GrumpyOldGuy

Hows this for a bike, not mine but I saw it at the local dealership, its a "Boss Hoss" Google it, its a totally hand built bike with "usually but can vary" a small block V8 - 5.7 litre engine. They can be insanely expensive and have been sold for upwards of $80.000.00 depending on model and extra's, but, I understand there is no shortage of willing customers waiting to have one built. Would love to ride one just to see what its like.

Possibly.

Oh absolutely, and I agree completely. Ride, gearbox, vibration everything is better on the Japanese cruisers, but Yah, the Harley still has that pizazz, no doubt about it. The local Harley dealer here tells me Harley makes up over 90% of the North American motorcycle sales, I dont know how reliable that is but its serious numbers and you see Harleys everywhere.........., however I have to say the speed bike market here, unlike SA is very small, I have yet to see a Fireblade or an R6 or a Katana for example, but in SA they are big sellers and found everywhere.

I dont know,.... but Wiggins doesn't seem happy at SKY anyway, so perhaps it wont only be a SKY decision, maybe Wiggins doesn't want to renew ?! Personally I think Wiggins is a class act, there is no one in team SKY with his palmares and few in the world of cycling presently,...SKY may not see him as a tour contender anymore, and maybe, like the old US Postal team thats going to be their sole future ambition,.... in which case he would be better off in a team who see his value in other arenas, but if not, they should come to some compromise, they would be seriously lacking to just let him walk away.

I have been riding bikes since I was 16 years old, a good 40 plus years back and still love it, although my tastes are a bit more laid back now. Below is my 09 Harley Streetglide Soft tail with a few Screaming Eagle accessories. A great tourer and I once put 1200 kms on in one day without even getting fatigued, its like riding in a car. and below is my Kawasaki Vulcan, which I seldom ride now unfortunately, but just dont have the heart to sell.

I dont think taking LA or even Hincappie as an example of average salary would be fair, LA was an American wonder boy and commanded an American wonder boy package, Hincappie to a lesser degree as well. American athletes are paid far more than European athletes in almost every example of sports in which they excel, think Baseball, Nascar, Basketball, Track events etc. LA was no different. It has been suggested that Bradley Wiggins has a gross income (thats everything included) of around 3-5 bar (British Pounds that is) - a far, far, cry from the excesses of LA, but be that as it may I am in agreement with the OP. Unfortunately the top guys have all followed in LA's path and target only one grand tour, sadly its also mostly the TDF, they are however very capable of riding two grand tours competitively, as many have proved as recently as last year. The issue stems more from a team management / schedule perspective in my opinion, top riders in teams should be contracted to race at least two grand tours and management /race organizers should insist on that principle been followed. There are more than enough top riders in the respective Grand tour teams to ensure each tour will then have at least a few top names. Bringing top names to a tour also forces teams to send stronger and more focused support riders, so its a win win for all concerned, the race organizer, the fans and the viewing public. Taking the Giro as an example,... when a pro continental team like Bardiani on a minuscule fraction of the SKY team financial budget, and with no real credential other than inspiration and a willingness to compete and race, has several podiums and is represented in almost every break, one needs to ask what sort of motivation was there in the SKY team to do anything but show up.

- Yah, I like that thought.

I dont know, Wiggins can hold his own, maybe not fly up the hill like a pure climber but he could certainly pace with the likes of Evans. I agree with JCZA that the big name riders who should be racing here arent, and the teams appear to have sent along their B team just to make up the numbers. Sad because in reality this is the second biggest and prestigious Grand tour available and is known for its great spirit of racing.

Very true, I think Wiggins is a class act, certainly streets ahead of the majority of riders in this years Giro so he would of stood a good chance of winning. Pity he isnt here I agree.

True, but I recon had Rolland not attacked, and animated the race it would have been rather dull as well.

Ha, Ha, maybe, the old bugger needs to up his game a bit. ......But mostly........its very sloooooooow, the almighty SKY seem to me to be conspicuous by their absence in any kind of attack and Saxo seem to be working more on their tans at the back than racing, if it were not for the small mostly continental teams like Bardiani, Neri Sottoli and Androni Giocattoli who have been represented in almost every break, I dont think I would still be watching.

Hmm, I am a big Giro fan, bit this years race is not doing it for me, not sure what it is, the route, the field, the weather dunno, but apart from Sat. I feel its been downright boring. I heard on the TV the commentators said there has been some issues in the peleton of discontent over the roads especially, and perhaps that has resulted in a loss of will to race as is so common in the Giro, but we will see, I am hoping it picks up a bit, but the easier route, early rest day and sadly a slightly depleted field is possibly showing in rather slow viewing I am afraid.

Yah, its not an excuse but crime is everywhere. I think one just has to accept it and do what you can to keep yourself safe, whatever that may be indoor cycling, riding in groups, finding a different route, whatever. As you most likely know I now live in Canada, and although its a hugely safe city where forgetting to lock your front door at night is quite common and leaving your car window open at the mall will get you a big sticker on the windscreen telling you that you are INVITING crime and perhaps next time remember to lock the car and close the window, thats probably the worst thing that will happen...... there is still crime, domestic violence, battery etc and although its usually related to drugs (which in the US is a major issue) and usually a lot less violent its still there if you want to focus on it. The difference in my opinion is sadly S.Africans focus on crime, we fret about security, we live in fear and we become victims, this I find largely no existent in the US, crime is relegated to "something that happens", but "we dont want to hear about it" and we wont live in fear or as victims. Maybe its a mind set, I dont know, but theres certainly not the same level of concern over it as here. Anyway, just to lighten things up a bit I was in the supermarket recently and ahead of me in the line was a middle aged guy who, on hearing my accent asked me where I came from (very usual, I get asked almost daily) when I said South Africa and he sort of turned away and I thought "Oh Okay here comes the lecture on crime, apartheid etc" then he looked back at me and said "You guys got the best Avocado pears in the world, whenever I see South African Avocado pears in the shop I buy as many as I can, just the best" ......and with that we went on our way.

On another note Rolland looked good, he struggled near the end but I still fancy him as a GC contender. Quintana on the other hand, looked less than inspiring.

Yah, must be, unlike him to be dropped on, what for him, is a little bump in the road. Sad, but I also think age is getting to him as well, the ol boy cant recover from crashes like the 23 year old kids anymore.

Yah, he should of thought of that before he took advantage of the crash, now sitting in a comfortable second position, as you say its inevitable. I dont feel sorry for him.

Yah, that skin suit with the anatomy one of his "semi official last races" but only Cippo could pull that off and not look silly, and Saeco been the tremendous sponsor they were was quite happy to allow it. Back in the day Saeco had such a strong team with Cippo, Simoni and Cunego, another controversial thing Saeco and Cannondale did was if you remember in one of the grand tours, think it was the Giro, they all abandoned their official Saeco team outfits and rode in a prisoners dress code with little fishing weights hanging on their Cannondales handlebars to bring them up to the required official weight. A sort of an advert of how light Cannondales were that they needed additional weights to get to the official race weight. Cannondale got a fine and so did Saeco, but of course they paid it with a smile.....Aaah, those were the days, of real characters in the sport, both riders and sponsors, sadly one dont see this anymore.!

Ya, he still da man.............always liked Cippo, only an Italian could pull it off as he did, character of note.

Bit of climbing tomorrow and Sunday on the cards, I expect Matthews will give up the jersey tomorrow to Evans....worse luck.!

I say sit up and wait, if LA could do it, and did, if the entire Sky team could do it, and did, if Ullrich, Hamilton and quite a few others could do it, and did, so can Cadel. Reminded me a bit of Hincappies disgraceful attack on Oscar Pereiro after sucking wheel up the entire mountain, never liked him after that,....similar dislike for Evans now as well..

Yah, I also quickly scanned the usual sites but didn't see anything either.

Has there been any news on Caruso's condition? He appeared to be quite badly injured from the visuals, obviously he is out but is he okay?

Another long stage today, but fairly straight forward, cant see Matthews losing the Jersey today, ...may even take the stage, he appears on top form. My hope will be for Ali-Jet again, I just want to see him once more flying up the finish straight, "poetry in motion" http://www.steephill.tv/img/transparent-pixel.pnghttp://www.steephill.tv/img/transparent-pixel.pnghttp://www.steephill.tv/img/transparent-pixel.png

Yah, its odd though dont you think, the area has quite severe winters so its not as if they dont understand the implications of rain and snow and slippery roads, I can only think, been a fairly rural part of Italy, the road spend on the blacktop surface is not as it might be. Just a bit of speculation though, no proof.

Indeed, I tend to agree with you there, but perhaps he could argue he wasn't racing, just sitting on, BMC on the other hand WAS racing............I dunno, I guess its still a business, but even in business you sometimes step back and let an unfair advantage go, I think this should have been one of those days.