I ride my bicycle
I jus returned from a sibei sia suay run of 2km. The first time I've taken to the streets of paris to run, and it was horrible. I was inspired by clement chio's blog to put on the shoes but was soon deflated as I felt my body and knew that I couldn't quite last the distance. Nonetheless, it's the first run in a long time, and I'll go to the garden to run again tomorrow morning, in search of my long-lost stamina (if i ever had one).I hit the streets last Saturday to catch le Tour de France live. I do not quite understand the race until I arrived in Paris and realised that the last leg of the race was to be held at Champs-Elysees. If you have a good memory, you would have remembered that the Champs-Elysees was where the national day parade was held.
According to a New York Times article as cited on Wikipedia, "The Tour de France’s status as the world’s most physiologically demanding event is largely unquestioned. The riders cover 2,272 miles (3656 km) at an average speed of 25 miles per hour (40 km/h), roughly the equivalent of running a marathon almost every day for almost three weeks. In the Pyrenees and the Alps, they climb a vertical distance equal to three Mount Everests. They take in up to 10,000 calories per day, the equivalent of 17 Big Macs, elevating their metabolic rates to a level that, according to a Dutch study, is exceeded by only four species on earth." The article forgot to mention that on top of the 17 Big Macs, they take testosterones too.
I am sad that Floyd Landis had been tested positive for testosterones. His victory was phenomenon. How he had managed to come back from more than 8 min behind the leader with just 4 stages of the race left and ended up at the top of the podium in Champs-Elysees on 23 Jul was simply inspiring. However, now, even if he is eventually cleared of any wrongdoings, I would find it hard to appreciate his victory as much as before. And that's what made me sad because it seems like once you've been accused of some wrongdoing, even if you had not done anything wrong, it would be very difficult for people to believe you totally again.
This is how words can hurt so badly (Mr Lee understands this and that's why, I believe, he sues and sues whenever anyone badmouths him). After yesterday, le tour de France 2006 would never be the dream race it was made out to be in the papers. Nonetheless, photos have been taken and will be shared.
This is taken off the side of an advertising vehicle. Before the cyclists arrive, the sponsers will send out vehicles bearing their logos and throw freebies into the crowd - the main reason why I went to watch the race. Sadly, they have already distributed all the freebies in the suburbs and have none left for the Paris crowd.
The gigantic wheels belong to advertising vehicles. There were super many people lining the streets, think there were even more than during their national day parade.
Landis as seen on a gigantic screen, which doesn't seem very gigantic in the photo.
A photo taken on the ground of what would be soon an aerial view on someone's TV screen.
Walking in Memphis. Cycling in Paris.
The cyclists arrived at Champs-Elysees. Most people are more interested in capturing photos of the cyclists. Unfortunately, I fell into that category of people.
The butt of a cyclist. The cyclists ride by damn fast making it super hard to take a photo of them without resorting to an SLR. Or taking multiple shots within a second, a function my camera doesn't have.
It is incredible that after 154km, the cyclists are still so close to one another. In fact, they usually ride in groups. The few cyclists leading each group are called pelotons. They suffer the resistance of the wind. The best cyclists usually ride behind the pelotons until timing is right to overtake. Just a little info on competitive cycling, which I had taken pain to reading before I went to watch the race, so must xuan4 hiao4 yi sia...haha
When the groups ride by, I jus anyhow snapped and prayed the camera focused on the cyclist and not the crowd. Can't quite get the 'blur crowd' effect...any1 any idea how to achieve that?
Bird's eye view 1
Bird's eye view 2
For now, I await the next edition of le Tour de France and may there be someone who captures our imagination again. Otherwise, another good story would be greatly appreciated.
P.S. You have probably seen it somewhere but I think it's a good time to post the quote. 'Wars don't determine who's right, but who's left.'
posted by le chye @ 5:44 AM
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