Tour De France 2009

Some have called it the single most difficult sporting event in the world. The typical rider expends more energy in the three week tour than an N.B.A. player expends in an entire season of basketball.37 year old seven time tour winner Lance Armstrong has lost a few steps in the four years he has not raced, but still managed to hang on for second place, a minute and a half behind tour leader Alberto Contador, the most explosive climber in years.Tuesday has two huge climbs, there is a time trial coming up, (which Lance does well at) and the final day has the peloton climbing Mont Ventoux. So does the prolific Contador have the race wrapped up, or is there hope for any other riders?

Today, after climbing two huge mountains, the tour peloton is in roughly the same standing.I cant believe that more of you folks are not interested. What the heck do you people do for exercise, anyway?I respect these riders for the sheer physical and mental effort they expend.

What I do is about 5 hours of supervised fitness classes and 3 to 6 hours working with machines and free weights a week. (plus a bit at home with free weights while watching a DVD). I find this is a little more effective than watching someone ride a bike on TV.

Walk dogs daily, trim branches off of pine trees, cut and split(with a maul)firewood once or twice a week.Other than that, drink beer and watch baseball.

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Facts don't lie or have an agenda. Facts are just facts

Well, I don't do alot for exercise, but my financee and I got EA Active for the Wii and did that every day for a month, but have been too busy kately to do much, though I hope to get back into the habit ASAP.

Really?
I have been going to the Health Club lately and using the machines for about an hour a day 3 times a week. Just by doing this, I have actually put on five pounds of muscle and lost ten pounds of fat in the last three months. (My diabetes was getting the best of me)Years ago, I rode my bike 25 miles a day for two years straight. I know what it takes to get in the kind of shape these guys get in...and don't simply live vicariously through their televised efforts.Edited by Phat, : spelling

Walking mostly, do to PAD (Peripheral Artery Disease).Edited by bluescat48, : didn't print the whole message.

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There is no better love between 2 people than mutual respect for each other WT Young, 2002Who gave anyone the authority to call me an authority on anything. WT Young, 1969Since Evolution is only ~90% correct it should be thrown out and replaced by Creation which has even a lower % of correctness. W T Young, 2008

In the last year I have lost 40 pounds by simply going to the gym for an hour 4 times a week. Before - I'm the fatass on the left. After - I'm the drunken idiot in the middle with the make-shift gang sign.And yea, Phat, I did all that and still managed to smoke a little pot...every day. (Actually, it's rumored that Arnold Schwarzenegger would smoke after every workout to relax his muscles) I've been watching it since most airport bars only play that. I honestly never got into it, actually I don't really follow anything other than MMA, but the physical and mental strength that these riders must posses is amazing. And a real test to the human ability.In any case, GO ARMSTRONG!- Oni

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If it's true that our species is alone in the universe, then I'd have to say that the universe aimed rather low and settled for very little.
~George Carlin

I lift 5-6 days a week focusing on separate muscle groups (Biceps/triceps, back/lats, shoulders/traps, chest, quads/hamstring/glutes/calves). I always switch up my routine for muscle confusion which promotes growth better. I follow up every other set with a H.I.I.T. routine for maximum cardiovascular intensity, followed up with swimming or biking.I spend about 1 1/2 hours a day being vain... I mean, being healthy! As do I. These individuals must have hearts the size of cantalopes and a resting heart rate of 3 beats per minute! (Yes, I'm exaggerating)Armstrong is just a freak of nature, as are most professional cyclists. I think I read somewhere that he has twice the lung capacity of an average adult male. His blood/oxygen ratio must off the charts.

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"Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear." Thomas Jefferson