Yeah - I also wish we held the race in Great Britain and surrounding countries but American racers are the vast minority in the pro cycling profession but is anyone else following the race. If not PLEASE give it a try and look to see one of the most interresting aspects - the team concept.
Lance Armstrong is the CTD of the cycling world. When you see him climb an 8% grade for 7 miles and dust the competition you know he has the torque and the time trials on the flats show his HP is second to none and to bounce back from cancer is seriously beyond my realm of understanding. I wish Dodge would get involved-w-some sponsorship instead of some crap Subaru vehicle. What the hell is a Subaru anyway? I'm not a racist but could Subaru mean "Sucker" in Japanese?
How about a tug of war-w-lance and a 2500 CTD. That would be fun to see a stand off-w-both vehicles bursting rear tires. A tug of war-w- a Subaru - we know who wins.
How about a resting heart rate of low 30's and able to push 800+ watts out of his legs.
Give the race a try folks - you might find it is rewarding.

 

Oh yeah... I'm watching every stage. I ride bikes, but the more I learn about the team concept and tactics in a bike race, the more impressed I am. Plus, the sportsmanship of the competitors is amazing - when Lance crashed last year because of that kid who hooked his handlebars...? The rest of the lead group of riders slowed enough to let Lance rejoin the race.

The USPS team has been referred to as the diesel engine that pulls Lance along before slingshotting him off to victory.

Can't wait for them to get to the mountain stages - it's going to be wild!

 

I agree that Lance is like the Superman of Cycling... his career has been amazing and hopefully will continue for years to come. However, I'm gonna have to say something about your Subaru bashing... as a former Subaru Impreza 2.5RS owner, I can say with all honesty that these cars are far from being "some crap" vehicle as you put it. Yes, most of their line is made up of frumpy family cars (just like everyone else), but have you ever heard of the WRX?? http://www.subaru.com/servlet/showro...=WRX_STI_SEDAN
Three manufacturer's and two driver's World Rally Championships ... you don't win those with a POS. The WRX STi @ 300 hp and 300 lb.-ft in an all wheel drive package with an MSRP of 32K is an unbelievable car that will easily smoke anything in it's class as well as most cars costing twice as much as it does. Aside from the cars themselves, Subaru has been an avid supporter and sponsor of cycling for years. They have also been a long time sponsor for various US Ski Teams, not to mention a youth automotive education program as well as several other various sponsorships. Personally, I'm glad they're here, and I hope they're here to stay... they've been really good to the sports that I've been involved in... If it weren't for the need of a truck, I'd be driving a new STi

 

BiggRigg600 - no problem -w- your commenting on my opinion. I respect yours and can't argue there is a place for almost any vehicle being produced today and the Subaru you mention is a bad mother. Closed minded as it may seem I am a Mopar man period. I buy American (yeah-Iknow all American cars are not all American if you catch my drift) and of the big three DC has my vote. One of the main reasons I got into Mopars is the fact that while I was a small tot in the 60's Mopars were the fastest cars built and got no respect. I like an underdog and Chrysler has made many innovative impacts since the 20's and I think all in all the brand by and large has not received it's due.
Anyway I stil think the US Postal team should have a US vehicle as a sponsor. It is a pipe dream and I'm glad Subaru is there for them as they/Lance win a 6th-never to be repeated by any cyclist IMO (good day today-maybe Lance will get the opportunity to offer George a stage win-Heras had one offered to him last year but could not hang - little woosy Spaniard-KIDDING

 

ppsi,
Sorry if I came off a little defensive there... I guess it comes from being involved in some sports that are not as mainstream and sponsorship being hard to get... you just take what you can and be thankful that someone stepped up to the plate for you. However, I agree that it would sure be nice to see DC or another American sponsor taking care of American teams...

Through my driving years, I've owned 3 Toyotas, 4 Chevys, 3 Fords, 2 Jeeps, 4 Dodges (3 of them Rams), and one Subaru. After going through all of those, I will never again buy a GM or Ford product... in fact it would be hard to give me one at this point. I don't have a problem with the imports when it comes to quality... it's just that I prefer to buy American, especially with they way things are in the world right now. IMO, DC is the only way to go for buying American. Also, I think that DC is the only US manufacturer that is building cars with any style right now... Magnum, Crossfire, 300, etc. (not to mention our Rams) Great looking rides, all of them.

Anyways, back to the race subject, yeah it should be a good one... do you think they need to put a parachute on Lance (like a dragster) to even the playing field?

 

I'll chime in...

I'm a fairly serious recreational bicyclist, mountain and road, though I have never raced. I don't understand why the main stream media doesn't pay more attention to the TDF. Lance may be about to set an all time world record if he wins this one.

The sportsmanship is interesting, with some serious trash talking at times, yet teams that are going for the overall win will often deliberately let someone else win a stage, and like someone said the leaders will often slow down to let a top competitor catch up after a crash or mechanical.

Also, at least Lance rides an American bicycle.

As far as Subaru goes, those things are all wheel drive, have a reputation for outstanding reliability, and safety, and they are affordable. I also prefer to buy American, but I don't think there is a comparable product right now. Also, they were the ones who stepped up to sponsor Lance.

Hopefully I won't get totally flamed, but I wish my Dodge were built in America, by an American company... I know, they called it a "merger"...

 

what kind of bikes do the USPS ride?

 

Carbon fiber Trek, a Wisconsin company, I believe...

http://www.trekbikes.com/

 

The Outdoor Life Channel has nearly around the clock coverage on the TDF. I like the bike racing, but I sure do miss my fishing and hunting shows

 

cool. im not a fan of trek but it's all good. my bike was handmade in a garage in durango, colorado

i hate TV in general but OLN is really a great channel.

 

I disagree about TV being terrible. I love my DSS/TIVO/TV combo. I record my favorite shows and relax a bit while watching the TDF and quite a few car shows. Now that being said it is the TV SHOWS that are horrible . Take a look at the most watched shows and you will see what America is about - very very sad.
I own a Trek 5200. It may be one of the first made. I have to look into this bacause it could be worth $ some day. I have started riding more lately (got run over in a triathlon in 1997-major body work)and hope to get into some group rides again sometime soon but right now I couldn't do a pull in a 22-25mph group like I used to do-not even close. Don't mean to talk about myself-just trying to relate but my favorite was time trialing-w- a best of 10 miles in 23:45. The pain was nearly unbearable but delightfull

The etiquite in cycling is second to no other sport (sprints being the exception but the judges see them). Teams will not attack if a someone else competing for a podium or points spot has a flat needs food or even has to releive the body of waste products. The group will "sit up" and wait-pretty classy IMO. Winners want to compete fairly and to put time on a competitor due to a crash or one of the above is considerred a major no-no.

How about cobble stones at the end of the TT? Even more - how about the time postal put on the others! What was it 1:08? That is a rediculous amount of time

Right now I'm watching them ride in windy, rainy echelon-lots of crashes!

 

From what I understand, the execs at Cofidis team basically dumped Lance's contract when he was in the middle of his chemotharapy, apparently figuring he would never ride at a competitive level again. I bet they are still crying into their rich, creamy sauces over that one...

I'd also have to say that Tyler Hamilton (another American) must be on Lance's mind... Last year he broke his collar bone in the first part of the race, won stage 16 and finished 4th overall. Riding a 2000 mile bike race at a competitive level with the best riders in the world with a broken clavicle? Mind blowingly tough guy.


Also, as I recall "It's not about the bike" was a pretty good read, though it's been a while since I read it.

 

I was in a mountain bike race in Garmisch one year, and a German broke his collar bone, they carried him off in a stretcher. J/K about the stretcher, he walked away, but you just don't continue a bumpy mountain bike race with a broken collar bone. Guy must not have been use to crashing. Both times I went over my bars, I landed right on my back, didn't hurt a thing. It sure is convient, retaining the title over France.

 

My nephew went to school with Lance down here in Plano , Texas. He didn't know him well, but said he was known as "the guy that rode his bicycle all over town".

 

A funny thing has been argued about Lance & his cancer. Many think, and he has commented on, his loss of weight from the desease. He is about 15 lbs lighter than before cancer and this is reported to be from the treatment canibalizing his body! So now his power to weight ratio is much better. Ironic and certainly not a desirable side effect unless you survive and are Lance Armstrong. Still I think he works harder than any other rider in the "off" season.

To open another can of worms, I must say I am more than a little disappointed that he has never given glory to God for his good fortune. Perhaps he has done so and I have never heard it?? He seems to be very giving and generous-w-his ability to generate interest & money for cancer research so I am not bashing him. In his defense I also know the media is not at all interested in hearing an athlete thank the Lord ALA an interview done-w-Trot Nixon last year after he hit a walk off HR where the interviewer practically spun away from Trot when he started explaining his prayer to do his best as he stood at the plate etc..