V to the Vth Degree

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

Article: Cav, R Millar, Yates, DZ, Tjallingi…

Brett

Don't blame me

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View Comments

Ron says:

Jun 13 2013 at 9:21 pm

@il ciclista medio

@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

That was the most fundamental cuisine experience for me when I was in Vietnam and two islands of Japan: "meat" (fish, pig, cow, et al) were an added bonus, the meat...was something stock like rice or rice noodles. My body is happy on stuff, I find.
Ron says:

Jun 13 2013 at 9:22 pm

@Apex Nadir

Reminds me of an old joke:

How can I tell if my friend is a vegetarian?

Don't worry, he'll tell you.

That's pretty strong, but I don't know how I feel about your handle.
Query says:

Jun 13 2013 at 11:37 pm

Who took that photo of Dave Mckenzie? It isn't attributed.
brett says:

Jun 14 2013 at 3:32 am

@Query

Who took that photo of Dave Mckenzie? It isn't attributed.

There ya go mate...

A great look into the life of a big Pommy git vegetarian Pro here...

"The hotel we were staying at obviously had no idea of how to feed a bunch of vegetarians, judging by the food we were getting. Every meal had a serious amount of egg in it as a main ingredient, so they must have had a shed load of chickens working double overtime in the kitchen! The French team were getting rather red looking chicken every night, which brought us to the conclusion these chickens must have been keeling over from egg laying exhaustion."
minion says:

Jun 14 2013 at 4:18 am

@Jamie

Cows by Matthew Stokoe.

I'm not a religious man but Jesus Fucking Christ.
Jamie says:

Jun 14 2013 at 8:06 am

@minion Ah, I see you've read Mr. Stokoe's work.
minion says:

Jun 14 2013 at 2:57 pm

@scaler911 Yarp. In Aus there are 3 or 4 large industrial operations (very slick, plenty of money for lobbying, supply supermarkets, fast food, bakery chains etc) and a few thousand small producers who do it for local supply/true organic. Just like any gathering of rugged individualists, they struggle to organise themselves effectively, so labelling and legislation knd of suck. The downside is the conditions the animals are kept in. Come out of the egg male? Powdered chicken. THe conditions the animals have to be kept in to be prosecuted is also, fucking abysmal, hence no eggs for me and very little chicken.
JACD214 says:

Jun 15 2013 at 10:21 am

I'm a macro biotic, vegan, vegetarian, carnivore who loves bacon. Cook up some good food and I'll eat it. Unless it's asparagus; then you can have my share.

As to the rest of you, enjoy your meals in any way, diet or fashion you like. And if you don't drink beer, it leaves more for the rest of us.
tessar says:

Jun 16 2013 at 9:54 am

Surprising to see so many V-getarians here. And so many of those that aren't, consume their meat carefully and selectively. It appears that the population actually committed to sports is usually more careful about what they eat, and not only in terms of calories and nutritional value.

I've been a vegetarian since I was 5 years old, my mother joined later. Coached by a vegan ultra-runner and a vegan elite cyclist and son to the vegetarian national Ironman champion, I'm quite confident that this decision doesn't hurt my performance one bit.
brett says:

Jun 16 2013 at 2:07 pm

@Chris

@brett Nice article. Do you eat fish and sea food, I can't remember from talking to you about it at the Keepers Tour.

Very rarely, and only if there is no option (like if you go to someone's house for dinner and they think that being vege means you eat fish). Or if you entrust someone like @rigid to order a pizza and he thinks that "vegetarian" means "meat lovers"...