[Other Sport] Cycling geeks

[Motogull]

You can enter on the day if you fancy joining us.....

I'd be able to keep up with you for a handful of miles only. I'm nowhere near ready.

 

[Spreadbetting Seagull]

That's leaving it late! The sun had better come out...see you bright and early on saturday.

Looking forward to it. Forecast is dry, can't ask for more than that given the 'summer' we've had so far!

 

[teaboy]

So, as the Tour is almost upon us I feel it's time to show my cards for stage 1. Guess/ridicule at will:

1x German
2x Frenchies
2x Italians
1x Dutchy
1x Norwayer
1x Yank
1x Britanian

I might've heard of 2 of them....

 

[Pantani]

So, as the Tour is almost upon us I feel it's time to show my cards for stage 1. Guess/ridicule at will:

1x German
2x Frenchies
2x Italians
1x Dutchy
1x Norwayer
1x Yank
1x Britanian

I might've heard of 2 of them....

I currently have

2 Clog Wearers
2 Cheese Eating Surrender Monkeys
1 Rosbif
1 Bull Fighter
1 Pickled Herring Eater
1 Ruthlessly Efficient Type
1 Guy who is not a Czech (the best I could come up with)

 

[Pantani]

So, as the Tour is almost upon us I feel it's time to show my cards for stage 1. Guess/ridicule at will:

1x German Kittel
2x Frenchies Bouhanni and Simon
2x Italians Bono and Tosatto
1x Dutchy Boy Van Poppel
1x Norwayer Boasson Hagen
1x Yank King
1x Britanian Cavendish

I might've heard of 2 of them....

 

[teaboy]

3/9 Must try harder.

There's quite a good chance I chosen a useless bunch of no-hopers as usual, and Cav...

 

[Pantani]

3/9 Must try harder.

There's quite a good chance I chosen a useless bunch of no-hopers as usual, and Cav...

It is quite strong tactic really. With the riders being so expensive it is difficult to get the team you want, we will all be taking punts on getting riders in the break, I think.

 

[teaboy]

3/9 Must try harder.

There's quite a good chance I chosen a useless bunch of no-hopers as usual, and Cav...

It is quite strong tactic really. With the riders being so expensive it is difficult to get the team you want, we will all be taking punts on getting riders in the break, I think.

SB will be pleased...

My main tactics go:
1. Check topography of stage
2. Pick a 'big' name that's suited, or maybe the jersey if I find out who it is
3. Fill team with no-marks to make up the 9 riders within budget
4. Maybe pick someone with an amusing name
5. Finish mid-table, and wonder why I don't do better at this game
6. Repeat 1-5.

NOTHING CAN GO WRONG NOW!

 

[Pantani]

SB will be pleased...

My main tactics go:
1. Check topography of stage
2. Pick a 'big' name that's suited, or maybe the jersey if I find out who it is
3. Fill team with no-marks to make up the 9 riders within budget
4. Maybe pick someone with an amusing name
5. Finish mid-table, and wonder why I don't do better at this game
6. Repeat 1-5.

NOTHING CAN GO WRONG NOW!

Ah, but you forgot to big up your team to a ridiculous extent like SB does!

 

[teaboy]

Ah, but you forgot to big up your team to a ridiculous extent like SB does!

I did do a fair bit of willy-waving after stage 1 of the Tour Down Under though (when I was top of the NSC league!). I peaked a bit early, I think.

 

[Stat Brother]

SB will be pleased...

My main tactics go:
1. Check topography of stage
2. Pick a 'big' name that's suited, or maybe the jersey if I find out who it is
3. Fill team with no-marks to make up the 9 riders within budget
4. Maybe pick someone with an amusing name
5. Finish mid-table, and wonder why I don't do better at this game
6. Repeat 1-5.

NOTHING CAN GO WRONG NOW!

Ah, but you forgot to big up your team to a ridiculous extent like SB does!

Anyone would think I was predictable.

In fairness though looking at IL's comments about fantasy, my formula might not be so bad, after all.

The Brit
2 x CESM
1 x Fortified wine drinker.
1 x Pope landlord.
1 x Siesta monkey.
1 x Viking warrior.
1 x Bacon eater (unless he's jewish)
1 x Dyke stuffer!!

 

[Pantani]

Anyone would think I was predictable.

In fairness though looking at IL's comments about fantasy, my formula might not be so bad, after all.

The Brit
2 x CESM
1 x Fortified wine drinker. Scottish? Portuguese? From Jerez?
1 x Pope landlord.
1 x Siesta monkey.
1 x Viking warrior.
1 x Bacon eater (unless he's jewish)
1 x Dyke stuffer!!

So Cav, Bouhanni, Mederel, Bono, Noval, Kristoff, Vandborg, Van Poppel and Rui Costa?

 

[Stat Brother]

So Cav, Bouhanni, Mederel, Bono, Noval, Kristoff, Vandborg, Van Poppel and Rui Costa?

3, Cav and Costa being 2.

The Dyke stuffer is more of a pet that a winning rider, although plenty good enough for break points.
Boohoohani, wash your mouth out. I'm getting my loathing in early with that one.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

3 French
2 Germans
2 Belgians
1 Dutch
1 Brit

 

[Stat Brother]

Cav, Boohoo, Degenkolb, Gilbert

 

[Stoichkov]

Ryder hesjesdal - £10 @ 66/1 and a little E/W bet too.

I know he's been out of sorts this year but at those odds I couldn't resist. Realistically though, I can't see past froome which is a shame as he looks like an absolute disgrace on a bicycle

 

[Stat Brother]

Ryder hesjesdal - £10 @ 66/1 and a little E/W bet too.

I know he's been out of sorts this year but at those odds I couldn't resist. Realistically though, I can't see past froome which is a shame as he looks like an absolute disgrace on a bicycle

All the Garmin talk has been about Martin going for a stage win, maybe even polka dot, backed up by Talansky.
NSC's finest has barely got a mention, and certainly nobody in the team is being talked about for GC.

I just don't see it that way.
I think they're plenty strong enough to have someone in contention, the question is who?

 

[Motogull]

Just made an involuntary change due to a grey-out.

My team:

1 Kenyan
1 Slovak
1 No tail
3 Frogs
1 Cloggie
1 Borat
1 Bull torturer

And... Just fitted new pedals and toe clips. Never ridden as much as a single foot in the like. Should be fun tomorrow.

 

[1066familyman]

Starting to fell proper excited now, and really nervous just imagining what it would be like to be in the chaos going into tomorrow's sprint finish that everyone wants so badly. Hoping they're be no major crashes but there's bound to be some tumbles as ever.

I listened to the 5live 100 years podcast earlier and will watch the ITV4 programme about last years tour too later (I think I may have already seen it if it's all about Wiggins, but will watch nonetheless).

Fantasy wise, I'm quite chuffed that I've only really had one little tinker from my provisional team (no Coquard riding now is a right shame as he was great value), haven't been near it in days and will start with what I have for tomorrow. Not sure I can name it in an original semi-disguised way though so will stick to keeping cards close to my chest for now instead.

 

[1066familyman]

Just made an involuntary change due to a grey-out.

Just fitted new pedals and toe clips. Never ridden as much as a single foot in the like. Should be fun tomorrow.

I spent years on toe clips, never being bold enough to move to cleats and never feeling quite right without something to 'push' against. When I did go to cleats I chose spd reversibles so I could still ride the flat side in trainers when out with the kids on seafront poodles. Had to ride to work the other day in trainers and I have to say I felt a lot less safe on the road than I do in cleats. Somehow felt a bit like I was driving without a seat belt. All felt very weird and I wasn't comfortable at all. Cleats take no time at all to get used to, and when you start wearing them you'll wonder why you haven't been wearing them from day one on a road bike.