It’s a beautiful, yet cruel sport, this. It punishes you for being lazy, for being unfit, but it also punishes you when you are at the top of your game. And as for Europe, well it’s sending out all kinds of mixed messages when it comes to cycling. Everyone rides, and a good number of them do it while smoking. If it’s good enough for them…
…It’s not good enough for me. I returned from Keepers Tour with a little smoking habit, one that has been an on again/off again affair over the years; mostly off I must say, but every now and then I like to partake in a puff (usually if someone else is smoking close by, and I’m drunk). With my bike stuck in Lille and me wandering around for a week or so after the trip ended, boredom set in and smoking seemed to help relieve it, five minutes at a stinking, coughing time.
As always, the inanity of the whole procedure quickly became apparent, and after returning to New Zealand with three weeks of no riding the ol’ airbags were in need of a good clean out. The usual dread of the first ride back was there, but so were the reserves of V. Luckily it was a solo ride, as the amount of hacking and spitting would’ve put even the most grizzled of sailors off. The bike acted like a chimney sweep for my lungs.
It was a great ride. Short, yes; slow, for sure; flat, you betcha. But it was a ride, and I survived. On V. It’s become my new motto. When you think your fitness is non-existent, when you make excuses not to ride or shy away from harder routes, just remember that you’ve got The V in reserve, deep down, even if dormant. It’s always in you. It will see you through those dark days and rise to the top when needed most. Shit, it’s inscribed right there on the leg of your bibs. Look down, drink it in, breathe it in if there’s room amongst the carcinogens, and use it.
No excuses. Survive on V.
Vive la vie Velominatus.
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View Comments
@Mikael Liddy
From Memory doesn't a Schleck attempt a breakaway on the climb and get dropped like a redheaded child? That may be in the preceding video, but the timing seems apt.
And I recommend folks who complain about Cunego's perceived shortcomings to watch that video. Even if he wont' win a grand tour with Lampre he's a fricken awesome rider.
@niksch
but I do digress, smokin' hot is an appropriate description.
@minion not quite, Andy was in the lead group pacing Fuglsang up and having done that he goes back (getting blown away by Canhego with the afterburners on) & helps Frank's group to back within about 30s at the top of the climb.
I assume they were soft pedalling a little because Birdsong (actual translation of Jakob's name) was the leader at the race.
@frank
a real low point in this site's history, un jour sans, bit like this guy...
and speaking of the 1987 tour, those were the days when they really knew what rule 9 meant
@Chris
Well someone had to prove that whatever you might think the limits are there's always room to go lower - and (in my defence) it was about smoking
@niksch
Holy smoldering (keeping in the spirit of the post!)
@scaler911
This must truely prove repentance.
Awesome!
@niksch
I my sweet Lord, is she for real?? Like that girl out of the Species movies - beware boys, all may not be what it seems
On a more medical note....
@Dr C
That photo does bring to mind some questions that really shouldn't be asked in an open forum!