SUNDAY COMICS, L'ETAPE de TOUR, ROCK AND ROLL

By Debbie Bulloch



Here are the Sunday Comics. Read them, laugh a little, enjoy them and then....get out and enjoy the day!
















(Click on image for larger view)











Remember, tomorrow (Monday July 20) our very own Arcabulle Odriscoll will be riding his bike to the top of Mont Ventoux (elev. 1900 meters). The L'Etape de Tour, where Arc will be riding, is part of the Tour de France. This is one of the toughest mountains for a bike rider; it is steep, it is boiling hot (or freezing cold), dry, windy (hence the name Mont Ventoux), the top looks like a lunar landscape (there are no trees to provide much needed shade and cooling) and just plain brutal. Only crazy bike riders attempt to climb this mountain.

Remember to send Arc well-wishes for a successful climb.

Last night I went to a street fair sponsored by an L.A.based radio station (K-EARTH FM 101.1) that plays all "oldies but goodies." I danced out on the street to the sounds of Shanana, Jan and Dean and, of course, the Beach Boys. I also saw a bunch of cool old cars. I will post pictures and more information later on.

From Back to the Future - I almost expected Marty to pop up!



Gloeing thinks I would look good driving one of these hot rods, what do you all think?



This would make a great surfer wagon it can certainly "haul ass!"



I think Gloeing would love one of these Plymouth Dart rockets!



ET please phone home!



Now I have to get out and ride my bike!

Enjoy!

THE TOUR DE FRANCE IS HERE!

By Debbie Bulloch



Tomorrow marks the start of the 2009 Tour de France. Stage One of the TDF begins in Monaco and ends in the town of Brignoles. As an avid bike rider, I am already I am suffering from Tour “fever.”

This year’s TDF will be special for three reasons. As you know by now (and if you don’t know it is because you do not read our blog – so, shame on you!!! – LOL) on July 20, our very own Monsieur Arcabulle Odriscoll will be riding on L’Etape du Tour. L’Etape is for amateur riders and it is run on the same course as Stage Twenty of the TDF; from Montelimar to Mont Ventoux. For more information on Mont Ventoux and L’Etape du Tour (in case that you missed it the first time around) click here: L’Etape du Tour.

The second reason why this year’s TDF is special is because Stage Ten of the Tour will start in the small town of Limoges. One of BH’s members lives in Limoges so he will have a first hand view of the beginning of Stage Ten. Perhaps we can persuade him to take photographs and post them on the blog.

The third and final reason why this year’s TDF is special is because it marks the return of American rider, and 7-time TDF winner, Lance Armstrong. Winning one TDF is significant, winning two is special, winning five is extraordinary, but winning SEVEN consecutive TDF is an achievement that will probably never be matched by an other rider. Competitive cycling is perhaps one of the toughest sports, both mentally and physically. TDF is an epic race, only the elite of the elite, the crème de la crème can even qualify to compete. To win seven consecutive TDF is an achievement of mythic proportions.

Lance does not figure to be a factor in this year’s TDF. There is a whole generation of younger, stronger riders – times marches on, even for a titan like Lance. There are a number of new riders, from France, Canada, Holland, Spain and Russia that figure to have a good chance to win the 2009 TDF. Still, it will be a pleasure to watch Lance mount his carbon fiber steed and make the younger riders sweat it out!

In the USA, the VERSUS TV Channel will cover the race. You can follow daily race results by clicking here: Versus Channel

Today I went for a ride on my mountain bike. Going down one of the trails I achieve a maximum speed of 31miles per hour. If some of those darned trees had not gotten on the way, I could have gone even faster!



One of the good things of having a bike computer is that it helps you keep track of all the miles covered. In the last two and a half years since I last changed batteries in the bike’s computer, I have covered over 4400 miles. Not anywhere near Armstrong-like levels, but just enough to keep my circulation in decent shape.



Finally, if you have a surfer at home, this is what the entrance to your house may look like. Yes, those are three boards you see on the picture. Once, when I complained to my daughter about her having THREE boards (after all, you can only ride one at a time) her reply was quick and to the point, “Well, you have TWO bikes plus a stationary bike to ride indoors when the weather is bad; at least I haven’t asked for an indoor pool to surf when the weather is bad.”

She does have a point there. Next fall construction will start on our indoor pool, with a wave-making machine….(just kidding!)

Le Géant de Provence

hello my friends

In 3 weeks, it will be a very special day for me !

Indeed, i will ride for the third year the stage of "Le tour de France"

This year will be particularly difficult very difficult with a lot of up and down and a lot of climbs and mountains !

The end will be very hard because we will climb Le Géant de Provence which is the most difficult climb of the stage : 22 kilometers with an average of 7,6%

There will be about 9500 riders from maybe more than 50 countries ! it is completely crazy but so nice and funny !

The problem is that this year I don't have so much training ! Maybe debbie you could do it i could let you do it ! I think you have more training than me ! Think so (hehehehe)

I will do my best to reach the arrival and even if i will suffer, i will fight to reach the arrival ! When you ride you need energy and legs vut the mental is also very important !!

So my friends, please have a look to the video herewith which shows the stage of the tour de FRance ! please have a look to this incredible stage !

http://www.velo12.com/Etape-du-Tour-Mondovelo-2009_a1028.html

Look at this other video where you can discover stages of the different " Tour de France" : you can discover the stage of this year and also the last two years that i did ! hehehe very nice !

http://www.cyclefilm.com/recon.html

And my friends, what I also have to tell you is that le Tour de France will begin on next saturday ! it is very nice ! hope you will like and will appreciate it.

I have to write an article about it and the favorites : Lance Arrmstrong, Contador, Leipheimer, Andy Schleck, Cadel Evans..... who will win ??? hahahaha I let you imagine !

so please appreciate that !

see you soon

arc

EDITOR'S NOTE: ARC is being overly modest regarding his cycling achievements; ARC is really a very good rider. Riding mountain passes, like ARC does, requires a great deal of personal energy, hard training and the right mental attitude. In a few weeks ARC will face a very tough ride. He has been ill in RL (he is French and they eat those "gross" snails or escargots and I think that is what is making him ill) so he has not been able to train as hard as he wants/needs to.

Here is a simple "calories" chart showing how many calories bike riders normally spend during a ride. I am also posting a "grade" chart showing how elevation (climbing) can affect a rider's efforts.

CALORIES CHART

Bicycling - 30 minute duration Calories Burned - 150 lbs. person /250 lbs. person

Light effort (10 to 11.9 mph) 200 340

Moderate effort (12 to 13.9 mph) 270 450

Vigorous effort (14 to 15.9 mph) 340 570


Hill climbing, how to figure grade, steepness, slope, etc…

All factors being equal, a flat bike route takes less effort than a hilly or mountainous route. For reference purposes I will use the word “grade” to mean the “steepness” of a hill.

Grade is measured as follows:

Grade = vertical climb / horizontal distance

Where both “vertical climb” and “horizontal distance” are both converted to the same measurement units.

So if a hill goes up 264 feet in 2 miles, then we can first convert 2 miles to 10560 feet -- so the grade is then 0.025 = 264 feet / 10560 feet, which is 2.5%.

What does the "grade" number mean in terms of the effort spent by the rider?

• 0% grade is exactly flat (and a negative grade, less then zero, is downhill).

• 2% grade does not seem very steep, but it's enough to substantially reduce forward speed, and for most riders it will absorb more than half their power output.

• 6% grade is enough to cut speed to well under half, and absorb more than 80% of a rider's power output (leaving less than 20% to fight air resistance and rolling friction).

• 10% grade, and anyone who is not a fit and frequent rider is off their bike walking -- and anyone who is not a racer is reaching for all the extra power they've got.

We cannot help ARC with the physical part of his ride, that is up to him. But we can certainly help with the mental part of the ride. So I ask all of you to please send him your best wishes and encourage him to do his very best on his upcoming ride.

If not, maybe ARC can then use this bike!