Bicycling by Molly Hurford: Eighty million American viewers follow the Tour, and every season the coverage from NBC has improved. This year is no exception, with the introduction of a commercial-free full livestream plus daily full-stage coverage on the network’s cable channel. Even those without cable essentially have full access thanks to new digital streaming options.
If you have cable out here in California, NBS Sports will broadcast every day at 10am PDT. If you do not have cable, you can stream for about $50, or Direct TV for $35 a month.
It works out perfectly for me. I head out on my own cycling ride about 7am, and get back about 9am, shower, and watch from about 10am.
The Specialized Robaix bicycle pictured above is the BIG brother to my bicycle, give or take about $5000 USD.
We will have slightly fewer viewers watching us ride in the Tour de Fresno on Saturday. In fact, we are not even on TV. But our version meanders through the Valley towns and cities that I grew up in and around. Besides my hometown of Kingsburg, we will also ride through Fowler, Selma, Dinuba, Reedley, Parlier, and Sanger.
From their website: The Annual Tour de Fresno Charity Bike Ride is offering a 8-city tour of Fresno County including Fresno, Fowler, Selma, Kingsburg, Parlier, Reedley, Orange Cove and Sanger, and will celebrate the bounty that Fresno County offers! The ride provides five different route options: Century, Half Century, Metric Century, Fresno County Ride, and Family Ride.
You will begin your ride from the recently expended beautiful grounds at the California Home for the Aged (a.k.a: California Armenian Home) located between Armstrong and Temperance Ave. at 6720 E. Kings Canyon Rd. Fresno CA 93727. The site provides ample, free and secure parking space. The rides will pass through County Cities and neighborhoods, including Sanger, Parlier, Kingsburg, Selma, Fowler, Reedley, Parlier and Fresno and enjoy the great hospitality at rest stops in each of those cities. I will do the Five Cities ride, about 48 miles fairly flat.
From their website: The Bike Ride will provide you with adventurous views of city streets, along with scenic views of breathtaking mountains and waterfront. Gourmet lunch grilled at the site with rice pilaf and salad will be served at the end of the ride at the tree shaded Start/Finish Park.
Tour de Fresno Charity Bike Ride is an annual fund raising event of the ATG, a Fresno based 501 (c) 3 non-profit public benefit organizations, to promote educational and charitable endeavors and tourism in Fresno County. In cooperation with the County of Fresno and the Cities within the county Tour de Fresno enjoys the generous support of Valley businesses, cycling clubs, teams, organizations and bike-stores.
Tour de Fresno invites riders of all classes to experience world class cycling events in Fresno County, starting and ending from California’s fifth largest city to enjoy its natural beauty, surrounding mountains and wonderful hospitality.
Tour de Fresno connects concerned cyclists with charitable activities. When you ride in a Tour de Fresno event, you will be riding with a purpose. Proceeds from Tour de Fresno will promote charitable and educational endeavors in the valley, as well as promoting cycling as a viable clean-air transportation option for all residents of Fresno County.
The money you help raise will go toward helping those who are less fortune in our community through education and training, to improve their social and economic conditions and guide them to become part of productive segment of the Valley. You will be giving hope to communities that can benefit from a helping hand.
Join us, the family ride is only 17 miles.
