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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View Comments
@frank
The canine argument has long been debunked, but is still a favourite.
@minion
You taught me well, mate...
@frank Mmm steak. Ole Ritter approves:
http://youtu.be/CRzomXXsauw?t=31m52s
@brett
Scientific fact: 9 out of 10 vegetarians prefer recumbents.
@mcsqueak
Was just at the grocer and Mrs. Scaler purchased (for the weekend): pork, beef and bacon (which of course is better pork). I can also lop the head off a chicken in the back yard if that's not enough animal protein for after the attempt.
That said, I have no issue at all with veg/ vegans. More to the point, little scaler is a self-professed vegetarian. And he's the first to tell anyone that offers up a chicken nugget or corn dog that he is. As @ron said, I think, personally, that it's most important for us omnivores to make sure that we make our food choices, specifically meat, carefully. Local, small farm sourced is how we get ours.
If someone makes a conscious ethical decision to be veg, I'll never say a bad word. If someone dresses the decision up in pseudoscience and then moralizes about it, I get cranky.
Personally, I'm a meatasaur but a different kind than I was a few years ago. Most of the meat I eat now was either wild--and killed and butchered by moi--or humanely raised on a small organic farm by a friend. I'm okay with that. I'm also okay with the habits and decisions of my friends who choose differently.
Brett, having always thought of you as a take no shite and bite de heads off kind of guy, it is nice to know that you can be so forthright and be a veggie. My VHM and I come close, she eats nothing with 4 feet and I eat very little in that direction. The industrial world and animals are not a good mix. Words like factory, battery, and cows that never leave a stall are a crime. We could do it well or at least raise animals humanely but until we all change our diets to a more moderate one it will never happen.
Really there is no easy answer with 7+ billion although if the western world started to eat insects for protein...
I'd be totally down with insect protein shakes in the morning, if the food scientists got on that. Which they won't, until their corporate masters can patent the GMO bugs...
@Marcus
Luckily, I'm the 1.
@Ron
@scaler911
@PeakInTwoYears
@Rob
+1. You all get it.
Definitely local butchers give better cuts, and usually they are from local farms. Same thing with farmer's markets and such. Most people just don't care or would rather have "steak" every night on the cheap.
@brett
Don't you rock fizik shoes? Poor baby 'roos. (emoticon goes here)