Pity our cyclist, it’s Saturday and he won’t shave his face, it might sap his strength but he has to shave his legs or he won’t look serious. He certainly can’t have sex, more strength stealing there, and kissing his wife, whoa, slow down, that could spread some germs. He doesn’t want to get sick so going to that birthday party tonight, that could be dangerous, crap fattening food on platters, touched by possibly sick people, and standing around, no way, think of the guns. Who can drink alcohol before racing anyway? I need some steak and pasta. Darling, I’ll go to your office Christmas party, I promise, if I can sit with my legs up a bit, and take the elevator up to the office on the second floor.
A little browse around the town center Saturday evening instead, can’t do that. That would require walking and standing. I’m an athlete, damn it. And this talk of going to the pool, basta! Every cyclist knows swimming is bad for the legs.
Pre-race Sunday morning breakfast- this oatmeal could stand some butter and maple syrup. In the name of Merckx, non-fat milk please and what part of high glycemic index don’t you understand? Oatmeal, does that contain gluten?
Our cyclist rolls with two teammates to the race. In the car all the talk is pre-race excuses: I’m too heavy, I might be getting sick, my legs are unbalanced (?!), I drank too much coffee, I stopped drinking coffee, I have too much inflammation in my body.
Cycling mythology never dies. In a world were we still can’t predict the day when we will have great legs, there are still a thousand things out there that will give us not-great legs, and I’m pretty sure it’s all crap. Having just read this amazing interview with Freddy Maertens (thanks @pistard), it’s plain what gives you great legs, train like a bastard. And by bastard I mean back to back to back to back 300 km training days. Only professionals need do this, or can do this (who has the time or will?). That, get a lot of sleep and eat well, that is what a professional from Freddy’s day might tell you. No one was losing sleep over their power to weight ratio, no Pros then looked like Chris Froome now. These passistas looked like guys you wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley.
Now cyclists train smarter, watt meters and training coaches, weight rooms and soy milk, skinnier and colder. Is there a professional now who just scoffs at such data and just trains long and hard? Look at the legs of riders in the 1970s, almost no one looks like that now and it’s not drugs that did that. It’s unholy training in big gears, some V in the bidon, repeat tomorrow.
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@il ciclista medio
@frank
@frank
@sthilzy
@pistard
It's no wonder I'm so fucking quick...
Jeeeshz, I'm away front the site for a little while and it's become Velomounti. Must be the off season!
Very cool alpine stuff though guys, very impressed. I guess all just love mountains eh? I do, anytime I see one my first thought is. Want to ride it, then I start wondering about hiking and climbing it.
I read somewhere (wish I could do the recollecting thing better) that Thomi Voekler still trains old school. Can anyone verify that?
I've seriously go to stop typing on my iPad, it's making me seem like I'm drunk all the time...
...must be time for another Sydney Cogal...
@Alex
I have a theory (or personal view) that people should only ever hike or climb mountains as part of the process of building roads for us to ride on.
Regarding Tommy V, I'd heard that also. That man rides with nothing but his V-meter !
@Chris
Are you sure that's Anquetil? He's doing a pretty good impersonation of a young Kirk Douglas. "I'm Spartacus". Not sure you'd ever see Spartacus toking on a cigarette though.
@Mike_P
That's JA for sure. I've seen various versions of the picture. He was a man of unorthodox habits in eating, drinking and, ahem, relationships. Having a ciggie pre or post ride would have been one of the more "acceptable" things he did.
@Mike_P Possibly, it's surprising how many of stars of cinema were also quite handy bike racers.
It's even rumoured that De Niro started out as a wrench at an LBS in Brooklyn but his attitude towards customers was a problem...
@Chris Chapeau!!! Well played!
As for Douglas and Sparticus and smoking something: Have you seen the uncut version? Talk about homoerotic overtones!!! Amazing movie!
Still think that Douglas' best movie is Paths of Glory, though.
@Chris
Bobet says "stick your 11 speed cassette where le solieil don't shine, mon ami. I'll still kick your ass."
That's a hardman's freewheel right there. Those wheels ain't for sissies either - not with the rough roads they had back in the day. The pic probably dates from 51 or 52 as he was French champ in 50 and 51.
Here's a tasty nugget from Wiki:
Bobet was driven by personal hygiene and refused to accept his first yellow jersey because it had not been made with the pure wool he believed the only healthy material for a sweating and dusty rider. Synthetic thread or blends were added in 1947 following the arrival of Sofil as a sponsor. Sofil made artificial yarn.The race organiser, Jacques Goddet wrote:
Goddet had to get Sofil to produce another jersey overnight, its logo still visible but artificial fabric absent. Bobet's concern with hygiene and clothing was accentuated by frequent problems with saddle sores.