Cycling

[moujamou]

I picked up Leader 1: Hell Of The North a bit ago and it seems pretty ace after one game.
Aside from Giro and Leader 1 have any other cycling games been published? Or is it motorised or nothing?

[Rockhopper]

I've pretty much stuck to Pro Cycling Manager on the PC for cycling. My computer game playing time is limited nowadays, but I've played more PCM the last few years than anything else. The newest 2014 version just came out a month or so ago, and is fun, but I've seen a few issues still... like the inability for AI teams to form sprint trains.

I looked into Tour: Cycle Free, which is a print and play game a dude on BGG made. Might be fun if you're crafty.

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/40601/tour-cycle-free

[moujamou]

Cheers. I like the look of PCM. I used to spend many grueling hours in front of Football Manager slogging it out in the lower leagues and PCM looks like it might scratch that same itch.

[The Grinch]

Breaking Away. http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2981/breaking-away

I'm usually not into race games so much, but this one's actually pretty good, with no randomness at all.  Hopefully it will get a reprint someday.

[Rockhopper]

Cheers. I like the look of PCM. I used to spend many grueling hours in front of Football Manager slogging it out in the lower leagues and PCM looks like it might scratch that same itch.

Cool, I think you'll dig it. Be sure to check out http://pcmdaily.com/index.php as well. They make some awesome mods that completely overhaul the game, including realistic teams, realistic equipment, etc.

BTW, PCM2014 just updated yesterday, which apparently fixed tons of stuff, including the sprint trains.

Now real life...

Are you a rider? My wife and I ride regularly, and are training for the California Coast Classic in September.

What about the Tour? It's disappointing that Froome and Contador (and Cav too) so early. Still, I love the sport so much that I'm hoping to see other storylines... at least we'll probably see more wins from the breaks the rest of the way.

[moujamou]

Yeah I cycle as my primary means of transport. I live in Sheffield so I have easy access to many of the places you will have seen in stages 1 & 2 (it was fantastic to go and see the first stages, Leeds city centre was heaving) but being a massive hipster I have a single speed bike (in a very hilly town) which has its limitations with regards to longer rides in Yorkshire and Derbyshire. I need someone to convince me to get my wallet out and buy a racer.

The California Coast Classic looks spectacular, Americans know how to do roads. Is it something you have done before? Please do let us know how it goes.

Le Tour looks nailed on for Nibali, your man Talansky is also out of it now. I'd like to see the Europcar boys do well, they have been hanging around the front alot without ever doing anything.
 

[Rockhopper]

Ah, that would have been awesome to catch British stages, especially when y'all have legit superstars. The only stage I have attended was during the Tour of California, back in 2007.  JJ Haedo outkicked Paolo Bettini in Santa Clarita. I was a big Levi Leipheimer fan back then. We got one guy left for the GC podium, Tejay is 5th, Valverde struggled today, so there's only like just over a minute between 2nd and fifth. Outside Nibali, the rest of the podium is where the race is at this year.

I rode the CCC back in 2006, and it was certainly an amazing experience. I popped the idea on my lovely bride to do it together this year, she thought it'd be awesome. 

[Sluggonics]

The Tour is one of my favorite things to watch every year.  It's like an aerial tour of France (and this year, some of England, too).  I noticed that the race organizers had the Tour specifically go near some of the WWI battlefields this year - lots of coverage of various monuments near Verdun and other sites.

I also really enjoy Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen on NBCSN.  Phil has the most calming voice.  It's very relaxing to sit down with my morning coffee and catch parts of Le Tour.  At the end of July I'm always a little sad that I'll be losing that morning ritual.

And yes, Nibali seems to have it all wrapped up this year.  I just don't see anyone left that can mount a serious challenge.