The Lion King was once a Pedalwan cub, just as the rest of us. Guide the uninitiated.
I rode with a rider I know from work a few weeks ago. The first time we sat in a meeting together, we immediately pegged one another as a Cyclist the way Cyclists always peg one another; nothing specific or obvious but everything nonspecific and nonobvious. It’s what we do, you can’t learn it and it can’t be explained. Then he mentioned he had driven to Seattle from SoCal with his dog and his bike and I was sure. This wasn’t a Harley he was talking about, this was a road bike.
As leaders of our respective teams, we immediately directed the agenda to measuring up one another’s bikes.
Me: “What bike do you ride?”
Him: “I brought my rain bike when I moved here. It’s a Pinarello Prince. My good bike is a Dogma. What do you ride?”
Me: “A Veloforma Strada iR. My rain bike is a Cervelo R3.”
Him: “What groupsets?”
It went on a bit before he turned to the everyone else and explained the situation in layman’s terms. “The conversation we’re having here is that we both have a Ferrari except the Ferrari got a little old and we bought a newer Ferrari. Except we didn’t get rid of the old Ferrari because you just don’t do that. Too many memories. So then you wind up with a Ferrari you ride in bad weather and one that you ride in good.”
When our schedules finally meshed to the point that we got together for a ride, he invited two of his colleagues along with him; one a long-time training partner and one a younger guy he’d never ridden with who showed up on a heavy no-name steel bike with a 90’s-era Shimano 105 8 speed groupsan. And platform pedals. And a t-shirt. And sneakers.
“Are you running or riding?”
We all had a chuckle and set off on a jaunty 80km spin, not too hard but not too easy. Sneakers held on the whole way. He got gapped a little on the bigger climbs but laid down the power to catch up again and sat in the group like a Pro; drafting close, taking the corners well, and rotating through into the wind. And always with a smile on his face.
As the ride wound down, the friend I’d sized up in the meeting sat up and pointed at me and said, “You rode like I expected you to ride.” Then he pointed at Sneakers and said, “And you rode so much harder than I ever expected. If you had a better bike, you’d be dropping us all. You’re an amazing athlete.” Everyone agreed.
I’ve been in touch with Sneakers, a new Pedalwan. He picked up some clipless pedals first, then a bit later he scored a new bike off CraigsList. He’s caught the bug, and catching the bug is what its all about.
Never judge a book by it’s cover. Behind every platform pedal riding, sneaker and t-shirt wearing bicyclist lurks a potential Velominatus.
Vive la Vie Velominatus.
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@Gabriel David Oh, man. Couldn't disagree more on the sappy faux-dramatic stuff that American TV did back in the day. The exact opposite of the awesome Phil Liggett commentatary and European coverage. It always felt really insulting, like I'm too stupid to enjoy cycling for what it is, they have to attach swelling music and slow mo of sweat dripping off someone's nose. Even when Pharmstrong was making his run the CBS Sunday recap was unwatchable, with Armen Kateyian's cringe-inducing stabs at Homeric poetics. Just my opinion though. Long live Phil and Paul.
Long live Phil and Paul.
Oh-mer-ta!
@Minnesota Expat
That photo is creepy and I think he is too. I didn't follow racing when he was racing. I only know of him what I see today. Creepy. I'm sure he's great guy and one bad ass cyclist. But his persona is just plain creepy weird. But that's what makes the world an interesting place! Weirdos. Cheers all
@ped
I can't help but smile when looking at this picture. There's a lot here that also what makes the world an interesting place yes!
@wilburrox
My VMW tells me there are a couple of bikes in that photo. Darned if I can spot them though.
@wilburrox
please don't use the word creepy. it's a word used by the worst kind of women. a man shouldn't find things 'creepy.'
@stooge
Rule #8 amended to "match the moustache to the handlebars"
Picked up my first road bike in 2003, an oversized, used Cannondale. I then rode my first race, a criterium in 2005. I was in sneakers with toe clips, I also dive bombed in corners. Goddamn. Now so much seems like second nature. I'm always happy to share with newcomers, as I was there not long ago.
Went to a criterium race in Winston-Salem, NC yesterday, with the VMH and the dogs. What other sport allows you to walk through the team van parking lots and the PRO women, who just finished, want to pet your dog? Can't imagine that happening after an NBA or NFL game. The Cipollini team women loved the dogs. I told them they should be back home in Milan for the finish. They definitely didn't understand my English.
@will
Hmmmm... that's an interesting thought. Now if I google search creepy images there are some clown photos that I'm not sure what other word I'd use to describe. Makes me want to go back to the wonderful umbrella photo. That's a joyous photo. Happy photo. The very opposite of creepy. But, the dude lying on the ground snapping photos from interesting angles? We'd call him a little.... Creative? Cheers!
@will
"The worst kind of women"...? I find the inference in that statement very creepy.