Professional Cycling - If you saw Lance...

...riding, and you were riding, would you ride up to his side and say hi? Maybe stick on his wheel for a bit or start sprinting and then raise your hands when you passed a marker, like a tree or a mail box. Given you could stay close. He seems like the type that might sock you in the mouth or say something cocky or rude.

He lives in Aspen now because "nobody bugs" him there. But if I see him, or Levi, or another pro rider I don't know if I could help myself.

Just sayin'

I'd probably just go on BF and complain that he didn't wave.

if he was riding from the other direction, i would probably wave and say hi and that's it... he probably doesn't want to be bothered by ANOTHER person.

if we are going the same direction, chances are real good though that the only way it's going to happen is by him passing me, not the other way around, and it would be so brief that nothing would be said other than maybe "on your left!"

He would be a tiny dot on the horizon by the time I got the second syllable of "hello" out. And I would check to make sure I was not going backwards.

he would be a tiny dot on the horizon by the time i got the second syllable of "hello" out. And i would check to make sure i was not going backwards.

lol.

meh, i guess i'd let him ride my wheel for a few miles then drop the hammer and lose him

I'd probably just go on BF and complain that he didn't wave.

And he probably didn't yell, "On your left!".


Actually, there was some video from some of his recent training rides where he's chatting with some other riders that just happened to be out on the same road. One was a little kid (9? 10?) riding with his dad and the other was a young woman. Of course when he was done chatting he just rides off looking more relaxed and comfortable than I am sitting in my Lazy Boy recliner watching the football (American) playoffs on a cold January Sunday.

Yeah, Lance supposedly is up for riding with nearly anyone who can keep up (that's not a very long list) or for taking time at the end of rides to hang with people.

During an intense workout, I doubt he is big on slowing down to chat with mere mortal cyclists - nor is any other pro. What's killing a guy like you and me isn't doing jack for them.

Waterrockets had a "close encounter of the Lance kind" a few years ago here in Austin. Got passed by the team that was in town for training and then ended up next to Lance for a few miles. Said they talked a little about riding, a little about family and kids, and then parted ways. Pretty cool as I recall.

Actually, in the week before the ToC, a teammate of mine ran into Lance, Levi, Chris Horner, and some others. It was a mellow ride and everyone was really friendly, according to my buddy.

I think Lance would psychologically make you work for a few Ks. He would then ride across a random Sunflower patch of land as you crash and spin out of control.
Saves him socking you in the face.

There was forum member a few years back either here or or on C+V, that was riding around Austin Texas when he turns up a street and sees Discovery channel on a training ride and rode with them for a little bit. It was a real cool story.

He was staying here in Santa Barbara for a few weeks last year. I was riding by and he was jogging the other way... I waved and he nodded.

I was in Solvang a few years back when Disco was having their training camp. Lance did not show when the rest of the team left the hotel. So we went out and rode. On the way back, I see two riders coming the other way. I wave and one guy waves back. It was Lance. I thought that was pretty humble of him. ;-)

Howzit would stick a pump in his spokes!

...riding, and you were riding, would ride up to his side and say hi? Maybe stick on his wheel for a bit or start sprinting and then raise your hands when you passed a marker, like a tree or a mail box. This is given you could stay close. He seems like the type that sock you in the mouth or say something cocky or rude.

He lives in Aspen now because "nobody bugs" him there. But if I see him, or Levi, or another pro rider I don't know if I could help myself.

Just sayin'

It's just like most other stars. You say "How's it goin'?" or "Sup Champ?" and you'll probably get a friendly response. You start yipping at his heels like a little dog and asking him a load of stupid questions and asking for autographs or acting like you're a long lost friend or bothering him in the middle of his dinner and you're likely to get told off. That's not rudeness, that's just self defense. And that's why the stars like places like Aspen. They don't get continually harassed.

I'd mention that my Dad died from cancer and my brother has just gone through a bout of it with his colon surgery. I suspect Lance would slow down to my pace so that I could express my thanks.

Haven't had a chance to ride with Lance but have with other pro's and if they're on a recovery ride or cooling down they are usually more than happy to share some time with whomever is out on the road.

Given the chance, "Hi, I want to thank you for what you've done off the bike. Mind if I tag along just long enough to have a story to tell my mates?"

A good friend and coworker has had 3 bouts with testicular cancer, the last treatment was with Lance's Doctor. He received a phone call and a letter of encouragement from Lance. Good news is he's testing good to go for now.

And he probably didn't yell, "On your left!".


Actually, there was some video from some of his recent training rides where he's chatting with some other riders that just happened to be out on the same road. One was a little kid (9? 10?) riding with his dad and the other was a young woman. Of course when he was done chatting he just rides off looking more relaxed and comfortable than I am sitting in my Lazy Boy recliner watching the football (American) playoffs on a cold January Sunday.

little kid (http://www.livestrong.com/lance-armstrong/video/tour-de-france-stage-20-final-training-video/9b92cfee-9f90-4528-9e15-e722454f6151/)
young woman (http://www.livestrong.com/lance-armstrong/video/tour-de-france-stage-17-lance-training-with-friend-from-ohio/d7538599-0d95-44f1-ba87-9d14670df40b/)

Well there was this one time when our paths crossed...:o Unfortunately I wasn't also riding at the time.

He was actually pretty polite to Durianrider.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnx9mNpJllg&feature=channel

don't you mean 'if you could catch him...' :D

i prob wouldn't. i know what it's like to be training, i don't want to be bothered. if it looked like he was taking a break or something i might say hello, shake his hand. but that's prob it. that'd be pretty cool to ride along for a bit with him/them though.

Waterrockets had a "close encounter of the Lance kind" a few years ago here in Austin. Got passed by the team that was in town for training and then ended up next to Lance for a few miles. Said they talked a little about riding, a little about family and kids, and then parted ways. Pretty cool as I recall.

I thought that was El Diablo Rojo? in any case he sounded like a normal guy.

Well there was this one time when our paths crossed...:o Unfortunately I wasn't also riding at the time.



This is the only picture I've ever seen of Horner NOT smiling.

If I got a chance, I'd want to say "Hey - aren't you that guy from Dodgeball?" :)

I'm a huge fan - he's an inspiration to anyone who likes riding, who faces a life-threatening illness, or who dreams of one day banging a genuinely talented and great-looking rock star.

In the vid of him riding with the MASH guys in Austin he seems really laid back and looks like he's having a lot of fun just going out and mixing it up on a pleasure ride.

This is the only picture I've ever seen of Horner NOT smiling.



There's a reason for that. It was around 40 degrees and had been raining steadily all day. It was stage 1 at the ToC when the weather knocked out the radios and Mancebo was able to stay away. Horner had started really driving the pace at this point and the field was obviously unhappy about chasing.

If I got a chance, I'd want to say "Hey - aren't you that guy from Dodgeball?" :)

:roflmao2:
I'm sure I'd say something stupid... If he decided to slow down long enough for me to say it.
"Anyone ever tell you you look like Lance Armstrong." or "Holy sh*t, you're Lance Armstrong."
But odds are I wouldn't recognize him and just say "You're pretty good at this."

It's just like most other stars. You say "How's it goin'?" or "Sup Champ?" and you'll probably get a friendly response. You start yipping at his heels like a little dog and asking him a load of stupid questions and asking for autographs or acting like you're a long lost friend or bothering him in the middle of his dinner and you're likely to get told off. That's not rudeness, that's just self defense. And that's why the stars like places like Aspen. They don't get continually harassed.

^ zactly. I'd give him the cheesy grin "hey there" then leave him alone. Course if he invited me back to his house to stay as his live-in worshipper i'd be cool with that too.

Damn those vids of the dad and his kid and the lady on the mountain are cool.

I have a second house in aspen and as others have said, celebs love it because they don't get harassed. I've sat next to Antonio Benderes while he was buying a pair of ski boots, sat near Paris Hilton at lunch and seen many other celebs just walking around. I have not run into lance yet, but i'm sure I will eventually. Sadly, I know he will not be there when I am there later this month. If I do see him though. I will just wave and/or give a head nod then go on, unless he slows to tallk if we are going the same way.

I would ask him for his bike. he doesnt pay for them anyway

I have a second house in aspen and as others have said, celebs love it because they don't get harassed. I've sat next to Antonio Benderes while he was buying a pair of ski boots, sat near Paris Hilton at lunch and seen many other celebs just walking around. I have not run into lance yet, but i'm sure I will eventually. Sadly, I know he will not be there when I am there later this month. If I do see him though. I will just wave and/or give a head nod then go on, unless he slows to tallk if we are going the same way.
Odd. You would think the paparazzi would station a few guys there.


I would ask him for his bike. he doesnt pay for them anyway
I still don't think he'd give it to you, cause then the secret would be out that he doesn't ride carbon. Instead his bike is made with the bones of his vanquished foes. That, or solidified baby tears... I can't remember. :D

I met Lance during "Race to Replace" in Indianapolis and rode with him for a bit. He's a pretty decent guy. I'm sure he gets tired of the public life, and all, though. The thing about being a celebrity....someone catches you on a bad day, and you're an instant villain. Price of fame, I suppose.