I’m not particularly fond of this photo, but it certainly tells you a thing or two about Le Blaireau. A man more comfortable speaking with his appendages than with words, he was patron of the last peloton that truly represented the working class sport that cycling originally was; one where riders escaped a tough life of manual labor and meager means by pursuing life on the bicycle (one of tough labor and meager means). The hardest man of a generation of hard men, the Badger was as cuddly as a fistful of rusty nails.
By my last count, there are more images on The Googles – both old and new – of Hinault assaulting people than there are of him riding a bike. A fiercely proud man, he once threw a young Phil Anderson’s bidon to the roadside after Phil deigned to offer it to him in a sporting gesture. In his first grand tour of his career, he lead a rider’s protest because they felt mistreated. A few years later, at the 1984 Paris-Nice, he beat up a guy (pictured) for leading a protest by shipyard workers who felt mistreated. He’s been tackling people ever since.
He was also, as most champions are, fiercely competitive. As team leader, he forced LeMan to wait for him in 1985 when he faltered and his young American teammate was up the road in the winning break, threatening to take the race lead. In return, he promised to work for Greg the following year. Then, in the 1986 Tour, when it suddenly appeared he might be strong enough to win for a record sixth time, he promised to work for LeMond so long as he beat him first. Not exactly a man of his word, then.
So here’s to Bernard Hinault, a fucking asshole. But an awesome asshole. And, while not pretty, lets remember that assholes perform a vital function.
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@Jeff in PetroMetro
"Zoot Alors, mon petit blaireau, your left 'ook eez almost az deadlee az your over'and right! Sacrebleu!"
Hey, this is fun!
PS I'm working on my Franglish for a trip later this year, how'm I doing?
@sgt
C'est magnifique! All of Paris will love you. Really. You should try it at the front desk of your hotel. I bet you get a beeg smile and a free upgrade. Bon chance!
@Xponti
Ah! No, not for me.
For me being a cyclist is not all about fighting and winning.
I don't like who want to annihilate his rivals.
For me training and racing it's about learning about your mental, spiritual and physical self and to train all these 3 aspects to be in harmony.
@Pedale.Forchetta
+1. Rule 5 is a personal measure. While looking pro might be about fitting in, it is also very much an individual marker.
@Xponti, @Pedale.Forchetta
@Xponti, I love where you're going with the Star Wars thing, but I think the perfect balance is more akin to the Luke Skywalker situation, where you are generally working to be one with The V and let it flow through you - you draw your strength from it and are at peace with the suffering. But the Old Republic Jedi were too passive; you need a little bit of anger every now and again to help motivate you. Luke had just enough anger in him to win a fight every now and again, but generally stayed pretty calm. (@packfiller, does that answer your question as to whether or not I'm a geek?)
For the most part, what interests me in a champion is exactly what @Pedale.Forchetta is saying about mental, spiritual and physical self (and limitations) and who seem to compete more from internal challenge than external. That's the difference between someone like, say, Fabian and Armstrong. Both are fiercely competitive, but when it comes down to it, Armstrong is motivated to be the best by making others lose, whereas a rider like Faboo is motivated to be the best by a desire to push himself and be better and stronger than before. It's a different mentality altogether. I'm actually working on an article to this effect; it's a fascinating subject to me.
@Jeff in PetroMetro, @sgt
You guys need help. Maybe you should start a new venture that turns web pages into Franglish. Jeff, you could really put your writing skilz to use that way.
We have to figure out who to incorporate "Rool Cinq. Tu connais Les Rools." into this place more often. Absolutely top drawer.
Why did you put a sheet of paper over the book? Didn't want to reveal your plans to take over the world that you jotted into the margins?
@mrlavalava
Thanks for the video, I'd never seen it. Very cool to see it in action, although, as has been pointed out, the dynamic is much better in the photo than in the video. Although Bernie really goes for that punch, eh? By the looks of it, that was not his first punch.
good point Jeffmetro, after what happened to me..i thought about that. Follows my lifes statement that tis better to be lucky, than good.
Boy, otherwise, on a deeper philosophic note, this just keeps sliding on a slippery slope.
peace...
passion...
strength...
power...
victory....
I suppose this exemplifies for me the beauty of Rule V. I simply accept it in its supremacy of all virtues. When applied correctly, it amplifies all. In all the above, whether its hierachial or not, whether its lateral in comparison or not, in application of Rule V, all these good virtues are made more manifest and for me more acceptable, more attainable.
@sgt
LOVE.THAT.MOVIE. We had to pause it and let ourselves recover after he gets out of the chopper "in disguise" with a towel wrapped around his head like a woman just out of the shower. The way it had built to that through the "uncanny valmorphanization" of him was just too much.
Those guys are geniuses.