Get these guys a cheeseburger!

[snapdragen]

And fries! Yeah, I know - they're bike racers, they're supposed to be skinny, but.......geez. It looks like the only one with a bit of meat on his bones is Thor Hushovd (Thor will smash!)

skinny bike boys (http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2006/tour06/index.php?id=/photos/2006/tour06/medical/gallery-medical)

Georgie H looks like he'd blow away in a good wind, Tom Boonen needs a cookie.

[SadieKate]

Why do you think they have such eating disorders and other health problems later in life? Sheesh. You ever seen a skinny old retired pro cyclist?

[Grog]

I love the tan lines. :)

I won't show this to my SO, he'll start worry about getting fat again...

[Selkie]

I agree---give them a year's supply of Oreo Doublestuffs and some Reese's Peanut Butter cups. Remember those Charles Atlas ads in comic books (or maybe it was Mad Magazine) back in the 70s? Those fellows look like the poor guy who got sand kicked in his face by the big hunk at the beach.

[margo49]

Bike porn....

Pass me my *new June SS water-bottle*...before I faint.

Btw...isn't there a law against this kind of photograhy?!?

[Nanci]

Apparntly how much you weigh makes a HUGE difference, I learned while reading "Lance Armstrong's War."

Nanci

[DrBee]

If they're this skinny now - Imagine what they'll look like after the Tour!

[slinkedog]

Thanks for this, Snap. :) Made me smile after the Ullrich/Basso thing.

[jobob]

(Thor will smash!) OMG, that was the funniest blog ever ! Do you have the link, snap? I hope he does it again.

For those going "huh?", last year, or maybe the year before, some guy was staying at home with his newborn baby and was up at all hours tending to the baby and watching the Tour. He had a stream-of-conciousness blog that was absolutely hilarious, and got even funnier as the weeks progressed and his sleep deprivation reached new heights. He was a Thor Hushovd fan and practically every entry included the chant THOR WILL SMASH.

Anyhoo, I think that was story.

[Grog]

If they're this skinny now - Imagine what they'll look like after the Tour!

I just hope they're not starving themselves during the Tour!!!

Actually, I don't think they do. It's probably the last race of the season for many of them.

Weight makes a difference of course but a lot of it is psychological. The way racers look at each other and talk about each other (the famous Lance 'Jan is 10 lbs overweight" is clearly intended at crushing the guy's spirit!)... they are really sensitive to weight. Some of it is founded in actual effects on the road, the rest is strategy!!

[DrBee]

I realize they eat tons of food. Not much fat to go around there!

That blog sounds hilarious! Sorry I missed that.

[Lenusik]

I'd say they still look better then chunky porkers (sorry) who stick their knees out and you cannot see thier handlebars behind thier backs. I am not being very politically correct. :)

[doc]

Yikes. If you're not going to eat a banana split, then put some clothes on. Ick. Personally, I like guys with a bigger upper body. I don't find the wispy, shall we say, torso and arms at all attractive. I don't want to worry that I might crush them with a hug!

[maillotpois]

Why do you think they have such eating disorders and other health problems later in life? Sheesh. You ever seen a skinny old retired pro cyclist?


Did you guys see Lance on The Daily Show? He's bulked up - and looks VERY healthy.

Al Gore (also on The Daily Show recently) has perhaps bulked up a little too much....

[DrBee]

I had noticed that Lance looked like he had put on some weight - which was good. Perhaps Al Gore has had a few too many cheeseburgers.

[Cindyloo]

I'm more like Magnus Backstedt, a 205 lb cycling machine! :p

[Grog]

Indeed: I have see Al Gore at UBC about a month ago and instantly thought he should have arrived on a bike, not in the university president's Prius (hybrid car).

[snapdragen]

I think it would be interesting to see these guys compete at a normal, healthy weight.

[Dianyla]

It's guys like these that give normal or hefty male cyclists a huge self-image problem. I'm a huge fan of Fat Cyclist (http://fatcyclist.spaces.msn.com/PersonalSpace.aspx)'s blog, personally.

[Adventure Girl]

Remember this guy? He may have had a few too many cheeseburgers, too!:eek:
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=4399

[ladyjai]

It's guys like these that give normal or hefty male cyclists a huge self-image problem. I'm a huge fan of Fat Cyclist (http://fatcyclist.spaces.msn.com/PersonalSpace.aspx)'s blog, personally.

funny to think we ladies do the same thing....

i agree with all you gals, those guys are way too skinny.

[mary9761]

You've got to imagine these guys are the equivalent of bike Jockeys or prima ballerinas. There is probably as much pressure on them to stay below a certain weight/body fat ratio much like the former. Jockeys go through intense, training/eating rituals to keep weight. I'd imagine that's part of what these racers do as well. Sad really.