If you'd told me before the tour that Cadel would win and that I'd think he deserved it... well! But he did. Of all the GC contenders, he seemed the most positive, in every sense. Sure, he didn't really attack in the mountains but I'm beginning to understand that his personal pedalling style and the gear he favours simply don't allow for that. And that doesn't mean he didn't take control of the race when he had to.
Also, as far as I know, he didn't threaten to cut anyone's head off this year.
Anyone got any good routes to recommend?
I did south London to Stanstead Abbotts and back the other week and that was good fun. I think 70 miles is my limit at the moment so around that distance would be good.
Just having a look on Google maps and South London to Ascot, up to Windsor and then back to London looks like a good loop and is about 70 miles so I think I will try that next.
i have recommended this site before: http://www.cycle-route.com/routes/London-Routes-89.html
alternatively, living in South London does allow you to get the bike on a train for half an hour or so then there's loads of lovely rides out there. if you can do 70 then there's plenty for you to choose.
I recently rode round Dungeness - a pretty flat fifty but have just signed up for a sportive that takes in Box Hill and 3 other quite serious climbs in a 100 mile route.
Conty gets a two year ban backdated - stripped of TdF and Giro win
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/16905217
No TdF this year or Olympics - Schlek finally wins the tour in retrospect -
In other news Lance case closed in US http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-16883468
Vino declares he wants one more year with Astana.
Valverde wins TDU stage.
Boonen wins yesterday (ok he's coke not EPO)
And this is a clean peleton...
Pro cycling is a mess, innit?!
UCI are a joke.
Pros (apart from GB ones) are in denial and are making excuses.
Lance is too big to touch.
Read somewhere, that since 1995 there have been only 2 'untainted' winners of TdF!!!
Reporter: Did you take la bomba?
Coppi: Yes. Whenever it was necessary.
Reporter: And when was it necessary?
Coppi: Almost all the time.
In better news, I have just got a second hand summer bike- an old De Rosa Team (best logo in all of cycling!).
Roll on positive temperatures...
Yeah - De Rosa now they are some lovely machines. I have my eye on a Parlee if i can convince myself i need a new summer bike..
Interesting stuff in the papers - Times particularly trying to get a cyclesafe campaign going - the most telling stat being that precisely 0 cyclists were killed on the roads of Paris last year and I'm guessing the French aren't going a bundle on wearing helmets.
Whilst at the same time, Clarkson et al are openly waging war on cyclists. Shane Warne has been doing likewise in Australia.
what's Warne been saying?