freeclimb9

earplugs. And you can get the handiwipes free from the KFC. A set from ABBA at the trailhead sets you up for hours of annoying, can't-get-it-out-of-your-head, repetition (see above if your partner succumbs): You are the Dancing Queen young and sweet only seventeen Dancing Queen feel the beat from the tambourine you can dance, you can jive having the time of your life see that girl, watch that scene dig in the Dancing Queen.

I'd bet that most people on this go solo every now and then, at the very least. Or were you talking 'bout climbing?

It was worse in 2000 when the tour cars were front-wheel drive and couldn't make it up the steeper grades. They just spun their tires and overheated the engines. This year, there were a lot of falls on the descent of Alto del Cordal. David Millar went down, then got run over by a car when he began ascending L'Angliru. Though unhurt (miraculously), he rode to the finish line and then quit. For the large income his paid (probably near $250,000/year), you'd think he'd excercise some emotional restraint. He's not the brightest crayon in the box when it comes to marketing himself. His comments after his stage win in the Tour de France cost him who-knows-what in potential endorsement deals. (When asked about being the only Briton in the pro-peloton and about the significance to the UK of his win, he said that he didn't really feel British). U.S. Postal's sport director Johan Bruyneel said while the stage was difficult, it was fair for everyone. "Everyone knew from one year ago that the Angliru stage was part of this Vuelta. The race makes the course and everyone has to do it." La Covatilla on Thursday should be another epic climb. Heras was very exposed for part of today's stage when he was without teammates in a pack dominated by Kelme riders. But they chose not to work him. Kelme's tactics have been mystifying lately.

As it turns out, the two US Navy pilots who bombed the Canadians near Kandahar were taking prescribed "go pills". It's acceptable military practice, I guess (http://www.safetycenter.navy.mil/aviation/aeromedical/downloads/performancemanual.pdf see page 8). "Go Navy" has a new spin.

quote: I don't see why you single Lace out as one isn't caple of the physical an mental conditioning. Lance is very generous to his mates. Almost seems more personal to me.Alien Luv'er, you're smoking crack with ET, or something. There's a difference between the ability to do something and the actual doing of it. The Man himself said he as in "bad form" and was looking forward to a rest after the SFGP. Would you read that as being ready for a three week stage race? And what would a robot know about something being "personal"?

(picking up the Allsion thread. She's gotta get something for taking the devil's club) . . . so then, having run away in fear, he started mumbling about black helicopters, death squads, and . . .

. . . concerned about his prolapsed rectum getting . . .

quote: Originally posted by ILuvAliens: Lance doesn't have the conditioning. Whatever. Lance isn't even in the race. If he was he would be the team leader. Armstrong rode support this year for George Hincapie in some World Cup events and some one-day classics. They called him the "super domestique". The Vuelta is a three week race, and it's very difficult to reach peak performance levels several times within a season. At this time of year, Armstrong is not in condition (mental and physical) to withstand three weeks of racing --especially as team leader.

A man asked his doctor if he thought he'd live to be a hundred. The doctor asked the man, "Do you smoke or drink?" "No," he replied. "I've never done either." "Do you gamble, drive fast cars, or fool around with women?" inquired the doctor. "No, I've never done any of those things either." "Well, then," asked the doctor, "why in the hell would you want to live to be a hundred?"

oh yea, can't forget www.grahamwatson.com

quote: Originally posted by Dave Schuldt: Can someone post a link for pictures? BBC sports had results but no pictures- should be some good ones. The usual suspects have links to press and photos: www.cyclingnews.com www.velonews.com www.dailypeloton.com

The rate of attrition for this race is currently around 25%. The USPS team is down by 30%, and of the remaining 6 team members, Antonia Cruz is still recovering from a hard crash suffered on an early stage (he's just pulled the stitches from his knee), and Zabriskie and White finished last and third to last in the L'Angliru stage. Maybe they're holding themselves in reserve? It's very unclear if Roberto Heras can be adequately supported to hold onto his gold shirt. Though there are signs of a fracture of goals within the Kelme-Costa Blanca team. It ain't climbing, but the Vuelta is a brutal race. More tough climbing stages ahead.

. . . repeated those famous words: "The only good snafflehound is a . . .

. . . "T-H-E E-N-D" of snack foods as I knew it because . . .

Roberto Heras was lead out by Chechu Rubiera and Christian Vande Velde. Rubiera was dropped at about 25km to the finish on the Alto de Cordal which is a climb of 505 m over 5.5 km and is just before the final L'Angliru. Vande Velde supported Heras all the way up to 8km to the finish. Roberto jumped at 6km to go. Essentially, Roberto has been on his own for the difficult climbs. He's been riding incredibly in spite of this. His ride today will be looked at in history as one of the greatest climbs ever. The last climb also was done in a pouring rain that upped the risk of losing traction. There are six more stages to the finish, and nothing is guaranteed at all. Roberto doesn't have a deep team to support him, and after Michael Barry abandoned the Vuelta due to a hard crash, the USPS team is even less. Frankly, Lance Armstrong doesn't have the conditioning at this time of year to be effective support. BTW, one time yellow jersey holder in the year's Tour de France, Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano, is out of the Vuelta with a broken arm after yesterday's 40 rider pileup that resulted when two motorcycles went down in front of the peleton.

Heras takes the stage! And he takes the jersey. Incredible athleticism. He was working the steepest part of the Angliru climb (23.6%) by zig-zagging.

"A Vantage Point" to a screed of whining.

A man and a woman were waiting in line at the hospital donation center. Man: "What are you doing here today?" Woman: "Oh, I'm here to donate some blood. They're going to give me $5 for it." Man: "Hmm, that's interesting. I'm here to donate sperm, myself. But they pay me $25." The woman looked thoughtful for a moment and they chatted some more before going their separate ways. Several months later, the same man and woman meet again in the same line. Man: "Hi there! Here to donate blood again?" Woman: (nodding her head with mouth closed) "Unh unh."

A man returning home a day early from a business trip got into a taxi at the airport. It was after midnight. While en route to his home, he asked the cabby if he would be a witness. The man suspected his wife was having an affair and intended to catch her in the act. For $100, the cabby agreed to be a witness. Quietly arriving at the house, the husband and cabby tiptoed into the bedroom. The husband flipped on the lights, pulled the blanket back and there was his wife in bed with another man. The husband put his gun to the naked man's head. The wife shouted, "Don't do it! This man has been very generous! I lied when I told you I inherited money. He paid for the Corvette I said I bought for you. He paid for our new cabin cruiser. He paid for our cabin at the lake. He paid for our country club membership and he even pays the monthly dues!" Shaking his head from side-to-side the husband slowly lowered the gun. He looked over at the cab driver and said, "What would you do in a case like this?" The cabby said, "I'd cover his ass up with that blanket before he catches a cold

umm, etriers.

quote: Originally posted by Cpt.Caveman: Bad mood this morning? Take your pain killers. Paxil works better for anxiety.

As I've Matured... I've learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is stalk them and hope they panic and give in. I've learned that no matter how much I care, some people are just assholes. I've learned that it takes years to build up trust, and it only takes suspicion, not proof, to destroy it. I've learned that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes. After that, you'd better have a big willy or huge boobs. I've learned that you shouldn't compare yourself to others - they are more screwed up than you think. I've learned that you can keep vomiting long after you think you're finished. I've learned that we are responsible for what we do, unless we are celebrities. I've learned that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades, and there had better be a lot of money to take its place! I've learned that 99% of the time when something isn't working in your house, one of our kids did it I've learned that the people you care most about in life are taken from you too soon and all the less important ones just never go away.

I have a kid now . . . at least until his parents pay the ransom.

President Bush and Colin Powell are sitting in a bar when a fellow walks in and asks the bartender, "Isn't that Bush and Powell sitting over there?" The barman says, "Yep, that's them." So he walks over and says, "Wow, this is a real honor. What are you guys doing in here?" Bush says, "We're planning WW III." "Really? What's going to happen?" Bush says, "Well, we're going to kill 140 million Iraqis and one blonde with big tits." The guy exclaimed, "A blonde with big tits? Why kill a blonde with big tits?" Bush turns to Powell, punches him on the shoulder and says, "See, smartass? I told you no one would worry about the 140 million Iraqis."

On Sunday, stage 15 of the Vuelta de Espana will finish at the top of the Angliru. So what does a stage race in Spain got to do with climbing? The Angliru has pitches up to 23.6% grade in steepness. That's pretty damn close to climbing, IMO. And this year the ascent comes at the end of a 176 km day. It might prove to be the rare day when some pro riders have to walk their bikes. The Angliru is also where USPS rider Roberto Heras made his winning move two years ago. This year he's down 1.42 to Oscar Sevilla and 1.41 to Aitor Gonzalez (both of Kelme-Costa Blanca). Roberto has to cut into the lead time. The baby-faced Sevilla has been riding like an animal, but Heras is in great form, too. And Beloki is still in striking distance at 2.04 back from the leader. The Vuelta has been much more thrilling than the Tour was.