[Closed] TDF Inspiration

It's making me wish I still had my cannondale and my carbon roadbikes rather than my ti audax lol tho it is still lovely its just not as fast 😉

I have three already. Went out for a 45 miler this evening which equated to just over 2hrs. The tour on tv seems to make me push that little bit harder.

I always wanted one in every time the tour came on so a couple of years ago I bought an bogo Allez, now got a half carbon jobbie with full Ultegra gruppo, it rocks

The tour is great, not leastly because it makes so many people get out on their bikes and ride. Then they'll be riding along thinking they're Contador or some other European drug crazed whippet and I'll ride past them. Then they'll fancy themselves in a race.

And that's where I start to have fun.

[i]Anyone else now really wanting a road bike?[/i]

Every year! I had a lovely Wilier about 8 years ago but had to sell it. Every year since I've been wanting to replace it, as soon as the tour appears on the telly.

Currently lusting after one of these:

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Been wanting a road bike for ages since realising I'd have more fun on one of those than my mtb in the area I live in. Nothing to do with TdF though, I haven't seen any of it!

That genesis is a lovely bike.

Really no I don't want one.

I MTBed Fri with ScienceOfficer while still a bit ill. And again today after 3 pints of Cheddar Valley (ill advised as I rode into a pit). Now my shoulder is purple and a bit stiff. Legs' had it to.

Guess what I'm doing tomorrow?

Saw that Genesis in the flesh at Sherwood pines cycles yesterday and I does like it! I should hopefully be getting a Giant defy 3 soon 😀 But it means the Pompino will be up for sale 🙁

I've been hankering after a road bike too (for several months), but can't justify the cost right now - it's been a v expensive year thus far.

Have had to settle for putting slicks on the Stumpy and getting in some road miles. General fitness has probably improved, but the biggest plus for me has been checking out some old skool roads/scenery (Sussex, Surrey, Hants, Kent, South Downs) that I used to ride on my trusty Peugeot Mont Cenis when I was well into road biking as a teenager.

TBH, I never thought I'd want to get back into it - MTBing seemed to have taken over in recent years. But my experience this year tells me different - I miss those long days in the saddle, the hard slogs on those never-ending climbs, hours in the blazing sun ... If only someone would kindly donate the funds for me to acquire the steed I want ...

And talking of TdF inspiration, the Alps do it for me more than any other stage. IMO there's a twisted "glamour" about watching riders going mental on the climbs and descents - it seems like one of the purest forms of torture (albeit strangely gratifying) to me.

I dunno about you lot, but there were times (as a 15-20 yr old) when me and my riding buddies would "pretend" to be the likes of Roche, Herrera, Delgado, Indurain et al, on the hardest climbs we could find. I think those memories are what keep me going on the absolute b4st4rd climbs that I find today.

Had a great 4hrs out today around Cheshire & Staffordshire on this today..

Great fun..

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