Bike Rides.
I think next year I want to ride a century. 100 mile on a bike. I have to start training this winter. Plus I have to pick the rides I want to do before making it to the big one. Any suggestions?
Share the road
This past sunday a colleague of mine was hit by a car while riding his bike. He’s alive today, but has been in the hospital for a while, and has received several opertions. Hopefully, he will recover and ride again someday, but this did not need to happen.
I implore both car drivers and bicyclists to be courteous to each other and share the road. Car drivers especially need to be more careful around bicyclists. You don’t own the road completely, but you have more control of the situation. Share the road.
The following are links to bike advocacy groups.
Active Transportation
League of American Bicyclists
One Less Car
Hopefully, this will help educate both bicyclists and drivers.
Fort Awesome
Short title, becuase I am sick and tired at how the recent links look. All cluttered and all.
It’s been slow trying to slog through my Quixotic Quest, but I did read 23 Days in July: Inside Lance Armstrong’s Battle to Win a Record Sixth Tour de France. Good read. I could not put it down, and afterwards I wanted to ride. Yet, I am so lazy that I didn’t. There are no excuses, but I seem to find one any way.
I liked the book. I love the Tour de France. Even if Lance Armstrong wasn’t in it, I would still watch. I was a fan of bicycle racing since I was a little kid. And I have watched the Tour on TV even before there was a Lance Armstrong to root for. Actually, my favorite is Jan Ullrich. Always the perennial bridesmaid.
Anyway the book was pleasant. It gave me more insight into the team strategies involved in racing. I was only disappointed in the fact that the author did not focus on the French rider, Thomas Voekler, much. For me, he embodied the spirit of the 2004 Tour when he defended his yellow jersey in the 15th stage finishing at the top of the Plateau de Beille. He rode the race of his life and just maintained his lead over the unstoppable Lance Armstrong at 0:22 seconds. Incredible! What gusto! He would lose the yellow jersey the next day, but it was amazing.
B+.
Keeping you updated
Sometimes it is hard to keep a blog. The dog days of summer seem to be best to keep me from posting an entry here at browsermetrics. Anyway, I want to keep the channel up and have a few posts before the end of August so that this month in the archive won’t look so bare.
Some time soon (or as quick as I can get my lazy ass to do) I will post my 2005 vaction journal. I liked the way I did the first one and it was a nice way to keep this blog interesting.
I would also like to tell you about my starting to excercise again. I am going to the gym so that when I ride my road bike, I can climb the small hills we have here. I need to be able to power through and climb a 4% grade for at least a mile. Or maybe go to a more modern triple chainring and 10 gear combo. At least then I can spin over the hills. I think I will go to the gym to build some strength in these legs first before forking money for a new road bike.
I haven’t watched a movie lately. They all seem to truly suck right now. Hollywood’s box office receipts are in a slump this summer. The quality of blockbusters they are pumping out contribute the slack numbers.
I am attempting, again, to read Jonathon Strange and Mr. Norrell. I have gotten through the first three chapters, again. And again I haven’t picked up the book in 12 days. I did finish Inside the Postal Bus. That was good. Not great. The writer, Micheal Barry, is a professional cyclist from Canada riding on the US Postal, now Team Discovery Channel, as a teammate of Lance Armstrong. While it was a fascinating look at inside the great team, he did not ride in any of Le Tour with Lance. It was disappointing when he talked about watching his teammates on TV. He did go throught the Vuelta a Espana. B-
Le Tour 2005
It’s July! Happy Tour de France month! Lance Armstrong looks to win it a seventh time. I think that it is a sucker’s bet to bet against the best tour rider this century. Allez, Lance!
Only thing though, I can’t find an audio feed so that I can listen in at work. Do you know where I can find a link?
Le Tour 2005
It is July and once again it is time for the sporting spectacle known as Le Tour de France. I like reading this blog for tour updates. They are getting better and better each year.
My prediction is Lance again. Of course that is the safe bet, but after the first stage today. It seems more likely to come true than not.
Team Discovery Channel
The US Postal Cycling Team is in its last year as sponsor for Lance Armstrong. Taking over the sponsorship duties for next year is the Discovery Channel. This brings a smile to my face as it links Lance Armstrong with my favorite Simpson’s episode. As Martin said, “Team Discovery Channel!” Try saying that in character and it too will make you smile.
Let the debates begin.
Is Lance Armstrong the greatest cyclist of all time? Being a six time winner of le Tour de France is a great achievement. A difficult task that the greats of the sport, Anquetil, Hinault, Indurain and Merckx never achieved. But is he the best of them all. My take is similar to what Paul Sherwin during today’s telecast said, “He is the greatest Tour rider.” I believe that Eddie Merckx is the greatest. Not only winning the Tour 5 times, but also the Giro d’Italia 5 times. Merckx is the best overall rider winning in different races throughout the season. Lance winning six makes him the greatest American rider.
The Big Man On Wheels
I am going to have to take this back. Lance Armstrong is a monster. That sprint win over Andreas Kloden on the final mountain stage today was just amazing. You never stop pedaling! All seconds count! And Lance takes it on the line! He is just a monster. I think 7 straight is a distinct possibility.
The importance of winning.
After watching hours upon hours of men on bikes, I finally read an article which does true justice for being a fan of le Tour. It is about those hot and amazing podium girls. Where do they come from? What do they do? Why are they so damn hot? Why aren’t there more pictures?
If you know of any site that has podium girl pictures, please tell me. They’re so damn awesome.