Sitting at the top of Haleakala, I thought of this photo with the staunch realization that there are no words to describe the agony of exhaustion, except Graham Watson’s caption in Visions of Cycling:
Paul Sherwen’s mother cried when she saw this picture of her son, taken after the finish of the 1983 Paris-Roubaix
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@mcsqueak
Alright. I went to gravitar.com 'cause Buck Rogers got a cool fucking avatar and I wanted one. I think I'm gonna have to experiment. My Sean Kelly looks too small.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
I'm tryin' again. Got a LeMan at Roubaix '85.
@michael
Yea, so did you win or was he pissed at you? (just kidding) I had a few hard rides but never got to that point.
@Buck Rogers
Early 80's not sure what years, maybe 79-80ish. That was a fun race as was racing in New England in general - Putney, the Maine International, Fitchburg, Sunapee.
@all I just ended a 2 year stint on Long Island, NY and it was there that I finally understood what the mother of all SUV's means to people with small appendages and big wallets. That is not Suburbans but Hummers. LawnGilander's have them to feel invincible all the while giving the world the finger. Here is a vehicle that could go on the beach through the woods up mountains and these stuck up twats keep them so perfectly polished and never do anything with them except intimidate. Gwad help the poor slob that leaned up against it and put a scratch on it.
I feel lucky to have escaped the Island in one piece and look back with fondness to all those rides (pretty much once a week) when I (or the group) would get the finger from some psycho in a Mercedes, Rover, Jeep or such.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
That's my favorite Kelly picture. It was my wallpaper at work for the longest time. The '85 P-R LeMan with the Flanders Facial is epic as well!
@michael
The first double century I did placed a 6-mile, 2000ft climb that started at mile 173. I had to get off my bike and vomit for awhile at mile 177. I only have vague memories of the remaining 23 miles. It was beautiful.
I'm going to give 24 hour racing a try this year. I've read stories along the lines of "weird shit is going to happen in the middle of the night, just keep pedalling" I'm incredibly excited to discover exactly what that shit is.
@Rob
Wow! Bringing back memories there, mate! I raced all of those as well as the Bolton Valley Ski Resort access road Hill Climb and the Newport race. Was the Buckfield, Maine race also known as the Maine International? I know that the Buckfield race was a good one when I raced it! You were racing about 7 years prior to me. Great races in great hilly country. Man, I miss VT cycling (but not the taxes and politics!)!
@Jeff in PetroMetro
NICE avatar!!! I would love a close up of LeMans face at the 1989 World Championships as he crosses the line. THAT would be a worthy pic as well!
@Buck Rogers
Thanks. I've always liked that picture of LeMan, but he's too happy. Sherwen's got that look like he had to ride the last 95km on flat tire.
@Buck Rogers
Buckfield was a different race I think, never did it. The Maine International was from the Canadian - US border station in Jackman, ME and went to Waterville, ME 110 miles, long climb 15 miles from Waterville. I remember the last time I did it I was in a break of 10 at that hill (with of all people Cris Carmicheal) I got dropped and was so pissed at myself that I won the field sprint for a glorious 10th!
@Buck Rogers
For your viewing pleasure--the last 9 minutes of the 1989 World Championship Roads.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJSgzHTRg38
What a fantastic display of Rule 9.