[ot] Tour de France

[lunabass]

Contador's second tour win - good job - but I dunno, his riding doesn't do anything for me.

i dunno how i feel about contador. i'm a bit of an armstrong fan so have some negativity towards some of the things he says but his attack on the rest of the field half way up the mountain from Verbier was amazing riding. his ability to just take off like he did and leave the rest in his wake made me start to come round to him. i saw an interview with him after that stage and he came across as very humble and just happy.

armstrong, to his credit then comes out after the tour and gives contador the highest praise:
"I think this year's performance would have beaten my performances in 2001, 2004 and 2005," said Armstrong.
"Contador is that good, so I don't see how I would have been higher than that, even in the other years."

so what does contador do:

Oh, controversy! http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_s ... 170479.stm

and i just think...what a dick you are. maybe it's the translation but he just comes across like whiny little brat. so things were a little heated in hotel room, get over it. as soon as armstrong knew he wasn't as strong as him he did the team things and supported him. how contador couldn't accept that a 7 times winner of the tour would be on equal footing with him in the team until results showed otherwise astounds me.

[Magik]

I think I may misunderstand you by saying

how contador couldn't accept that a 7 times winner of the tour would be on equal footing with him in the team until results showed otherwise astounds me.

Are you trying to say Contador should look at Lance as having an equal opportunity as team leader?

[lunabass]

i'm saying that contador is a whiny little brat...

[Magik]

"The Tour was a bit of a joke this year. I've got nothing against Sastre… or Christian Vande Velde. Christian's a nice guy, but finishing fifth in the Tour de France? Come on!"

-Lance

and i just think...what a dick you are.

(Applies to Lance too)

Think of how Contador felt. Its pretty obvious to him that he is Astana's team leader. Then Lance comes in as a volunteer, after 4 years of retirement and says he wants to be the team leader. I think that gives Contador every right to feel how he does toward Lance. If I were him personally I wouldn't directly insult anyone to the public, same with Lance, even if his quote was true ,but it should have been kept to himself.

You saw the Prologue, Contador earned the leadership role. He proved he was the strongest rider. The time gap that Lance got when there was a break in the peleton is a joke. If Contador felt threatened he could of bridged up with the help of a few others but realized its not worth the effort he would have to put out. He once again proves his strength on the mountains and proves to be the most dominant climber.

In no way should of Lance ever felt he deserved to win the Tour. He has better friendships with more of the riders on Astana and especially with the team director. If it were any other team and he was fighting to be the leader while Contador was on the team I don't think it would have turned out like it did.

[lunabass]

welcome to the forum majik

contador = great rider + whiny little bitch

[pulsoc]

is it over? Did somebody win yet?

[Magik]

Its over.

Contador the 'whiny little bitch' won.

[Magik]

Not to mention Contador worked unselfishly on stage 20 to ensure Lance got 3rd on the podium.

What a nice guy

[pulsoc]

Lance got 3rd?? Amazing, he's like 100 years old or something. I hope he decides to get into producing rave music next!

[lunabass]

I hope he decides to get into producing rave music next!

i'd listen to that

[8O]

Replies to Contador on Twitter:

lancearmstrong: Seeing these comments from AC. If I were him I'd drop this drivel and start thanking his team. w/o them, he doesn't win.

lancearmstrong: hey pistolero, there is no "i" in "team". what did i say in March? Lots to learn. Restated.

johanbruyneel: Sometimes it is better to be silent and thought a fool, than to speak up and remove all doubt!

oh, yes, next year will be fun!

[lunabass]

johanbruyneel: Sometimes it is better to be silent and thought a fool, than to speak up and remove all doubt!

[8O]

question for you tread heads... in a touring bike, 2 front sprockets or 3? I've started looking here for reviews.
http://tinyurl.com/nvuots
is it just that with 2 you have to be more precise with your gear selection?

For touring I'd probably go with 3 just so I'm not limited with routes e.g. over the alps while carrying heavy panniers.

I can recommend Specialized Tricross (e.g. http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBC ... spid=22302) - a friend of mine cycled across America - Florida to Seattle - with one of those, never let him down.

[Tone Deft]

yeah, that'd be a great bike! it's going on the list.

thing I like about more gears is the feeling I don't have to pussy out on any hill, I can granny gear it.

thanks for the tips guys, I really appreciate it. spot on advice regarding carbon components and drivetrain grupo. I've got a list at home of bikes I'd like.

there are 5 bike shops I can walk to, I'm gonna see what each one would sell me and go from there. it's worth it just for the maintenance support they can offer.

damn, I told myself I'd get a new ride only if I kept up the miles for a year, now I'm making excuses like maybe I'll get one for my b-day in the fall, or maybe celebrate Labor Day with a new ride.

[v76]

First is Colnago Active w/ Veloce & Chorus gruppo... other one is my newer Krono HP w/ Dura Ace + UT Cranks (DONT MIND THE SADDLE! It
was temporary until my Selle Italia C2 got shipped)
Some crackhead stole the Active recently. That's why the Spinergy wheelset isn't on the Krono.
Unfortunately I can't ride anymore since I got diagnosed w/ chronic fatigue syndrome.