I am still n avid cyclist at 66 years old. When healthy I cycle on my road bike 200 miles a week. I used to watch the Tour de France and laugh at the riders peddling uphill hundreds of miles through the Pyrenees mountains at over 25 mph...No human can possibly do that clean. Our society now has a mantra of "If you not cheating you not trying your best" ...Watch the documentaries on Armstrongs cheating, it is beyond sickening.
He had more money and resources than those investigating him. And when new testing arose that would have uncovered his cheating form past sample's they paid people off. In pro sports follow the money, it never lies. It is under more scrutiny but you would be very naive to think it doesn't exist. Lance would have retired clean and still been a hero if he didn't come back , he was a fool who felt invincible. Look at Frankie and Betsy Andreu and Tyler Hamilton , Lance crushed them for telling the truth. Funny thing is he was elite before he doped, it made him invincible. He and Barry Bonds are very similar.
well, screw the "Tour de France". it turns out - because i never knew - other bike events are more fum to monitor and more "real" than i ever knew. My neices' husband, a high school history teacher, joined the Tour Divide 2023 that started this year June 9th. It runs 2700 miles from canada to the mexico border in new mexico. some 300 people started and it's down to about 100 now. yes the pro's went thru in 15/16 days and my niece's husband is in day #35, BUT IT'S 2700 MILES! not a simple 362 miles thru france. (584KM).
We the family and friends were with Jon from early on with his equipment failures, then the sore-ass-butt week. then thru exceptional land thru montana where the only other life within miles are a couple bears. We saw as the pro's finished out, the true amateurs scratched, and the core "you and me" guys (male-female rides open for all ages) continued to ride thru rain-snow-thunder-etc and 12,000 foot high passes in colorado continental divide.
They reach checkpoint after checkpoint. They gather together as small groups at the end of day to scarf down burgers and icecream for needed energy for tomorrow. Now he's into New Mexico where there is no shade and 100F days above 7000 ft. Now he's riding early early morning or late night while pulling into any shade spot to sleep thru the hotest part of the day. Water? it's mostly dried up in New Mexico now. better carry it all!
So F the pretty boys in their feather bikes on paved roads! Try peddling thru bolulders up and down hill thru canada and elsewhere! Try being 75 miles away from a bike shop when your transmission gears don't work anymore! Try coming into a small town of 132 people late at night where none of the regular stores exist much less be open after 7pm!
Thanks Jane for interesting and informative post. I am lucky enough to watch every minute that is broadcasted. Not only do I cheer for drivers, I really am amazed at the beautiful scenery. And thanks to internet, I tour the cities all day.
Hi Jane. I've been following your work for many years. I appreciate your following cycling, I have been an avid cyclist here in L.A. for 35 years. I've ridden over 50k miles, even raced USCF (barely kept up) back in the day.
I remember trading tweets with you regarding the Lance Armstrong doping affair, I remember you mentioned it was all the lying about drugs that bothered you the most. They all lied, that was the problem. Hopefully cycling is cleaner now, time will tell.
I'm rooting for Neilson Powless to keep the Mountains Jersey all they way to Paris. That would be cool.
I always enjoy your stuff, thanks for your words. My day job, by the way, is an independent CFP and RIA in Burbank
Tour de frahhhhhhnce - perhaps the great let down to a sport, the American sport psyche, his live strong effort. The sport equivalent to Bernie madoff. Have yet to one minute despite the compelling countrysides, camping along the road. A good number of people were juiced. They should be in a bottle 10 minutes before a race. Muscle mass,etc. on the the dram of pickle ball in the Villages. How is the expose to stds effect performance of pickle ball.
I am still n avid cyclist at 66 years old. When healthy I cycle on my road bike 200 miles a week. I used to watch the Tour de France and laugh at the riders peddling uphill hundreds of miles through the Pyrenees mountains at over 25 mph...No human can possibly do that clean. Our society now has a mantra of "If you not cheating you not trying your best" ...Watch the documentaries on Armstrongs cheating, it is beyond sickening.
He had more money and resources than those investigating him. And when new testing arose that would have uncovered his cheating form past sample's they paid people off. In pro sports follow the money, it never lies. It is under more scrutiny but you would be very naive to think it doesn't exist. Lance would have retired clean and still been a hero if he didn't come back , he was a fool who felt invincible. Look at Frankie and Betsy Andreu and Tyler Hamilton , Lance crushed them for telling the truth. Funny thing is he was elite before he doped, it made him invincible. He and Barry Bonds are very similar.
well, screw the "Tour de France". it turns out - because i never knew - other bike events are more fum to monitor and more "real" than i ever knew. My neices' husband, a high school history teacher, joined the Tour Divide 2023 that started this year June 9th. It runs 2700 miles from canada to the mexico border in new mexico. some 300 people started and it's down to about 100 now. yes the pro's went thru in 15/16 days and my niece's husband is in day #35, BUT IT'S 2700 MILES! not a simple 362 miles thru france. (584KM).
We the family and friends were with Jon from early on with his equipment failures, then the sore-ass-butt week. then thru exceptional land thru montana where the only other life within miles are a couple bears. We saw as the pro's finished out, the true amateurs scratched, and the core "you and me" guys (male-female rides open for all ages) continued to ride thru rain-snow-thunder-etc and 12,000 foot high passes in colorado continental divide.
They reach checkpoint after checkpoint. They gather together as small groups at the end of day to scarf down burgers and icecream for needed energy for tomorrow. Now he's into New Mexico where there is no shade and 100F days above 7000 ft. Now he's riding early early morning or late night while pulling into any shade spot to sleep thru the hotest part of the day. Water? it's mostly dried up in New Mexico now. better carry it all!
So F the pretty boys in their feather bikes on paved roads! Try peddling thru bolulders up and down hill thru canada and elsewhere! Try being 75 miles away from a bike shop when your transmission gears don't work anymore! Try coming into a small town of 132 people late at night where none of the regular stores exist much less be open after 7pm!
Lance who?
Thanks Jane for interesting and informative post. I am lucky enough to watch every minute that is broadcasted. Not only do I cheer for drivers, I really am amazed at the beautiful scenery. And thanks to internet, I tour the cities all day.
Hi Jane. I've been following your work for many years. I appreciate your following cycling, I have been an avid cyclist here in L.A. for 35 years. I've ridden over 50k miles, even raced USCF (barely kept up) back in the day.
I remember trading tweets with you regarding the Lance Armstrong doping affair, I remember you mentioned it was all the lying about drugs that bothered you the most. They all lied, that was the problem. Hopefully cycling is cleaner now, time will tell.
I'm rooting for Neilson Powless to keep the Mountains Jersey all they way to Paris. That would be cool.
I always enjoy your stuff, thanks for your words. My day job, by the way, is an independent CFP and RIA in Burbank
Regards
Ben
PS I write stuff too! https://kensingtonami.com/blog/
Tour de frahhhhhhnce - perhaps the great let down to a sport, the American sport psyche, his live strong effort. The sport equivalent to Bernie madoff. Have yet to one minute despite the compelling countrysides, camping along the road. A good number of people were juiced. They should be in a bottle 10 minutes before a race. Muscle mass,etc. on the the dram of pickle ball in the Villages. How is the expose to stds effect performance of pickle ball.