We wish you a Merckxy Christmas and a Coppi New Year!
Another year come and gone, another pile of New Year’s resolutions out the door, done and dusted. It’s a good thing I don’t recall what they were; I have a feeling this period of reflection might loom a bit darker if I was in a position to appreciate just how short I’ve come up on them.
I’m spending more time with young kids these days, and the Holiday Season is an entirely different experience when viewed within their context. To begin with, at my age I hardly notice the passing of the years. This itself is a paradox; as a Cyclist we are perhaps more aware of the passing seasons than anyone else, yet the years themselves manage to slip by without notice; for a kid, one year is a significant portion of their life and each one is remembered in astonishing (if inaccurate) detail.
Personally, it’s been a mixed year for me; the highest highs offset with some low lows, but if we are to experience life’s greatest moments, we have to be willing to walk the valleys between the peaks an for certain its been the singularly greatest year in terms of personal growth. I haven’t spent as much time on Velominati and with you, the community, as I would have liked in 2016; still for 2017 we have many exciting things lurking, all thanks to you who have kept the passion flowing through the community. We laugh, we quarrel, we reconnect. This is the beauty of Cycling and the charm of you, the Velominati community.
So here’s to you, your family’s and loved ones, and to 2017. On behalf of the Keepers, we wish you a Merckxy Christmas and a Coppi New Year!
And yes, it’s time for me to make a fresh batch of Cyclist Gingerbread cookies.
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@wiscot
Excellent; I was hoping you might chime in. Let me know if there's anyone in particular at the MCHS with whom I should speak.
Just looking at the book is on the shelves at the local library so I've reserved it and will pick it up tomorrow for some evening reading. Thanks for the reference! Stay warm...
Happy New Year to one and all.
Hey, have I missed the Anti-V Moment of the Year award? I can't think of a standout favourite in any case.....
@davidlhill
Nah, you haven't missed it. Haven't had one for a few years now. The obvious nominee IMHO is Running Man Froome.
@teleguy57
Ben Barbera would be a good place to start. Juliet Hills is very helpful too.
@wiscot
It's all gone a bit quiet over here recently so you haven't missed much David... Happy New Year to you too.
I don't know about Froome as a nominee - I thought that was pretty gutsy actually. FFS the guy is perpetually criticised as a robot, then he does something that shows intense determination to overcome a shitty problem not of his own making and that's also a bad thing?
My nomination would be John Degenkolb at the World Championships, spraying his water bottle over a Belgian rider who was refusing to help chase down the break which included his team-mate. Petulant piece of stupidity.
Having said that the UCI and Qatar could get a meta-nomination for putting the World Championships in Doha in the first place, and then Qatar quietly cancelling the Tour of Qatar and pulling out of all cycling, even lower-level events.
There's also that tosser smashing his bike at the Red Hook criterium - Jeremy whats-his-face.
@ChrisO
I did think about the Degenkolb bottle incident. Certainly a strong contender. Regarding Qatar, I'd agree but give the award jointly to the UCI and Qatar. $$$$ before all else.
It's funny how it goes all quiet in holiday periods and picks up when everyone is back at work........
Froome anti V? No way - his mad downhill descent, his two man breakaway, and the run? Plenty of V shown.
Actually, for me its the UCI. Good call ChrisO. Qatar and the change to the omnium seals it for me. A far better writer than I wrote that once sport follows the money to the detriment, or compromise, of the actual sport then it's fundamentally doomed in the long run.
Folks, on a serious note and I'm not sure if qualifies under the spirit of anti-v (?) if is meant to be a little more light hearted or assigned to a person but the issues this past year with race mottos and safety are just not cool at all. Incidents with Antoine Demoite' and Stig Broeckx are terrible reminders. Is this a more frequent modern times occurrence or just a perception I have?
Froome? I loved his tour this past year and the running man. Degenkolb? I can't even assign the cool Degencobbles nickname after the WC. Petulant is good descriptor. Doha local for world champs and UCI ? Agree. But I would probably think same if was in China too.
How about the inflatable coming down on Yates? That really sucked.