How about Lance "YouDaMan" Armstrong?

[GlueGuy]

Re: How about Lance \"YouDaMan\" Armstrong?

Yes, I've followed Lance through this Tour, and as long as I've been riding regularly. He has definitely matured as time has gone. In the past, he has been somewhat arrogant, but as others have noted, near-death can change you.

BTW - My regular riding buddies & I have talked about Lance frequently. I read an article that stated that Lance's resting heart rate is 30. When he's in climb mode, his target heart rate is 180. To the uninitiated that means that when he's "on", his heart is putting out 6X "normal". That is just so totally unbelievable.

The GlueGuy

 

[MChalkley]

Re: How about Lance \"YouDaMan\" Armstrong?

GlueGuy - A few years ago (times 10...), I had some serious trouble with my knees and the doctor suggested I ride a bike as much as I could for therapy. So, I threw myself into it, because I really enjoyed riding anyway. Anyway, 6 months or so later, I went back for a physical. The nurse checked my pulse - twice - then rushed out without saying a word. The doctor came in, checked my pulse, asked me how I felt, and when I told him fine, he asked how much I was riding. When I told him a couple hundred miles a week or so, he said "Ok, that explains why your pulse is 36. The nurse said we ought to admit you - she thought you were getting ready to die on us." Of course, Lance is more than 10 years older than I was at the time...

MarkC

 

[toddler]

Re: How about Lance "YouDaMan" Armstrong?

I remember when Hinault won his last tour (the one Greg coulda/shoulda...) there was an article about him that noted a resting pulse rate of 34. That was younger than his age I think. Indurain's was in the low thirties too. I suspect most of the top tour riders have resting pulses in the low thirties. Anyone ever read what Eddy Merckx's pulse was back when he was riding? Given his superiority was so much more extreme than any other rider before or after, makes you wonder if it was in the 20's or something.

Todd

 

[Boondox]

Re: How about Lance \"YouDaMan\" Armstrong?

I can relate. Years ago I rode about 250-400 miles a week while on shore duty. When my time came up and I returned to sea duty aboard a fast attack nuke sub, I "failed" my physical and had a full cardiac workup for a resting pulse in the 30s. Of course, those were back in the days when my thighs were only 2 inches shy of my waistline! Remember the Vaseline to keep the thighs from chafing..?

Pete

www.GatewayToVermont.com

 

[MChalkley]

Re: How about Lance \"YouDaMan\" Armstrong?

Pete - I was the long, lanky type that could consume 4,000 calories a day and not gain a pound. (Boy, how things change...) I used to work out with guys who looked strong as an ox - I'd match them them pound for pound and rep for rep, and still look like a weakling. Worked ok for cycling, though.

MarkC

 

[Boondox]

Re: How about Lance \"YouDaMan\" Armstrong?

Remember Nelson Vails, aka "The Cheetah?" He showed up at the San Diego Velodrome once for a fund raiser. A bunch of us took some turns with him and felt pretty good about drafting on him. Then he must have hit the gas because every muscle on his body popped out and he left us behind in the blink of an eye!

I was never fast myself, but if there were long climbs involved I was near the head of the pack. My mantra for climbing was "I hate hills!" Breathe. "I hate hills!" Breathe...

Now that I'm in my forties I let the dogs exercise while I toss tennis balls. Occasionally I'll take the bike out, but I still hate hills. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Pete

www.GatewayToVermont.com

 

[GlueGuy]

Re: How about Lance \"YouDaMan\" Armstrong?

I hate the hills too. I am the heaviest of the group I ride with, and it shows on the hills. I weigh ~~200, maybe 195 if really "trim". My riding buddies go between 150 and 170, and they literally kill me on the uphill. However, the big "G" is my friend on the downhill, and I usually blow past them, even when I'm not peddling. If we have a sustained flat/slightly downhill, I can blow their pants off.

I cannot, however, maintain the kind of speeds that Lance does routinely. On a good day, I can maintain maybe 27mph. At that speed, Lance is barely breaking a sweat. Sheesh. I guess that's why I never rode pro... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

The GlueGuy

 

[r0GuE]

Re: How about Lance \"YouDaMan\" Armstrong?

Litespeed Team (team 7up bike),Dura Ace,Mavic Heliums
Merlin FS (9 year old full suspension MTB), Pauls Derails,etc etc
I'm shocked at the number of avid cyclists on the site. And pc/network geeks (like me) as well!
nice to hear from you guys.

Rogue

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: How about Lance \"YouDaMan\" Armstrong?

Boondox, You hate hills? My hometown hosts the Snake Alley Criterium each Memorial Day and the crowds keep growing. The big attraction to the cyclers is the "Cobble Climb" up Snake Alley.

Snake Alley rises 58' over just 275', has five 1/2 turns and two 1/4 turns. The racers follow a course that requires them to climb the hill 12 times with the finish at the top of the hill. It really separates the pros from the wanna-be. This picture shows the Alley pretty well.

These cycle guys are awsome to watch.

 

[RobS]

Re: How about Lance "YouDaMan" Armstrong?

I kind of like hills, but we don't have any "real" hills around here. I do the "Hilly Hundred" every year in southern Indiana. It's a hoot and more of a party ride than anything serious.

PBM, where is Snake Alley? That's pretty impressive looking /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

<font color=purple>... pitiful attempt to link to tractors here... </font color=purple>

Anyone have a three point bike rack for thier tractor? Before I got my trailer I did take my mountain bike to the property with me on my tractor. Figured it would be a quicker ride back home if I needed something than the tractor /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif