Tour of California

[Carl Bidleman]

Thought many of you bike freaks would like to see a few photos of the Tour of California start in Sausalito. They whipped right past the OpenRoad.TV office on Bridgeway and even non-enthusiasts like me got into it. My neighbor shot some HDV footage with his new Sony. I'll post it later when I get the time to encode it to Flash. Enjoy.

[RIDE]

Here is my recap of my trip to the event...

RIDE
-----------------------------------
It was such a beautiful day as I made my way towards Sausalito :)

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali.jpg">

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali3.jpg">

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali4.jpg">

Getting close!

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali5.jpg">

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali6.jpg">

Here I am! Beautiful Sausalito!!!

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali8.jpg">

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali12.jpg">

I was early and decided to take in some of the amazing scenery :)

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali14.jpg">

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali17.jpg">

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali16.jpg">

Time to head over to the venue to check things out...

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali23.jpg">

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali27.jpg">

The team cars and busses were arriving. Peace out! :)

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali28.jpg">

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali31.jpg">

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali29.jpg">

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali34.jpg">

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali35.jpg">

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali39.jpg">

The U.S. Discovery Team!

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali48.jpg">

And being the cycling nut that I am, I had to get up close and personal with some of the sports best. Here is U.S. rider, and Tour De France yellow jersery wearer, David Zabriske meeting and greeeting the fans.

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali44.jpg">

Another top U.S. rider Bobby Julich.

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali45.jpg">

I waited outside the Quick Step bus to get a picture with this World Champion. "The Cricket" himself...Paolo Bettini! As far as I know, this was his first time racing on U.S. soil!

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali58.jpg">

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali59.jpg">

"Watcha lookin' at?" LOL

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali60.jpg">

Me and the champ!

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali61.jpg">

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali63.jpg">

I headed back over to see what was going on at the Discovery bus. I just caught their Director Sportif, and the mastermind behind Lance Armstrong's Tour victories, Mr. John Bruyneel!

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali64.jpg">

And there is George Hincapie!

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali70.jpg">

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali66.jpg">

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali67.jpg">

I just had to get a RIDE shot with him :)

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali68.jpg">

And I just missed one with the newly signed Tour super star Ivan Basso.

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali69.jpg">

The place was getting more and more crowded with each passing minute!

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali71.jpg">

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali72.jpg">

The riders were beginning to get called to the starting line...here is U.S. rider Chris Horner riding for Lotto.

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali77.jpg">

Race leader, and eventual winner (now 2 times in a row) Levi Leipheimer.

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali76.jpg">

Team CSC reporting!

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali74.jpg">

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali73.jpg">

Back to the pits for a few more pictures...

Here is the bike of one of the world's best climbers...Dutchman and Team Rabobank leader Michael Rassmussen.

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali78.jpg">

And a quick RIDE shot with him!

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali83.jpg">

The bike of the reigning world time trial champion, and winner of the most famous one day race in cycling, Paris-Roubaix, Fabian Cancellara!

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali84.jpg">

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali86.jpg">

Can't miss the RIDE shot opportunity!

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali89.jpg">

Here is veteran rider, and one of the sports toughest competitors, Jens Voigt.

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali91.jpg">

Great sprinter and amazing all arounder, Australian Stuart O'Grady!

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali93.jpg">

Back to the start area......THEY'RE OFF!

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali99.jpg">

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali97.jpg">

The riders took a few neutral laps around town so that all the fans could cheer and root them on.

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali98.jpg">

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali107.jpg">

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali109.jpg">

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali110.jpg">

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali113.jpg">

And speaking of fans...there were some interesting ones in attendance :)

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali103.jpg">

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali115.jpg">

I think this must be the team car for a very small team ;) LOL

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali104.jpg">

All in all it was an amazing day! Perfect weather, and one of...if not THE best field ever assembled on U.S. soil. It was a great event!

Thanks for coming along for the "RIDE"!

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/rideamountain/Tour%20of%20Cali%2007/TourofCali118.jpg">

[JimW]

It was really neat to see the throng of bikers passing in front of OpenRoad.TV's world headquarters :)

[The Dean]

Just testing the forum. Interesting.

Hey, Carl, I just bought an Electra Townie 7 Speed. I'm cedrtain you bike snobs will hate it, but it's perfect for a fat old man with a bad back, on the flat roads of St. Augustine Beach! :rolleyes:

I'll touch base with you this week. Feel free to delete this post.

This is only a test :eek:

-Brian

[conorb]

Great shots as always Ride. I love the shots of Bettini.

It's really amazing to see those stars up close and personal. I remember my own experience with riding with Mark Gorski at the Marymoor Velodrome in Seattle after he won the gold in '84. It was really surreal.

conorb

[bill23]

Looks very beautiful!

[vja4Him]

Just testing the forum. Interesting.

Hey, Carl, I just bought an Electra Townie 7 Speed. I'm cedrtain you bike snobs will hate it, but it's perfect for a fat old man with a bad back, on the flat roads of St. Augustine Beach! :rolleyes:

I'll touch base with you this week. Feel free to delete this post.

This is only a test :eek:

-Brian

I bought an Electra Townie last year in March. The Townie is my main transportation now. I gave up driving completely. I also have an old mountain bike which I ride sometimes.

I'll be buying a new Surly Long Haul Trucker soon! Planning on sinking between $3,000-4,000 into the LHT ....

I want to get into bike camping, and eventually do some serious short-run touring up to Yosemite and Calaveras Big Trees. I'll be practicing with bike camping to Caswell Memorial State Park, only 40 miles round trip from where we live in Modesto.

Also would like to get into shape for the ride up to Knights Ferry, about 64 miles round trip.

Anyone interested in tagging along for bike camping? Or the ride to Knights Ferry?