SB Nation User Blog: bethie

Futuristic bicycle

bethie — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:39:38 -0000

Futuristic bicycle

Apologies if this has been posted before I did not find it in a site search. I would own one of these bikes just to look at it, let alone ride.

Vino back, not riding for Astana

bethie — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:11:05 -0000

Vino back, not riding for Astana

Link from Today's cyclingnews.com

OT/Snuggie for Dogs

bethie — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 21:13:07 -0000

OT/Snuggie for Dogs

Just what the fashion conscious PdCafe'er has been wanting, a sunggie for pooch to match his/her own.

I won a T-Shirt

bethie — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:44:33 -0000

OK, I'll admit, a Versus Tour de France T-shirt is not exactly an all expense paid trip to the 2009 Tour de France, but still it's a thrill to win something given all the promotions and fantasy games I enter.

A couple of years ago I won a Graham Watson coffee table book from Velonews.com for guessing Paolo Bettini as the winner of a race. Since I guessed Paolo Bettini as the winner of every race I guess I just got lucky that time.

So far this year I am playing

The Podium Cafe VDS year long game

The Points Competition at Cyclingfever.com (Thanks DZI)

The Kenda Cycling challenge on versus.com

Also on Versus I am playing

The unscramble word game (this is the one that I won the T-shirt on, expecting it in 4-6 weeks woohoo!)

The Who Am I game

Saab fly to the finish game, BTW you can enter up to three times each day there are three ways to get a codeword.

If you click Take Back the Tour in the versus sidebar you can enter to win a Felt Bike and a trip to the 2009 tour.

Is anybody else entering the contests? What other contests are out there?

takebackthetour.com

bethie — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 21:54:33 -0000

I'm having really mixed feelings about versus channel's takebackthetour.com ad campaign. The first commercial that aired, showing little Tommy Voeckler climbing was OK, but the new one that is showing today (June 22nd) during Cyclism Sunday is a bit disingenous I think. I think what I most object to is that last shot of David Millar, who is shown in his Saunier Duval kit. IIRC, Millar was riding for Cofidis when he was busted for using PEDs. So why not show him in his Slipstream kit if he wants to be made example of? I think it's unfair of Versus to cast aspersions on Saunier Duval, especially since they were the team who gave him a chance to come back to the pro peloton.

Rider Nicknames

bethie — Mon, 19 May 2008 17:59:48 -0000

Cycling is chock full of nicknames for riders, even if they have one sometimes someone here at the Café will coin a new one. One of the earliest ones from here that I remember is "evil Cricket" for Paolo Bettini who is fondly known in Italy as il Grillo, or the Cricket.

Alberto Contador became "The Accountant" because of a babelfish translation of a news story that contained his name, (I think.)

Tony Montana, aka Fabian Cancellara is almost self explanatory. Then he became Spartacus to his fan base, and was even rumored to have that name on his bike helmet.

My husband and I call Tyler Hamilton "The Muppet" because of his riding style.

Someone here at the Café coined the nickname "Bubble Boy" for Tommy Danielson, that gave me a good laugh. Another one I saw here the other day was "Mr. Excitement" for Levi Leipheimer.

When I was putting together my VDS team for this year I was reading rider profiles on Wikipedia (I was surprised at how many riders actually have a Wikipedia page) and saw that Heinrich Haussler's nickname is "Beans." Made me think I would not like to be riding behind him in the Peloton.

You can post your favorite rider nickname in this thread, or ask about why a rider has a particular nickname. Someone may know the answer.

My new ride

bethie — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 21:55:08 -0000

For most of my life, I was a cigarette smoker. I'd tried a lot of different ways to quit, since will-power was not a viable option; gum, lozenges, patches, hypnosis, acupuncture, nothing worked for me until I tried this new drug from Pfizer called Chantix. WIthin seven days I had given up the habit for good!

Still, with my past history I had my doubts that I could do it, so when I started the program, I made a promise to myself that if I could go 30 days without a cigarette I'd buy myself a bicycle, and ride it. Now that I know I'll never smoke cigarettes again, and I can actually breathe properly, I took the plunge and bought myself this sweet little beauty.

Well, part of this post is to thank the Podium Cafe posters for helping me hone my love of the sport of cycling. I don't have to compete to love riding my bike, for me it's the freedom of rolling along, getting some workout while enjoying the method. Sure beats walking a treadmill, and where I live, with over 300 days of sunshine a year, I can take advantage of all the bike has to offer.

Petacchi ... no soup for you!

bethie — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 16:42:58 -0000

According to velonews, Alessandro Petacchi will not be riding the tour this year, and CONI has recommended a one year suspension.

One way to promote cycling

bethie — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 20:24:00 -0000

Well, the Brits have done it again. In an effort to promote cycling as an alternative to motor driven vehicles, some 200 folks set off on a nude bicycle ride.

Let's hope the Tour organizers don't decide that this is one way to ensure clean cycling for the prologue in London.

The Diddy Bops

bethie — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 00:04:36 -0000

This may be old news to some, but I've only been on this site since May, so pardon if I'm repeating.

The Diddy Bops are two women who are cycling across America and performing their music in various cities across the country. One of their missions is to raise awareness and funds for these two organizations. It sounds like a really fun concert. Their main website link is here. If anyone gets a chance to hear them perform, I'd love to hear about it.