ran 0 Posted July 18, 2004 5 , smack person cheering at 3 o clock 1 centimeter If it was up to me I'd give a pepper spray to the cyclists so they can take care of the assholes running infront of them -edit- Only if the winds are favorable though Then you can give them CS Gel sprays instead Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Apollo 0 Posted July 18, 2004 @ June 23 2004,18:41)]Those are some tough bastards- I remember seeing a guy crash and end up in a tree, and he just climbed down, got back on his bike, and got back in the race. That's why I watch- it's athleticism as it's best. Lol ,i think i know wich accident you mean ,and i know who it was. it was 7 years ago i think in the decline of an Alpes ride ,and it was johan Bruyneel of team ONCE. (current team leader of US Postal ,boss of Lance) It was the same year that Fabio cassertelli died i think ,in fact it was the day before that tragic day.It was a strange year ,Indurain for the first time since 5 years couldn't hold t toghether no more ,and it began a fight for seconds between multiple favourite's ,so everyone was in a hurry ,even when declining mountains. Bruyneel declining toghether with most of the lead group in a very fast decline on wet ground. He sliped somewhat in a corner when declining ,hit a sidepanel of the road and catapulted over it into a gorge that was a few 100's of meters deep.Lucky him he fell into the top of a tree ,climbed down it and upto the slope (with his bike that landed in the tree to) ,got on it and continued. (well have up later though) Johan Bruyneel ,Lance's his boss ,was the only team leader in the cycling sport that even gave Lance a chance to join his team after ge got recovered of cancer ,other team leaders just couldn't believe at that moment that Lance could ever win a stage again ,even perform on a proffesional level. If it wasn't for bruyneel Lance may have never been a proffesional cycler again after his recovery ,if it wasn't for that tree that saved Bruyneel ,.... ,well you can figure. ;) That year btw saw some speed records of declining certain mountains ,you don't know what speed these guys are going at it's insane.And that was a very wet year.Poor Cassartelli ,his name is a symbol in the cycling world. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bn880 5 Posted July 19, 2004 Not really, his team actually kicked ass and stayed up fron until the last sprint, and a rider without such a team beat him anyway. Remember that TDF is not about the best man, but about the best/luckiest team. I don't understand why you guys always talk about "the team". I don't see why they help so much, it's not like they give armstrong suuuperpowers so he can ride twice as fast, right? Sure they can give him some support but i don't see why he wouldn't have won without his team... Why is it so important that you all stay together to win? In the end, it's just one person that REALLY has to do the job, right? Yeah sure, it's nice when your whole team ends within the first 10 places but that's not what i mean. Why does Armstrong have more chance of winning when his team is close to him? I don't know anything at all about this sport, that probably explains why i don't understand this... I never bother to watch it, the only parts that i like is when they fall (at least if there aren't any serious injuries) and the last km. If I understand correctly, the team can prevent Armstrong from being overrun by people behind, his teammates also help him when there's wind and in case of mechanical problem, their bkes can be cannibalized. So everybody has to sacrifice his chance to win just so the best rider of the team can win? Bah, me don't like that kind of rules... No, the real story is wind resistance at all times, these guys ride at about 42Km/h average speed, havin team mates in fron, to the side and even behind is beneficial, it does somehting like 30% of the work for you at that speed. Also they carry the bottles etc, and sacrifice whatever they have to from their bikes very quickly if they are close. I want each of you to try riding a bike at 42Km/h. then try it with a headwind of 15-20Km/h, there is your difference in having a team with you all the time and not. Quote[/b] ]The teammate in front is battling wind resistance; everyone behind benefits from a 25 to 30 percent reduction in effort by riding in his slipstream. As lactic acid builds up in the muscles of the man heading into the wind, his thighs begin to burn. When he can no longer keep up the necessary pace, he fades back, and the teammate next in line takes his place. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Winters 1 Posted July 19, 2004 Theres just something about these guys named "Armstrong" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted July 20, 2004 That year btw saw some speed records of declining certain mountains ,you don't know what speed these guys are going at it's insane.And that was a very wet year.Poor Cassartelli ,his name is a symbol in the cycling world. Some of them are fricken psycho! I remember watching a couple of years ago some guy descending. No idea who, but the camera-motorbike was struggling to keep up. It was close enough however to see this guy save a "high-side". This is when (in motorbikes) the back wheel loses grip, starts to slide then *bang* gets grip....with the resulting physics chucking the rider sidways high over the bike (hence "high-side). Not an easy thing to save on motorbikes, but this guy saved one doing about 80km/h on a bicycle FFS! Amazing to watch, especially with a hundred metre drop and no protective gear Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Apollo 0 Posted July 20, 2004 Oh the tour is full of such thing's. Take for ex. mass falls during flat courses. Sometimes ,when the lead of a peleton falls into a pile of riders ,those behind them that are heading towards them and can't turn anymore (or cant see the fallen due to riders in front of them) will start jumping over the fallen guys ,and the guys behind the guys that jump over the pile will emediatly start a jump to even if they havn't seen the pile ,because they know that if the one in front of him does it they have to do it to.in effect ,it will happen sometimes that a small group falls in fron of the peleton and then youle see the whole peleton jumping over these guys one by one with jumps that reach over half a meter at a speed of 50kmph.Quite impressive to see. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bmgarcangel 0 Posted July 20, 2004 Armstrong has taken the lead. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Winters 1 Posted July 20, 2004 It was just a matter of time before he did Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bmgarcangel 0 Posted July 20, 2004 Always. Looks like he's gonna take home the gold prize again Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bn880 5 Posted July 21, 2004 Theres just something about these guys named "Armstrong" Yeah I wonder where that comes from. Pun intended. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Winters 1 Posted July 21, 2004 And the most famous of "Armstrongs" is. . . . Most Famous Armstrong Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpongeBob 0 Posted July 22, 2004 Fans spit at Armstrong Quote[/b] ]Wed 21 July, 2004 19:44 L'ALPE D'HUEZ, France (Reuters) - Tour de France director Jean-Marie Leblanc has admitted he had seen fans spit at five-times champion Lance Armstrong during the 15.5-km time trial to L'Alpe d'Huez. Leblanc also said the swarming crowds on the twisting climb on Wednesday had frightened him as riders, including Armstrong, were forced to weave through excited fans who jumped out on to the road. "I was scared too and I felt relieved when we reached the section with barriers," Leblanc told Reuters after stage winner Armstrong described the stage as a "bad idea" and hit out at some German fans. "Until this morning, everybody thought this time trial was a good idea and now we realised it was not so. "There were lots of aggressive fans surrounding the riders and I even saw two idiots spit at Lance Armstrong." "Unfortunately I doubt you can put barriers on the 14 kilometres of the climb," he added. Armstrong, who stormed to victory nearly a minute ahead of his closest challenger Jan Ullrich and now looks set for a record sixth Tour win, urged organisers to think seriously about holding another time trial at the ski resort. "I don't know if that's such a good thing for the Tour de France. I don't think it's safe. I think organisers should watch out," said the American. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
blackdog~ 0 Posted July 22, 2004 They should put all employees in the US Postal Service on steroids, as Lance is going faster than they do Just kidding. But I wish the USPS was as fast as Lance :P Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ran 0 Posted July 22, 2004 how the hell can there be hooligans in cycling ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Placebo 29 Posted July 22, 2004 Deemed the only way to make the sport remotely interesting? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Monkey Lib Front 10 Posted July 22, 2004 they should turn Tour de France in to road rash on cycles. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sanctuary 19 Posted July 22, 2004 how the hell can there be hooligans in cycling ? The last real "hooligan" spectator action against one of the Tour de France contestant i heard before was in 1975 , a spectator hit Eddy Merckx somewhere in the stomach. Ah, good old time Until now, i guessed it right for the final result of the Tour. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Apollo 0 Posted July 22, 2004 It's the French spitting at Lance ,they don't want him to win a 6th time and beating Hinault with this.French newpapers have been digging and speculating on dirt on Armstrong for the whole tour already ,it's a bit rediculous. Then again so were the freedom fries ,guess it's payback. He'll beat Eddy Merckx (Belgian) his record to (also five wins) ,but most Belgians respect Armstrong for the friendly and honest personality he has. (and that for a Texan!!) Besides ,lance is far away from winning as much total courses as Merckx did ,he took atleast 80 tour course victory's for himself ,won about 10 of the 20 courses every tour ,extreme number.And then that is not taking into account his wins in other tours like Veulta etc. But Lance is an all round great guy ,no wonder he's so popular. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted July 22, 2004 From what I heard it was a few drunk german spectators. Hopefully just an isolated incident....not a trend. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Winters 1 Posted July 22, 2004 It's the French spitting at Lance ,they don't want him to win a 6th time and beating Hinault with this.French newpapers have been digging and speculating on dirt on Armstrong for the whole tour already ,it's a bit rediculous.Then again so were the freedom fries ,guess it's payback. Â He'll beat Eddy Merckx (Belgian) his record to (also five wins) ,but most Belgians respect Armstrong for the friendly and honest personality he has. (and that for a Texan!!) Besides ,lance is far away from winning as much total courses as Merckx did ,he took atleast 80 tour course victory's for himself ,won about 10 of the 20 courses every tour ,extreme number.And then that is not taking into account his wins in other tours like Veulta etc. But Lance is an all round great guy ,no wonder he's so popular. And his girlfriend is Rocker Chick Sheryl Crow Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Apollo 0 Posted July 22, 2004 Quote[/b] ]And his girlfriend is Rocker Chick Sheryl Crow Well thats more of a gain for Sheryl that for Lance ,well ,atleast in poppularity. Lance has become a massive marketing symbol ,he makes a perfect inpression to most people and is regarded almost as a sort of superman.Also it's the American dream story playing ,coming back from cancer to win 6 tours is the kind of story that most Americans really love.His net worth for commercial use is enourmous ,basicly these days you could sell anything in the US with Lance on it. Especially since he has such a respected last name ,the name Armstrong brings much positivs sentiments up in an American. "If you want youre kids to growstrong later ,buy "brand xxx" milk ,Lance drank it to." that sort of stuff. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ralphwiggum 6 Posted July 22, 2004 Especially since he has such a respected last name ,the name Armstrong brings much positivs sentiments up in an American. yes. unlike Kozlowski or Guba. hope these few rotten spectator make things go postal. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ralphwiggum 6 Posted July 24, 2004 From Lateshow with David Letterman. Quote[/b] ]Top Ten Signs Lance Armstrong Is Getting Cocky10. Race starts at 9, Lance rolls out of bed around noon 9. Has already figured out that the trophy can hold a 3-gallon margarita 8. He eats frosting by the fistful 7. For the last leg, he rode one of those crazy 1920s bikes with the big front wheel 6. Deliberately crashing into things to get more air time on sportscenter 5. Making a couple extra bucks delivering pizzas during the race 4. After the starter pistol is fired, he hangs around hitting on french babes 3. Turns to the other riders and says, "oooh, I'm sooooo scared" 2. Instead of training, spent last 2 months pimping his bike 1. Has started selling ad space on his ass Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
