The world’s worst spectator sport is on its way to Modesto.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun being a part of the Amgen Tour of California as it races into town Tuesday. Think about bike racing from strictly a spectator’s standpoint. You stake out a spot on the course where you think some great action might take place. It could be the finish line, or perhaps the hairpin turn at the corner of Coldwell and Sycamore avenues, where you’ll see the racers slow down twice. Make sure to get there early enough to grab a prime spot, set up your folding chair and wait for an hour or two. You’ll hear a buzz in the distance. Is it the lead peloton (a word you learned for the occasion) No, it’s a press car, following by four more press cars and eight motorcycles with guys carrying cameras and riding backward. That was cool. You sit back down, glance away and you’ve missed it. The lead group has just whizzed by. Was that Lance Did you just miss Lance The event’s organizers suggest to local committees in each host city that the route be kept free of bleachers. They want people to move about the course, not only stressing the healthful aspect of the event but ensuring traffic for the tents staffed by commercial and charity interests.
Better yet, they’d like to see each city filled with bicycles to allow people to get used to the notion of two-wheeled transportation.