The annual Tulsa Tough cycling race series will be held this weekend. Races take place Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Supposedly, Floyd Landis will be racing (Floyd won the tour de france but was stripped of his title due to a doping allegation).
Tulsa tough is now considered a major cycling event in the USA Cycling series. $150,000 in prize money will be given out! See the link below.
http://www.tulsatough.com
I'm there. Always am. Pretty cool!
One of the funnier moments I remember from a couple of years ago was a bartender at Arnie's standing on the sidewalk on 2nd street holding out a sign (like a car racing pit sign) as the bikes raced past that read:
"Show us your naughty pillows"
Absolute classic krass.
Tulsa Bike Palooza! (http://www.myspace.com/tulsabikepalooza) No fees. No spandex. Bikes dun RIGHT!
Quote from: ILUVTulsa on May 28, 2009, 01:12:01 PM
Tulsa Bike Palooza! (http://www.myspace.com/tulsabikepalooza) No fees. No spandex. Bikes dun RIGHT!
Please Paul, don't.
I'll make it down there for sure. I'm not a big biker, but it draws a good crowd. Always interesting to people/bike watch.
It's amazing the aero wake when they come flying past in the criterion races.
I've always had a perverse thrill from the singing noise of high-pressure racing tires on pavement, especially when there's a pack of riders producing it.
Normally, I'd be out somewhere as a volunteer with the Tough, but I didn't do that this year. So I'm thinking about going downtown tomorrow night.
The women's race is on the national calendar, which means it draws the very best female racers in the country.
And finally, there's a rumor that Floyd Landis will be here.
The Tulsa Tough is on the USA National Cycling Racing Calender as a "B" meaning it is listed for both men and women. Unless the USA Cycling web page is wrong:
http://www.usacycling.org/forms/nrc/2009NRCCalendar.pdf
Thanks, CF, I stand corrected. I missed that.
Quote from: Townsend on May 28, 2009, 01:51:26 PM
Please Paul, don't.
In America, cycling is still a minor league, participatory "sport." Why can't the rest of Tulsa get in on the action, without the spandex or the way-too-rich entry fees?
T-Tough format, criterium, is really kinda like an exhibition after-party for top podiumers post-Tour d'France. Want real racing? Do a Tour d'Oklahoma stage race, from TX state line to KS state line, using the Freewheel dates and routes.
Constructive criticism: With the boatload of dough being thrown around, T-Tough really limits its potential to really make Tulsa a major Platinum Bike-Friendly City. http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bicyclefriendlyamerica/communities/
Honestly, how much can we stand to watch a bunch of spandex'd mo's roll around the block, while secretly hoping to see a HUGE bloody pileup right in front of our eyes?
More bikes dun RIGHT: http://shift2bikes.org/cal/viewpp2009.php
Quote from: ILUVTulsa on May 29, 2009, 12:56:20 PM
In America, cycling is still a minor league, participatory "sport." Why can't the rest of Tulsa get in on the action, without the spandex or the way-too-rich entry fees?
T-Tough format, criterium, is really kinda like an exhibition after-party for top podiumers post-Tour d'France. Want real racing? Do a Tour d'Oklahoma stage race, from TX state line to KS state line, using the Freewheel dates and routes.
Constructive criticism: With the boatload of dough being thrown around, T-Tough really limits its potential to really make Tulsa a major Platinum Bike-Friendly City. http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bicyclefriendlyamerica/communities/
Honestly, how much can we stand to watch a bunch of spandex'd mo's roll around the block, while secretly hoping to see a HUGE bloody pileup right in front of our eyes?
More bikes dun RIGHT: http://shift2bikes.org/cal/viewpp2009.php
Well get busy and make it happen. The Tulsa Tough wasnt started by the government or alien life forms, it was people like you (although there is some debate on whether you may be an alien life form) getting together and making something happen. They created the event they wanted, would love to see you do yours as well. The more the better.
The Tulsa Tough events are great because you can stand in one place and see the pack go by several times in several different races.
I went to the Tour de France last year and watched three days. While it was a thrill to be at such a major event, the best seat in the house is still in front of your tv watching Versus (starts July 4 this year, by the way). We did more standing around waiting then we did actually seeing the event.
While the riders aren't on the level as The Tour, the Tulsa Tough is a great way to watch a great bike race at a local level.
Quote from: TheArtist on May 29, 2009, 01:36:45 PM
Well get busy and make it happen. The Tulsa Tough wasnt started by the government or alien life forms, it was people like you (although there is some debate on whether you may be an alien life form) getting together and making something happen. They created the event they wanted, would love to see you do yours as well. The more the better.
DUN. Tulsa Bike Palooza. NO Fee. NO Spandex. Bikes dun RIGHT! http://www.myspace.com/tulsabikepalooza
I loved this (pulled from a bike site)
Quote
Tulsa, Oklahoma, has everything you'd want in a National Racing Calendar criterium series: historic downtown districts filled with old brick buildings and freshly paved streets; immense amounts of prize money (making the event the second highest pro payout in the nation); and lax open container laws, leading to an especially enthusiastic local fan base.
I wondered by the event on Friday night. Went to the race for a couple hours on Saturday (walking off a mean hangover). And my wife and I took the dogs for the day on Sunday (dogs enjoyed the river swims more than the bikes).
It was fantastic. Fun people. Good crowds - serious crazy fun in some places (have pictures). Fun racing (I'm not an avid cycling fan or anything, but it is impressive to see these people fly by). TV screens set up so you could watch the race around the course. Short circuit so they came by often. Small enough crowd so you could get in the front row and hear the racers communicate with each other (NOT out of breath, the jerks). They had a fun ride with 11,000 people. Good people watching.
There were people there from all over the country and all over the world. Everyone seemed to be having a good time, myself included. Is it a major event in my year? No, but it is one more thing working to make Tulsa a great place to live.
Best T-Shirt:
I like that thing they do in France, but in Tulsa.
ps. Significant lack of Biker-Foxesque spandex was also a positive.
Quote from: cannon_fodder on June 01, 2009, 09:51:17 AM
They had a fun ride with 11,000 people.
And, Tulsa streets are bike-friendly and 911 dispatch just now reported an Easter Bunny sighting on the BA!
Anyone know how the purse for the Tulsa Tough compares to other races in the country? I heard that it was the third largest but I don't know if that is amateur, pro or whatever. If anyone knows I would like to know what the top three purses in the country are. thanks!
Quote from: riverman on June 01, 2009, 10:26:04 AM
Anyone know how the purse for the Tulsa Tough compares to other races in the country? I heard that it was the third largest but I don't know if that is amateur, pro or whatever. If anyone knows I would like to know what the top three purses in the country are. thanks!
In my previous post I quoted an article saying it was the 2nd highest pro payout in the nation. I think the Sunday men's race paid $150k to the winner.
The event guide at TulsaTough.com says $151,000 is given out over the weekend. The forums at the same website says it is the second most lucrative cycling event in the nation.
Quote from: ILUVTulsa on June 01, 2009, 10:23:31 AM
And, Tulsa streets are bike-friendly and 911 dispatch just now reported an Easter Bunny sighting on the BA!
(http://www.failpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/fat-wonder-woman-attention-whore.jpg)
Quote from: Conan71 on June 01, 2009, 10:47:11 AM
(http://www.failpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/fat-wonder-woman-attention-whore.jpg)
You're in rare form today Conan...first the inflatable popo and now this?
"You're killin' me, Smalls"
Quote from: cannon_fodder on June 01, 2009, 10:43:10 AM
The event guide at TulsaTough.com says $151,000 is given out over the weekend. The forums at the same website says it is the second most lucrative cycling event in the nation.
Breaking: TPD reporting Santa Killed northbound 169 at 41st Street exit. Christmas CANCELLED.
Quote from: cannon_fodder on June 01, 2009, 09:51:17 AM
There were people there from all over the country and all over the world. Everyone seemed to be having a good time, myself included. Is it a major event in my year? No, but it is one more thing working to make Tulsa a great place to live.
Their plan is to grow the prize money in order to attract some European B teams (the A teams are participating in the Giro during May) and some of the money is set aside to be donated to a local charity.
Not surprisingly, the Hotel and Restaurant Association were active in promoting this race/tour weekend in order to fill the hotels and restaurants. St. Francis uses it to promote a more active lifestyle and wellness, while simultaneously using it as a drawing card to attract new professional staff. Tulsa is a cool place to live, and all that.
I didn't volunteer this year, and to tell the truth, I kinda missed it.
Quote from: Ed W on June 01, 2009, 04:43:30 PM
Their plan is to grow the prize money in order to attract some European B teams (the A teams are participating in the Giro during May) and some of the money is set aside to be donated to a local charity.
Not surprisingly, the Hotel and Restaurant Association were active in promoting this race/tour weekend in order to fill the hotels and restaurants. St. Francis uses it to promote a more active lifestyle and wellness, while simultaneously using it as a drawing card to attract new professional staff. Tulsa is a cool place to live, and all that.
I didn't volunteer this year, and to tell the truth, I kinda missed it.
Kewl. Unfortunately, they kinda left out the rest of us FAT people who don't fit into spandex and really didn't wanna pay 20 clams for an 8-mile ride that's FREE the rest of the year.
Where da beef? If ya ain't in spandex or rich, yer OUT. TT in its current form gives the false image that biking can only be done in spandex, or with popo escort corking intersections. WRONG.
With speed and spandex as the main attractions, TT stifles the fuller development of
sustainable bike culture (http://www.myspace.com/tulsabikepalooza). If St. Francis wants to promote active lifestyles/wellness, get their OWN employees to bike to work, install bike parking, and god forbid, HIRE some genius LCI's to teach bike driving courses.
If Hotel/Motel Association wanted a REAL race for BOTH European B and American A listers, hookup with OK Tourism and roll Masters Tour d'Oklahoma alongside Freewheel. Do the post exhibition pseudo-race in Tulsa.
European B teams are over-the-hillers on their way out. But, they are DEEP, experienced, and still faster than most USCF Cat 3's. Give American masters REAL race experiences and they'll bring their support crew, wife, and kids, who will be blowing BIG $$$.
Think BIG, man.
Quote from: sgrizzle on June 01, 2009, 09:09:25 AM
Tulsa, Oklahoma, has everything you'd want in a National Racing Calendar criterium series: historic downtown districts filled with old brick buildings and freshly paved streets; immense amounts of prize money (making the event the second highest pro payout in the nation); and lax open container laws, leading to an especially enthusiastic local fan base.
I never imagined I would hear these words uttered about Tulsa:
historic downtown districts filled with old brick buildings
freshly paved streets
lax open container laws
enthusiastic local fan base
Super event for Tulsa....the peeps encountered from all over were impressed with the event, city and the payoff.
But the cops should spending their time down there busting open containers (sic).
Only hangovers seen were bikers cornering.
Biker Faux is looking wide.
Kudos Malcolm!