In anticipation of my winter training program, much of which is indoors at 0-dark:30, I purchased a number of older race DVD's off ebay, including the 85-89 TdF's, the '91 TdF, and a few classics from the late 80's. I started racing in '85, so these are from that point in time when I first started, and I was essentially "all-in". It is so cool to watch these guys turn themselves inside out, but at more realistic speeds, and just absolutely suffer. Grand Tour contenders are going after sprints and riding the classics at full bore. It was an awesome time to start cycling. While I don't want to start another doping thread, it is a vast difference from watching the EPO-era races and unrealistic speeds, and then seeing the stage winner after six hours in the saddle, wipe some sweat off his brow, take a swig or two of water, and look no more worse for wear than if he'd just finished a spin class. By contrast, these guys collapse. Watching Roche being hauled off in a stretcher in need of oxygen at the finish of an alpine stage, just so he could stay in the hunt for the Maillot Jaune, was by any standard, truly epic.
If you started cycling in the 90's, 00's, or 10's, get one (or more) of these DVD's. They are really fun to watch! And with any luck, what we will see a return to in bike racing in the near future.