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12-05-07, 10:49 AM
Okay, so lately I've been on this high horse, self-righteous, anti Internet, save the local bike shop kick. I know there are great deals to be found on the wed, and for many of us struggling to pay off student loans and such it's hard to resist. But really, is hitting that "confirm order" button as satisfying as strolling into a shop you love and BSing with the staff, meeting other riders, drooling over that wildly expensive frame that you will probably never be able to afford?
With that in mind I walked into my LBS the other day, Stan's Bikes here in Monrovia. I know Stan fairly well, as I ride with his group most Saturdays. He's a great guy who runs a small, family oriented shop, and carries a pretty nice variety of frames. So we get to talking and he tells me that there is going to be a "surprise guest" joining us for Saturday's ride. "Who", I ask. "I can't say", Stan replies. Well, anyone that's ever met Stan knows that his capacity to keep a secret is not exactly great. It took me all of .03 seconds to discover that it was none other than Eddy Merckx, arguably the greatest cyclist to ever sit on a saddle. It seems Eddy was touring a number of shops in SoCal, but Stan's was the only one he agreed to ride with. And what a ride it was.
Eddy (like I'm on a first name basis with him now:rolleyes:), asked that the group be kept fairly small. I'd say we had thirty to forty people show up. We rolled out around nine, and cruised for several miles with everyone taking a turn at the front with our guest of honor. Then, toward the end of the ride, things heat up. All the sudden Eddy decides to put down the hammer. It was amazing. The guy is like sixty two, but you would swear he was still in his prime. His acceleration was effortless. He didn't get out of the saddle, or stomp on the pedals, in fact there was no perceptible change in his riding at all, he just suddenly lifted the pace and was gone. Most of the group was dropped. A handful of the stronger riders were able to hang, but even they said later that they were suffering a bit. It was an absolute thing of beauty to witness. At that point I was in the camera car shooting some pix for Stan. I'm kinda glad, cause I probably would have been one of those that was left in the dust.:)
Eddy came back to the shop afterward and hung out for awhile, signing frames, autographing memorabilia, and drinking wine and Belgian beer. It was easily the coolest cycling related experience I've ever had, and I doubt that I'll ever get a coupon in my inbox from Performance, or Competitive Cyclist for that. So, before I step down off my soapbox, let me say once more, 'SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BIKE SHOP!'
Here's a few Pix:
Stan and Eddy
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x220/ziptie1969/stanandeddyresize2_edited-1.jpg
Eddy
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x220/ziptie1969/EddyMotion_edited-1.jpg
More Eddy
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x220/ziptie1969/Eddyaeroedited-1.jpg
Even More Eddy
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x220/ziptie1969/Eddyleadingedited-2.jpg
A Toast
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x220/ziptie1969/EddyandStanedited-2.jpg
Happy Go Lucky Eddy
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x220/ziptie1969/Laughing-1.jpg
With that in mind I walked into my LBS the other day, Stan's Bikes here in Monrovia. I know Stan fairly well, as I ride with his group most Saturdays. He's a great guy who runs a small, family oriented shop, and carries a pretty nice variety of frames. So we get to talking and he tells me that there is going to be a "surprise guest" joining us for Saturday's ride. "Who", I ask. "I can't say", Stan replies. Well, anyone that's ever met Stan knows that his capacity to keep a secret is not exactly great. It took me all of .03 seconds to discover that it was none other than Eddy Merckx, arguably the greatest cyclist to ever sit on a saddle. It seems Eddy was touring a number of shops in SoCal, but Stan's was the only one he agreed to ride with. And what a ride it was.
Eddy (like I'm on a first name basis with him now:rolleyes:), asked that the group be kept fairly small. I'd say we had thirty to forty people show up. We rolled out around nine, and cruised for several miles with everyone taking a turn at the front with our guest of honor. Then, toward the end of the ride, things heat up. All the sudden Eddy decides to put down the hammer. It was amazing. The guy is like sixty two, but you would swear he was still in his prime. His acceleration was effortless. He didn't get out of the saddle, or stomp on the pedals, in fact there was no perceptible change in his riding at all, he just suddenly lifted the pace and was gone. Most of the group was dropped. A handful of the stronger riders were able to hang, but even they said later that they were suffering a bit. It was an absolute thing of beauty to witness. At that point I was in the camera car shooting some pix for Stan. I'm kinda glad, cause I probably would have been one of those that was left in the dust.:)
Eddy came back to the shop afterward and hung out for awhile, signing frames, autographing memorabilia, and drinking wine and Belgian beer. It was easily the coolest cycling related experience I've ever had, and I doubt that I'll ever get a coupon in my inbox from Performance, or Competitive Cyclist for that. So, before I step down off my soapbox, let me say once more, 'SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BIKE SHOP!'
Here's a few Pix:
Stan and Eddy
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x220/ziptie1969/stanandeddyresize2_edited-1.jpg
Eddy
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x220/ziptie1969/EddyMotion_edited-1.jpg
More Eddy
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x220/ziptie1969/Eddyaeroedited-1.jpg
Even More Eddy
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x220/ziptie1969/Eddyleadingedited-2.jpg
A Toast
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x220/ziptie1969/EddyandStanedited-2.jpg
Happy Go Lucky Eddy
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x220/ziptie1969/Laughing-1.jpg