Things noticed in "Lance: The Look Back" series

Kinda fun re-watching some of the stages from the past, even though you
know how it turns out, perhaps *especially* so, because you can focus on
some of the little details.

Like Karpets, in 2004 Stage 17, taking a bottle from a spectator, like
everyone else that hot day, and pouring it over his head. Only then he
did something different. He drank from it.

And Lance, in the switchbacks, always flattens them out, never taking
the inside line like many other guys. And the way he really does keep
tugging at his shorts (which was frequently seen on the Alpe d'Huez TT
stage, and again in the St Etienne TT).

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

On Jul 4, 3:27*am, "Mike Jacoubowsky" wrote:
Kinda fun re-watching some of the stages from the past, even though you
know how it turns out, perhaps *especially* so, because you can focus on
some of the little details.

Like Karpets, in 2004 Stage 17, taking a bottle from a spectator, like
everyone else that hot day, and pouring it over his head. Only then he
did something different. He drank from it.

Yep. I saw that and thought, "Ewww." I'd read an article about
something or other in the NY Times, and the reporter related a passing
anecdote about being somewhere in Russia and needing some water -
badly, so he stopped at a water vending machine. No individual
bottles there, but an aluminum cup on a chain. He was a bit hesitant,
but he really needed the water so he drank from it. A couple of days
later he got a raging sore throat that lasted for a few days, but
after that he didn't have any more problems. He figured that by
sharing everyone else's germs people probably acquired a degree of
immunity.

Maybe Karpets has some industrial strength immune system from such
experiences.

And Lance, in the switchbacks, always flattens them out, never taking
the inside line like many other guys. And the way he really does keep
tugging at his shorts (which was frequently seen on the Alpe d'Huez TT
stage, and again in the St Etienne TT).

It's funny how I only noticed that after the recent comments (Giro?)
about how his tugging at his shorts "obviously meant he was
uncomfortable", meaning he was in distress. Then you see the
retrospective and the tugging when he's kicking ass and not even
stopping to take names - clearly not in distress. Do you think that's
a Lance tell?

R

On Jul 4, 1:27*am, "Mike Jacoubowsky" wrote:
Kinda fun re-watching some of the stages from the past, even though you
know how it turns out, perhaps *especially* so, because you can focus on
some of the little details.

Like Karpets, in 2004 Stage 17, taking a bottle from a spectator, like
everyone else that hot day, and pouring it over his head. Only then he
did something different. He drank from it.

And Lance, in the switchbacks, always flattens them out, never taking
the inside line like many other guys. And the way he really does keep
tugging at his shorts (which was frequently seen on the Alpe d'Huez TT
stage, and again in the St Etienne TT).

--Mike-- * * Chain Reaction Bicycleswww.ChainReactionBicycles.com

Maybe that wasn't just any old spectator, but a team staffer???
Probably not, I guess, but it's possible. Taking a bottle from a
spectator and drinking from it is clinically stupid, given how easy it
would be to spike it w/ something illegal.

On Jul 4, 9:32*am, Scott wrote:
On Jul 4, 1:27*am, "Mike Jacoubowsky" wrote:

Kinda fun re-watching some of the stages from the past, even though you
know how it turns out, perhaps *especially* so, because you can focus on
some of the little details.

Like Karpets, in 2004 Stage 17, taking a bottle from a spectator, like
everyone else that hot day, and pouring it over his head. Only then he
did something different. He drank from it.

And Lance, in the switchbacks, always flattens them out, never taking
the inside line like many other guys. And the way he really does keep
tugging at his shorts (which was frequently seen on the Alpe d'Huez TT
stage, and again in the St Etienne TT).


Maybe that wasn't just any old spectator, but a team staffer???
Probably not, I guess, but it's possible. *Taking a bottle from a
spectator and drinking from it is clinically stupid, given how easy it
would be to spike it w/ something illegal.

It was also an open bottle. There doesn't have to be malevolence
behind it for a rider to come down with a stomach ailment that would
eliminate him from the competition.

R

On Sat, 4 Jul 2009 06:32:01 -0700 (PDT), RicodJour
wrote:


It's funny how I only noticed that after the recent comments (Giro?)
about how his tugging at his shorts "obviously meant he was
uncomfortable", meaning he was in distress. Then you see the
retrospective and the tugging when he's kicking ass and not even
stopping to take names - clearly not in distress. Do you think that's
a Lance tell?

I had lasik a few years ago, and still reach up to take off my glasses
sometimes.

Now imagine you're become one ball short well into adulthood -- you'd
still be reaching to adjust that part of the package from time to
time.

In article ,
Johnny Twelve-Point presented by JFT wrote:

On Sat, 4 Jul 2009 06:32:01 -0700 (PDT), RicodJour
wrote:


It's funny how I only noticed that after the recent comments (Giro?)
about how his tugging at his shorts "obviously meant he was
uncomfortable", meaning he was in distress. Then you see the
retrospective and the tugging when he's kicking ass and not even
stopping to take names - clearly not in distress. Do you think that's
a Lance tell?

I had lasik a few years ago, and still reach up to take off my glasses
sometimes.

Now imagine you're become one ball short well into adulthood -- you'd
still be reaching to adjust that part of the package from time to
time.

Phantom ball syndrome?

--
Ryan Cousineau http://www.wiredcola.com/
"In other newsgroups, they killfile trolls."
"In rec.bicycles.racing, we coach them."

In article ,
Scott wrote:

On Jul 4, 1:27*am, "Mike Jacoubowsky" wrote:
Kinda fun re-watching some of the stages from the past, even though you
know how it turns out, perhaps *especially* so, because you can focus on
some of the little details.

Like Karpets, in 2004 Stage 17, taking a bottle from a spectator, like
everyone else that hot day, and pouring it over his head. Only then he
did something different. He drank from it.

And Lance, in the switchbacks, always flattens them out, never taking
the inside line like many other guys. And the way he really does keep
tugging at his shorts (which was frequently seen on the Alpe d'Huez TT
stage, and again in the St Etienne TT).

--Mike-- * * Chain Reaction Bicycleswww.ChainReactionBicycles.com

Maybe that wasn't just any old spectator, but a team staffer???
Probably not, I guess, but it's possible. Taking a bottle from a
spectator and drinking from it is clinically stupid, given how easy it
would be to spike it w/ something illegal.

"Something illegal" might be the least of your worries on the "someone spiked a
bottle" front.

--
tanx,
Howard

Caught playing safe
It's a bored game

remove YOUR SHOES to reply, ok?

RicodJour wrote:
It's funny how I only noticed that after the recent comments (Giro?) about
how his tugging at his shorts "obviously meant he was uncomfortable",
meaning he was in distress.

Perhaps he does it when he's got a pee.