They need teams, they shave their legs. They use blood doping, steroids and then complain that a 6kg bike is too heavy. What a bunch of pansies.
On the other side of the planet (both figuratively and literally) the TDR (Tour Divide Route) just finished. This is a MTB race from Banff Canada to the Mexican border town of Antelope Wells, NM all along the continental divide in the Rocky Mountains. Alone, no teams, no team car, no blood doctors waiting at the end of the day, on a packed up MTB well over 14-18kg. And the guy who won second place did it on a SINGLE SPEED. (he actually led most of the race and lost it on the last few paved miles)
I am not knocking people who ride road bikes as I ride one myself. This is not a MTB Vs Road Bike thread. This is my rant against the dirtiest race in the world and I am out to show there are tougher more enduring and more pure forms of bicycle racing. And the toughest and purest is the TDR. Period.


This years write up.
http://www.pinkbike.com/news/tour-di...alet-2011.html

From the title I though this was going to be a thread about women competing in the TDF .

How can you be sure? What is the testing procedure before and during the race?

First this: ... and then that: Does that mean women are dirty?

I doubt they have a doctor to meet them in the wilderness hundreds of miles from any form of society. Most of the challenge is mental. Being alone, hundreds of miles from society for days on end, and then a grizzly (or any other large bear) is blocking your route.
That being said, there is no testing, no entry fees, very few rules, few of the racers are actually even sponsored and there is no money to be earned, only respect. This race attracts a very special breed, none of whom would be likely to stick a needle in their veins. This might change once this race starts to become mainstream and is flooded by sponsors and money.

Only the ones from my fantasies.

From the website of one more such race:

"The Race Across America is almost 50% longer than the Tour de France. Solo racers will finish in about 10 days, which is half the time of the Tour de France, and will have no rest days. RAAM racers are not allowed to draft or ride in packs. Every solo racer will make their way across the country on their own power with no help with teammates."

Getting catapaulted into a barbed wire fence by a rider who has just been side swiped by a TV car then carrying on takes guts. After the race he apparently needed 30 stitches

men wearing lycra. 'nuff said.

Certainly not the best attire for contact with barbed wire at speed

I couldnt do what the guys in the tour do but I lost all respect when the whole doping scandals came out one after the other

back in the day it was different though

so in other words, you are comparing a long touring ride with the toughest bike race in the world ?

Your right, the TDF is nothing more than touring together in a pack along the French countryside. Cant even begin to compare it to the TDR.

Well, we all know that real men don't ride bikes anyway... they ride bulls, or bears if "man" is Canadian. No question about it.

I like the new theory that Homo Sapiens and Neanderthals mixed up their genes... sometimes, that shows.

or perhaps the hardest race isnt on a bike, its the Marathon De Sables, for two footed hell, here is this mans account... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauro_Prosperi

Are you comparing riding bulls and bears to riding Neanderthal women?
If not, you should be.