Laurel Rathbun makes an adequate effort at Jingle Cross.
The V surrounds us, it penetrates and binds us together. Through disciplined practice we are able to draw from it to push harder and go farther on the bike; what we do on the bike then informs how we face our lives. The masters, such as the Prophet Merckx and the Apostle de Vlaeminck, could channel this strength to overcome the greatest challenges both on and off the bike.
The question we must always ask ourselves is, how hard is hard enough? The answer is, you go until the lights go out, and then you go some more. Today’s lesson is that if you can still stand after the effort, you didn’t go hard enough. Nice one, Laurel.
Merckxspeed, my fellow Velominati.
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@sthilzy
The youngest velominipper enjoys cross country running as much as he does cycling (for my sins that's how I first learnt to hurt myself).
Last year at the regionals, he looked particularly rough but also slightly confused at the halfway point (a steepish hill with a nice cold headwind). Afterwards when asked about it he said he was trying to decide whether to stop to be sick or to carry on regardless. In the end he didn't need to do either but concluded that it probably would have freaked his competitors out more if he'd carried on regardless.
@chris
His expression never changes
@chris
Seriously? Bitch, please.
@frank
Let's not forget this sort of heroic effort wasn't unique in Roche's career. I had a chance to chat with him for a little bit once, and he told me about all the racing he had to do with one leg. It started with a track crash in '86 that shattered his patella, which led to a string of corrective / re-corrective / re-re-corrective surgeries that continued until he (very wisely) went the route of physical therapy* instead. But in the interim, favoring one leg led to an unbalanced position on the saddle that would press on a nerve branch and eventually put one leg to sleep. Now tell me who the fuck can win with one leg going to sleep? Stephen mothafuckin Roche, that's who.
And by win, I mean win the Triple Crown in '87.
Let that soak in as you meditate on Rule #5.
* BTW, he said this therapy was harder than any effort he'd put forth in any race, and judging by the photo above, I'm guessing his therapist was one tough son of a bitch!
I remember watching this stage to La Plagne in 1987 on CBS early on a Sunday morning in July. The media caught up with Roche as he was walking out of his hotel the next morning and asked him how he felt after the gruelling stage and trip to the hospital the afternoon before. He replied that he had sore legs but otherwise OK or something to that effect. Costco sized helpings of the V, thats for sure.
@frank
Most seriously, bitch. The IT nerds would probably suggest that you're accessing a cached version of the page, or some such incomprehensible shit.
@frank
And if you are going to collapse...make sure you have a team of people around you to help you up....
@frank
He's blimmin' right, you know.
@Oli
Well that's annoying, it appears all the quick links are broken. FFS.
Nevertheless, that is the photo we use for that Rule, as my screenshot proves, and the quick links being broken doesn't change that. So you can both go put your thumbs up your butts!
@frank
Its working again.