Tulsa Tough- May 29-31 2009

[cannon_fodder]

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.

[ILUVTulsa]

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!

[riverman]

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!

[sgrizzle]

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.

[cannon_fodder]

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.

[Conan71]

And, Tulsa streets are bike-friendly and 911 dispatch just now reported an Easter Bunny sighting on the BA!

[Hoss]

You're in rare form today Conan...first the inflatable popo and now this?

"You're killin' me, Smalls"

[ILUVTulsa]

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.

[Ed W]

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.

[ILUVTulsa]

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.  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.

[carltonplace]

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

[FOTD]

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!