SB Nation User Blog: bethie

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.

Liggett on Landis

bethie — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 23:10:05 -0000

I have a great deal of respect for Phil Liggett. Here is his perspective on the Landis doping allegation.

The article is also posted at OLN, probably not a permanent link. I just stuck that link in because the results of the poll posted there are interesting to me.

Bethie's Best and Worst of the 2006 Tour

bethie — Sun, 23 Jul 2006 18:05:51 -0000

Chris asked for Diaries and since I haven't been on a bike in, well let's just say a number of years, I don't really feel qualified to take up any of the great subjects he posed in his thread. I know there will be some marvelous feedback on those subjects and cannot wait to read everyone's input. That said I decided instead to present here the second annual Bethie's Best and Worst of the Tour.

The Tour is over for this year and we all know Phonak and Landis took home the big award. Actually in my own humble opinion, I think every rider who finishes a Tour de France deserves a gold medal. It is quite an achievement to do what they do. But everyone cannot be the winner. There are categories that the Tour organizers overlook, so I've complied the following to commemorate the riders and background people of the 2006 Tour de France who were not recognized elsewhere for their participation.

Best Teammate:
This one is tie between Mattias Kessler of T-Mobile and Jens Voigt of CSC, and for the life of me I can't favor one over the other. Both had stage wins, both had crashes, and both worked like big diesel engines for big pulls that amazed me each time I saw it.

Worst Teammate:
Any question on this one? Christophe Moreau of AG2R. OK, OK, so I don't like him as a rider anyway, but I still thought it was pretty crappy for him not to wait to help Dessel in stage 16.

Disappointments:

I was hoping for a stage win for Eki and Zabel. Farfetched, I know, but it would have been nice to see.
Bobby Julich crashing out.

Best Strip:
Tough one this year, but I have to go with Gerolsteiner over Caisse d'Epargne even though I like their colors, because who in their right mind would send their team out in hot weather to ride in black spandex? Oh right, Team CSC.

Worst Strip:
Agritubel, even so I was happy to see them win a stage. Good on the wildcard team! Maybe next year you'll have enough dosh to hire a designer.

Best Job:
Hands down, it's got to be Podium Girl

Worst Job:
Gendarme with the yellow flag in the traffic islands

The "If you were my son, what you'd hear from me" award: Damiano Cunego
Here's the lecture: "Listen, son, you're going to be on the podium in Paris tomorrow in front of millions of people all over the world. If you don't have time for a haircut, at least wash and comb it, you look like a bum."

Best Rider's Diary:
Bobby Julich

Best Religious Finish
Tied between the "Our Catholics are better than Your Catholics" triple cross and prayer of Popovich, and Rasmussen's impersonation of Jesus on the cross.

Favorite Rider Name:
Another tie, this time between Inaki Isasi and Riccardo Ricco (Anyone besides me think "Oh Luuuucy, I'm Hoooomme" everytime his name was mentioned?)

Best Stage Podium
Serguei Gonchar, both times. It was really great to see him jump with his fist in the air, all smiles. And when he got his first yellow jersey he was like a six year old kid, pulling it away from his body to show everyone "See, See??? This is MINE!"

Best Deja Vu moment:
Kessler going over the guardrail, I was sure he was going to hit that pole again.

Most fun of the Tour:
VDS challenge and daily input from the folks at Podium Cafe. What a great Tour! Thanks everyone!

Phil and Paul Bingo

bethie — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 00:57:42 -0000

Hat tip again to my husband for finding this gem.

Part of the enjoyment we get from watching the Tour de France is the commentary by Phil and Paul, with "stamping on the pedals in anger" and "suitcase of courage" being two of our favorites.

Then there's Little Miss Echo, Paul Sherwin, who prefaces nearly every comment by repeating Phil's last sentence. (Obscure "Fast Show" reference, "What did I say, Roy?")

7:30am MST may be a bit early for a drinking game but heck, we have a Tivo like device and do like recording and watching the daily stage over dinner each night. Heretowit, I present, for your amusement and if so inclined, your drinking pleasure:

Phil and Paul Bingo