Did watching the TdF improve your cycling?

"jj" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Just wondering if anyone found themselves riding more, timing their rides
to surround the coverage, getting a psychological boost, improving their
riding or something similar from having the Tour on during the day?

Everyone talks about the coverage being boring and so forth, but I love to
watch the pros ride, to see their high cadence and to learn a little from
their expert bike handling. It just makes me want to get out and ride.
It's
easy to imagine one's self as a pro rider...("There goes the big German,
with his hyoouge quads flexing, riding those enormous gears up that steep
incline..."😉 Hehe.

Myself, it got me motivated last year to get up at 5am and get out on the
roads by 6 and ride for an hour. Then I'd ride again in the late afternoon
with images of the Tour spurring me on.

This year, I didn't get it together that often to get up for the early
ride
and generally rode after the am coverage and then again in the early PM. I
didn't get the 320 miles in two weeks that I got last year, but I rode the
200+ miles quite a bit faster.

It's nice having the stages taped - heh, I dutifully sat there and removed
all those pesky commercials, and I plan to re-run them when I ride my
stationary bike.

jj

After watching Michael Rasmussen in the TT on Saturday, I went out and got
on my TT bike ... and I promptly went head-first into a ditch, then I got a
series of flats. It was inspiring.

I live on video tapes of the tour stages to get me through winter training
on the rollers and trainer. Gotta watch out on those scenes where the
camera is right behind a group descending a twisty mountain. I've gotten
caught up in it before and taken a turn right off the rollers.

--
Bob C.

"Of course it hurts. The trick is not minding that it hurts."
T. E. Lawrence (of Arabia)

"jj" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Just wondering if anyone found themselves riding more, timing their rides
to surround the coverage, getting a psychological boost, improving their
riding or something similar from having the Tour on during the day?

Everyone talks about the coverage being boring and so forth, but I love to
watch the pros ride, to see their high cadence and to learn a little from
their expert bike handling. It just makes me want to get out and ride.
It's
easy to imagine one's self as a pro rider...("There goes the big German,
with his hyoouge quads flexing, riding those enormous gears up that steep
incline..."😉 Hehe.

Myself, it got me motivated last year to get up at 5am and get out on the
roads by 6 and ride for an hour. Then I'd ride again in the late afternoon
with images of the Tour spurring me on.

This year, I didn't get it together that often to get up for the early
ride
and generally rode after the am coverage and then again in the early PM. I
didn't get the 320 miles in two weeks that I got last year, but I rode the
200+ miles quite a bit faster.

It's nice having the stages taped - heh, I dutifully sat there and removed
all those pesky commercials, and I plan to re-run them when I ride my
stationary bike.

jj

After watching Michael Rasmussen in the TT on Saturday, I went out and got
on my TT bike ... and I promptly went head-first into a ditch, then I got a
series of flats. It was inspiring.

I live on video tapes of the tour stages to get me through winter training
on the rollers and trainer. Gotta watch out on those scenes where the
camera is right behind a group descending a twisty mountain. I've gotten
caught up in it before and taken a turn right off the rollers.

--
Bob C.

"Of course it hurts. The trick is not minding that it hurts."
T. E. Lawrence (of Arabia)

"jj" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Just wondering if anyone found themselves riding more, timing their rides
to surround the coverage, getting a psychological boost, improving their
riding or something similar from having the Tour on during the day?

Everyone talks about the coverage being boring and so forth, but I love to
watch the pros ride, to see their high cadence and to learn a little from
their expert bike handling. It just makes me want to get out and ride.
It's
easy to imagine one's self as a pro rider...("There goes the big German,
with his hyoouge quads flexing, riding those enormous gears up that steep
incline..."😉 Hehe.

Myself, it got me motivated last year to get up at 5am and get out on the
roads by 6 and ride for an hour. Then I'd ride again in the late afternoon
with images of the Tour spurring me on.

This year, I didn't get it together that often to get up for the early
ride
and generally rode after the am coverage and then again in the early PM. I
didn't get the 320 miles in two weeks that I got last year, but I rode the
200+ miles quite a bit faster.

It's nice having the stages taped - heh, I dutifully sat there and removed
all those pesky commercials, and I plan to re-run them when I ride my
stationary bike.

jj

After watching Michael Rasmussen in the TT on Saturday, I went out and got
on my TT bike ... and I promptly went head-first into a ditch, then I got a
series of flats. It was inspiring.

I live on video tapes of the tour stages to get me through winter training
on the rollers and trainer. Gotta watch out on those scenes where the
camera is right behind a group descending a twisty mountain. I've gotten
caught up in it before and taken a turn right off the rollers.

--
Bob C.

"Of course it hurts. The trick is not minding that it hurts."
T. E. Lawrence (of Arabia)

jj wrote:
:: Just wondering if anyone found themselves riding more, timing their
:: rides to surround the coverage, getting a psychological boost,
:: improving their riding or something similar from having the Tour on
:: during the day?

I rode less while the tour was happenning! I got back out there yesterday,
though. I've got a big one next week, too.

Yesterday, I did my best Lance impression....sprinting pass my buddy while
spinning at 120!

::
:: Everyone talks about the coverage being boring and so forth, but I
:: love to watch the pros ride, to see their high cadence and to learn
:: a little from their expert bike handling. It just makes me want to
:: get out and ride. It's easy to imagine one's self as a pro
:: rider...("There goes the big German, with his hyoouge quads flexing,
:: riding those enormous gears up that steep incline..."😉 Hehe.
::
:: Myself, it got me motivated last year to get up at 5am and get out
:: on the roads by 6 and ride for an hour. Then I'd ride again in the
:: late afternoon with images of the Tour spurring me on.
::
:: This year, I didn't get it together that often to get up for the
:: early ride and generally rode after the am coverage and then again
:: in the early PM. I didn't get the 320 miles in two weeks that I got
:: last year, but I rode the 200+ miles quite a bit faster.
::
:: It's nice having the stages taped - heh, I dutifully sat there and
:: removed all those pesky commercials, and I plan to re-run them when
:: I ride my stationary bike.
::
:: jj

jj wrote:
:: Just wondering if anyone found themselves riding more, timing their
:: rides to surround the coverage, getting a psychological boost,
:: improving their riding or something similar from having the Tour on
:: during the day?

I rode less while the tour was happenning! I got back out there yesterday,
though. I've got a big one next week, too.

Yesterday, I did my best Lance impression....sprinting pass my buddy while
spinning at 120!

::
:: Everyone talks about the coverage being boring and so forth, but I
:: love to watch the pros ride, to see their high cadence and to learn
:: a little from their expert bike handling. It just makes me want to
:: get out and ride. It's easy to imagine one's self as a pro
:: rider...("There goes the big German, with his hyoouge quads flexing,
:: riding those enormous gears up that steep incline..."😉 Hehe.
::
:: Myself, it got me motivated last year to get up at 5am and get out
:: on the roads by 6 and ride for an hour. Then I'd ride again in the
:: late afternoon with images of the Tour spurring me on.
::
:: This year, I didn't get it together that often to get up for the
:: early ride and generally rode after the am coverage and then again
:: in the early PM. I didn't get the 320 miles in two weeks that I got
:: last year, but I rode the 200+ miles quite a bit faster.
::
:: It's nice having the stages taped - heh, I dutifully sat there and
:: removed all those pesky commercials, and I plan to re-run them when
:: I ride my stationary bike.
::
:: jj

jj wrote:
:: Just wondering if anyone found themselves riding more, timing their
:: rides to surround the coverage, getting a psychological boost,
:: improving their riding or something similar from having the Tour on
:: during the day?

I rode less while the tour was happenning! I got back out there yesterday,
though. I've got a big one next week, too.

Yesterday, I did my best Lance impression....sprinting pass my buddy while
spinning at 120!

::
:: Everyone talks about the coverage being boring and so forth, but I
:: love to watch the pros ride, to see their high cadence and to learn
:: a little from their expert bike handling. It just makes me want to
:: get out and ride. It's easy to imagine one's self as a pro
:: rider...("There goes the big German, with his hyoouge quads flexing,
:: riding those enormous gears up that steep incline..."😉 Hehe.
::
:: Myself, it got me motivated last year to get up at 5am and get out
:: on the roads by 6 and ride for an hour. Then I'd ride again in the
:: late afternoon with images of the Tour spurring me on.
::
:: This year, I didn't get it together that often to get up for the
:: early ride and generally rode after the am coverage and then again
:: in the early PM. I didn't get the 320 miles in two weeks that I got
:: last year, but I rode the 200+ miles quite a bit faster.
::
:: It's nice having the stages taped - heh, I dutifully sat there and
:: removed all those pesky commercials, and I plan to re-run them when
:: I ride my stationary bike.
::
:: jj

jj said:

Just wondering if anyone found themselves riding more, timing their rides
to surround the coverage, getting a psychological boost, improving their
riding or something similar from having the Tour on during the day?

I wore my yellow jersey more than my red or blue ones. Admired my calves
in shop windows a bit more. I did more intervals as they made the calves
look even more awesome. All in all it helped me focus on the importance of
vanity more than bike [censored]. :P

Must have worked, a guy with major tattoos stopped his lawn mower and
shouted something merrily in French at me a couple days ago. "Vive
Somthingorother!!!"

jj said:

Just wondering if anyone found themselves riding more, timing their rides
to surround the coverage, getting a psychological boost, improving their
riding or something similar from having the Tour on during the day?

I wore my yellow jersey more than my red or blue ones. Admired my calves
in shop windows a bit more. I did more intervals as they made the calves
look even more awesome. All in all it helped me focus on the importance of
vanity more than bike [censored]. :P

Must have worked, a guy with major tattoos stopped his lawn mower and
shouted something merrily in French at me a couple days ago. "Vive
Somthingorother!!!"

jj said:

Just wondering if anyone found themselves riding more, timing their rides
to surround the coverage, getting a psychological boost, improving their
riding or something similar from having the Tour on during the day?

I wore my yellow jersey more than my red or blue ones. Admired my calves
in shop windows a bit more. I did more intervals as they made the calves
look even more awesome. All in all it helped me focus on the importance of
vanity more than bike [censored]. :P

Must have worked, a guy with major tattoos stopped his lawn mower and
shouted something merrily in French at me a couple days ago. "Vive
Somthingorother!!!"

psycholist wrote:
::
:: After watching Michael Rasmussen in the TT on Saturday, I went out
:: and got on my TT bike ... and I promptly went head-first into a
:: ditch, then I got a series of flats. It was inspiring.
::
:: I live on video tapes of the tour stages to get me through winter
:: training on the rollers and trainer. Gotta watch out on those
:: scenes where the camera is right behind a group descending a twisty
:: mountain. I've gotten caught up in it before and taken a turn right
:: off the rollers.
::

You're kidding on both points, right?

psycholist wrote:
::
:: After watching Michael Rasmussen in the TT on Saturday, I went out
:: and got on my TT bike ... and I promptly went head-first into a
:: ditch, then I got a series of flats. It was inspiring.
::
:: I live on video tapes of the tour stages to get me through winter
:: training on the rollers and trainer. Gotta watch out on those
:: scenes where the camera is right behind a group descending a twisty
:: mountain. I've gotten caught up in it before and taken a turn right
:: off the rollers.
::

You're kidding on both points, right?

psycholist wrote:
::
:: After watching Michael Rasmussen in the TT on Saturday, I went out
:: and got on my TT bike ... and I promptly went head-first into a
:: ditch, then I got a series of flats. It was inspiring.
::
:: I live on video tapes of the tour stages to get me through winter
:: training on the rollers and trainer. Gotta watch out on those
:: scenes where the camera is right behind a group descending a twisty
:: mountain. I've gotten caught up in it before and taken a turn right
:: off the rollers.
::

You're kidding on both points, right?

Roger Zoul said:

psycholist said:

Quoted message said:

After watching Michael Rasmussen in the TT on Saturday, I went out
and got on my TT bike ... and I promptly went head-first into a
ditch, then I got a series of flats. It was inspiring.

I live on video tapes of the tour stages to get me through winter
training on the rollers and trainer. Gotta watch out on those
scenes where the camera is right behind a group descending a twisty
mountain. I've gotten caught up in it before and taken a turn right
off the rollers.

You're kidding on both points, right?

First, yes. Second? Bet not 🙂

Roger Zoul said:

psycholist said:

Quoted message said:

After watching Michael Rasmussen in the TT on Saturday, I went out
and got on my TT bike ... and I promptly went head-first into a
ditch, then I got a series of flats. It was inspiring.

I live on video tapes of the tour stages to get me through winter
training on the rollers and trainer. Gotta watch out on those
scenes where the camera is right behind a group descending a twisty
mountain. I've gotten caught up in it before and taken a turn right
off the rollers.

You're kidding on both points, right?

First, yes. Second? Bet not 🙂

Roger Zoul said:

psycholist said:

Quoted message said:

After watching Michael Rasmussen in the TT on Saturday, I went out
and got on my TT bike ... and I promptly went head-first into a
ditch, then I got a series of flats. It was inspiring.

I live on video tapes of the tour stages to get me through winter
training on the rollers and trainer. Gotta watch out on those
scenes where the camera is right behind a group descending a twisty
mountain. I've gotten caught up in it before and taken a turn right
off the rollers.

You're kidding on both points, right?

First, yes. Second? Bet not 🙂

maxo said:

Must have worked, a guy with major tattoos stopped his lawn mower and
shouted something merrily in French at me a couple days ago. "Vive
Somthingorother!!!"

It does seem to have had a positive impact on some. I was out doing
intervals on Saturday morning, going full tilt along a flat section at
~22mph when I noticed an old farm truck following me without passing.
The speed limit there is 35 and there was no other traffic, so I
wondered why he didn't just go around.

We got to a red light and he pulled up next to me and I learned why.
Our brief conversation went roughly like this:

Driver: "I hear you guys can get those things up over 30."
Me: "Not me, but the pros can."
Driver: "Well I had you at about 25, pretty good."

At that point the light changed and we separated. I thought it was
cool that someone evidently new to the sport could appreciate what we
do.

-JR

maxo said:

Must have worked, a guy with major tattoos stopped his lawn mower and
shouted something merrily in French at me a couple days ago. "Vive
Somthingorother!!!"

It does seem to have had a positive impact on some. I was out doing
intervals on Saturday morning, going full tilt along a flat section at
~22mph when I noticed an old farm truck following me without passing.
The speed limit there is 35 and there was no other traffic, so I
wondered why he didn't just go around.

We got to a red light and he pulled up next to me and I learned why.
Our brief conversation went roughly like this:

Driver: "I hear you guys can get those things up over 30."
Me: "Not me, but the pros can."
Driver: "Well I had you at about 25, pretty good."

At that point the light changed and we separated. I thought it was
cool that someone evidently new to the sport could appreciate what we
do.

-JR

maxo said:

Must have worked, a guy with major tattoos stopped his lawn mower and
shouted something merrily in French at me a couple days ago. "Vive
Somthingorother!!!"

It does seem to have had a positive impact on some. I was out doing
intervals on Saturday morning, going full tilt along a flat section at
~22mph when I noticed an old farm truck following me without passing.
The speed limit there is 35 and there was no other traffic, so I
wondered why he didn't just go around.

We got to a red light and he pulled up next to me and I learned why.
Our brief conversation went roughly like this:

Driver: "I hear you guys can get those things up over 30."
Me: "Not me, but the pros can."
Driver: "Well I had you at about 25, pretty good."

At that point the light changed and we separated. I thought it was
cool that someone evidently new to the sport could appreciate what we
do.

-JR

jj said:

Just wondering if anyone found themselves riding more, timing their rides
to surround the coverage, getting a psychological boost, improving their
riding or something similar from having the Tour on during the day?

Riding with the group during Le Tour reminds me of playing basketball at
the Y during playoffs -- a lot of playing over their heads going on.
Funny and a little annoying in b-ball, scary on the road. One guy nearly
stacked me twice -- riding a Madone, naturally...