American spectators

[cyclingPRpro]

gotcha... he must have stopped running right before the clip they used.

incidentally, was he wearing all RedWings gear? wtf?

 

[Race Radio]

A great pic by Jonathan Devich (@photogjono on twitter)

BTW, the videos with Frankie are going awesome Joe. Well done. LMAO'd at Elvis.

I am not Joe, or Frankie, but I did get a chuckle when I saw the name of their segments. They work well together. Frankie is way more relaxed then the Versus days. Good content

 

[cyclingPRpro]

Sorry, thought you were Joe... I definitely know you are not Frankie. And yeah, this is a great showcase for him, very relaxed.

 

[Microchip]

A great pic by Jonathan Devich (@photogjono on twitter)

BTW, the videos with Frankie are going awesome Joe. Well done. LMAO'd at Elvis.

Thanks for the name of the photog, googled it and saw some very nice galleries. Some of the photos were taken from a great vantage point! Nice to see these, and not only the usual cycling shots.

 

[cyclingPRpro]

you bet Microchip. He's a damn good photog and a great guy. A couple of other good American cycling photogs: Wil Matthews (http://www.wilmatthewsphoto.com) and Brian Black Hodes (http://www.veloimages.com/).

All three are workhorses at races.

Oh... also check out Lyne at http://www.podiuminsight.com too.

 

[joe_papp]

Vuelta Runners

I am not Joe, or Frankie, but I did get a chuckle when I saw the name of their segments. They work well together. Frankie is way more relaxed then the Versus days. Good content

Not looking specifically to revive this thread but for the fact that I am watching the coverage from today's (Saturday's) Vuelta stage and taking note of the runners - and noting the difference b/w them and the freaky US-style runners.

OK yeah there are quite a few runners on the final climb of this Vuelta stage, but I haven't seen any costumed freaks, and the runners seem completely focused on the experience of either cheering, or heckling, the riders. They're not doing it for the sake of massaging their own ego's and getting on TV. It's a stark difference!

If you watch the summary coverage (link here) at 6:20 you can see a runner put in a burst of speed to stick w/ his victim, but he only looks away to actually measure the likelihood of his being run over lol. And whilst freaky-looking, he's just a normal SPaniard. I'm sure there's some fool in there wearing horns or a viking outfit, but the mayoria of the fans who run seem to run like dogs - simply for the pleasure of it.

 

[9000ft]

Not looking specifically to revive this thread but for the fact that I am watching the coverage from today's (Saturday's) Vuelta stage and taking note of the runners - and noting the difference b/w them and the freaky US-style runners.

OK yeah there are quite a few runners on the final climb of this Vuelta stage, but I haven't seen any costumed freaks, and the runners seem completely focused on the experience of either cheering, or heckling, the riders. They're not doing it for the sake of massaging their own ego's and getting on TV. It's a stark difference!

If you watch the summary coverage (link here) at 6:20 you can see a runner put in a burst of speed to stick w/ his victim, but he only looks away to actually measure the likelihood of his being run over lol. And whilst freaky-looking, he's just a normal SPaniard. I'm sure there's some fool in there wearing horns or a viking outfit, but the mayoria of the fans who run seem to run like dogs - simply for the pleasure of it.

Maybe, who knows another persons motivation? I'm not the kind of person to dress up like a beer bottle or wear a mankini with a sock stuffed in the pouch and run with the riders, but what the hell, who am I to judge? For me it comes down to one thing - are they interfering with the race or not? If they are then something needs to be done be it cops, peer pressure or more fencing. If not, if another persons idea of a good time is to dress up like it's halloween and mug for the camera then that's their choice. Maybe folks like that look at a guy like me who is happy to stand and cheer for he riders as they pass and say I need to loosen up an show a little exuberance.

Different strokes.

 

[joe_papp]

Different strokes.

I think a Runner got seriously messed-up today during the Vuelta...one of the two guys running behind Anton and Sastre earlier on the final climb. I think I saw him lying on the right hand side of the road w/ his friend hovering over him!

 

[9000ft]

I think a Runner got seriously messed-up today during the Vuelta...one of the two guys running behind Anton and Sastre earlier on the final climb. I think I saw him lying on the right hand side of the road w/ his friend hovering over him!

Like I said, people need to be safe (OK, I didn't say be safe but that should go without saying) and not interfere with the race. Obviously not everyone who lines the climbs of these race's practice that. It's not just runners either, I've seen plenty of "static" folks get tangled up with riders or get clipped by a vehicle in the caravan too at races over the years too.

I suppose the only way to guarantee no interference from fans or accidents would be to fence the climbs almost top to bottom, which isn't practical or ban fans from the climbs, which I don't think anyone - including the riders - wants. A heavier handed law enforcement presence might help to, but not too many - including the cops - probably want to get into that. (amusing thought: Ban alcohol. Have fun, cheer like crazy but do it sober. That'd go over well..)

Maybe somehow getting out better education on fan conduct along with peer pressure would help some but it would only help so much. I'm sure the riders have a love/hate relationship with the whole crazy fan scene.

 

[movingtarget]

It's just a matter of time before a runner gets flattened by a motorbike or runs down a ravine while looking at the camera.

 

[Anonymous]

yes. american cycling fans are ***. and their farts stink too.

simple. if you don't like americans violating your sport by...gasp...showing up to cheer on a bicycle race, don't watch american races. don't post about them. just ignore them.

the vuelta is on. in spain. watch that. it's in europe. where everyone knows exactly how to comport themselves properly at a bike race.

simple.

Yea, many of them don't show up.