Is this odd?

[bikerHen]

I had a interesting conversation with a lady at work the other day and it just seems odd. She came in to talk about quilting, I was at my computer and have the naked Lance on a bike as my background. I'm sure you all remember THAT thread. Anyway, she saw it and said it looked like Lance. I said it was and she got all excited and asked if I was a Tour fan. I watched and enjoyed it this year for the first time and said so. She said she and DH are huge fans of the Tour. I asked if she rode a bike and got this "you have got to be kidding stare" while she said "of course not" She then when on to say how they never miss watching the Tour, won't go anywhere in July so they won't miss anything, etc. etc. She was just nuts about it!

I know there are alot of Tour fans here. But you also engage in the sport. I guess it's like a rabid armchair football fan that never played the game, but the Tour just doesn't strike me as "that" kind of sport. Am I right or wrong?! Biker-Still scratching my head over this-Hen

[alpinerabbit]

Heck if your guy always wins, no problem being a rabid fan. Let's just see who does it this year.

[luv'nAustin]

Perhaps she is inspired by his cancer survival...she could have a personal connection with someone in her life who overcame the disease. Or maybe they just like looking at that fine tuned body in motion. It all works for me!

[cindysue]

I guess it's like a rabid armchair football fan that never played the game,

plenty of those types around - you know live vicariously. Doesn't seem too wierd to me. But that was one of the reasons I broke up with my ex. He liked to watch sports, I like to play. Different strokes!

[allabouteva]

I don't think it's too weird. I hope I don't sound too corny, but Lance transcends the sport. I recall that he even made international male sports star of the year a little while ago.

Cycling is a huge spectator sport in Australia, in the sense that Australia has many world classed cyclists, and as a sport does very well at the Olympics. I remember really enjoying the team pursuits and watching the road races etc, even when I wasn't cycling (what there was a time I didn't cycle, it's totally consumed my life now!)

So I can relate!

Eva

[bouncybouncy]

It may seem a bit wierd because cycling (in the USA) is a relatively new "spectator" sport...
***note: I said spectator sport in the USA. and of course we can assume it is because of Lance's success. to a non-cyclist, watching cycling is probably the equivalent to watching golf as a non-golfer (before Tiger married...hehe) until of course this super-human American was winning for a record breaking 7 times!!!

Do you think football was ever wierd to watch???

[Geonz]

I would think that it would be like being a fan of an Ironman athlete and being asked if you'd ever done an Ironman. I don't think it's odd at all - cycling just hit the limelight enough to be appreciated by people who don't do it.

[SadieKate]

I think those of us inside the cycling community sometimes don't understand Lance's impact on the cancer world. My parents certainly don't cycle but they were glued to the TdF. He is a household name because of his cancer survival followed up with the TdF wins and then his efforts for patients and families.

My dad is an avid NBA fan. When I watch games with him I'm always amazed at the number of yellow bands (though I haven't watched this year). It reminds me of Lance's scope of influence.