Truth and Fiction
There is nothing more disappointing than discovering the truth behind a myth or spotting the mortal behind a legend. This is why I make a point never to do any research or in any other way attempt to validate my assumptions when evaluating a situation; mystery that feels like a fact and sounds like a fact is better than an actual fact. Truth, like sex, is something that should be kept private between willing participants, not spread around for everyone to see.
Lucky for me, I’m Dutch, which means my assumptions are usually correct and by extension means I’ve mastered almost every challenge I’ve taken on in life; sometimes it pays to descend from pale Northern European stock that subsists equally on root vegetables and wild guesses (external participants’ experience may vary).
I’ve always been obsessed with history and mythology; the Iliad and The Odyssey occupied my mind like little else did if you can ignore Luke Skywalker or exactly what I might accomplish in life if I had access to a lightsaber and/or the use of The Force. When I became interested in Cycling due in part to Greg LeMond’s influence on the sport in the early 80’s, I was immediately confronted by this crazy character he was embroiled with nicknamed Le Blaireau who was a tireless competitor spitting out quips like, “If I breathe, I attack.” I pulled on the yarn and discovered similar or greater legends and stories hand over fist. This was a sport that seemed to combine everything I love in life: history, legend, myth, aerobic sport, discipline, technique, and not a small amount of OCD within its practitioners.
The most amazing thing about Cycling is that it has a unique kind of mythology. Mythology is normally something that lays in the distant past, far from the reach of our personal experiences. But in Cycling, our mythology and legend lays within the span of our influence, it is something tangible we feel when we watch it unfold before us at the roadside or even on television. This is also why our fallen heros continue to be lionized; when the observer is genuinely unaware of the false forces behind the performance, the emotions felt at the time leave an indelible mark that are unsullied of thoughts of cheating or malfeasance. Discovering the truth years later may well tarnish the reasonable portion of our minds, but the imprint of those original emotions can never be removed and continue to influence us at a level that lives somewhere below the conscious and the rational. This explains why those of us who watched a rider like Pantani dance away from the bunch in the late 90’s continue to love him, while those who came to the sport later view his performances as obviously false and wonder how we could rationally continue to ignore the elephant behind his legend. The point is, rational has nothing to do with it.
They say truth can be stranger than fiction, but I have rarely seen anything more interesting than myth; we are lucky to be a part of a sport whose mythology is still developing and rather than frown upon the truth behind some of its details, I cherish the opportunity to be a part of it.
VLVV.
@DeKerr
I’m sorry, I believe you’re speaking Canadian, not English. Please try again, I haven’t the foggiest fucking clue what you just said.
@the-farmer
Haven’t watched it, but the piss puddle sitting sounds compelling.
@DeKerr
Although Dutch born, I’ve lived most of my life in Guelph (McCrae’s birthplace), so you could say his poetry has seeped into the bones a wee tad. Every year around Remembrance Day a local thespian would recite In Flanders Fields properly in church (ie according to the sentence structure–not the lines). It would send shivers down my spine (Frank: that’s partly what @DeKerr means by “the Feels”).
@frank
A most useful and deeply appreciated piece of kit. And adding the ability to choose between base layers of different r-values makes it amazingly versatile with regard to ambient temperature and wind chill.
I am at the end of the comments and I have no idea what the original article was about. Legends of cycling? Or was it climbing? Were we discussing poetry or was it a review of wet weather gear? What happened?
@therealpeel
Sounds about normal for a thread around here?
@DeKerr
Well that there is fucking Gold!!
Frank – I’m high-energy, I just try to contribute whatever I can!
Yeah, I gotta pay Buck a visit. Now that I’m no longer in NY state, it’ll have to be a pitstop, but there ain’t no reason why I can’t make him tow me up Bear Mountain. Will have to detour sometime when I travel north.
A sudden impulse to post this…
@frank
I wouldn’t have guessed that judging by the cover of the book.
A great piece, on a great rider. Je voudrais rencontrer l’homme un jour.
http://rouleur.cc/journal/history/bernard-hinault
@Ron
YES! Ron, we have a date with DESTINY!!! Or a ride, not sure which? Either way, some of us are going to do one FUCK of a ride next summer on the 18th of June from the coast of Maine to Burlington, VT. Cogal write up coming sometime soon, right Gianni??? We should meet up for that one!
And Frahnk!!! Fuckin work has blocked your website!!! Not sure why the US Army no longer approves of you, maybe it was b/c my productivity was dropping like a Schleck in a race sometime in the last two years. But, you know of anyway to sneak around DOD filters at work???
@DeKerr
Indeed, great story. What year was it published? I could not find the date. Mentions Pharmstrong’s comeback so must be 2009? But, I have to say that the author is a bit too much in love with Le Blaireau when he says things about Hinault like, “Eddy Merckx, quite his equal in achievement”. Eddy Merckx was Hinault’s equal in achievement???
@Buck Rogers
Perhaps that was a bit of deliberate understatement?
@Ron Red 5 being chased by The King…gotta love ‘cross.
Loved this and subsequent replies, they get to the heart of why people ride and follow their heroes. It’s romance isn’t it. And I agree, Krabbe is a genius too.
I was reminded of this poem when reading through the posts so thought I’d share it.
@frank Can’t argue with any of that Frank and you make a good point, it is credible that Hinault inadvertently made Lemond tougher in the head. Still a shitty way to treat a man, let alone a team mate. I haven’t seen the film, only read the book. I’ll make an effort to check it out
Fuck’in SPOT ON!!! Respect for Le Blaireau on this one. And Fuck Miller and Mcquaid. He wasn’t only blaming Pharmstrong but was asked specifically about him. Fuck! Hinault is a strong Bastard!
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/hinault-criticised-by-former-peers-for-his-lance-armstrong-comments
Good read, it is indeed an amazing sport with so many stories and enormous popular appeal. The sport has changed a lot, not all for the better. I don’t think today’s athletes are as good at racing as they were 16+ years ago. I hope we get rid of the ear pieces and let the riders race like the 80’s. The sport was better for it. The way races were won and lost would not work in today’s format and I surely hope we get back to the days where riders had to feel the race and rely on race info combined with info inside the peloton.
Love the sport and always will, for its legends, it’s code and the great people who practice it