Explain how to be a cycling fan
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wannakona posted 19 weeks ago.
hahahahaha :)
I guess in that sense i'm too Americanized also since the time i came here from Russia. It was kind of funny to see that, but it was also annoying to see those "fans" running next to cyclists.
Konstantin
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tri-ac posted 19 weeks ago.
this thread at ST has a link to SI about the culture of cycling
[for whatever reason, I haven't been able to direct link it myself...hope this works]
how do you decide to cheer for anyone?
if you want to get plastered on wine in the sun and yell at the peloton, go ahead
if you want to wear antlers (or speedos, or devil gear, or angel gear) and chase the leaders up a climb, just do it
if you want to yell hop! hop! hop!, knock yourself out
just enjoy the experience and soak it up
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TriSooner posted 19 weeks ago.
Ah, my friends, you have to be there to understand.
Backpack across France to the small towns, and get there early:
Wait around all day, but catch a .02 second glimpse of Mark Cavendish (stage winner)
Get this close to riders:
Hide out in a farmer's field because there are no hotels:
Then the next day, it has all vanished, like it never was. Surreal.
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cjhoffmn posted 18 weeks ago.
Ya, that's the part that's the hardest to understand for me. The fans have been there literally for HOURS, doing what? Drinking, eating and the rest I suppose.
It's no wonder they go bonkers when the riders actually appear. For all of about 5 mins (if the peleton is strung out), they get action that they've literally waited ALL day for.
-C
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jonovision_man posted 18 weeks ago.
TryScott wrote:
I realize that I am Americanized when it comes to sports, but I'm honestly trying to understand cycling. At first I was confused about racing to a checkpoint. It seemed like celebrating for hitting a flyball to the warning track. Winning a stage or having the yellow jersey during the first stages didn't seem like reason to celebrate, because the race is far from over. Getting a touchdown when losing by 40 is not reason to celebrate, but hitting a hole in one when 10 strokes from the leader is, so I get it.
A few reasons:
1) Winning a regular season baseball game is worth cheering for or celebrating, even if it's not the entire championship. Same idea - miniature competitions in a bigger overall quest.
2) There is more than one competition going on - the overall win (yellow jersey) is just one of them. There is also a green jersey with points for stage finishes, which goes to the best sprinter. It's a separate discipline of its own - winning a stage means points towards the green jersey.
3) Cycling is a team sport, and most of the riders out there aren't in contention to win the entire thing. It's not their role on their team, not a glimmer in their eye. So for them, a stage win is a big deal.
jono
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TryScott posted 18 weeks ago.
What I left out is something that I find amazing. There are riders that train hard every day to be a professional, and what do they do? They drop back to the team car to get water for others when needed. If the team leader has an issue that drops them back, they drop back with them so their teammate can draft up to the peleton again. I can't think of another example in professional sports like that.
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Sully800 posted 18 weeks ago.
TryScott wrote:
What I left out is something that I find amazing. There are riders that train hard every day to be a professional, and what do they do? They drop back to the team car to get water for others when needed. If the team leader has an issue that drops them back, they drop back with them so their teammate can draft up to the peleton again. I can't think of another example in professional sports like that.
That's their job, and it's inherent in team races. If you cannot be the leader for the team you have to be prepared to work for the leader, because that is why you get paid.
It is somewhat similar to backup quarterbacks in the NFL. They get pummeled in practices much more than the real quarterbacks and they may never actually get a shot at playing in a big game. But they go through that effort because it is their job and they enjoy it...and it also happens to be their only shot at their dream (being the actual team leader some day).
I realize that I am Americanized when it comes to sports, but I'm honestly trying to understand cycling. At first I was confused about racing to a checkpoint. It seemed like celebrating for hitting a flyball to the warning track. Winning a stage or having the yellow jersey during the first stages didn't seem like reason to celebrate, because the race is far from over. Getting a touchdown when losing by 40 is not reason to celebrate, but hitting a hole in one when 10 strokes from the leader is, so I get it. What I don't fully understand about the race will come in time.
What I am really curious about are the fans. Lets say I find my spot along the 100+ mile stretch for that days stage. I got my spandex on because I rode my bike there. When getting ready for the riders, I take off my shirt, put on my cape and wig, and run up the hill waving and yelling at riders. What should I be yelling, and why am I dressed like that?
I can tell you why fans for Duke paints their faces, Redskins wear dresses and pig noses, Raiders wear black leather and spikes, college football in the North go without a shirt and paint letters on their chest while it's snowing, and Cleveland Browns wear dog masks. There has to be a reason for the cape and wig, but I'm not sure how to google it.