There's a picture of Vaughters on page 61 in the Aug. issue of Bicycling magazine that is just... je ne sais quoi? He's standing in the middle of what looks like a pedestrian bridge, feet about shoulder width apart, hands on his hips, gazing to his left with a look of contempt.

What is with this guy? What is with Bicycling mag? Here's the caption:

"Jonathan Vaughters wanted to create a team that was the antidote to pro cycling's dark and secret drug culture - a squad of fast, tough, funny, quirky stars and prodigies who would volunteer to let the public see everything from their dope tests to their toothbrushing. He also wanted to win some bike races... No one knew if he could do both."
:wtf:

Queue the superhero music and Vaughters shoots into the sky with his cape flapping in the wind.

What is with this guy?

How about this one from a previous interview:

The team also has an increased influx of non-American riders, though most are fluent in English. Still, the foreign aspect is a key for the new team. "It is an American team with a majority of American riders and mostly English speaking, so I think it is important. But we are a cosmopolitan team. If you look at the spirit of the team, it is American... but America at its best. Not the ugly American!"

Cosmopolitan? That sounds a little GQ Jonathan... "That's it, the metro-sexual American team!" exclaimed Vaughters, a self-proclaimed metro-sexual male. "That is literally the spirit of the team. We are proud of things like the Bill of Rights over here, but we have people that can speak a bunch of different languages too!"

I don't see the problem. Why should he have to defend the choice of team members? I like the multinational teams.The TdF is not the Olympics, where nationalism rules over all else.

I don't see the problem. Why should he have to defend the choice of team members? I like the multinational teams.The TdF is not the Olympics, where nationalism rules over all else.

There's not a problem, as best as I can tell.

Vaughters marches to the beat of a different drummer which is evident in both the OP's quoted comments from Bicycling and the one that I snagged from a Cycling News interview back in January (http://www.cyclingnews.com/features.php?id=features/2008/jonathan_vaughters_jan08) where he "describes" his vision for his US-based team's members.

Perhaps I'm missing something, but I just don't see any of the quoted comments as being defensive nor can I imagine a need to do that given that almost all of the professional racing teams have gone multi-national. Admittedly, I think Vaughters might have gone a little over the top with the "metro-sexual American team" thing, but that's just his persona shinging through.

Bottom Line: Pro cycling thankfully has a few very colorful folks who are comfortable in their skin; Vaughters is just one of the most recent arrivals. Gotta love the argile kits and his argile sweaters.

There's a picture of Vaughters on page 61 in the Aug. issue of Bicycling magazine

:lol: :lol: :lol:

You read Bicycling.


:lol::lol::lol:

Are you ready for your BESTEST YEAR EVAR???

You read Bicycling.

FWIW, noting that I know your comments weren't directed at moi....

I must confess that I'm apparently one of the 53,000 peeps who ends up with a subscription to Bicycling Magazine (BM) vis-a-vis my membership in a bicycle club who offers it as a membership perq. I don't remember reading the BM piece on Vaughters as I rarely do much more than read the Editorial. Getting back to the club subscriptions, what I find interesting is that I seem to recall the League of American's formerly called Wheelmen who PC dictates now be called Bicyclists gives away BM Subscriptions to it's 40,000 members. Given how many other orgs are giving away BM, their number of 53,000 seems to be somewhat understated or, put another way, it makes me wonder how many of their 250k 'paid' subscriptions are really consumer-demand based subscriptions, e.g., Oh! What a great magazine... I think I'll subscribe to I can have my Best Ride Ever.

I also receive Outside magazine and I'll be darned if I know why. That one goes right into the landfill with the plastic still on.

FWIW, noting that I know your comments weren't directed at moi....

FWIW, I get the magazine, too, courtesy of my Performance membership. It's for reading on the throne.

Yes, we make fun of Bicycling around here mostly because many of us read the same articles that are in the current issue back in 1989.... and 1990.... and 1991.... and so on. And we know the bike and parts reviews are so phoned in it's beyond credibility for the most part. (Aluminum is harsh! Carbon soaks up the bumps! Steel is luxurious! Etc.!!)

All I want to know is how can I "Get Fit Now!" ?

...

I also receive Outside magazine and I'll be darned if I know why. That one goes right into the landfill with the plastic still on.

It depends a lot on the month (since I have zero interest in board sports), but that has some pretty interesting articles in it.

Gotta' love old J.V. with those stupid sideburns. That picture was taken when he was riding around with Joe Dirt and they were comparing hair-do's. I see the resemblance.

I also receive Outside magazine and I'll be darned if I know why. That one goes right into the landfill with the plastic still on.

Probably because you spent $75 or more at Bike Nashbar when they were having one of their frequent "Spend $75 or more and get a FREE subscription to Outside!!!" promotions.

I remember when Outside used to not suck.

I remember when Outside used to not suck.

Ah, yes, the good old days before a shirtless Laird Hamilton or guitar-wielding Jack Johnson weren't on the cover EVERY FREAKIN' MONTH. :twitchy: