Peloton

ejtaylor822 · Jul 12, 2005

Add me to the list of cycling/tractor nuts as well! I do not ride much anymore, have the waist to prove it, but I keep up with it. These guys, and Lance especially, are amazing.

I am from the mountains of North Carolina, Asheville, where the Tour DuPont use to come through. At one time I was in pretty good riding shape and use to average about 100+ miles a week.

I was on the Blue Ridge Parkway once and I am 100%positive it was Viatcheslav Ekimov that caught me on a long slow climb. I checked my mirror and there was no one behind me, next thing I know here's this guy with a strong accent right beside me asking me for some directions. We talked for a while, well actually he talked, effortlessly, while I wheezed and talked. He gave me some advice on gearing. We then said our goodbyes.

Keep in mind we are on about 2-miles into a climb and I was in pretty good shape - doing about 13/14 MPH on this climb - this guy left me like I was pedaling backwards!!! It was the most amzing thing I have ever seen in my life. Ekimov is a world class rider, won the Tour DuPont that year, but what is more amazing is that he was an underling to Lance! I can't imagine riding, much less competing, with a Lance Armstrong or Miguel Indurain (one of my favs as well) in their prime.

Greg Lemond use to train is Asheville as well. I passed him once - we were going in opposite directions /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif He was going up hill, I was going down, and I truly believe he was going faster - it was just a friendly "hello" and blur going by.

txdon · Jul 13, 2005

Yep, you really never get to talk to the fast guys. back in the late eighties I was trying to get in shape. That was the time in my life when I turned thirty something and the stomach started getting bigger and I realized I was aging. So to re-gain my youth I started running 10ks and then biathlons. But I found my nitch in triathlons. I did them just for fun and did one just about every 2 months for about 5 years. The kids like Armstrong and Pig and the pros like Dave Scott blew me away. I knew that when I was halfway through the bike that the pros were finishing the race. Anyway it's nice to see one of the Texas kids make it big. I still have my triathlon bike hanging over the Farmall, just can't sell it, I might do one more short triathlon some day.... Go Lance Go!
/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

BigDave · Jul 13, 2005

Wow, you guys have have met some of the new kids in bike racing. I'm pretty much old school: the Heidens, Davis Phinney, Steve Bauer, & Frankie Andreu (when he was 16). Oh yeah, there was this one guy I met just sitting on a bench watching criterium back in the 80's. I'm not sure if he was famous or not, he was a Belgian guy named Eddy Merckx. Okay he was famous as heck, but most folks in the USA had no idea who he was. No lines, no autographs, he was just sitting on a bench watching the races. He was in the states looking for a U.S. distributor for his bike frames. Today his top of the line AXM frame will set you back $5000. I guess he can command a high price, but I want one soo bad. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

jcmseven · Jul 13, 2005

Gentlemen,

So happy to hear that many others posters here are interested in cycling. I am a current USCF Masters Class racer here in the US and also the proud owner of a John Deere tractor. I thought I was the only one who noticed the farm equipment during my watching the TDF on OLN. Last year my wife and I were fortunate enough to go on a trip to France to do the famous alpine climbs. It seems John Deere and New Holland were popular brands there. I suppose that due to John Deere's Mannheim Werks in Germany, there are good supplies in Europe. My group included a former Rabobank pro who had raced and completed the Tour five times. He took us on all the major climbs. It was definitely an experience!! The stage tomorrow, Courchevel to Briancon over three major mountain passes is exactly the same as we did day four of our trip. I can attest to its difficulty, and I had an easy day riding the next day, not having to race the next day too, like these guys. Truly they are amazing athletes. Considering that the average fit 25-35 year old male who cycles some and does other exercise as well can produce about 175-225 watts of power on a cycling ergometer for 3-5 minutes, and Lance Armstrong can produce 450-500 watts for 40+ minutes at a body weight of 165 pounds is amazing. No wonder he wins this race every year!!! Oh, and by the way, Eddy Merckx entered a "fitness" ride/race in Israel about three months ago. He did a tri bike leg for a tri team of "older men." His average speed over 60K = 24.45 mph on a standard road bike without aero enhancements; his age:60 years; the number of times he rode to "train" this year: 5; his training program: Beer. Interesting strategy.

John M

ejtaylor822 · Jul 13, 2005

Eddy Merckx, he was (and sounds like he still is) a monster!!! To me his riding style was just totally brutal; it was all muscle and brawn. You always here the great riders reference Eddy. He really made an impact.

Would love to see what Eddy could have done in his prime with today's sponsorship, technology and training.

riptides · Jul 13, 2005

Lance is unreal.

It is a privilege to see him in my time. To win this thing six time is outrageuos enough. But he is doing it by winning over people with class and style too.

Accolades to those riders who keep trying to topple the champion. I cannot imagine what they are feeling inside. They must be humbled.

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

zio · Jul 13, 2005

I go to sleep on the couch (big snorer here) with OLN on, & usually stir around 5-ish or so. Wife got me into fitness stuff two years ago (she's a personal trainer & fitness junkie) & we've been following Lance & the Tour ever since. It's a shame not many other races get televised, because I'd rather watch a cycling race than a baseball game or golf tourney. Being a dude, I'm all into the technical aspects.... the bikes, the team strategy, etc.... My wife is a huge fan of Lance & his whole story. She'd leave me for him in a heartbeat.

I haven't noticed any tractors, but I do look for motorhomes & pickups. They've got some wierd stuff over there.

Can anyone tell me why Vinokourov was wearing a different color T-Mobile jersey?

r0GuE · Jul 14, 2005

-- Can anyone tell me why Vinokourov was wearing a different color T-Mobile jersey?

He is the national champion of his home country (kazzakstan (sp?) I believe). Because of that, he gets to wear his national colors incorporated into his kit (cycling uniform). /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Pretty cool huh?

BigDave · Jul 14, 2005

I can't believe I forgot this "game." During one bike ride early this spring the misses mentioned that she's seen more folks on tractors than bicyclists. Now it's pretty much routine that we keep track when on our rides. Unless there's some type of organized bike ride, tractors usually win.

TxTom · Jul 15, 2005

There's a ride in the town of Italy, TX between Waco and Dallas (Tour de Italy) that's become a favorite of ours to do every year. It's held in mid June so there's always some tractor activity going on in the fields. Last year I managed to draft behind a tractor and round baler on the highway. Between the dust and the exhaust, I didn't last very long.

And I realized on my earlier post that I meant to list Renault and not Raleigh as one of the brands I've seen on the tour.

Thomas