Has Lance motivated anyone else to get back on the bike!

[floridaguy]

Since it's about a gazillion degrees down here in Southwest Florida, and the humidity has been hovering around 100%, I haven't been too eager to go cycling lately. But after watching the Tour and getting excited about Lance winning a 6th one, I somehow dragged my lazy butt out there and put in some miles.

I just hope the original Rocky movie doesn't come on anytime soon. I don't know if I can handle drinking those raw eggs again :o

Ride Lance Ride!

[XNASA]

1. No, but he has motivated me to try and date Sheryl Crow.

If I can get permission from the Missus, that is.

[prolesunited]

27. You wish!

;-)

[Fovea]

2. Not get back on

because I am always on, but ride harder, faster?
Oh Yeah. I went out and rode a blisteringly fast two mile flat section near my house after the TTT stage. Just to see how fast I could go
moving flat out for a short haul.

Let's just say that for two miles, I could have hung on the back of the peloton in the TdF, which is not bad for a gimp.

Did I pay for it the next day? Does the pope shit in the woods?

[jay-3d]

3. 120 miles this week

[Fovea]

15. Good for You!

You rock... I have been riding about 40-50 a week in the heat of June/July, but I am missing the higher milage I did during spring.

[HuckleB]

4. No. In fact, it may be the opposite.

Not that it's Lance's fault, but the dorks who've got to ride in full faux race gear, with advertising jersyes and all drive me nuts. I know it shouldn't. It's no different than dorks wearing football or baseball jerseys, but...

OK. I admit it. I'm still riding as much as ever, despite the negative change in scenery. I just like to whine.

:nopity:

[floridaguy]

6. I think it's gone a little too far too

A little like playing dress-up.
I've been wearing my "Anyone But Bush" t-shirt.

[BiggJawn]

8. You sound like my girlfriend.

"Cut-offs, T-shirt, and Keds were plenty good when we were kids, so they're plenty good now. AND we didn't wear helmets and lived to tell about it..."

Yeah, but we didn't go on 30-plus -mile rides when we were kids, did we?
Yeah, I laugh at the old fat guys wearing full Phonak kit, but I'll give up my Coolmax-Lycra-SPD gear when they pry it off...

[HuckleB]

12. Actually, we did.

We used to ride from North Phoenix out to Lake Pleasant almost every week, on our BMXers, which was about a 40 mile round trip.

Nonetheless, I've got nothing against good equipment. There's a difference between good, functional clothing and wannabe styling, however.

[BiggJawn]

13. Yeah....

And the jersey for the "Old Guys who get Fat in Winter Racing Team" doesn't come in XXXL or XXXXL...

Figures...:-)

I ignore "Style Man", too...

[Fovea]

16. Right on

I don't have any team gear, but my
s/o describes my fashion style as 'variations on a theme of hi-vis."

[BiggJawn]

22. "Hi-Vis" is cool.

"Hey, mister! That shirt is BRIGHT!"

[floridaguy]

5. Don't you just love cycling?

I did a 150-mile two day MS benefit ride up in the hilly horse country in May. It was my first supported ride, because I usually tour alone (Oregon Coast, North Sea Coast of Holland)so it was great to have breaks with drinks, Power Bars, etc. I'm not that hardcore though. Usually I'll ride 20 or 30 in a day, unless I go for a 50 or 60 all-day ride. My bike weighs a ton. I'm actually riding a Cannondale mountain bike with slicks. Thinking about making the switch to touring bike though. Anyone know of a descent touring bike that I won't have to finance?

Do you think Lance will win? By how much? Will Basso be second?
Lastly, how do you feel about helmets? I struggle to wear one.

Happy and safe riding to you all.

[HuckleB]

11. Si.

I've stuck with my Gary Fisher for too long, as well, though I still use my old road bike (circa 1990) for kicks, it just doesn't have the updated equipment, and, even though it's slightly lighter, it's just a bit of an underperformer nowadays. As for buying a road bike, you can go any number of ways, but you'll probably get the most for your money if you buy used, either from an individual, if you are comfortable doing that, or a bike shop. Talk to your local shops. Let 'em know what you're looking for. They should be able to help, as there are enough nuts who buy a new bike every year, and who are looking to get rid of last year's model. Or come up to Oregon the first weekend in April and hit the Bike Gallery's Annual Sale, where all of last year's bikes are sold at the best discount I've seen on a new bike in my lifetime.

Yeah, Lance will win, probably by about 3 or 4 minutes over Basso, with Kloden coming third unless Ullrich makes a move on him tomorrow.

As for helmets, wear one. I'm a stickler on this one, and I still can't believe how stupid the riders in the peleton were all those years, until they were forced to wear them. I'm a nurse practitioner, and I've seen the results of more than my share of head injuries that could have been avoided or diminished with the use of a helmet. It's not worth the risk, especially for someone who puts on miles like you do. The odds are against you not needing that helmet at some point.

Salud!

Happy trails!

[Fovea]

24. I even wear one on the recumbent

and my ass is only 20 some inches off the road.
About 5 years working in an Emergency room makes you a believer in head gear.

[HuckleB]

25. Exactly.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

7. Not Lance, but guilt feelings

Here I have a perfectly good bike, and I live two blocks from a lake that has a 3-mile paved bike path around it.

Not riding seems like such a waste.

In fact, I just came back from circling the lake. I'm not in good biking shape, and the humidity is very high today, even in the early morning, so I had to stop for a break halfway around to sit on a bench, sip water, and watch the ducks for about five minutes before proceeding.

(Before you tell me what a wimp I am, I'm over 50 and haven't done much cycling in recent years. Even the walkers were remarking about the high humidity.)

[Fovea]

17. You are a hero every time you throw your leg over it.

And don't let any weight weenie wearing a postie jersey tell you otherwise.

[BiggJawn]

9. Did 27 miles in 2 hours last week

Doesn't seem like much, but I'm a 47-y-o obese diabetic...

[Fovea]

19. Hey, I understand.

I am 48, and have had a stroke/heartattack. I also am diabetic and have hypertension... so I really do understand.

Just keep at it. The maillot jaune for us is another year alive with all four limbs...

Tailwinds,
RealP

[earthside]

10. Lance is a Bore

I love the Tour. I ride constantly.

But just like any sport where one team or one person dominates to the exclusion of real competition ... Armstrong has made the Tour this year a non-event.

Lance should have retired from the race and stood in the ranks of the other great five-time winners. But typical Bush-like Texan, he's got to crush all oppponents for the glory of the America.

Oh hum. Lance is a bore.

[BiggJawn]

14. So's Ullrich

Geez, why doesn't the guy buy a clue? 5 times a bridesmaid, never a bride...
Should've given it up and gone into Real Estate YEARS ago...

[MousePlayingDaffodil]

26. Actually . . . .

. . . Ullrich won the Tour de France in 1997.

[BiggJawn]

29. I know, but since then?

I don't go with all this "Geez, Lance, why don't you retire and let somebody else win?" stuff.

Reminds me of the jerk who won't let you go home after playing cards all night, "C'mon, man, you GOT to let me try and win my money back!"

What was he doing all evening?

Don't give 'em any ideas, else next year the TdF organizers will announce the "can't ride after 6 wins" rule...

[prolesunited]

18. I leave for RAGBRAI on Friday

:D

Event begins Sunday. Seven days, 490 miles.

[Fovea]

20. Have a good time

and don't drink too much beer, as my buddies always do.
I and my s/o will be riding the KATY again in August.

[prolesunited]

21. Actually, I don't drink beer at all

Hate the way it tastes. Am I weird, or what?

I rode the KATY last year in August as well. I was alone and car camped. I think I did about 225 miles of that in three days.

Here's some pics I took on that adventure.
http://homepage.mac.com/prolesunited/Through_My_Eyes/PhotoAlbum34.html

[Fovea]

23. A lot of riders I know

consider it a food group all by itself.

I like a beer now and again, but when I ride through mid Missouri, I have to have stop at the occaisional winery in Rocheport or Hermann...

[DS1]

28. I've been on the bike, but now I'm a short walk away from a huge

and almost deserted college-sized gym, I've hit some of the machines.

I'm going to *clap* pahmp you up!

[YellowRubberDuckie]

30. No...

But for some reason his new nike commercial makes me cry.
Duckie

[KG]

31. i actually dig riding in the florida heat and sunshine.

like paradise.

[floridaguy]

32. I'm digging all the DU clyclists out there

Thanks for the comments about buying a bike. Used one makes a lot of sense. I've heard all about the Iowa race. Can you tell me again what RAGBRAI stands for? And where is the KATY Or V race? Sorry for all the Q's, but I'm just psyched that there's so many other cyclists out there. I promise to try to wear my helmet every ride, and if I don't and get hurt, it's my own damn fault. (Little stupidity and stubborness mixed together) So KG, how long have you lived in Florida? It's usually our newer residents that "love" the heat. I'm a native, which gives me some kind of seniority and the god-given right to bitch about the heat. Thankfully, I'll be up in New Hampshire and North Carolina next month trying to cool off. I'm actually gonna volunteer for either ACT or the Kerry campaign in NH, and hopefully do a little riding. And you recumbent riders, I hate you guys. On the tour in May, I'd ride by the recumbents, and all I could think about was how damned comfortable they looked. One guy had a notebook-sized sign taped on his seat which read "George Bush, Public Enemy #1" Of course I complimented him on the sign.

Great to hear from all of you and happy cycling!

[bikebloke]

33. Never got off

My bike is my car. Year around, no matter what the weather. Though I prefer the heat to the cold. I have a touring bike, so I can haul my weekly groceries with it. I don't believe in the costumes. I'm certainly glad I discovered sport sandals. When I was touring for a year, wearing shoes then laundering socks by hand was a pain.

[floridaguy]

34. So Caledoni, where did you tour?

I'm always interested to hear other touring stories.