Rest Day Recap

How the Yellow Jersey Spends a Rest Day

By now everyone has seen and read about the horrific crashes that have plagued the Tour thus far. Hopefully the peloton will get in some relaxey time today and come back to the race tomorrow a little more loose and less twitchy. Easy to say sitting behind a Mac riding my piddley miles while they're riding across vast expanses of French Countryside.

My heart broke yesterday when I saw Johnny Hoogerland crash into the barbed-wire fence yesterday. But it was warmed when I saw him cross the finish line and except the KOM jersey. I won't show pictures of the crash because we've seen enough of it and I know I would feel embarrassed if my lacerated bum was being plastered all over the Internet. So instead I'll show Johnny spending the rest day with his Dad.

Hoogerland on rest Day

We watch races and we see riders pass through beautiful scenery and eager spectators. The peloton sometimes seems like one giant mass rolling down the road, we don't see individuals. But in that peloton are fathers, sons, boyfriends, brothers and friends. We only tend to realize this when we see crashes. I know whenever a crash occurs my stomach drops, it only returns to its normal placement when everyone has sat up and is mobile. I wonder if their Moms or Dads are watching. I know I heard Chris Horner in an interview say that his Mom texted him to ride careful, and that was the morning before his crash. This tour has sent my belly on a roller coaster ride. I'm relieved that everyone who has crashed and abandoned is able to see another day, but I can't imagine the disappointment they feel getting into the back of the ambulance or team car. Recover, relax and get back in the saddle.

A good sign:

Chris Horner recovering earlier this week with McDonald's, although

I know he would of rather had an In-n-Out Double Double

Week in Pictures

Refrigerator Art

Somewhere a tiny clown is missing a shoe

Predictions Thus Far

Join the Cuddle Army , buy a tee and spread the word

Oh my! little Old Lady Wilson knows her shit. If you you're wondering what I'm talking about take a peek at my last entry. Okay, I was off on the percentage of Spanish to French riders in the breakaways, and maybe about not having Cadel on the podium, we'll see, I hope I'm wrong. Go Cuddles!

I would put nothing but Gummi Bears and Vanilla GU in my musette

(I guess that's why I'm the rider I am)

Look at my little team though. Team Garmin-Cervelo must of read my words because they were spot on. TTT winners, Tyler takes his first win, and as of right now, I think they are still top team. I didn't see the yellow jersey for 4 days though, yay Thor. Time will tell how they'll do 1 or 2 weeks from now.

New Prediction: Ryder will take over the business end once they get into the mountains.

Summer Reading and Tour Picks

Tour starts in one day. I figure you watch the tour for a few hours, then what are you going to do for the rest of the day? Read, at least until the recap show at 9PM. My first pick is Bill Strickland's Tour de Lance. Not just for Lance Lovers, Bill was like a barnacle following him during his comeback TDF, lots of insight. Krabbe's- The Rider, you have to read it at least once a year. And Finally Vive la Tour- all sorts of facts to make you sound like a real smarty pants at your LBS discussing the days tour results.

And now my tour picks, I know it doesn't matter to a lot of you what I pick, but I would like to look back 23 days from now and either stand here looking smug or feel like a complete moron when none of them come true. Anything can happen- injuries, crashes, breakaways, or surprise bus searches. The mags featured above are my official tools of research, plus Internet sites such as Cyclingnews and Velonews.

I enjoy Cycle sport's little symbols

My favorite fact about Contador (last line)

And now my picks for the podium:

1. Andy Schleck

2.Wiggo

3.Contador

Reasoning: The course looks like Frank should be able to protect and help Andy. Remember last year? AC was not on his top form,(which would explain why he might of needed his booster transfusion) and that was without doing the Giro and Frank not being there to help Andy. Contador is beat up, mentally and physically. He knows he's not wanted in the peloton, the Giro wrecked his legs, and the French public are going to reek havoc on him everywhere he goes. He can say all he wants about feeding off the negative vibes but I believe he's at his breaking point. I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt putting him in 3rd. Wiggins is strong and confident after his win at the Dauphiné, if he can stay anywhere near their wheels he's got it in the bag.

And now for the rest of my TOP TEN in no particular order:

Cadel Evans

Frank Schleck

Robert Gesink

Sammy Sanchez

Tony Martin

Chris Horner

Ryder Hesjedal

Wishful Thinking:

Nicolas Roche

Vino

Levi

Tommy Dannielson

Christian Vande Velde
Ivan Basso

Other Notable Happenings:

-Tyler Farrar will win his first TDF sprint, early on before Cav gets his legs.

-A French rider will be in 75% of the breakaways.

-A Spanish rider will be in be in 90% of them.

-Cavendish will will get pissed, cry, and showboat across the finish line crossing at least once. He will also not win the Green Jersey, quite possibly Tyler? Going out on a limb there.

-It will slip out that Thor Hushvod is moving to Europcar next year, you heard it here first.

-Garmin Cervelo will win TTT and take Top Team. Yep, they're still my favorite.

Voila! New Merchandise!

"Well I'll be a fig newton,

Freebird Velo's got some new merchandise in time for the Tour!"

Go to La boutique for more.

Take a peeky and enjoy.

Cadel- Eight ball says: yes!!!

Translates to "I climb therefore I am"

No need to explain

Front and back view- climber's tee

Made ya look!

Andy all the Way

Ah, the way racing should be. Let's hope he still has some fire left in that belly. If you like the screen saver check out Stomach Full of Anger

Cheerio Ol' Chap

I've always been a bit of an anglo-phile. It started with Mary Poppins and Bed-knobs and Broomsticks and later on in life it was Hugh Grant and David Beckham. Now that I'm older my anglo-philism has transferred to cycling. I also enjoy a good scone and decent cup of tea. So it is with great pleasure that I present my dream Brit-bike. Not the lightest, but probably the sweetest looking and just a all around classic bike. No snot rockets lobbed from this bike, that's for sure, I'd carry a handkerchief in my brassiere.

I've been looking at Condor bikes for awhile and the Classico keeps dragging my attention back. I like the classic lines and the colors they chose blow my mind. To keep it classic I of course would choose a Brooks Swift, but with Titanium rails, to save what weight I could. And to bring a little Italian to the mix, Campy Athena 11 in aluminum.