The Autobus is hanging out with Bobby Julich a lot these days since, well, both of us are watching the tour from the safety of our couches. I had a moment to catch up with Bobby’s blog over at ESPN, and I really feel for the guy. After his crash out of the Tour during the ITT, he hopped on the trainer and rode for an hour during stage 11 because he couldn’t stand to “just watch.” While the media focuses on the seemingly inhuman steel man Landis, riding in the yellow jersey with bone-on-bone-crunching pain and impending hip replacement surgery, Bobby J. is quietly suffering as he rides his trainer at home:

The hardest part, given my wrist and hip, was literally getting on and off the bike. Remember, I had the wrist surgery and some major road rash on my hip, plus, I think I might have tweaked my adductor muscle a bit. So, when you have to press down and kick your leg over to mount the bike, it’s something that’s impossible for me not to feel.

I’m sure with perseverence like that, we’ll see Bobby J. back on the road in no time at all. Meanwhile, in addition to “feeling” something when he rides his bike, he’s having to face the fast food demons at home in Nice:

My wife asked if I wanted anything [from McDonalds]. Sometimes, you can turn to comfort food like that to help boost morale, but I declined. Of course, I am not an angel. We plan to dine at my favorite Mexican restaurant in town, Texas City (the one I told you about earlier in the Tour). So, I passed another test — turning down the Big Mac for the burrito. I can say that the latter has gotten me where I am today!

Way to go, Bobby! Stave off the Jan paunch and keep the shiny side up!