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Exhale...

Wow, what a season that was. Seems like things got plenty busy in January and stayed that way pretty much all the way to yesterday, save for the odd week after a grand tour. I blame Australia for making January relevant; once you turn the machine on, there's no turning it off. Anyway, there is a lot to review, and here's a bit of the plan for the next week:

  • Virtual Directeur Sportif: I need to true up the results with Majope so that we only publish the final standings once, but I expect to declare a winner tomorrow or Wednesday at the latest. From a quick look at the supplier's website, it looks like the stock is out (typical) and we will be pre-ordering the winners' jerseys for December. We will announce the jersey stuff once we have the info, and invite people to order their own Podium Cafe woollie.
  • Year in Review: An annual event, we will look back and vote on the Rider of the Year, Race of the Year, and Memorable Moment. I will start Fanposts for each shortly so we can start collecting nominations. I would also like to spawn a little broader perspective on where things are in the sport, though not so much the doping thing, unless someone knows of a way to have a constructive conversation there. I don't.
  • PdC Annual: Sui Juris and I have talked about collecting the year's best posts from the site into a bound production of some sort. I have thus far refused to explore the idea in depth, for sanity's sake, but with the season over it's time to see what we can do. When he and I have time to put the concept together, we will float the idea and see what the level of interest is. So just file that one away for now.
  • Tour of Flanders Preview: No, wait, I think I should put this off. At least til November.

So that's what's coming. For now, though I want to take this moment to offer my heartfelt thanks to all y'all for another great year. If you're scoring at home, that's four down and __ to go, and each year has been a new and different adventure. The community grew again, particularly during the madness of July when the site briefly resembled the United Airlines terminal at O'Hare more than a humble cafe. We had our one millionth visit and our 1,000th official member -- numbers that are already looking pretty quaint. The community even showed up in meatspace, at the Tour of California as well as a few other small gatherings I seem to remember people mentioning. 

I want to offer my special thanks to the people who lend a hand with the content. Every member here is truly valued, but of course we run on content, and so I cannot say how much I appreciate the fanshots, fanposts, graphics, stat analysis, VDS smackdowns, race threads, photo essays, race reports, hottitude threads, and assorted nonsense contributed to the site. This is what makes the Cafe a fun place to hang out. Once I start naming names I might not stop, so I'll just say... THANK YOU!

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And thanks to the PdC for them this site wouldn't be here...

It is great to know, i can wake up and chat to anyone around the world about cycling, Ohh and have at leeast someone interesting in my rants about Sexybank and Gilbert!!!

But i’m thinking the biggest thing we are waiting on, isn’t Astana and Contador, But will HH come back to his true heritage…. Come on HH, opens arms are here..

and to all next year who will be at TDU/Worlds or any other event I might just get to… Look forward to sharing a Belgium Beer!!

"the rest was over 30. And that doesn't mean old and useless, but experienced and with the stamina"

Jens! Voigt, Crit Intl Interview, 2009

by CycleGirl on Oct 19, 2009 5:20 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Ditto to CG

Is that a Belgium beer or a Belgian Beer?? Or is that like calling a Scotsman scotch??? My thinking is that Barbie Boy is not so sure that he’d be a lay Down Misere for the Aussie team anymore with the young talent we seem to have emerging at the mo…might be a tad easier to ride for Germany eh!!
It’s also getting near time to total up the mileage for the year too boys and girls…i’m heading towards 8000km and that was with plenty of time off to adjust to my new ear etc.
Peace love and understanding to y’all!!

errrr....am i supposed to sign this??

by Flatbagger on Oct 19, 2009 6:28 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Yes, thanks Chris

It’s been a good year. Next year should be good as well.

by dheadrick on Oct 19, 2009 11:09 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

+1

thanks to PdC especially for teaching me there are more races than the big Tours

Moo

by Willj on Oct 20, 2009 2:23 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

+100

I really appreciated all the insight from the contributors here. My passion for pro cycling grew immensely over the course of this season and the knowledge gained from the PdC is invaluable. And you’re a very entertaining bunch too. Fan for life!

by Spot of Bother on Oct 20, 2009 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yup yup yup.

This was the first year I followed the entire cycling season from beginning to end. Couldn’t have done it without PdC—and if I could have, it wouldn’t have been nearly as much fun.

Thanks to everyone for a terrific season!

by majope on Oct 20, 2009 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I love the idea of the Annual

I’ll be interested to see how it develops ;)

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Oct 20, 2009 5:10 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Comment of the year

Definitely happened during the Vuelta, when there was a Jesus versus the Romans meme going on and we all nearly got excommunicated

by addict on Oct 20, 2009 5:50 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I'd forgotten about all that. Great fun ;)

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Oct 20, 2009 5:54 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I guess we're safe...unless the Pope reads PdC

"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.

by Albertina on Oct 20, 2009 6:12 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I was concerned it might go beyond that ;)

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Oct 20, 2009 6:19 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ah. Good point.

"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.

by Albertina on Oct 20, 2009 6:22 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

i missed the last month

cause of moving house/internet/work issues, but i had a great year here at the cafe….bring on next season!

"well...you live in england so: you love the rain. loves the queen. hates cycling. based on mr bean had a tremendous amount of humour. all ride in a mini cooper. all getting drunk before the age of 12. getting drunk at least 3 times a day."- frinking, 7/9/09

by benrazor on Oct 20, 2009 8:59 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

thanks chris and all the contributors and PdCers

This place is great

Your bike doesn't want to crash so relax and let it roll!!!

by perezbike on Oct 20, 2009 11:09 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

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