyler to share coke with the boys on climb #2. The Belgian didn't want any but I guess Jason needed a shot of Caffeine. :p

At least I could understand Cavendish today, normally I want subtitles for him and he is speaking English! When it came to a sprint I wanted Thor to SMASH again.

I love Freire, such a chipper little man and now out. And Kirchen he just looks nice, that was a big bummer. At least it wasn't big George.



I loved when they shared the coke too!

[Aggie_Ama]

Craig Hummer must stop saying they are breaking wind.

Did anyone hear the other day when they said Horner went to get a double cheeseburger with onions? I was wondering if it was In and Out? Maybe he is breaking wind if he is eating like that. :p

[li10up]

Lance struggling? How do you figure? I haven't looked at today's stage but he finished yesterday in 4th overall and only 30 seconds behind the leader (Go Levi!). How is that struggling? I'd hate to think what the guys in 100+ positions think about that.

[smurfalicious]

It was In and Out Burger. That's my hometown boy! Eating like a trucker! LOVE IT!!!! Pity they won't be at the Cascade Classic this year seeing as how they should be at the TdF again.

Does anyone know what went down? Like how Tyler and friends not only got caught but swallowed? Looking at the results from yesterday it looks like he was in after the main peloton? I know their lead wasn't great but then like I said some rude customer made me miss it. :D I tried finding clips but they didn't fill in the missing info.

And yeah, Tyler's kindness is legendary around here. Doesn't surprise me, bummed that I missed it though. Sounded kinda cute/sweet.

[Aggie_Ama]

I feel asleep when they got in the flats but it seems like the got caught coming into the final town. I woke up to see the sprint. The peleton made up a lot of ground descending. As you know they had a nice lead but not huge so they got gobbled up. I didn't think they got spit off the back, but again I slept after the last climb until the sprint.

I remember back before his suspension he was one of the nice guys of the peleton. It was funny, he cracks open the coke, drinks some, then nudges Belgian who shakes his head, he pedals up to Jason who happily takes it. It always makes me laugh when they are drinking coke because I crave Coke like a mad woman on long rides and centuries. I wanna slap someone for a coke! Too bad I don't have a team car to hand one off.

And how the heck do those guys unclip and stretch descending? Jason McCartney was unlcipped stretching a quad when the motorbike showed they were going 40 mph. :eek:

[ny biker]

Craig Hummer must stop saying they are breaking wind.

YES! I laugh every time he says that.

Is Garmin Slipstream still sponsored by Chipotle? Last year the speculation was that they were "wind" powered thanks to all those burritos...

[ny biker]

And how the heck do those guys unclip and stretch descending? Jason McCartney was unlcipped stretching a quad when the motorbike showed they were going 40 mph. :eek:


I'm impressed by how they dress and undress on the bike. With a crosswind.

I can barely reach for my water bottle without falling over.

[Aggie_Ama]

YES! I laugh every time he says that.

Is Garmin Slipstream still sponsored by Chipotle? Last year the speculation was that they were "wind" powered thanks to all those burritos...

I think it is no longer a title sponsor but yes they are still powered by Chipotle. The burrito is in the back pocket of the jersey.

I wish we had thought to keep count of how many times he said it, that is what is getting more humorous. He is a guy he must know what he is saying.

[Aggie_Ama]

I'm impressed by how they dress and undress on the bike. With a crosswind.

I can barely reach for my water bottle without falling over.

Ditto!! I can drink okay, unless it is real windy. I get dehydrated because I am to scared to let go of the bars and they are pulling off leg warmers! Don't get me started on Mancebo urinating from the bike day before yesterday. :eek:

[Eden]

Ditto!! I can drink okay, unless it is real windy. I get dehydrated because I am to scared to let go of the bars and they are pulling off leg warmers! Don't get me started on Mancebo urinating from the bike day before yesterday. :eek:

boys come slightly better equipped for the ease such acts than women do..... (and a good camera man/director should recognize the nature breaks and politely shoot something else/switch to a different camera....)

I don't think I've ever tried to remove leg warmers..., but as long as its not a sketchy road or really windy I don't have a problem with jacket/arm warmers on the go. I wouldn't try it in the peleton though... any risk of taking others down is enough to squash the desire..

[Aggie_Ama]

boys come slightly better equipped for the ease such acts than women do..... (and a good camera man/director should recognize the nature breaks and politely shoot something else/switch to a different camera....)

I don't think I've ever tried to remove leg warmers..., but as long as its not a sketchy road or really windy I don't have a problem with jacket/arm warmers on the go. I wouldn't try it in the peleton though... any risk of taking others down is enough to squash the desire..


In the cameraman's defense it was the day he was in yellow and they quickly moved along. :eek:

Arm warmers and jackets, I can remove. I have never tried leg warmers but I have enough trouble unclipping. There is a reason I ride for the pure joy of it and don't attempt racing. ;)

[Eden]

In the cameraman's defense it was the day he was in yellow and they quickly moved along. :eek:

Arm warmers and jackets, I can remove. I have never tried leg warmers but I have enough trouble unclipping. There is a reason I ride for the pure joy of it and don't attempt racing. ;)

Some of it is experience on the part of the camera guy... there often are some cues that a nature break is about to occur (if they are in a group one guy being pushed by another is a big tip off).... but I doubt the camera people here have the many years experience as the guy shooting the big tours around here.. and even the Euros don't catch, er miss, all of them... I know if it were me I'd be so freaked out by sitting backwards on a speeding motorcycle that I'd have a hard time concentrating on the shots...

[smurfalicious]

http://velonews.com/photo/88231

http://velonews.com/photo/88229

Okay yeah hurray for him winning two but really? The check out my junk point? I mean it continued onward, there was no intention of raising those arms skyward. Come on boys, the podium hussies are bad enough. Sure it's good for the local strippers to get work in the struggling economy but ick ick ick!!! :p

[Aggie_Ama]

My husband thinks his intention was to point to his legs but yeah I was totally getting the "look at my junk!" vibe from it. I really think he is arrogant when he wins and a good teammate when they interview. He lives in a barn, I have trouble believing he is a completely arrogant *** all day. He needs to work on his victory salutes, he should watch tape of his idol, Robbie McEwen for inspiration. :p

You know they say the strip clubs and porn industry is hurting as well, maybe they are moonlighting. ;)

[katluvr]

I was wondering about that victory "point". It was a bit odd. So funny to "hear" the discussion here.
I think most atheletes can come across as "arrogant". I think often you have to really think "you are all that" --psychologically think you are the best to compete at that level. True, some are less arrogant than others.
Mostly I have a really hard time understanding him. It is like he has marbles in his mouth.
But I DO like watching him sprint!
So today is TT....I have my bike on teh trainer in front of the TV. So that is my plan...to pedal and watch them TT. I plan on an easy spin for myself!

[smurfalicious]

Hmmm, I lived in a barn for two years so I could have my horse close and be at a facility where I could work/train my barrel horse 5-6 days a week. Funny thing though, all that dedication, selling my MTB to buy a trailer so I could compete without having to borrow one, got me nowhere and I was always super humble. Perhaps arrogance was the key. I could have been the next Charmayne James and all those sponsors missed their chance!

On another note, I've been discussing with a coworker that I could never win a bike race because, well, I cannot ride sans handlebars despite my love of the Flobots song. So we've been thinking up other ideas in case my crit career this summer proves successful. Well, Cavendish, thanks for your help! I have decided to learn to let go of my bars to perform my newly created "Cavenb*tch!" Step one - thrust bust forward as far as possible. Step two - use index and middle finger to point toward your tatas!

I will unfortunately be putting a trademark or some such on the Cavenb*tch. After Lance went and put FSU on his bottom bracket and sucked the joy out of my favorite FSU, um "Fornicate stuff up," I simply cannot trust anyone is the cycling world.

[malkin]

Bald Bobke is hot!!

[gingerale]

Please excuse...I've just gotten into riding less than a yr ago. Watched "some" of The Tour last summer but not enough. I have a question about the crowds at California. In some places, onlookers just seem to be in the way. Seems like some fans are being too risky by getting out in the road too much (saw a guy taking pics the other day right at a curve on a mountain and nearly hit Lance, I think, in the face with his camera). I can see how they could cause a racer to crash at times. Is this just the norm for these races?? Just curious.

[ny biker]

Yup, that's the way it is.

[Kalidurga]

And that ain't nothin' compared to the rowdy crowds on the mountain stages of the TdF.

[gingerale]

Well then I can't wait for July then. lol I have enjoyed this one alot.

[channlluv]

D*H works at Akamai, the company that streams video for these big events, so gets to put the race on one of his desktop monitors all day. He said the guy with the longhorns was pushed aside by one of the peloton riders or he would have injured someone. The guy running in the pope costume was funny, though.

I'm watching the race on their site - I agree that Versus coverage has been really lacking.

My Christmas gift to D*H is a ticket to the VIP tent today, for the end stage - he's going with a cycling buddy from work. I hope he has fun. DD and I will be watching from home.

Roxy

ed: I'm watching them ascend toward Palomar and I'm really wishing I could be up there representing in a TE jersey. Woooohoooooo!

ed: so are the fans atop Palomar giving the crazies in France a run for their money or what? Streakers? Really? bahahahahahahaaaa

[Kalidurga]

Ack. AToC is definitely beginning to take on a wild TdF feeling. Amgen's Tour Tracker coverage just showed a guy in a Borat'kini running alonside the break :eek: I could'a done without that.

[TrekTheKaty]

Oh, my GOD! This is the worst coverage of any sporting event ever! Are the interns doing this one? First, no coverage because of the weather. Then, they kept cutting off the end. NOW, the tivo didn't catch it because it was preempted for the PBR and only taped the first 10 minutes (at least it was the end they missed the previous day!) I realize cycling has a small fan base in America, but this was their chance (Lance's comeback) to attract an audience. After that poor coverage, they won't gain any fans. AARRGGGGH. The blog updates on the ToC website, only frustrated me more. The TV coverage didn't show anything from the live feed!

[Kalidurga]

You were watching the wrong stuff. The Amgen site was great, and Fatty's liveblogging was even better ;)

Great race this year. It was so gratifying to see those TdF-type crowds, showing just how successful and lucrative this race can be. Cavendish even said it, the U.S. finally has a world-class multi-stage bike race. Wahoo!

And a bit of a SPOILER but I gotta say it, so don't squint if you haven't seen the finale:














Yaaaaaaay, Dave Z!!! :D:D:D:D:D:D

[Aggie_Ama]

We recorded the final stage and seem to have gotten everything? :confused:

Best quote from the final stage "That man was trying to give away his infant" and the reply "yes, I saw that". I could not stop laughing!

Worst quote? Craig made sure to say someone was "breaking wind". I wonder if you can email him to make sure he learns before the Tour because I know he will be the village idiot for the grand tours.

[ny biker]

I didn't have any trouble with the tour coverage on Vs. after the first couple of days. I set the DVR to run 1 hour past the expected end time, and was able to record all of it as a result.

As for the first few days with the weather problems, that could have happened at any race. If they can't fly the planes and helicopters due to bad weather, there's nothing they can do about it.

Now, here are my questions, after watching the final stage:

What is the point of dressing in a strange outfit and running alongside the racers when they're climbing?

What the hell is wrong with the two guys who were running along with their babies, jostling them and probably traumatizing them in the process?

And why is it that you only see men doing this?

[Kalidurga]

Now, here are my questions, after watching the final stage:

What is the point of dressing in a strange outfit and running alongside the racers when they're climbing?

What the hell is wrong with the two guys who were running along with their babies, jostling them and probably traumatizing them in the process?

And why is it that you only see men doing this?

I did see a few women running alongside the riders, though they weren't in strange costumes or dragging small children. These questions could apply to a lot of sporting events. I mean, why do guys strip half-naked and paint themselves in team colors for football games in the middle of winter? It's obviously some sort of primal, caveman urge ;)

And my question is: Is anyone else feeling withdrawal symptoms this morning? It's not bad enough I feel this way in August, now I'm gonna feel it at the end of February, too?

[Possegal]

I was so paranoid when they rode by me in a stage of the tour de France that I think I was frozen in my tracks. I did NOT want to end up a Versus highlight by catching Lance's handlebars on my camera strap, or something like that. :)

[redrhodie]

And my question is: Is anyone else feeling withdrawal symptoms this morning? It's not bad enough I feel this way in August, now I'm gonna feel it at the end of February, too?

Yes. Need bike race. Please.

[Aggie_Ama]

And my question is: Is anyone else feeling withdrawal symptoms this morning? It's not bad enough I feel this way in August, now I'm gonna feel it at the end of February, too?


No fear, there is at least Cyclism Sundays starting very soon or what is VS calling it now "THE EPIC CYCLE"? Start the debate on the use of the word Epic. :p But the Spring Classics are here, let the sufferfests begin.

The best was another board I read showed Lance pushing over the "Clean Cycling" devil. Into the snow but dang it was funny.

[Kalidurga]

The best was another board I read showed Lance pushing over the "Clean Cycling" devil. Into the snow but dang it was funny.

I read about that but didn't see it. Got a link?

And, yeah, I'm excited for the Spring Classics. I've actually never kept up with the Paris-Roubaix race, but it's high on my list this year.

[Aggie_Ama]

I always have been stoked for the Roubaix. This year I hope is Big George's he seems cursed with it.

Here is an article with photos:

http://www.examiner.com/x-2490-Denver-Endurance-Sports-Examiner~y2009m2d21-Lance-Armstrong-confronts-doping--Liveclean-devil-on-the-road

[katluvr]

I did see a few women running alongside the riders, though they weren't in strange costumes or dragging small children. These questions could apply to a lot of sporting events. I mean, why do guys strip half-naked and paint themselves in team colors for football games in the middle of winter? It's obviously some sort of primal, caveman urge ;)

And my question is: Is anyone else feeling withdrawal symptoms this morning? It's not bad enough I feel this way in August, now I'm gonna feel it at the end of February, too?

Yes, I do feel withdrawal symptoms. I plan to spin on the trainer when I get home...but no cycling to watch. What will I do all week after work? :(

[Norse]

I always have been stoked for the Roubaix. This year I hope is Big George's he seems cursed with it.

Here is an article with photos:

http://www.examiner.com/x-2490-Denver-Endurance-Sports-Examiner~y2009m2d21-Lance-Armstrong-confronts-doping--Liveclean-devil-on-the-road

I too have been hooked on Paris-Roubaix and following George's never-ending, Quixotic quest to finally win it. Plus, it is great fun watching them race over the cobblestones and through the forest.

[Kalidurga]

This (http://unholyrouleur-jim.blogspot.com/2008/04/paris-roubaix.html) is what made me realize I'd been missing something in not following Paris-Roubaix. This year will be different.

And I love those photos of Lance shoving the Devil. Gotta wonder how many of his fellow riders wished they could have taken their hands off the bars and applauded him. I'd bet they'd love to shove each and every one of those doofii who get too close.

[redrhodie]

I too have been hooked on Paris-Roubaix and following George's never-ending, Quixotic quest to finally win it. Plus, it is great fun watching them race over the cobblestones and through the forest.

Remember the one where his handlebars broke! He really is jinxed.

I love the spring classics.

[Aggie_Ama]

Remember the one where his handlebars broke! He really is jinxed.

I love the spring classics.

That was horrifying. His form was so great that year and then poof stupid freak accident. Then the last year with Disco he breaks his frikkin wrist in Cali. Last year he missed the group that got away.

I love Roubaix and Flanders. Cobbles and crummy weather, I like it!

[Norse]

I really thought he was going to win it that year. Perhaps he is hopelessly jinxed. With that image burned in my mind though, when I had some play in my front end last year, I took it right in. LBO guys told me if I had left it a while longer, I would have "done a George.":eek: