If you've never been to a Tulsa Tough race, you have been missing out on one of the craziest, most exciting sporting events you will ever see.
In criterium racing, a huge pack of cyclists race multiple laps around a small course (for example, a figure-8 course in the Blue Dome district using the city streets) going about 30-40 MPH. You can stand in one place and the pack will pass every minute or so (and you can follow the rest of the course on jumbo-tron TVs until the pack circles back to you). The cyclists ride inches from one another, and when the pack passes, you can feel the "jet wash" as the air eddies behind them. (It'll part your hair!) Riding so close also means spectacular and terrifying crashes, which I think is part of the "Tough" definition of the sport.
Part of the fun is just being in the crowd. Thousands of people will be lining the course, standing just a few feet away from the action. There's also a street festival flavor, with tons of vendors, live music, racers from all over the world, etc.
Very fun and exciting event. If you've never been, you're missing out.
http://www.tulsatough.com/races/ (http://www.tulsatough.com/races/)
(http://www.tulsaworld.com/articleimages/2010/20100605_TulsaToughp3.jpg)
Hope to see everyone in the Blue Dome on Friday night. That, by far is the best of the three racing venues from a spectator standpoint to be able to appreciate the speed these men and women are going.
Of course, nothing beats the classic Animal House party on Crybaby Hill on Sunday down in Riverview. It's literally become one of the most legendary cycling venues in the United States almost overnight.
Hope to see everyone out there this year.
Quote from: Conan71 on June 05, 2012, 09:17:11 PM
Hope to see everyone in the Blue Dome on Friday night. That, by far is the best of the three racing venues from a spectator standpoint to be able to appreciate the speed these men and women are going.
Of course, nothing beats the classic Animal House party on Crybaby Hill on Sunday down in Riverview. It's literally become one of the most legendary cycling venues in the United States almost overnight.
Hope to see everyone out there this year.
I'll see you on Crybaby Hill Conan!
I though Tulsa Tough was the name of the steak over at the Western Sizzler.
Quote from: carltonplace on June 06, 2012, 10:52:56 AM
I'll see you on Crybaby Hill Conan!
What no Blue Dome on Friday night? Curious if Townsend and Mrs. Townsend will be down there this year, it's become sort of an annual meet up.
Quote from: Conan71 on June 06, 2012, 11:42:08 AM
What no Blue Dome on Friday night? Curious if Townsend and Mrs. Townsend will be down there this year, it's become sort of an annual meet up.
I would like to, yes. Let's see what Large Marge tells me I can do.
Quote from: Townsend on June 06, 2012, 12:01:47 PM
I would like to, yes. Let's see what Large Marge tells me I can do.
I wasn't sure how the heat might play with the Mrs. and the bebe.
Quote from: Conan71 on June 06, 2012, 01:48:37 PM
I wasn't sure how the heat might play with the Mrs. and the bebe.
Yeah, the warmth is not a love thing for her.
I'm planning to be taking photos in the Blue Dome area for the Friday crits - but I'm scheduled for overtime on Saturday, meaning a 3AM wakeup call, so it will be a short evening.
I'm hoping Tulsa Cyclist will shoot some photos of the later races in the Dome this year as well, he's got a great eye much like you do for cycling photos. He "catted up" and is now a Cat 3 which means he gets to race on Friday in the Dome. I'm thinking about ditching work early to go cheer him on.
Crybaby hill is probably the collesdt6 thing that happens in Tulsa all year! I'm gonna be so drunk...
Quote from: jacobi on June 07, 2012, 03:43:52 PM
Crybaby hill is probably the collesdt6 thing that happens in Tulsa all year! I'm gonna be so drunk...
That post makes it look like you started early...
;D
Quote from: Hoss on June 07, 2012, 03:56:39 PM
That post makes it look like you started early...
Problem?
QuoteThat post makes it look like you started early...
I wish. :)
Drunk in public what?
Quote from: jacobi on June 07, 2012, 04:40:12 PM
I wish. :)
Drunk in public what?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neUaSTSKFZc&t=2m35s
Speaking of drunk in public:
This was Cry Baby Hill early on Sunday last year. I can only imagine what it was like later!
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8007/7350126204_dc94e83c96.jpg)
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7096/7164917611_a88e51e9c6.jpg)
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7225/7164917793_c113ff0ba7.jpg)
Great to see so many TNF members over the weekend, Crybaby Hill was truly raucous and memorable (well if anyone is sober enough to remember it). Between that and a highly successful Art Deco Ball on Saturday night, it was quite a weekend!
The Driller's fireworks during the pro race Friday night was a nice touch.
Quote from: DTowner on June 11, 2012, 10:43:48 AM
The Driller's fireworks during the pro race Friday night was a nice touch.
Always is, it makes for a great photo op if you are up on the southern part of the course on Elgin.
Quote from: Conan71 on June 11, 2012, 10:19:28 AM
Great to see so many TNF members over the weekend, Crybaby Hill was truly raucous and memorable (well if anyone is sober enough to remember it). Between that and a highly successful Art Deco Ball on Saturday night, it was quite a weekend!
Great Weekend. I love the cry baby hill party.
Good to see you there Conan.
Quote from: carltonplace on June 11, 2012, 12:56:52 PM
Great Weekend. I love the cry baby hill party.
Good to see you there Conan.
And many thanks for the PBR & IPA.
Quote from: Conan71 on June 11, 2012, 01:16:50 PM
And many thanks for the PBR & IPA.
Looks as though it's making you "thick"....but then again, marriage and old age causes the plague. :-X
Quote from: Teatownclown on June 11, 2012, 01:22:23 PM
Looks as though it's making you "thick"....but then again, marriage and old age causes the plague. :-X
I didn't see you out enjoying the festivities either day we were there. Wait, I forget you are a phantom. :-*
Any chance Crybaby Hill is changed up next year? I noticed TPD much more forceful this year in trying to keep crowds back. Barricades in places up there?
Quote from: rdj on June 11, 2012, 01:28:49 PM
Any chance Crybaby Hill is changed up next year? I noticed TPD much more forceful this year in trying to keep crowds back. Barricades in places up there?
That makes sense....we live in such a paranoid police state these daze. Just look at Thunder Alley.....
I still miss the 60's ;)
Quote from: rdj on June 11, 2012, 01:28:49 PM
Any chance Crybaby Hill is changed up next year? I noticed TPD much more forceful this year in trying to keep crowds back. Barricades in places up there?
Possible. I'm aware of at least one small child which was almost run down by the pace car. Here are the posted rules for CBH
(http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q55/71conan/TN/IMG_3535-1.jpg)
Possible signs of intoxication
(http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q55/71conan/TN/IMG_3539.jpg)
The five o'clock shadow is a nice touch as well as the cyclist tan
(http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q55/71conan/TN/IMG_3545.jpg)
I met Wonder Woman! When I was about 12, she figured prominently in some imaginative fantasies. And no, I won't discuss them.
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_693e_gpaeA/T9afTRMY5uI/AAAAAAAAHXg/u994vwry2oI/s640/JUN_10_2012_ejwagner_080.JPG)
I was very VERY lucky that lovely people in whose yard I collapsed (a few blocks from the race) either didn't see me (it was a split level yard) or didn't mind that a large shirtless man was using their tree as a sleeping post. Some friends found and drove me home. Then the stories started. I only remembered about 4/5 of the day.
Another successfull CBH!
Looks like everyone had a good time there. I dunno much about the sport of cycling, nor do I cycle, but I heard the event was a great sucess. :)
QuoteLooks like everyone had a good time there. I dunno much about the sport of cycling, nor do I cycle, but I heard the event was a great sucess.
Here's what you need to know. Go faster than everyone else and you win!
Watching the pro races is just really exciting. Those guys go faster than cars do during the rest of the year.
Quote from: jacobi on June 18, 2012, 04:18:55 PM
Watching the pro races is just really exciting. Those guys go faster than cars do during the rest of the year.
Wow! A speeding ticket bonanza. TPD should have cleaned up.
;D
Crybaby Hill on CNN World.
http://cnnphotos.blogs.cnn.com/2013/02/18/a-manual-for-speed-in-cycling/ (http://cnnphotos.blogs.cnn.com/2013/02/18/a-manual-for-speed-in-cycling/)