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Show Thoughts From The Garden... by Tonya LeMone "It must be July. ...everyone has mysteriously become a bicyclist." You can tell it is July at our house for a number of reasons. We hang the bunting flags, have red white and blue cookies in the cookie jar, the yellow "Live Strong" bracelet is worn by all family members and most importantly the Tour de France flag is hung on our front porch. During the month of July our television is constantly fixed to the Versus channel, which covers the Tour de France, and we begin and end our day with the results of the stage of that day. It seems that suddenly and mysteriously there are bicyclists everywhere sporting their brightly colored spandex clothing with sponsors written all over the fronts and backs of their shirts, and hi-tech helmets are worn that make us look like we have been invaded by another planet; but they haven't the technology to travel any faster than by bicycle. The interest in bicycling has suddenly come to the forefront during the month of July and novice riders have become professionals. I credit this new form of physical fitness to the Tour de France. For those who need a little history, the Tour de France is an annual race held in France since 1903. Each year the race covers approximately 2,200 miles over a period of 21 days. The three weeks usually include two rest days. The race alternates between clockwise and counter clockwise circuits throughout France, but because of the miles needed, the race will sometimes touch into other countries. The New York Times has said the Tour de France is the most physiologically demanding of athletic events. It is compared to running a marathon every day of the week for three weeks, and the total elevation of the climbs is compared to climbing Mount Everest three times. There are between 20 and 22 teams with nine riders in each team, and entry is by invitation only by the "Amaury Sport Organization." But, the real thrill is the last day when all the riders circle on the Champs-Elysees in Paris and cross the finish line. The term "yellow jersey" has a completely different meaning for those of us who are involved in watching the tour, and it helps to explain the "yellow, live strong" bracelet you see many fans of the tour wearing during July. I admit I get caught up in the excitement of the race towards the end and feel the agony of defeat when a rider crashes and has to drop out because his injuries are too severe to continue. My husband and son watch intently, but they are not the "novice suddenly gone pro during the Tour de France biker." They bike and train all year long and compete regularly. ; Every weekend my husband bikes the Alpine Loop. Yes, from our house in Lindon to the top of Timp why? I know not when driving the Alpine Loop makes so much more sense to me, to say nothing of the expenditure of energy it saves when driving rather than biking. When we were in Paris, we walked the Champs-Elysees and we could only imagine the sound of the cow bells ringing as the spectators anxiously watched the remaining members of the Tour de France take their final minutes of the grueling three weeks, watching and encouraging each rider as they would circle one more time on the tree-lined, cobblestone streets of Paris. As I pack away the Tour de France flag until next year, I am reminded of the hard things these men have chosen to do. Then I get a little bicycle crazy myself and pull out my old ten speed bicycle, dust off the extra soft seat, put some air in the tires, and take it for a spin around the block. The entire time I am thinking to myself if I had my spandex on and had a helmet, people might take me to be a serious bicyclist, at least during the month of July, and then I reach a slight incline. I am then thrown back to reality and decide if I continue, my heart just may fail me and I would not be able to continue with my athletic sport or choice gardening, which I might add lasts much longer than 21 days. So, back home I go. I carefully fold and put the Tour de France flag away, hang my bicycle back up, and head to the garden where I know my biggest hill to climb is dealing with the snails that seem to have invaded the gardens this year. See you in the Garden.... |