tour de france

[fabs]

Like probably many of you I have been watching the Tour.
What do you think of the amazing average speeds they manage to do? Are yours anywhere near this!??

[mikesbytes]

I can stick to those speeds for a short period of time, but no way I can sustain it.

what part of NZ are you from?

[MichaelB]

I can go downhill as fast as they can go up .... sometimes ....

The other part is that they can go uphill fast whilst surrounded and hampered by a hoard of unruly fans !!!

[europa]

I've been watching it. We've had school holidays for the last two weeks so I've been able to catch up on my sleep, but next week, it's back to the real world for me so I guess I'll be knackered in no time.

Average speeds? Mate, they were belting up a hill the other night at speeds I struggle with on the flat. Mind you, I ride solo most of the time and my son isn't big enough to give me much of a tow when I'm with him (and that's without considering my athletic challenges ). I've exceeded 70 km/hr down a hill, but thank goodness it was short and straight - I usually limit my down hill dashes to the low fifties, so belting down a mountain pass at the speeds they do raises the hairs on my neck.

But the blokes I really respect are the motorbike riders, particularly the ones with the tv camera - they're already riding a bike that's overloaded with gear, their passenger isn't sitting plumb and going with the flow, he's leaning out all over the place taking film and waving a heavy piece of equiptment around while doing so, yet these riders have to ride those bikes like sports bikes. Fantastic stuff.

Pro racing - it's a different world.

Richard

[Bnej]

I always feel like I can keep up but can't sustain it. I can do 40 average if I only have to go 500m.

[europa]

I always feel like I can keep up but can't sustain it. I can do 40 average if I only have to go 500m.

Surely you've got cliffs higher than that

Richard

[fabs]

I can stick to those speeds for a short period of time, but no way I can sustain it.

what part of NZ are you from?

Taupo, central north island

[Aushiker]

Taupo, central north island

Reporoa originally and then Rotorua and a short stink in Hornesby, Christhchurh.

Will be back and visiting Taupo at Christmas.

My sis was in a Rotorua to Taupo duathlon (spelling) not long ago I think.

Regards
Andrew

[europa]

If you kiwi's don't stop tracing your connections within the family tree I'll mention sheep

Richard
baaa

[Aushiker]

If you kiwi's don't stop tracing your connections within the family tree I'll mention sheep

Do you mean along the lines of "Where men are men and the sheep are worried"?

Andrew

[europa]

T'weren't me that raised that connection but ...

Years ago, my dad was seconded to New Zealand for three months. He was hosted by various farmers around the country and covered just about every agricultural area in the country. He came back saying that he is man of the red river plains of South Australia, but if any place was going to seduce him away from there, it'd be New Zealand. High praise from my dad ... and they keep producing such good sportsmen for us to nick (though they can't play soccer to save themselves - yes, I'm an AUFC member)

Richard

[mikesbytes]

I can stick to those speeds for a short period of time, but no way I can sustain it.

what part of NZ are you from?

Taupo, central north island

I lived in New Plymouth as a kid and Auckland as a teenager.

[toolonglegs]

Born in Helensville,Pukekohe,Kawakawa,Cambridge....wish I had been into cycling as a kid,the roads are amazing!. Baaaaaaaa!!!!
...Remember that this is there job and they are the cream of the crop,if they didn't do kick arse average speeds a lot higher than me I would be thinking of been the next Zabel!.