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Just trying to get into it with cyclingfans.com streams. But I am not particular skilled in the art of road cycling or road cycling watching so I’m lost.

I wasn't either, in fact last years tour de France was the first race I ever watched. I had just bought my bike that May and never cared about it otherwise.

The strategy still amazes me. At first your instinct is to think that whoever is in the front of the pack is the best and all that matters is who finishes first, but there's so much more. How teams help riders get back into the peloton or how breakaway groups actually cooperate by cycling the leader because of wind resistance to keep the peloton away.

I still don't know th half of it but for some reason I find the strategy fascinating. It's so different than American sports which is always fastest is better. Well, fastest is still better but in a multi-stage tour it's not the only thing.

Guys, not to offend anyone... I like to watch big three but if you go to the local competitions and watch them alive -- it's much better. There are quite few around. Steel City Showdown is an excellent race. Oval races are also nice. As well as ABRA races.

Isn't that like saying that the NHL is great, but the old man hockey league is much better to watch? I personally love watching the big races because in addition to watching skilled cyclists race I get to watch them race in beautiful places in HD.

That said I really wanted to come check out the Showdown this year but life got in the way.

Tour of California is this week!

Isn't that like saying that the NHL is great, but the old man hockey league is much better to watch? I personally love watching the big races because in addition to watching skilled cyclists race I get to watch them race in beautiful places in HD.

That said I really wanted to come check out the Showdown this year but life got in the way.

Tour of California is this week!

The NHL(or an amateur league with checking) and old man hockey league are actually really different in the way the game is played. I'd rather go watch a junior team play in Harmarville than watch non playoff hockey on TV.

Cycling is a little closer to being the same on all levels because ultimately everyone is racing with no real rule changes. I do think its better to watch road races on TV because you can see a lot more of what happens as opposed to road races in real life where you could only see the field go by a hand full of times. You can get some pretty amazing views at some of the ABRA road races though. Crits like Steel City Showdown are much more spectator friendly as you can see the field go by many times and watch the tactics.

People can always volunteer to drive a wheel car at local road races and follow a field around the whole race. Races always need volunteers.

If you have a question about tactics or strategy I am sure there are many people here who would love to chime in.

Domestic professional cycling is more like

college basketball. it is less controlled, less

money, less big teams having super stars and more

chance of an underdog pulling out something sick.

It makes me sad that I can't see this race. I really enjoyed watching the tour of California. But I don't get Italia I wish bike racing was more frequently broadcasted in the US

I watched a couple of stages on line but then the finishes included way too much Cavendish for my tastes so I stopped.

@edmonds59 You watched mostly non mountain part. As soon at it got to mountain most od sprinters quited and Cavendish was about 150 out of 170 total. But I must say I respect him for not quiting.

Yeah, dang, that was dumb, I should have checked back in on those gorgeous mountain stages.