Watching the last leg of the Tour de France, the thought hit me...

[derby378]

...this is what nations at peace do with their spare time.

Does America have a cross-country bicycle race that has the same duration and diversity of terrain as the Tour de France? If not, I could see where we could develop one.

Heck, it doesn't even have to be a bicycle race. It could be something, anything, that involves a collaborative effort from people representing multiple states - if we didn't have to worry about warrantless wiretapping, stolen Presidential elections, the continued occupation of Iraq, the failure to capture bin Laden despite a record number of US deaths in Afghanistan, Republican sabotage of a national health care reform plan, etc.

Despite having Barack Obama in the White House, America is still wandering in the wilderness. We're trying to find our way back, which is an improvement over last year. But France continues to demonstrate that we've still got a long way to go.

[Buzz Clik]

1. We tried several times. They failed to gather meaningful support.

Red Zinger Classic. The Coors Classic.

The cyclists were willing to come and there were crowds, but it was not self-sustaining.

[Captain Hilts]

2. It is the only significant global sporting event that does not charge admission. nt

[panader0]

3. La Vuelta de Bisbee is a good race

Not on the huge scale of the Tour, but good and it attracts riders from all over. It is in three stages, one long (about 60 miles) leg the first day, a shorter race the next day in Bisbee, and the third leg is up and down the twisty streets of old Bisbee.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

4. Cycling lacks an adequate following in the US to sustain such an event, its been tried

Also note that there are state wide cycling events and other nations "at peace" do not have the equivalent. Its unique to France and that seems to be fine with most of us.

[derby378]

5. I mentioned earlier that it doesn't have to be cycling, necessarily

Just something that can unite a diverse number of Americans in a common cause. The Super Bowl doesn't cut it, for example, because it's only located in one state every year, and only the rich or the die-hard fanatics can get tickets to watch.

[Billy Burnett]

6. The Tour finishes in the same place, Paris, every year. eom

[derby378]

10. But it still involves so many diverse regions of France

And anyone can take time out of their schedule to come up and cheer on the cyclists, no ticket needed. The Tour manages to support itself just fine without ticket sales.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

12. The Tour does not unite the French, espcially not the minorities

The US is too diverse to get behind a singe event like that, the closest I can see is the Super Bowl.

Watching a bicycle race is about as exiting as watching paint dry to vast majority of the population, and watching any major event in person is something many of us choose not to do.

[alfredo]

7. And this is has been a clean race. I've heard of no doping DQ's.

[DesertRat]

8. I think the Iditarod comes close to that.

http://www.iditarod.com/

[Curtland1015]

9. I wouldn't say the Tour de France happens because France is some kind of utopia.

Now, I know that's not what you're saying, don't get me wrong. But France has a WEALTH of problems, in Government and elsewhere, that aren't really all that idyllic. There were riots in the streets after the last election, don't forget.

I think the Tour de France happens despite France's problems, not because it doesn't wire tap.

Plus, cycling is BORING! No one has ever hit a home run riding on a bicycle!

:P

[derby378]

11. Okay, you made me giggle, I admit it

Most nations do have their share of problems, I understand that. You raise some good points.

[Fumesucker]

22. If cycling is boring then how come huge crowds turn out for the Tour de France?

Cycling may be boring to you but that does not mean it's boring to everyone.

Personally I find all ball and stick games slightly less entertaining than watching lichen grow.

[Frustratedlady]

13. Yesterday was the final day of RAGBRAI 37 - the yearly bike ride across Iowa

http://ragbrai.com/index.php/galleries/ragbrai-saturday/?pid=1253#browse

I believe they lock the registrations at 10K, but they expected 20K riders to participate. Not everyone registers, obviously. There are some perks if you do.

This was the 37th year for RAGBRAI and Burlington was the final stop. They dipped their tires in the Missouri River last weekend and rode over 440 miles across Iowa. Many hills and long days, but it is a personal challenge many strive to make. People from across the US and many countries participate.

The photos above are from the last day or so. You can find articles in the Des Moines Register's archives with each day's activities.

WWW.Desmoinesregister.com

[Gidney N Cloyd]

14. Next weekend a damn bike race is pretty much shutting down my town.

This stupid thing: http://www.tourofelkgrove.com/

I'm an avid recreational biker myself (heading out in a few minutes, in fact) but this is horseshit.

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[alfredo]

17. that's how the tour started out. The cyclist had to do all their own

mechanical work. When one race leaders broke his frame he had to use a blacksmith shop to make repairs. He got disqualified because a kid worked the bellows.

[cliffordu]

19. That's right -

The riders almost rioted the first time they were sent across the alps, too - called the promoters murderers - they thought their blood would boil at that altitude doing that kind of exercise.......


I've seen old photos of the tour riders drinking wine and smoking on the road while 'racing'....pretty funny...

[alfredo]

21. Here's some images of earlier editions of the tour

Notice the spare tires over their shoulders. When they came to a climb, they had to get off their bikes and move the chain to a lower gear. No Derailleurs at that time.


This is a newer image showing a bike with derailleurs.


Look at his face That is Bottecchia, the man who made the Bottecchia bicycle. He was also the first to hold the Yellow jersey from start to finish.



They stopped at roadside cafe's for lunch.


Beer tastes good on a hot July day in France. Let you in on a secret: beer tastes too any day, anywhere.


Smoke em if you got em

[Fumesucker]

23. Tastes differ, I think they ought to pour beer back into the horse..

And anyhow, I refuse to drink a beverage that you only rent...

:)

[alfredo]

24. How long will a tapeworm survive in a glass of Guinness?

[chrisa]

18. That sounds painful.

and fun.

[alfredo]

16. Damn! Cavendish is fast!

[Historic NY]

20. New York State canceled the popular Empire Games

http://www.nysparks.state.ny.us/news/press/view.asp?pressID=727

funny they can have a circus in Albany, dole out 85+ million in pork but can't get money for the games which have been around since 1978.

[Davis_X_Machina]

25. The Tour of California, given 10-15 years...

...will be as big as anything not the Big Three.