No animals were harmed during this 16okm solo Giro win. Photo Graeme Watson
La Vie Velominatus isn’t a part-time gig. La Vie means the life, and The V is my life. Otherwise, I’d be Some V Velominatus, some of the time.
Even when I’m not riding my bike, like the last two weeks (for reasons which don’t really matter, and offering them only renders them excuses), I live La Vie through other avenues. Every day, no matter what I’m putting out, the only thing I’m putting in is V. I’m a Vegan. And like everything else that La Vie encompasses, it takes commitment.
Choosing to not eat meat, dairy or animal products usually elicits reactions ranging from surprise to condemnation. When it comes to riding a bike, being a V-tarian has benefitted me no end. Animal protein and fat doesn’t help one to spin pedals for hours on end. The proof is in the (dairy-free) pudding. This summer just past and the build-up to Keepers Tour was my best patch of form for a long time. Granted, it may not be entirely due to my diet, but it certainly didn’t hurt me. My endurance was excellent, I laid down plenty of V, felt light and strong on the climbs and recovery wasn’t a problem (malted, hopped beverages always work). And the riders on KT will attest to that fact. Never have I thought “if only I ate meat I’d be a better rider.” It works for me.
We all make choices in our life, and how to live it. I’ve made mine, and am sticking to them. And if for some unfathomable reason that offends you, then that’s for you to deal with, not me. I’m living La Vie for me (and the animals).
VLVV
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Right on Bretto. I believe friend of Velominati, Robert Millar was (is?) a vegetarian when he was racing and did he get a lot of shiet about it back then. And he still kicked asses.
@DerHoggz
You get it too.
Indeed, I did rock fizik shoes... but they got lost on the way to KT, and I'm not keen to rock them again because of that. Of course it's hypocritical to wear dead animals but not eat them, so I'm hopefully getting non-leather replacements.
@Rob My thoughts as well pretty much.
My wife is from a certain part of Asia that has the longest lifespans of anyone on the planet. This doesn't come from snacking on dried hoofed meat or XXXL take aways.A lot of their food is locally sourced and they take great pride in stating that this vegetable is grown by a certain local farmer for example.
Through this our families diet has changed significantly over the years to a more plant based one, with animal protein as a flavouring rather then the main course. All of us are the better for it and it certainly hasn't affected my cycling life.
Interestingly in her home country they they drink like fish as well from what I have seen; so the morale of the story..eat less land animals, more vegetables and seafood and drink way more booze to live longer
@DerHoggz Spot on. I like my meat but it's quality before quantity. We had a local butcher open in the neighborhood recently and when meat is on the menu that is where it comes from.
The son has been a state champion twice.... and he's vegan. I couldn't be prouder.
I used to be veggie for many years, and still eat a mainly non-meat diet - but I will have fish mainly and sometimes ham or chicken.
I found it difficult to remain veggie when I was doing a lot of travelling and business lunches - it got a bit dull to always be having the one thing on the menu that was suitable for vegetarians, usually involving goat's cheese. Not having dairy would be a nightmare, so I admire your persistence.
It's not an issue as far as I'm concerned, and I could never understand why meat-eaters had an issue with vegetarian meals at dinners or restaurants, as if they found it compulsory to have meat at every occasion. So for once you're having a vegetarian lasagne - does it taste nice ? Yes... well, end of story.
My wife is still veggie as are two of the three children - I tell the meat-eater not to rub it in the noses of the others, and equally I tell them not to sit there with a look of disgust and try to put him off.
Respect other people's choices, innit.
Good for you Brett. Couldn't really give a fuck what someone eats to be honest, if it works for you, great! Variety is the spice of life, and all that.
I'm not going to hassle you for being vego, just as I would expect not to be hassled for being omnivorous. Hopefully you're not putting all omnivoures in the 'ignorant' basket. 'Ignorant' generally comes around when two opposing sides get defensive about what they do.
I'm conscious that way back primitive times when people lived in isolated villages, what you ate would have been luck. Live on the prairie? Buffalo for you. Blessed with natural fruit orchards? Fruit for you. Root vegies growing wild? Mondo carbs for you. An island in the middle of nowhere? Fish for you. Tree nuts and seeds? Regular movements for you. The human body is very adaptable and clearly can run on many different fuels, it's only adding conscious thought and therefore opinion about things like diet that makes things fucked up! One choice is therefore no more special than another. They all can work! And your form obv proves that.
Just reminded me a local burger joint makes a killer Satay veggie burger. All this talk of food is making me hungus...
@brett When you visit Seattle next, I'll take you to the vegetarian place I ate at tonight. Amazing food. I eat there regularly and I'm not even vegetarian.
Good cocktails, too. In my opinion, some of the best in Seattle.
I've been influenced by one of my (grown) daughters, who is a passionate student and practitioner of traditional Asian healing arts and Tibetan Buddhism. I've watched her go from a somewhat rigid (and temporary) set of food rules to a more flexible and yet more conscious approach to what she eats.
On the Mahayana side of the dharma thing, I have loved, loved reading, and reading about, Shunryu Suzuki. He was such a character, such a great person to introduce Zen to US culture. "I like work trips. I don't like food trips. But I like work trips." "Don't kill is a dead precept. Excuse me is an actual working precept." Excuse me. I beg your forgiveness.
@ChrisO: "Respect other people's choices." I.e., let's be friends. That should be the objective, IMO.
Teaching, if teaching there be, is best done by example.