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For many years (at least since I started cycling), Preston road and SR1461 in Prosper have been great roads to ride a bicycle on.  I can remember riding from my house in Richardson south on Greenville to Walnut Hill then west to Preston then north 30 miles up the 2 lane road thru Frisco all the way to CR 134 north of Celina.  What a great road that was – low traffic, good shoulder, great surface, etc.

That all ended Wednesday when the Collin County resurfaced Preston road north of SR1461 with chip seal (tar and gravel/rock).  Not the pea gravel chip seal which is rideable after a couple of weeks of being driven on by cars.  This is the nickel-sized chip seal which “chips” off easily due to its size and leaves a hole which makes it easier for the next rock over to chip off and leave a bigger hole.  Just check out FM455 east of Celina if you want to understand what I am saying.  That surface is unrideable on a road bike.

Based on the piles of rock I see on the side of SR1461, I assume they are also going to resurface SR1461 east of Preston road.  What a waste of good roads.  Both Preston and SR1461 are asphalt roads with good surfaces.  There are minimal cracks on these roads and there is relatively little deformation of these roads due to the ground shifting.  I don’t think that chip seal would address that problem anyway.  I should know since I (used to) spend a lot of time riding these roads.

Unfortunately, this is just a continuing trend in NW Collin County.  FM455 east of Preston was resurfaced with chip seal 2 years ago and has been unrideable since.  2478 (Custer road) north of 380 and FM455 west of Preston to the Denton county line were both resurfaced last summer and are still very rough roads.  The Collin Classic charity bike rally had to move their course east of Central Expy because these roads were so rough it negatively impacted particpation.  I know I did not ride the rally because of the roads it traversed.

As a result of resurfacing Preston, I expect bike traffic in our corner to the county to reduce to -0-.  Perhaps there will be one rider if I decide to put some fatter tires on my Santa Cruz and go out and punish myself.  Maybe I will fantasize I am riding the cobbles thru the Arenberg forest in Paris-Roubaix.  I wonder if E.L. Marks will have lower sales at Bobcat Kuntry, a favorite stopping point for the PBA Saturday morning ride?

Clearly, this is the end of the era of good cycling in NW Collin County.  This presents cyclists with a Hobson’s choice – do I get in my car and drive to a place where I can ride well surfaced open roads, or do I stay in town and risk life and limb to share good roads with automobiles.  My guess is that more cyclists will choose to stay in town on the good roads, which will only create more opportunities for conflicts with cars and their drivers.  Don’t blame us cyclists, we have been forced into this position by our state and local governments – by our tax dollars at work.

Those are my thoughts – where do you stand on this issue?

This morning I was updating my lovely and vivacious wife Jenny on Floyd Landis’ incredible blow-up on the road to La Toussuire and I told her Floyd lost the Tour yesterday.  Was I wrong as hell or what?

There is nothing other then EPIC to describe Floyd’s ride today to Morzine.  He took off on the first mountain, became the leader on the road, and held most of his lead until the end.  He is now within 30 seconds of the Maillot Jaune and only 18 seconds behind Carlos Sastre.

In the Stage 7 ITT, Floyd beat Pereiro and Sastre by 1:27 and 1:57 respectively.  Is it possible that Floyd will come back and win the yellow jersey?  It is closer to probable.

I think Floyd proved today he is the strongest man in the race, as we all suspected.  Can he prove it on Saturday and reclaim the maillot jaune?

Go Floyd!!

Although I couldn’t watch the Tour live, I followed closely via the TdF webiste and cyclingnews.com.  It was an incredible day!  I feel bad for Floyd, but when you have just one bad day in the Tour, it can be disastrous.  Ask Alex Zuelle or Jan Ullrich.

Who do you pick now?  Can Periero wear the maillot jaune into Paris?  Can Sastre, Kloden, Menchov or Evans put any time into Periero tomorrow?  My guess is not enough to make the ITT on Saturday decisive.  In the ITT in stage 7, Kloden, Menchov or Evans finished roughly together, about 30 seconds up on Sastre and a minute on Pereiro.  That would not be enough time to disloge the jersey from Periero unless they take back some time tomorrow.

Has this been a great Tour or what?

How come whenever Israel is attacked and defends itself, it becomes the target of worldwide and UN condemnation? Did anyone get onto the US when we defended ourselves after 9-11?

I think that Israel has made it clear that if you attack them, there will be a severe price to be paid.  I think this is the primary reason that Israel is not continually at war – its enemies know it does not fool around when it comes to defending itself.

Perhaps the US could apply this approach in dealing with the insurgency in Iraq.  I think if we took the gloves off and let our military fight without one hand tied behind its back, then we would make significantly more progress than we have to date.

What do you think?

Floyd Looked very strong yesterday, as did Levi Leipheimer.  I am sure that Levi is just kicking himself for such a poor time trial on Saturday.  With just a decent performance in the TT, Levi would be in a podium position right now.

I am still very confused by the timing of Floyd’s hip replacement announcement.  What a weird time to announce it – even having the doctor in France for the announcement.  Is it part of the psychological battle between the GC contenders?

Whatever the reason, you have to be impressed by Floyd.  He is clearly the man to beat.  If he can hold his lead thru the Alps, I don’ think any GC men can beat him in the final TT and another American will be wearing yellow in Paris.  How cool will that be?

There were many who thought the Tour would only be a shadow of itself with the DQ of Ullrich, Basso, Mancebo, Vino, etc.  I disagree.  I think it has made for a wide-open event with significantly more riders having opportunities for glory.

There is talk of an All-American podium with George, Levi and Floyd (from more than just the American-homer Bob Roll).  Wouldn’t that really chap the French??  The potential for that only increased today with the unfortunate injury to Valverde on the run-in to Valkenberg.  Last year it was the knee and this year the shoulder – you have to feel sorry for Alejandro.  But he is young and very strong so I would not count him out in future years.

It is going to be an interesting race, and if booting those guys was necessary to clean-up our sport – so be it.  I don’t think I will notice if the average speed is 40 kph instead of 42.  There will always be a cloud hanging over cycling until the sport is rid of the cheats. 

I hope Ullrich, Basso, et al were not cheating but it does not look good for them.  I’ll be watching closely to see how it turns out – both the race and the off the road drama.