The Cycling Thread

[SanteeFats]

Okay I mean no disparagement here so don't don't go ballistic on me. What is the thrill in following cycling? I equate it almost like auto racing where everyone is turning left. To me it is boring but I am open to reason. Maybe.

[cicciobuki]

Originally Posted by SanteeFats

Okay I mean no disparagement here so don't don't go ballistic on me. What is the thrill in following cycling? I equate it almost like auto racing where everyone is turning left. To me it is boring but I am open to reason. Maybe.

For me personally, the largest part of the fun are the commentators. I like to hear them talking, filling up these hours where there is not much to see. Often i do something else while i listen (and not really watch)... It's maybe also part nostalgia: my late grandfather used to watch the tour when i was a kid and since then i associate it with July/summer. (i'm someobody who enjoys audiobooks and podcasts, so maybe that explains some things)

As for the cycling itself, the mountains can be fun to watch (descending a mountain especially is pretty spectacular, and who doesn't like to sot and watch others suffering, trying to climb up a hill? )

But cycling without (good) comments would be an efficient way to make you fall asleep peacefully, indeed

[mizlaplan]

Originally Posted by cicciobuki

For me personally, the largest part of the fun are the commentators. I like to hear them talking, filling up these hours where there is not much to see. Often i do something else while i listen (and not really watch)... It's maybe also part nostalgia: my late grandfather used to watch the tour when i was a kid and since then i associate it with July/summer. (i'm someobody who enjoys audiobooks and podcasts, so maybe that explains some things)

As for the cycling itself, the mountains can be fun to watch (descending a mountain especially is pretty spectacular, and who doesn't like to sot and watch others suffering, trying to climb up a hill? )

But cycling without (good) comments would be an efficient way to make you fall asleep peacefully, indeed

Hear hear
I used to be a real petrolhead, especially regarding Formula 1 but technology has ruined that once great sport.
Cycling seems to me a more honest way of making your way through stunningly beautiful countryside.
Well done France for resisting the pressure to GTECH the Tour
Man and machine, sometimes it works perfectly.

[fordprefect739]

Originally Posted by SanteeFats

Okay I mean no disparagement here so don't don't go ballistic on me. What is the thrill in following cycling? I equate it almost like auto racing where everyone is turning left. To me it is boring but I am open to reason. Maybe.

Are you just trolling? I don't find soccer interesting but I don't go into the soccer thread and ask people why they find it interesting.

Like any sport, if you're involved with it in some way, it becomes more interesting. I used to play golf a lot and back then I would like to watch golf. I never played football and don't know a lot about it and I don't find it all that interesting.

You don't know cycling so you don't know all the things that go into it, which is why you aren't going to find it interesting.

NASCAR/Indycar tends to be just turning left but a lot of other auto racing uses much more varied courses. Formula 1 would be an example of that.

Currently, the biggest cycling event of the year, the Tour de France is going on. They race over 2000 miles in three weeks. They ride over the Alps and the Pyrenees mountains. You don't know what that takes. It's one of the most physically demanding sporting events in the world. It requires incredible preparation and conditioning. It also a team sport and it requires smart tactics. They ride at speeds more than double what most of us amateurs can ride in the same conditions. A post on a message board is not going to be adequate to explain it to you in a way that you can understand. It takes a lot of long distance riding to begin to understand it.

[vinceprince]

Originally Posted by SanteeFats

Okay I mean no disparagement here so don't don't go ballistic on me. What is the thrill in following cycling? I equate it almost like auto racing where everyone is turning left. To me it is boring but I am open to reason. Maybe.

Can I ask have you ever cycled? How about uphill?
For 10 miles uphill? Then 80kph down maybe in the rain?
Fallen off then got back on and cycled up another 3 or 4 mountains maybe for 200km. Then do the same the next day. No?

Unless you do ride a bike I'm not sure you can ever really appreciate it.
For dedication, fitness, bravery and toughness they make US football players (and soccer players)who do fuck all look like a bunch of lazy pussies. And any fat slob can drive fast.

And it is a genuine worldwide sport not one where you call yourself 'world champions' for beating a few other Americans who play the same weird over-hyped sport.

I agree there sometimes dull stages in the TDF when not much happens but that's inevitable in such a long race. But even then the scenery is better than any other sporting event. The TDF is not the whole of cycling as many think it's just one race in a 9 month season, I prefer one day races such as Paris-Roubaix and Flanders for more exciting racing. I think it's a shame people only bother to comment on cycling here during the TDF.

[rupertramjet]

For me it is about the incredible feat of the athletes, the endurance, add to that the courage, cut, bruised, battered, and sometimes even with broken bones, but back on the bike and finish the stage, and sometimes the race. Add to that the tactics, the drama of surprise breaks, and it gets interesting!

Then you have the incredible scenery, especially in the tour, ok not so great in the Vuelta, but I have to admit, I am a grand tour fan, and am unable to get to see many of the day races.

[vinceprince]

Originally Posted by rupertramjet

Then you have the incredible scenery, especially in the tour, ok not so great in the Vuelta, but I have to admit, I am a grand tour fan, and am unable to get to see many of the day races.

You watch all the races that are on live on eurosport via links from steephill.tv or on cyclinghub

[fordprefect739]

Jens Voigt is one of the commentators for NBC Sports Network which is showing the Tour in North America. Before the race he picked Kittel, which is reasonable. Kittel's mechanical problems could not have been foreseen. Of course Jens is picking a fellow German and that's OK. The thing is, he also said something to the effect of Griepel not having it this year. Guess again Jens.

Where the hell was Kittel's team? He was on his own. He's the team leader and he gets abandoned by his team? Not acceptable. Also, how the hell does a spare bike have a flat tire? I've got a feeling that a team mechanic is going to be looking for a new job tomorrow.

Sagan gets another 2nd place. He's the king of 2nd place. He was coming around Greipel but he was too late. He brings his total to an overwhelming 470 points for the Tour.

Froome has been boring in the past but his solo descent attack and late break attack with Sagan this year were exciting. I'm starting to become a bit of a fan.

[whop]

Look at the sprint again. Sagan's sprint was so powerful that the bike skid beneath him. King of 2nd place? Maybe so, but he did win three stages. King of 1st and 2nd would be more correct.

[rupertramjet]

Frome is beginning to win the crowd over, I was impressed by his speech on the podium, true emotion and true humility. His reception both yesterday and today was far warmer than in the past.

Bucket list tick off for me today!