the moment

[Mambo95]

a) In the late 80s in the UK all we could see was the Tour de France and (later) the Tour of Britain, so unsurprisingly most people of my era came to cycling through the Tour.

b) The "Bore" de France was certainly less boring then than at the turn of the millenium. '86 and '87 were great races (compare Roche collapsing at La Plagne to RoboLA).

Absolutely spot. I think anyone of our generation still has huge fondness for those days. 86-90 were amongst the best Tours ever. My first stage of the Tour and my first exposure to pro cycling was stage 13 in 1986. I still don't think it's been bettered as a Tour stage (even by La Plagne 87). Here it is (briefly):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=je1v0E_e7QQ

 

[mewmewmew13]

I can honestly never say I liked him

I was always devestated when jan lost. SOmething about LA I never liked, even in my niave days. dope what ?

THIS EXACTLY for me TLR!

Gradual fanaticism for me...
got a French 10speed for high school grad...WAY back---70s. Loved to ride always, but used to listen to Tour de France news...focused in on racing during the Lemond/Indurain era...when cable showed races I really started watching ---more than 10 years ago.
It IS like my religion and I think it is the most beautiful sport there is.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Even though I admired Armstrong and marvelled at his exploits, I eventually identified more with Jan and began rooting for him. I grew tired of all the pastry jokes, fat jokes and "Jan's lazy" comments likely due to the fact that he seldom had an unkind word to say about anyone. He was just a normal guy who seemed to just happen to be extremely talented at this sport. I was rooting for Jan, Joseba and Iban to somehow humble Armstrong. Of course it never happened but joy of joys, Armstrong came out of retirement thinking he had another Tour win in the bag only to have the repeated image of Contador dancing away from him up a mountain to haunt him for the rest of his days.

yeah, Ullie was something else, just an awesome attitude and real class act. I still haven't had a rider I liked as much as him. Real Champ.

WOuld have been amazing if he pulled it off in 2003.

 

[mewmewmew13]

Ulle!
sure miss him.

 

[Tank Engine]

Absolutely spot. I think anyone of our generation still has huge fondness for those days. 86-90 were amongst the best Tours ever. My first stage of the Tour and my first exposure to pro cycling was stage 13 in 1986. I still don't think it's been bettered as a Tour stage (even by La Plagne 87). Here it is (briefly):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=je1v0E_e7QQ

I was a few days late for that. I was channel surfing (only 4 to choose from then) and was transfixed by them going up the Galibier on the way to the Alpe d'Huez. Darn good stage as well

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZMkZN-PGCo


Edit: I then followed the '87 Giro (in print only) and the intra-house rivalry in Carrera whetted my appetite for more racing. Also, Roche winning and Millar (my favourite) coming second helped in that regard. Yes, the '86 -'90 were great. '88 probably the weakest of that bunch, but still pretty good. Bauer certainly lighted it up, but once Pedro the Slim took the yellow jersey, it was game over, insert coin. Personally, I rate '87 above '89 as for most of the race the battle for the yellow jersey was more than a duel (although the climax of the '89 tour was something else)

 

[richwagmn]

whgat made you fall in love with cycling, how did you become pasionate with this sport?

Personaly the year was 05 and it was the 21 stage in the tour de france
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oI4QfcW7qnY

I must be a bit older than most of you...

Lemond beating Fignon in 1989. Might be one of the greatest wins in all of sport.

Back then we got **** for coverage in the US (a few hours every weekend between bowling). But velonews was a serious cycling mag and had great coverage.

 

[Marmot]

Phil Anderson wearing yellow in 1981 was pretty exciting, but I first got really interested in cycling when Australia won gold in the 4000m team pursuit at the Olympics in LA in 1984.

 

[boomcie]

Most definitely VDB vs Bartoli on La Redoute. Like a boss.
It has been said before, but that's art.

 

[Task_Force]

I watched cycling a bit all my childhood but got more interested after this brilliant victory by Erik Dekker in paris tours in 2004.. Being a dutchie helps ofcourse..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYZSPQIgNLg&feature=related

 

[AngusW]

I watched cycling a bit all my childhood but got more interested after this brilliant victory by Erik Dekker in paris tours in 2004.. Being a dutchie helps ofcourse..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYZSPQIgNLg&feature=related

I remember seeing the last couple of hours of coverage of this race. IIRC Dekker was in breaks and/or counter-attacks all day. Despite that he somehow still had the strength at the end to stay just ahead of the bunch.

Should be required viewing for all those who consider Paris-Tours a dull "sprinters" classic.

 

[mihaibu]

A picture of Bernard Hinault in the 'Pif-Gadget journal', in 1979.

 

[greenedge]

Early thousands, then i lapsed and last year i read the RIDE cycling mag ( nerd as i am ) and thought it seemed cool. Juggled watching the soccer WC ( cool for my age group ) and the TDF all in Cairns.

 

[Maxiton]

I loved cycling as a child and throughout my life, really. My interest in the sport probably first peaked in 1986 - Lemond's first win. During the Armstrong era - 1999-2005 - I was busy traveling and doing other stuff, though I was aware of Armstrong and excited about him.

I started following the sport closely, though, in 2006 (which coincided with my move to San Francisco, where cycling is popular). For some reason I just went totally ga-ga for pro cycling during that year. Maybe because I felt I finally had space to do it. Since then it's been all cycling all the time. No, I mean all cycling all the time. (I do still have a career outside cycling)

I've even toyed with the idea of becoming a certified coach. I haven't yet, though I've probably completed most of the course work, and coached informally.

I really respect the depth of knowledge of some of the members here. Three in particular are The Hitch, Libertine Seguros, and Ferminal. There are many others, as well, but those three names come most immediately to mind.

 

[Kwibus]

I watched cycling a bit all my childhood but got more interested after this brilliant victory by Erik Dekker in paris tours in 2004.. Being a dutchie helps ofcourse..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYZSPQIgNLg&feature=related

It certainly helps that your dutch, but this performance by Dekker was epic. He was in all the breaks and yet he still won. Crazy and impossible really