Tulsa Tough- May 29-31 2009

[TulsaPride]

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

[Wilbur]

I'm there.  Always am.  Pretty cool!

[Conan71]

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.

[ILUVTulsa]

Tulsa Bike Palooza!  No fees.  No spandex.  Bikes dun RIGHT!

[Townsend]

Tulsa Bike Palooza!  No fees.  No spandex.  Bikes dun RIGHT!

Please Paul, don't.

[cannon_fodder]

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.

[Conan71]

It's amazing the aero wake when they come flying past in the criterion races. 

[Ed W]

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.

[cannon_fodder]

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

[Ed W]

Thanks, CF, I stand corrected.  I missed that.

[ILUVTulsa]

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

[TheArtist]

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.

[Wilbur]

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.

[ILUVTulsa]

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

[sgrizzle]

I loved this (pulled from a bike site)

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.