Who else has no interest in cycle racing?

[Over The Hill]

It has never appealed to me at all. I am not into any sort of racing and only look at speed as a reflection of my general fitness rather than as a goal in itself.

Cycle racing (rather like Formula 1 and most other motor sport) just has random teams and I have no preference for one team or another. We cannot root for an Eng-er-land cycle team apart from team GB at the Olympics.

TDF came past my house some years ago but I was on Holiday. My neighbour told me a Gendarme peed in my front garden.

 

[Ganymede]

When she was living in Denmark, my sister told me about going to see the Tour de Denmark go by.

She and her then hubby went out to the middle of nowhere in particular (in plentiful supply thereabouts, according to her), where they joined a dozen or so people hanging around at a crossroads. They stood around for maybe 25 minutes, till someone said 'Here they come!' And sure enough, here they came. Quickly. Then the first few went by: thwup, thwup, thwup. Then a second or two, then the rest all went by in a mob: thwup, thwup, thwupthwupthwupthwupthwupthwupthwupthwupthwupthwupthwupthwup thwupthwup, thwup, thwup...thwup. The excitement lasted 'ooh...several seconds.' Then the road was empty, the dozen or so people half-acknowledged each other, with a sort or 'well, that was....um.....' sort of shrug. Then everyone went home.

Allow me to admire your "thwup" deployment there. Great bit of onomatopoeia, if I may be so bold.

 

[Garethgas]

Frankly, all sport bores the pants off me.
I've played/participated in most in my younger days but even then I was too busy to watch it.
I much prefer to take part than watch but I'm old now, so can't do any competitive sport.
No sport excites me any more. There is no sportsmanship in any game these days.
It's all about entertainment, money and cheating.

 

[Hover Fly]

Miserable buggers

Yep, but they get paid silly amounts just for riding a bike.

 

[Big Nick]

Road race cycling is mostly boring to watch I find.

The power the competitors push out over distance is awesome though and it'll be interesting watching how fast they ride roads familiar to me in the Yorkshire Dales.

 

[classic33]

This, really. Not actually bothered about the TdF as such, but enjoying the festivally atmosphere and kinda pleased that they're going to be going down some of "my" roads.

However, the fact that Sheffield and its people appear to have done bog-all to celebrate the TdF has left me rather embarrassed of my adopted city.

Local council has gone completely the other way. You can't escape it. From cups at £7 to T-Shirts for £20. From french lessons in school to blatant self promotion of none existent events. Inter school competitions on designing the best posters
They have reduced it to a pure money maker. With the loudest voice on the council hailing from Chester.
Once its over, cyclists and cycling will be forgotten by them. Again!

 

[slowmotion]

I couldn't give a fig about tactics or competition, but there really is something rather wonderful about watching the bunch of loons moving swiftly across varied landscapes. Quite hypnotic.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

I'm not much of a sports watcher myself, and as for cycling, I prefer to do it rather than watch others do it. As for football (no, not the Australian variety with the ball that refuses to bounce straight! ), it bores me to . Entire matches can start then end with no scoring! Aaargh!

 

[mustang1]

I like it but only to watch. I'll never be a racer.

 

[marzjennings]

Zero interest in it, but then I was born without the spectating gene: I get bored watching anything even if I love doing it myself.

This is true for me too. I played basketball up to semi pro level, played cricket to junior county level and cycling to cat 1 MTB. Never cared for watching any them, only interested in doing them.

 

[jhawk]

I have much the same views as @Trikeman , except for football. I watch and play, although I don't enjoy the two on equal levels!

 

[the_mikey]

Here's a few seconds of cheering...

 

[Dave 123]

I'm not sure that the UK police are as slick at opening up the roads after the rear end has gone past as they are in France. If you're doing the same route I'd anticipate delays.

No, I'll be heading out to quiet roads. Anyway, those lycra clad nobbers would only get in my way!

 

[Venod]

@OvertheHill said:

"My neighbour told me a Gendarme peed in my front garden."

Not a phrase you hear everyday made me smile this morning.

 

[tyred]

No interest whatsoever. I used to be an avid snooker and motor-racing fan but have even lost interest in that. Watching someone else doing something is about as interesting as watching paint dry to me.

I don't even try to get faster on my own bike any more. I've take more enjoyment this year from pootling around minor roads for 30 or 40 miles admiring the countryside on a sit up and beg pre-war roadster than I have from going hell for leather on any of my lightweights. What's the rush?