Irishj9

Well finally an attack! And from within Astana as well! What does this teach us? 1) Lance knew about it in advance 2) Lance could not respond Oh happy day, he's lost over a minute!!! Missed most of the stage, took my own advice and went out on the bike.

Last week when I said this Tour was boring...Sean Badenhorst told those of us who hold this opinion, that we have no patience and we're not true connoisseurs of stage racing. Quote "Patience is an important part of being a connoisseur. These days instant gratification is what everyone's become used to. Sad really. The Tour de France is three weeks long, let it run its course before criticising it..." I think he should now write to Pez Cycling news and tell THEM that they have no patience and are also not bike racing connoisseurs. "ST15 Preview: Fourteen stages down and we're still desperately longing for some real bike racing". http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=7311 Off you go now Sean. be sure to post the PEZ reply here LOL PS. Connoisseur is a French word. French connoisseurs have taken to shooting pellet guns at this travesty of a race as it passes by Irishj92009-07-19 04:06:44

The people of France, the people who actually own this race, ( NO, its NOT ASO) have their commentary style. They have taken to shooting at the riders as they pass by. No I'm not kidding! Well. lets face it, they're easy targets as they spin past at 20kph, and its not like the fans have any other entertainment to distract them, is it? I predict more shootings, maybe a punch in the face or two. ( It wouldnt be the first time, either) French people adore this event, and dont like it being disrespected and turned into a silly sprinters freakshow. Which sprinter will "win" today? Who gives a F***? Irishj92009-07-19 04:03:05

The entire Astana strategy is to ride steady and kill attacks, and hope that Lance can win on Mt Ventoux. The entire tour reduced to one stage. Everybody else's strategy is to follow Astana. Phil and Paul's strategy is to keep talking in the hope that nobody will notice that the bunch is on another rest day. Coverage starts at 2pm on TV I'd log in at about 4.30. Time enough to see the only real move of the day, somewhere in the last 2km. Somebody or other wins by 5 seconds, followed by a group of all the main contenders, except someone who had a puncture, or ran into a dog..... A great day to get out on the bike................. Irishj92009-07-19 03:18:36

Instant gratification? Thats whats bothering me. A week into the Tour and I have to search my memory for a few lousy instants of gratification. Where the hell is the resistance? Where are the attacks, the strategies, the plans?. Is there ANY evidence of a resistance to an Astana walkover? Contador says in the rest day's press press conference that he was ordered not to attack on the Tourmalet, but to hold back. ( Ordered by Bruyneel, that is. ( Armstrong is getting on a bit you see. He doesnt like those instant accellerations), keep it nice and steady and keep the field together. No awkward racing, you see. We may get an instant of gratification on Mont Ventoux. I wouldnt hold my breath waiting though........ As I write this the highlights are being run on DSTV Ch205. Wait a minute, the picture has paused for ten mins, I didnt even notice until now....another BOOOOOOORING stage for the sprinters. Why not make it a 200metres stage? Same result Irishj92009-07-14 14:08:45

Astana are your answer. They are working the team into the ground to defend a jersey they havent even gotten hold of yet. My problem is NOBODY else has the courage to attack. Astana get the tour by default. Booooooring

TWO mountain stages and not one attack worth the name. Can this be the most boring tDF in history? One massive stage finishes at Arcalis and the only attack occurs with 1.6k to the finish. Another including the Torrmalet and not one favourite has a go. Cadel has a half assed idea to join an early break without any team support, and expects to get away with it?. What is this man drinking? But thats HIS attack for this tour, so now we can let him off the hook to follow Astana to Paris This is not a bike race. This is golf! I vote leave them to it. Maybe I will come back on the second last day to see an orderly procession on Mont Ventoux followed by a sprint won by Cavendish. Some or other Astana will win this golf match by 1/10000000th of a second, or two strokes at the last hooooooooole. meanwhile Phil and Paul give themselves hernias bending over to lick Lance's a$$. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!!!!! Irishj92009-07-12 11:39:11

Less talk, more action, I agree. If Pedalpower will hire a hotshot lawyer to have this guy pursued with the full weight of the law, I will contribute now. They can call me for a R5000 contribution today. This is a real offer. ( my superlight climbing wheels can wait). They put him in jail for 20 years, They can have another R5000 bonus. You have my contact details pedalpower. ( Check your database under id PS0826023). Its time we acted as a community. Im sure others feel similarly.Irishj92008-11-19 06:45:07

I owe LOTS...but its only Rand, not real money, so thats a relief.! However, I believe that the more you owe the better, especially if youre using it productively ( ie NOT buying cars) If you owe the bank R1million, you have a problem. If you owe the bank R100 Million, the BANK has a problem ie GM in the states ( my previous employer). A real ZOMBIE company, technically bankrupt, but so big and owing so much, the Government cant allow it to fall... My ambition is to owe as much as GM does ...cue demonic laugh.......

I will also be working in Paarl for the next year, and would like to make contact with local roadies. Group pressure is the ONLY thing which will get me out of bed to go training, before 8am LOL

lol no I got all the punctures within one hour. The entire operation took a lot longer...it feels like days, no months, wandering in a hot wilderness, plagued by punctures, with the vultures circling expectantly as i walked along with my R20000 bike lol

two words " cracked frame" That was the cause of all my speed wobbles, which could be predicted always to start at 50kph.

OK, its still too soon to retell the full horror of it all, Im getting flashbacks as I type this. Suffice to say I went out for my usual relaxed 50k afternoon spin today, and had 12 punctures. Yes 12!. Using Ksyrium racing rims, slightly worn GP3000 on the front, brand new GP4000 on the back. One spare tube in back pocket. All tubes brand new. Can I now claim the ?most punctures on one day Hubber 2008? What can I say?? Thorns??on the section at the back of Koeberg power station. I laughed, I cried, I fixed punctures?.I blacked out for a while (mercifully). Then I fixed more punctures?. Then I walked two km to the coffee shop, ( where I had two bracing lattes), and talked the staff into giving me a bucket of water. I restrained the urge to drown myself and instead used it to find another 6 punctures (in two tyres). I threw away a tube which I could have used as a tea strainer. I dumped the empty box of patches I bought brand new at Astra pro this morning. Then I prayed ( a lot). I changed religion twice ( I may be a Buddhist now, If I remember correctly) Then I sweet talked my tyres into taking me the 10k home. So I now lay early claim to "the most punctures on one ride" award Irishj92008-02-20 09:21:28

Again ..dont ride it. I found an alarming shimmy in my front fork descending at anything over 50kph. Turned out to be a crack in a carbon fork, but lower down than yours. Moral..it can LOOK acceptable, then let you down badly at the worst possible moment

If theres a dodoo slinging group visiting LA, please include me. wouldnt want to miss THAT day !

Yes looks....fun..er..Is that a parachute on his back?. For the ineviatble flip over the barrier at 100kph?

Anyone preparing for the Argus 2008......?? See these guys getting in some invaluable group crash practice...essential for survival on Hospital Bend.....heheh http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0tMhlhnga0

It might be a good idea to get these guys registration numbers and form a database. You never know when they might end up in court for hitting a cyclist, then we have a record of their previous madness to show a judge...

Thanks Guys N Gals. I will make a few calls and see if I can have my spine reconstructed for Klein Joostenburg!

Can anyone recommend a good sports or 'cyclist friendly' physio in CT? My back is still in pieces after that gang raping on Hells last Sunday ......and the last advice I want is to "stop trying to hammer up climbs like a youngster' lol Irishj92007-11-14 03:00:18

MMMM Giro D'italia race leader.......Days like these I miss Europe lol

OMG!. Well I guarantee I wont be going through there again!. Would be great to meet up for a coupla training runs together. Will PM my cell #

Looked to me like they were perfecting their game.. ie they did not show any weapon.....I suspect they will be successful very soon.

went through about 12.30 this afternoon