Tour of California

[JoeStrummer]

Anyone going to be there and have any interest in riding bits of a few stages? I will be around for the last 4 stages, will have a rental car and bicycle.

[nick > jesus]

so lame that it is at the same time as the giro. seems like it hurts both tours

[XtrPickels]

I'm not so sure it really hurts both tours.
Big names are in both, so the fans will come
I think the purpose of each race is different and thus warranted
The Giro is a big name, grueling, prestigious event that is an end do itself.
The TOC is an excellent tune up. Its a great way for the domestic teams to rub elbows and for US fans to see the sights.

[JoeStrummer]

Bump. Beers on me if anyone is around.

[concretejungle]

What a fucking joke. Giro pwns the TOC.

[JoeStrummer]

What a fucking joke. Giro pwns the TOC.

Hey, if Jens Voight is there it's a real race!

Although, at least they ride in the rain at the Giro!

ToC is more of a training ride for the TdF than a real stage race but it's a fun party and about the biggest ride we have in the States.

[concretejungle]

Hey, if Jens Voight is there it's a real race!

Although, at least they ride in the rain at the Giro!

ToC is more of a training ride for the TdF than a real stage race but it's a fun party and about the biggest ride we have in the States.

I wouldn't know if Jens is racing because the video feed planes/heli's are grounded so I get to watch stage one again. Other than that I'm excited. ;)

I think we'll get to see the finish.

[nick > jesus]

today was a serious failure. do they not do motos with cameras?

[JoeStrummer]

today was a serious failure. do they not do motos with cameras?

I think all the motos transmit to an "Eye In the Sky" and since they couldn't get helis or planes in the air, they were dead in the water.

A little rain didn't stop the Italians from broadcasting, though. . .

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_atrK-jBKJKY/S_HQgrpPzZI/AAAAAAAALz0/MlcAkFkDOg4/s1600/2010+g+s10a.jpg

[nick > jesus]

I think all the motos transmit to an "Eye In the Sky" and since they couldn't get helis or planes in the air, they were dead in the water.




ooooooohhhhhhh. that makes more sense. I was surprised that they were doing any filming from planes. I still maintain that it was very poorly planned...

[JoeStrummer]

Yeah, lots of these tours are in wooded areas and in the hills so the motos transmit skyward to a signal relay plane.

Apparently, the plane was in the air but had to fly above the cloud bank or something and couldn't get a signal. So much for California beng the tech capital of the world!

[JoeStrummer]

Today was even better. They cut away for hockey with 1.5 km left and told the audience to go to www.amgentourofcalifornia.com to watch the finish.

Too bad the website keeps crashing. Pathetic. Who gives a fuck about hockey besides a handful of toothless retarded pedophiles?

[Long Duck Dong]

this is ridiculous. I was enjoying the last bit of racing and they cut away. Really, the first minute of a hockey game is more important than the sprint finish with the 3 top racers in the race? gimme a fucking break

[Hugh Conway]

sucks about the coverage
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=78905&d=1274229233

[nick > jesus]

wow, two days in row the coverage has sucked.

ToC want to establish itself as a world class race, but the first few days have been pretty damn amateur.

[concretejungle]

At least we've got Phil, Paul and Bobke to continue blowing LA at every opportunity. I can't wait for there coverage of the TDF. :rolleyes:

I think it would be different if I was there but I have no interest in this. That said I'm rooting for DZ to upset the tandyshack lovefest.

[nick > jesus]

the commentators suck Lance because he is the reason this race is getting coverage.

though, i too am pulling for DZ

[JoeStrummer]

A few pics from today. I was more interested in riding my bike than taking pictures so forgive the quality.

First, time to assemble the bike in a box. I'm an absent-minded fucker who is also impatient, which means there is a 35% chance I will forget to tighten the couplers or the cranks before I take off down a hill at 40 mph. . .

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4001/4625750215_1f17252dac.jpg


After 30 minutes or so I was fully assembled and ready to go. Here is my steed, offset against the burnished fineries of a dumpster in the Bakersfield College parking lot.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4056/4626280546_1dbb6e2828.jpg

Spartacus and the boys. . .

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4625668287_e0c2e9d834_o.jpg

A few other shots from the final climb of the day. . .

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4625673283_4d242ce9da.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4063/4625666905_daebf60c66.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4625664153_f8a4d85e12.jpg

The Minivan of Indignity. . . .

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3340/4625669331_ac82da8a61.jpg

Ben Day enjoys the Podium Girls and the Most Courageous Rider jersey for the stage . . although I think he should've won due to his "secret passenger. (http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/05/news/ben-days-unwanted-passenger_114040)"

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3357/4626352448_b121c5c091.jpg

Today's jersey winners. . . .

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3376/4625676293_8dee5e8fb1_o.jpg

Big stage tomorrow, looking forward to the riding around Big Bear Lake!

[JoeStrummer]

This was interesting, last couple minutes are the best. "I don't want to be a pussy but I can't get up on the bars."

http://video.bicycling.com/video/ATOC-Lance-Armstrong-crashes-ou

[tele58]

In contrast to the last stage todays, Stage 6, was a chamber kind of day. Got a couple pics as they past our house.

The leaders just outside Arrowbear Lake:

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy78/telephd/P5210049-1.jpg

and the pack 1:35 back at this point:

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy78/telephd/P5210053-1.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy78/telephd/P5210054-1.jpg

The leaders had just finished when I walked back to the house after watching the tourminator van pass...

[JoeStrummer]

After a nice 60 mile ride, I fortified myself with grilled meats and beer from the Big Bear Lake Moose's Lodge. Hope no handicapped people show up because their parking spaces have been appropriated for grill and bicycle parking. . .

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3357/4628283510_70d76cbe6f.jpg

The leaders came past so quickly I didn't have time to put down by tall boy and grab my camera. Levi came by a few seconds later, protected by a crew of Shackers. . .

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4005/4628282826_5c8f7fe399_b.jpg

The field was pretty broken, with large gaps between 3 or 4 groups and several people were riding with 6km to go, not racing.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3300/4627680749_ccc4d0048f.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4628284574_382a2374b8_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4627679821_d1c6881d36_b.jpg

By the time I rode back to the finish line, they were already packing up the Hooverville of tents. Hincapie Sports was selling small spritzer bottles of sunblock for $18 but I couldn't find George anywhere to lodge a complaint. Instead, I went up the base area and listened to some truly bad reggae.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3331/4628315542_c4de452402_b.jpg

More riding in the morning and then off to downtown LA for the ITT. Hoping for a freakshow!

[JoeStrummer]

A few from today. . .

Martin. Probably my favorite rider.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4631332496_6a56cdedc8.jpg

Ben Jacques Maynes.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4063/4630760841_fd9bc00491_b.jpg

Tom Danielson.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4014/4631332478_f104005a56_b.jpg

Big George.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3396/4631332494_e937b25f7b.jpg

Horner.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4041/4631332482_f25e5f08bf.jpg

Levi.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4044/4631332470_3dc5e2638c_b.jpg

DZ.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4631332488_df308cd359_b.jpg

[givethepigeye]

^ Thanks - those are really good shots!

[JoeStrummer]

I don't think today is going to make a difference. I rode the circuit twice this morning and didn't get my heart rate above 120 on Mulholland. I had 4 gears I didn't even use. And I'm a 41 year old alcoholic with a BMI of 30 or so. Those boys are going to fly up that thing. The descent is short and not technical, so barring some sort of crash or mech I don't see the standings shaking up much. RS and Garmin will attack but there are maybe only one or two places to do so.

On the other hand, if you somehow manage to get away, you can probably stay away.

[nick > jesus]

does not look like he will ever get away, but i am pulling for DZ

[JoeStrummer]

A few more from today. I ended up doing 3 laps on the course and enjoying the general mayhem. The energy on the KOM was reminiscent of a Grand Tour, although perhaps minus about 400,000 people.

Garmin tried to get the Argyle Train going but Rogers was right on their wheel.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4634398027_a3c4bf7175_b.jpg

The great thing about a circuit race in the hills is that you have about an hour to entertain yourself until they come through again.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3377/4634988082_e3d3eb3786_b.jpg

I saw 1 "We Love You Floyd." However, I saw about 35 of these. . .

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4634988062_2e5bb1ae65_b.jpg

Some express themselves with chalk. Others chose to express themselves in costume. . .

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3366/4634988068_ecea116f46_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4634988074_4181c570c0_b.jpg

By about the third lap, I think most everyone just wanted to get on a plane to Girona. Or go to the Viper Room and do rails with Boonen.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4032/4634415851_956df90c68_b.jpg

Georgie got away on a break but couldn't hold it at the finish. He looks good in the Stars n Stripes, though!

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4026/4634988054_16f94258ea_b.jpg

Overall, 2 thumbs up! Managed to watch the end, and make it to LAX with 20 minutes to spare.

[Mr.Scruff]

Ace photos. The pope got on TV about 20 times, he had pace

[406]

My photos are not as good as yours, but I will add a few from the Angels Crest Highway section. I skied Mt. Hawkins prior to watching the race.
The break away group:
http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu164/406_bucket/may_2010/IMGP5646.jpg

Second group:
http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu164/406_bucket/may_2010/IMGP5651.jpg

http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu164/406_bucket/may_2010/IMGP5652.jpg

Bikers with my skis and tracks in the background:
http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu164/406_bucket/may_2010/IMGP5653.jpg

I have never watched road bike racing and didn't know the support vehicles stayed so close to the racers....looked crazy:
http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu164/406_bucket/may_2010/IMGP5657.jpg

http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu164/406_bucket/may_2010/IMGP5658.jpg