People who just don't know are always saying how dangerous it is to ride bikes. Listen here grandma bluehair, bikes are not dangerous, that gas exploding engine driven deathmachine you call a car is dangerous. I will admit that riding a bike can be dangerous, dangerous in the fact that it can be habit forming and possibly addictive by nature. Really? Is it such a bad thing? I ride bikes because the alternative would be self-destructive and illegal. Drugs. Yes I will admit that I have formed a habit that is borderline addictive, screw-it I am addicted up to the eyeballs. My track-marks are road rash scars, shaved legs and awesome tan-lines.
It's a healthy addiction, right? Eat-sleep-dream-ride bikes. Healthy? No, I'm sick and I have a fever, a fever and the only cure is more...bike. You know who you are, and if you are shaking your head yes you have it to. Thinking about the WNR makes your pulse race, looking at Italian bikes on the internet is almost lewd behavior. You are shaking your head, is that a yes sir or a yeah sure?
I don't care what it is, but there is always that guy or guys that take it too far. The ones that have to drink too much, have to jump off the third story balcony into the kiddy pool, and pour gasoline on the campfire. Boom!!! Hitting a little too close to home? We in society have a word for you..CRAZY. Crazy can be used as a noun, verb and those other things adv, adj something or others. The way we use crazy is usually a term of endearment or respect. You did what? That's crazy! We don't think you lost your mind, at least not all of it, but we say it because we would have to be crazy to do what you accomplished. Yes, you can probably smell the jealousy coming off the comment.
I have the opportunity to ride my bike with all kinds of people, all of them are crazy. There are a few standout certifiable, should be institutionalized, padded cell, hug yourself jacket people in this group. You know who you are. You are crazy and I have much love and respect for you. Keep doing what you are doing and enjoy it to its fullest. Remember the crazies are the ones who run the asylum.
The next time someone calls you crazy, consider the source and context. They might just be paying you a huge compliment. Next time your coworker says you are crazy for riding your bike, what they are really saying is "dang, I wish I could do that".
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Is it tornado season?
Tommeke is looking good. Fabian says that Tom is the favorite for Ronde and Tom says that Fabian is the one to beat. Taking a look at the top 15 from Sunday's Gent - Wevelgem
There are some pretty stand out names in this list. Three time World Champ Freire has gone back in time and found his legs. Sagan is a hoss, he an Cancellara made what now looks like a stupid move, if it had gone the other way they would have looked brilliant. But for Sagan to challenge for the win is true testament to the strength of this rider. This guy is in his 20's. Sick. Breschel, finally on a team that will use him the way he should be used, doesn't hurt that he is Dutch on a Dutch team, now does it? Earth calling Garmin. Vansummeren is the real deal when it comes to the Classics. Yes, he may be 8' tall and look like the missing link (wait that's Ten Dam) he is tall, and can ride a bike in the roughest toughest conditions. Who's the man now? That brings me to one of my favorites, Pipo. Pozzato has struggled the last few years with team issues injury and too many tattoos. Looked like he was going to repeat the cycle this year with his broken collarbone just last month. Dude went under the knife is back on the bike and is looking to come into form, -with a hand full of top tens in his pocket.
Gent was a great race, would have liked to see it whittled down to a smaller group, or have the break stick it. Anyway what a race. People are saying how strong Tom is right now, I do not disagree, but is he? Tom is older, and I think that he is riding so much smarter plus he is such a strong rider to begin. This is a deadly combo. Brains and brawn. Let's not discount the fact that he has a team around him that is so dangerous, anyone of them could go up the road and beat you. Tom was not the strongest rider at Gent, I think it was Sagan, but he rode a very smart race, got lucky in the sprint and came out with a three time win. Sound the sirens there is a tornado coming.
Can't wait for the weekend and Ronde van Vlaanderen. Watching Three Days of De Panne Stage 1 right now with 40km to go. These guys are taking turns punching each other in the face up the climbs. Oh, how I love the Classics.
| 1 | Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quickstep | 5:32:44 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Cannondale | |||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Matti Breschel (Den) Rabobank Cycling Team | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Katusha Team | |||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling | |||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Daniele Bennati (Ita) Radioshack-Nissan | |||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | |||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Steve Chainel (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat | |||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Farnese Vini - Selle Italia | |||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Movistar Team | |||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Johan Vansummeren (Bel) Garmin-Cervelo | |||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) GreenEdge Cycling Team | |||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Radioshack-Nissan | |||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | Christian Knees (Ger) Sky Procycling | 0:00:03 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | Jon Izaguirre Insausti (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi | 0:00:04 |
There are some pretty stand out names in this list. Three time World Champ Freire has gone back in time and found his legs. Sagan is a hoss, he an Cancellara made what now looks like a stupid move, if it had gone the other way they would have looked brilliant. But for Sagan to challenge for the win is true testament to the strength of this rider. This guy is in his 20's. Sick. Breschel, finally on a team that will use him the way he should be used, doesn't hurt that he is Dutch on a Dutch team, now does it? Earth calling Garmin. Vansummeren is the real deal when it comes to the Classics. Yes, he may be 8' tall and look like the missing link (wait that's Ten Dam) he is tall, and can ride a bike in the roughest toughest conditions. Who's the man now? That brings me to one of my favorites, Pipo. Pozzato has struggled the last few years with team issues injury and too many tattoos. Looked like he was going to repeat the cycle this year with his broken collarbone just last month. Dude went under the knife is back on the bike and is looking to come into form, -with a hand full of top tens in his pocket.
Gent was a great race, would have liked to see it whittled down to a smaller group, or have the break stick it. Anyway what a race. People are saying how strong Tom is right now, I do not disagree, but is he? Tom is older, and I think that he is riding so much smarter plus he is such a strong rider to begin. This is a deadly combo. Brains and brawn. Let's not discount the fact that he has a team around him that is so dangerous, anyone of them could go up the road and beat you. Tom was not the strongest rider at Gent, I think it was Sagan, but he rode a very smart race, got lucky in the sprint and came out with a three time win. Sound the sirens there is a tornado coming.
Can't wait for the weekend and Ronde van Vlaanderen. Watching Three Days of De Panne Stage 1 right now with 40km to go. These guys are taking turns punching each other in the face up the climbs. Oh, how I love the Classics.
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