Le Tour 2010

In my mind, this is the cream of the crop, the only race that matters. A race that truely captures the essence of cycling. No corperate sponsors, no helocopters radioing how far ahead the lead group is and no doping scandles. Just good old fahioned bike riding where overall winner takes all, which is nothing more than bragging rights, a yellow jersey and some great memories. I gave up racing about 10 years back because it was no longer fun for me. We used to travel and stay up late at night hanging out, but eventually that stopped as people got more serious. The Tour de 'Burg brings back those memories of comroderie I felt as a youth racing BMX. And if you think just because there is no cash purse at stake the riding and competition will be tame, you are in for a big surprise. 1oo mile road stages through gravel and rocky dirt roads mixed with brutal mountain stages riddled with extended rocky ridge riding the region is known for along with decents of breakneck speeds that are anything but buff. The support crew was top notch and after a week of being out there, it has been difficult to the world I have returned to. Thanks all for the great memories and see you next year!I had planned on doing stage by stage overview, but in the end does it really matter? Sorry, most of the pics are during party pace sections en route to the next timed section.


Thomas tucked in behind the White Whale...




Sue chasing down the peloton on the gravel...



Texas Toast. Confederate Breastworks...







Ryan, after falling apart on Reddish...




Up close and persoal with the guardrail...




Riding to the trailhead...




Freshman Dan and Rueben casually climb to begin riding to Trout Pond...




A good ridge for the viewing...




A long, lazy lunch...




Spinning out the legs enroute to the dirt...




Climbing to start Big Schloss...



Tobey warming up in hopes of shaking the DFL jersey...




It was that time of month for Pat's fork...




KOM in full effect. Top 4 plus man behind the cam rounding out the points...




Pleasure pace to Deathstar...




Pat, Dicky, and myself climbing in the heat...




Haywood on one of the hike-a-bike sections on Heartbreak...




Smiles for miles, even after wrapping it around a tree earlier...




Heartbreak on Heartbreak Ridge...




A few minutes later Pat flatted again and would walk the rest of the way...



Ladies...




Wieners...




Texas Toast gets the hose...



Since I didnt ride either of the road stages, I figured I had bike time to make up, so after everyone else had headed home the night before and were at work, Tim and I rode Short Mountain. It took me a while to get my rhythm and by the time I really began to let it hang out, we were back at the car.

Making short work of a techy little morsel...


Tim sessioning a heavy uphill section on Short Mtn...




Until next time...


h