How do you fight Post-Tour-Depression

[TShame]

I watched all of the mountain stages live, including every minute of Thursday's race. I look forward to it every year. I especially enjoy the time trials as well. (I can watch the last 10 minutes of a flat stage and be satisfied.)

Every year, starting Sunday, I feel depressed once the Tour is over. I am really happy for Cadel. I picked him to win, Andy second, and third Alberto. ( He doesn't race smart. All of that effort attacking Wed, even downhill for nothing, at best he would have gotten 10 seconds. Then he ran out of steam the next day. Wonder why, duh!) I cheered Tony Martin, even though I know Cancellara is faster when he is rested. I'll be rooting for Wiggins (My original pick for second place) when the Vuelta comes around.

So, what do you do for the post Tour blues? Ride a century? I bought a new racing tire, new bottom bracket and new chain lube.

 

[ericthesportsman6]

You do realize that cycling exists outside of July. Next week-San Sebastian classic, less then a month away-Vuelta. No depression necessary.

EDIT: Didn't see your comment about the Vuelta

 

[Moondance]

San Sebastian in a week. Always fun to watch on the Spanish stream.

 

[Carols]

Well I took out the 2007 TdF dvds to keep me sane until San Sebastian But I understand, it is as if a very good friend left and I won't see them for a long time...

 

[Anonymous]

I saw every single minute of every single stage, but tomorrow i will get up and watch the Tour de Wallonie, next weekend San Sebastian, then theres Poland, Eneco and countless others.

It was a good tour, but its nothing worth getting depressed over.Its only a bike race

 

[The Hitch]

Well to be fair, the Tour does orientate life around cycling slightly more. I know that might seem as a joke coming from someone who has managed to spit out 20 posts a day on average for 13 months, but during the Tour i can read reactions from around the world.

The coverage starts earlier. Theres a panel on Eurosport. Its on pretty much from the moment I wake up till about 5 and from then on im able to read articles on websites that usualy dont say 1 word about cycling, and spend more time on the forum as there is far more discussion.

So i miss all that, even though im very excited about the Vuelta, Poland, Lombardy, Canadian races, Worlds.

Thats when the real depression kicks in though.

Also there is no way of watching San Sebastian for me as its the only race ES dont cover.

 

[TShame]

I guess its the 21 races in 23 days, then complete withdrawal symptoms.

All of my old Tour races, like Greg Lemond's famous time trial victory are all still on video tape. Maybe I'll watch some you-tube videos tomorrow.

Any recommendations for you-tube? (besides the girl on bike commercial)

 

[Anonymous]

I guess its the 21 races in 23 days, then complete withdrawal symptoms.

Wallonie, 3 more days
San Sebastian 1 day
Poland 7 days
Tour of Denmark 5 days
Eneco Tour 7 days

Theres another 23 days in the next few weeks, and all of it should be viewable online or on tv.

 

[taiwan]

Talk about the Vuelta. Should be boosted by all the Tour casualties.

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=13803

 

[mewmewmew13]

I totally understand the feeling.
Carols said it's like a very good friend leaving and you know you won't see them for a long time...yes, it's like that. It's the Tour and it's that kind of empty sadness --the whole routine, etc that comes along with it once a year.

BUT I will tune in Wallonie, I'm looking forward to the Vuelta..The Worlds..Lombardia...and then

QATAR , Tour DownUnder...and the SPRING CLASSICS!!

a wonderful cycle so to speak
(plus there is this forum)

 

[AussieGoddess]

I am depressed its over .... especially due to the extended media coverage which has added to the overall excitement

But I am not nearly as depressed as I normally am when its over

This is the first year that I have had access to decent enough streaming that its possible to watch - so the first time I can watch more than just the tour and a few highlights of the rest.

I really, really enjoyed the Giro, and LOVED the classics. I have got so much more enjoyment out of cycling this season from being able to see more than just July.

Looking forward to watching my first vuelta - and to San Sebastion and Lombardy (and to watching Phil win both )

 

[ElChingon]

By countless re-enactments of famous/funny tour moments with your mates on rides. Well that's all the time but now we have many more re-enactments to add

 

[The Hitch]

The other problem is that the better races do come before the Tour.

I mean Vuelta is the weakest GT and Lombardy is the weakest monument. Paris Tours is the weakest of the historic classics. Eneco Tour is the weakest World Tour race.

Only the World Championships and the Tour of Poland can compete with the importance of races that come before July, and the worlds course is a bit crap this year.

Crowd wise its also a bit of a letdown after you see thousands of people packed on places like Alpe or simply as the race goes through towns.

The Giro and Flanders can compete with those crowds and the passion but the Autumn races do not.

Still in this epic 2010 Season recap video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVVyxDkxezg the best song is reserved for the post July period which means after watching it 50 times i have better memories of the Autumn period from that season anyway.

And im really liking this new Colorado project, and those epic Canadian races from last year so maybe the Autumn part of the season is in the proccess of upgrading itself.


Edit: watching that video again has got me excited for the Vuelta. And it reminded me why Anton is such a class act. A shame Johnny Walker wont be there but others will I guess.

 

[Sidbike]

For me it's more of a withdrawl type thing. I also get it at the conclusion of the Olympics (particularly summer).

Most of the year I watch my races on a crappy web stream alone and when the race is over that's it. Maybe with Flanders, PR, and Giro some guys I ride with will have some interest but aside from that it's a pretty solitary hobby.

With the Tour I get coworkers, neighbors, friends/family emailing and calling with all kinds of questions. Has a dog ever casued a crash? Why do they stay all bunched up? How much do those bikes cost? etc...I go out to eat le Tour is on the TV in the Bar. Everyone on the group ride are discussing and making predictionsit's a blast.

What do I do to get over it? Usually go out and ride more!

 

[craig1985]

Go buy beer (good beer, which rules out about 90% of Australian beer) and watch the rest of the cycling calendar. Eurosport don't seem to cover Polonge either, at least in Australia we don't get coverage (not in the past we haven't).

 

[online-rider]

I watched all of the mountain stages live, including every minute of Thursday's race. I look forward to it every year. I especially enjoy the time trials as well. (I can watch the last 10 minutes of a flat stage and be satisfied.)

Every year, starting Sunday, I feel depressed once the Tour is over. I am really happy for Cadel. I picked him to win, Andy second, and third Alberto. ( He doesn't race smart. All of that effort attacking Wed, even downhill for nothing, at best he would have gotten 10 seconds. Then he ran out of steam the next day. Wonder why, duh!) I cheered Tony Martin, even though I know Cancellara is faster when he is rested. I'll be rooting for Wiggins (My original pick for second place) when the Vuelta comes around.

So, what do you do for the post Tour blues? Ride a century? I bought a new racing tire, new bottom bracket and new chain lube.

It was a nice tour I can see how you might miss it. Luckily I only watched 2 stages so its not much of a comedown. Thinking of Amy winehouse makes me more depeessed than the tour ending.

 

[Bennyl]

The other problem is that the better races do come before the Tour.

I mean Vuelta is the weakest GT and Lombardy is the weakest monument. Paris Tours is the weakest of the historic classics. Eneco Tour is the weakest World Tour race.

Only the World Championships and the Tour of Poland can compete with the importance of races that come before July, and the worlds course is a bit crap this year.

Crowd wise its also a bit of a letdown after you see thousands of people packed on places like Alpe or simply as the race goes through towns.

The Giro and Flanders can compete with those crowds and the passion but the Autumn races do not.

Still in this epic 2010 Season recap video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVVyxDkxezg the best song is reserved for the post July period which means after watching it 50 times i have better memories of the Autumn period from that season anyway.

And im really liking this new Colorado project, and those epic Canadian races from last year so maybe the Autumn part of the season is in the proccess of upgrading itself.


Edit: watching that video again has got me excited for the Vuelta. And it reminded me why Anton is such a class act. A shame Johnny Walker wont be there but others will I guess.

i agree re the excitement levels of post tour races... i think also the fact that some riders switch off after the Tour and apart from maybe a couple of races, their seasons can largely be over. with that thought even I'm winding down for Christmas...

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Go buy beer (good beer, which rules out about 90% of Australian beer) and watch the rest of the cycling calendar. Eurosport don't seem to cover Polonge either, at least in Australia we don't get coverage (not in the past we haven't).

So, what beer ya drinkin that would qualify as good?

Was just telling the wife today that it's a bit of a downer now the Tour's over. My cure... go ride my bike. So, yesterday I flatted after 6 miles. The cost; 1 CO2 cartridge. Today; flatted twice after 2 miles. The cost; 1 CO2 cartridge + blisters for the walk home. That's right 1 CO2 for 2 flats. That's cuz I thought I had 2 CO2s but one was actually used. So compared to all that, the Tour being over looks pretty good. And next time I carry my cell phone.

 

[Tuarts]

Thank **** its over.

Going to Sydney and then back and trying to watch was terrible. Until last night don't think I got more than 5 hours sleep in one sitting.

 

[Marcuccio]

Spend the first week post tour catching up on sleep and making it up to my wife, who gets forgotten about this time every year!

 

[krismtb]

I feel the let-down, too. However, I know that around the corner is one of my other favorite wastes of time - fantasy football. It takes a bit of mind-bending but soon I will care less about cycling and more about football stats.

Of course, that wont stop me from riding, watching world cup mtn biking, etc. its good to diversify!

 

[auscyclefan94]

I feel sad after the tour, it is just a shame that the biggest event in cycling ends even if the tour is dissapointing. I don't know why but I always feel sad.

 

[ericthesportsman6]

There are plenty of great cycling races, but nothing quite compares to the Tour. Not necessarily because of the quality of racing, but because of the magnitude of the event.

 

[Swabian Lass]

The other problem is that the better races do come before the Tour.

I mean Vuelta is the weakest GT and Lombardy is the weakest monument. Paris Tours is the weakest of the historic classics. Eneco Tour is the weakest World Tour race.

Only the World Championships and the Tour of Poland can compete with the importance of races that come before July, and the worlds course is a bit crap this year.

Crowd wise its also a bit of a letdown after you see thousands of people packed on places like Alpe or simply as the race goes through towns.

The Giro and Flanders can compete with those crowds and the passion but the Autumn races do not.

Oh I dunno. I know the Vuelta is the weakest GT but I always enjoy it. I enjoy Lombardy too and Poland is pretty good these days.

The Canadian stuff I'm not so familiar with, but if they can get me through the Autumn they get my vote.

 

[Lanark]

I always have a cycling depression after Liège and the Tour. Sure, there are great races right after them, but still...the best part of the season is well behind us now. It's worse after Lombardia of course, then it get's so bad I even watch cyclo cross to pass the winter.