"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Ginger Baker Was a Bicycle Racer

Just found this out today: I've always been a HUGE fan of Ginger Baker, drummer for (among others) Cream and Blind Faith. Evidently, as a teen in the 50s in London, Baker had big ambitions and trained to be an internationally competitive cyclist. He became an accomplished junior time-trialist and wanted to go to the continent to pursue a possible pro career. Subsequently crashed his bike, got injured, started playing music (first jazz trumpet, then drums), and the rest is rock and roll history. Baker attributed his ability to speedily play double bass drums to the legs he developed on the bike.

Cool!

Any of yall know of any similar trivia? I seem to remember that former 80s-era Formula 1 driver Stefan Johansson of Sweden (drove for Ferrari and others) was an avid cyclist...

Just found this out today: I've always been a HUGE fan of Ginger Baker, drummer for (among others) Cream and Blind Faith. Evidently, as a teen in the 50s in London, Baker had big ambitions and trained to be an internationally competitive cyclist. He became an accomplished junior time-trialist and wanted to go to the continent to pursue a possible pro career. Subsequently crashed his bike, got injured, started playing music (first jazz trumpet, then drums), and the rest is rock and roll history. Baker attributed his ability to speedily play double bass drums to the legs he developed on the bike.

Cool!

Any of yall know of any similar trivia? I seem to remember that former 80s-era Formula 1 driver Stefan Johansson of Sweden (drove for Ferrari and others) was an avid cyclist...
An earlier thread contained claims that all three members of Cream had some interest in bikes, and that the album title "Disraeli Gears" was a pun on "derailleur gears" as well as a reference to former Brit Prime Minister Disraeli.

You know, I did a thread search so I wouldn't inadvertantly drone on about something that might be common BF knowledge. But, ce la vie.

Still think it's very cool.

Ginger BIKER!

Ginger BIKER!
GEARING Baker

As I recall, Neil Peart from Rush was an avid rider as well. I don't recall him having any interest in racing, but that's a possibility.

Eric Clapton was, and maybe still is, an avid cyclist. I remember an cycling magazine from the late 80s with Clapton posing with his Cinelli road bike.

good stuff. Keep it comin'...

Did a check of another well-known forum to see what similar tidbits I could glean. Actually disappointed to find as few as I did. Besides the obvious ones (Sheryl Crow, Robin Williams, Will Ferrell), I did note that multiple F1 world champion Michael Schumacher is a big cyclist, as is Aussie F1 driver Mark Webber. Also, former 500cc motorcycle GP world champion Kevin Schwanz is a cyclist/pro cycling fan; he won the world title in '93 within weeks of Lance bagging the world cycling road title. Both are Austin residents and were introduced. Schwanz rode in the Motorola team car at the TDF in the late 90s.

Mick Jagger was mentioned. Couldn't confirm. Someone said Kate Moss. I gave up looking after half a dozen people named George W. Bush. I suppose that's better than bird hunting, anyway...

Throw one more in: I remember from my HS days an article in Sports Illustrated about Bill Walton. The Portland Trail Blazers had just won the NBA title, and Walton was in the midst of his counterculture/hippie/nature boy phase. Had a custom road bike built by (I think) Albert Eisentraut. Pictured in the mag. About a 68-70+ cm frame. Gi-normous!

Don't forget Mark-Paul Gosselaar!