OT..Friday Posbang....TDF Edition
The main off topic sport around here seems to be soccer...which is fine. But the Tour starts tomorrow meaning I'll be a complete nerd for the next 3 weeks. I encourage everyone to watch a couple stages. It is unbelievably exciting. I'll also be running around northern MI streams in the middle of the night for week 2 of the Hex hatch. Happyhappyhappy.....
I used to go regularly, and I think I'll be there at some point Saturday. I usually get the Citra Pale Ale, Fussy IPA, or the Derelicte Pineapple IPA.
the Citra IPA and it was pretty damn good, can't wait to try the Pineapple IPA, thanks!
Armstrong is out of the way - are there any American teams/cyclists worth following? Must admit I don't know much about the TDF.
TJ van Garderen. Finished fifth last year and won the best young rider catagory (under 23ish). Also, he is on the same team as the 2011 winner (Cadel Evans) which complicates things. Further complications come from him finishing ahead of Evans last year. Controversy.
I shoulda hit "save" quicker....
Best young rider is under 25, fyi. Definitely a big deal. His 5th place finish was with him supporting cadel for the first half of the race. Definitely could have creeped up to 4th with a longshot at third if he hadn't been waiting up for cadel.
I don't expect him to get 5th this year just because the field is quite a bit stronger, but he is definitely the best American hope at a big time stage racer.
Another name to keep an eye out for is Talansky, who has been performing solidly as of late.
Definitely expecting an awesome Tour this year. Lots of big guns are back (though Wiggins is out again) and the course is fricking amazing. A mountain-top finish on the penultimate stage (versus the usual TT) will be very cool, especially if the GC is a close call. I'm very excited for le Tour to begin in case it wasn't apparent!
his team (BMC) is good and it will be interesting to see whether they wind up riding in his support or for Cadel Evans.
Cadel seems to be riding very well this year... I think he'll be in stronger contention than he was last year. Cadel is the team leader so they'll ride for him. It could get interesting later in the race though. I have a feeling that if last year were to repeat itself, Cadel would have his team support TVG and go for the podium.
The Russian River Valley has some good wines. I'd check out some vineyards, skip the beer. And I'm a beer guy, typically.
Remember this name: Talansky.
Between him and Tejay, we have a nice future in the grand tours.
As expected, we're in storm mode here at DTE right now, but as we have virtually no outages in the region where I work, we sent all of our field people up to the Pontiac area. The building here, as a result, is almost a ghost town. It will make for a rather quiet, potentially somewhat productive Friday unless another round of storms rolls through here.
This weekend will be spent preparing the house for cats. We decided to get back into the business of having pets in the house now that the kids are in elementary school, so last night, we went and bought most of the basic essentials. It means that I will have to be a little more fastidious about my allergy medication, but beyond that, we should be more or less set by early next week.
The only other chore of note is starting the process of getting the lenses in my glasses replaced. The UV coating on one lens seems to be defective, as evidence by the spots that have shown up in it. It isn't interfering with my vision at all, but if you look at the one lens up close, you can see the spots. Fortunately, I did opt for the Protection Plan from LensCrafters, so if I lose the argument over who pays, my vision co-pay is only $20 and that's all it would cost me.
I also have a glasses related chore. I slept on mine earlier this week, causing them to become crooked. I've been looking at the world as if it were slightly tilted to the left all week and will attempt to get it fixed this weekend.
I can't wait to get off work at 5:00. There are several of these in my fridge waiting for me.
Celebrating the birthday by looking at 50,000 Toews jerseys outside my office...gross
Hope this helps!
I'm looking through photos of our parades, bringing back some great memories. I think Chicago needs a few more Cups to learn how to properly parade.
And now, in the last few months we went to the national championship game while John Beilein just pantsed some of the best defenses in the country and last night we had two guys get drafted in the first round. Our starting line-up next year might be three 5*s and two 4*s with two of those guys being projected first rounders for the 2014 draft.
if someone travelled back in time five years and proclaimed in the diag that this would be so, people would've laughed you off campus. But nay, it has come true.
The future is most definitely bright. I will posbang you all to celebrate this.
It's friday friday... something something something friday.
'Bout damn time too.
So everyone, who is our next commit?
Tyrone Wheatley Jr.
to a mental institution as Joe D. made me crazy by passing over Burke.
Shaun Crawford
Due Date is finally here for my first son! Praying he comes out healthy, all that matters. Dr. was pretty confident he will be here within next few days, I'm selfishly hoping for today :) Everyone have a great weekend and Go Blue!
Good luck Abomb4480. Is this your first kid or first son?
First child, sorry should've been more clear, but so ecstatic hard to concentrate! Anxiety is setting in...
Big fan of the Tour. I'm not a cylcist, but I spent a few years studying/working in France.
Will be pulling for Tejay!
I can't top Abomb - congrats.
Wrapping up my day early for a 2PM tee time. Happy weekend everyone.
At least I travel to Ann Arbor today.
Beautiful weekend out here on the edge of the western world. Posbang me good so I can get up to 100 points and share the love.
The only unpopular comment was from Joe D.
and head up to our vacation home on the shores of Lake Huron for a week of fun on the beach and cruising around my boat. I've got a case of good stuff ready to roll which includes a nice sampling of Revolution Brewery beers. Love Anti-Hero. Nice IPA. Kinda like 3 Floyds Gumballhead. Seems it will be a summer favorite for me this year.
"Quit? You know, once I was thinking about quitting when I was diagnosed with brain, lung and testicular cancer, all at the same time. But with the love and support of my friends and family, I got back on the bike and I won the Tour de France five times in a row. But I'm sure you have a good reason to quit. So what are you dying from that's keeping you from the finals?"
"Well, I guess if a person never quit when the going got tough, they wouldn't have anything to regret for the rest of their life. But good luck to you Peter. I'm sure this decision won't haunt you forever."
- Lance