DocRay
08-05-04, 05:42 PM
..was velodrome track racing. Especially in NY area. How the hell did it degrade to baseball?
What happened?
What happened?
Road Cycling - America's #1 sport in early 1900s...
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shaq-d
08-05-04, 07:42 PM
the car.
sd
sd
Smoothie104
08-05-04, 07:56 PM
I was reading a book called "The Hearts of Lions" about 30 minutes ago, and was going to start a thread on this very same subject, wierd........
Some of these guys made in what todays money would be 75 or 80,000 for one 3 heat race.
From 'mile a minute Murphy' in the 1890's to Greg Lemond*, the book covers it all.
http://img17.exs.cx/img17/4420/lion3.jpg
*Greg Lemond was the first American to win the Tour de France, he finished 3rd in 1984, and 2nd in 1985 after being orderd to wait for his dropped team leader, Hinault. Had Lemond not followed team orders, he probably would have won in 1985. He did win in 1986. He missed a few years, because he was shot in a hunting accident, but came back to win in 1989 by 8 seconds, on the very last day of the tour. He made up 58 seconds in a 15 mile time trial in the middle of Paris, to beat a Frenchman. He had 20 shotgun pellets still in his body, including 2 in the lining of his heart.
He won again in 1990. He never had a super strong team around him, and one year he only had one teamate finish the race.
He used to ride the Giro d'Italia as preperation for the TdF, and in 1985, took 3rd in the Giro, and 2nd in the Tour, and then 2nd in the World Championships
He won the World Championships twice, once in 1983, and again in 1989, yes, the same year he won the Tour de France. Here he is putting the "Beat down" on Dmiti Konyshev (before he was assaulting hookers), and Sean Kelly.
He was able to win the World Championships, despite being the only American entrant.
http://img46.exs.cx/img46/5628/lemimage.gif
He was 2nd in the World Championships in 1982, and 4th in 1990.
He rode with Courage and Intensity, he ate tons of mexican food and ice cream, he drank beer, and looked at porn. He launched demon like attacks on the descents, he turned a huge honkin' gear, and he wore big bad-ass oakleys before any of us.....
http://img46.exs.cx/img46/5066/lemond.jpg
He was a hero to us geeks, when cycling was "really uncool" you newbies have no idea how good you have it!
The only time he went Head to Head with Lance Armstrong,was in the prologue in the Tour du Pont. And he beat him!
He retired in before 1999. (1994)
Some of these guys made in what todays money would be 75 or 80,000 for one 3 heat race.
From 'mile a minute Murphy' in the 1890's to Greg Lemond*, the book covers it all.
http://img17.exs.cx/img17/4420/lion3.jpg
*Greg Lemond was the first American to win the Tour de France, he finished 3rd in 1984, and 2nd in 1985 after being orderd to wait for his dropped team leader, Hinault. Had Lemond not followed team orders, he probably would have won in 1985. He did win in 1986. He missed a few years, because he was shot in a hunting accident, but came back to win in 1989 by 8 seconds, on the very last day of the tour. He made up 58 seconds in a 15 mile time trial in the middle of Paris, to beat a Frenchman. He had 20 shotgun pellets still in his body, including 2 in the lining of his heart.
He won again in 1990. He never had a super strong team around him, and one year he only had one teamate finish the race.
He used to ride the Giro d'Italia as preperation for the TdF, and in 1985, took 3rd in the Giro, and 2nd in the Tour, and then 2nd in the World Championships
He won the World Championships twice, once in 1983, and again in 1989, yes, the same year he won the Tour de France. Here he is putting the "Beat down" on Dmiti Konyshev (before he was assaulting hookers), and Sean Kelly.
He was able to win the World Championships, despite being the only American entrant.
http://img46.exs.cx/img46/5628/lemimage.gif
He was 2nd in the World Championships in 1982, and 4th in 1990.
He rode with Courage and Intensity, he ate tons of mexican food and ice cream, he drank beer, and looked at porn. He launched demon like attacks on the descents, he turned a huge honkin' gear, and he wore big bad-ass oakleys before any of us.....
http://img46.exs.cx/img46/5066/lemond.jpg
He was a hero to us geeks, when cycling was "really uncool" you newbies have no idea how good you have it!
The only time he went Head to Head with Lance Armstrong,was in the prologue in the Tour du Pont. And he beat him!
He retired in before 1999. (1994)
Hitchy
08-05-04, 07:59 PM
........do the US even have a 'track' cycling team in the Olympics? (serious question, don't flame me!). We had the world track championships in my city 3 months ago. Can't say I noticed to many seppos!. I would of thought with your winters, (indoor velodromes),that Track cycling should be alive & well...why isn't it? Track cycling is part of every Aussies cyclists up bringing. All the Aussie 'roadies' will have a track background.
cheers,
Hitchy
cheers,
Hitchy
bianchi_rider
08-05-04, 08:13 PM
roller derby
seely
08-05-04, 08:16 PM
Track racing became NASCAR...
Smoothie104
08-05-04, 08:46 PM
The madison is an olympic event this year, a pair of dirty socks to whomever can tell me why its called the Madison........ ( i know)
Smoothie104
08-05-04, 09:02 PM
........do the US even have a 'track' cycling team in the Olympics? (serious question, don't flame me!). We had the world track championships in my city 3 months ago. Can't say I noticed to many seppos!. I would of thought with your winters, (indoor velodromes),that Track cycling should be alive & well...why isn't it? Track cycling is part of every Aussies cyclists up bringing. All the Aussie 'roadies' will have a track background.
cheers,
Hitchy
Hitchy, 4 years ago in Sydney, The gold medal in the match sprint was won by Marty Nothstein (USA), he beat Sean Eadie (AUS)in the 2nd round.
The USA is not very strong in the velodrome events, there are only 14 venues in the country (most outside) I think, and almost all are in disrepair, and struggling to stay afloat. The Aussies are killing it on the track lately. I think the Aussies shattered the world record for the team pursuit recently.
And since we are on the subject....
What are your thoughts about Mark French and the Equine growthe homone syringes and Sean Eadie's 5 mail order packages of Growthe Hormone seized by Customs?
cheers,
Hitchy
Hitchy, 4 years ago in Sydney, The gold medal in the match sprint was won by Marty Nothstein (USA), he beat Sean Eadie (AUS)in the 2nd round.
The USA is not very strong in the velodrome events, there are only 14 venues in the country (most outside) I think, and almost all are in disrepair, and struggling to stay afloat. The Aussies are killing it on the track lately. I think the Aussies shattered the world record for the team pursuit recently.
And since we are on the subject....
What are your thoughts about Mark French and the Equine growthe homone syringes and Sean Eadie's 5 mail order packages of Growthe Hormone seized by Customs?
Guest
08-05-04, 09:12 PM
It used to be that Peoria, Illinois was THE place for velodrome racing. Major Taylor raced there before he went to Australia.
I have that poster of LeMond in 1989 at the World Championships. He autographed it for me, and he talked a bit about that race. He was very gracious when he talked about the others in the picture. I think he says he remembers the pain most of all. :D
Koffee
I have that poster of LeMond in 1989 at the World Championships. He autographed it for me, and he talked a bit about that race. He was very gracious when he talked about the others in the picture. I think he says he remembers the pain most of all. :D
Koffee
MacMan
08-05-04, 09:13 PM
He rode with Courage and Intensity, he ate tons of mexican food and ice cream, he drank beer, and looked at porn.
Well Hot Damn!! There's hope for me yet then ... I now need to work on the Courage and Intensity bit.
Well Hot Damn!! There's hope for me yet then ... I now need to work on the Courage and Intensity bit.
Hitchy
08-05-04, 09:26 PM
Hitchy, 4 years ago in Sydney, The gold medal in the match sprint was won by Marty Nothstein (USA), he beat Sean Eadie (AUS)in the 2nd round.
The USA is not very strong in the velodrome events, there are only 14 venues in the country (most outside) I think, and almost all are in disrepair, and struggling to stay afloat. The Aussies are killing it on the track lately. I think the Aussies shattered the world record for the team pursuit recently.
And since we are on the subject....
What are your thoughts about Mark French and the Equine growthe homone syringes and Sean Eadie's 5 mail order packages of Growthe Hormone seized by Customs?
G'day,
I actually asked in a post the other day about how much o/s attention our current track doping scandals are getting. FWIW (probably not much), my take is:
1/ French is an admitted drug cheat. He's admitted taking some stuff which he claims he thought was 'only' a tonic. He claims he didn't know it was illegal & relied upon the more senior members of the team (read Eadie & kelly) to advise him. It contains a steroid, even though it is in very minute quantities. he's admitted taking it, no positive drug test (as usual). He's been banned for life....he got what he deserves.
2/ Djakia. he's the one associated with the Equine growth hormone (his family is connected with vetinary practices). The guy's an idiot if nothing else. he denied injecting anything at all, (including vitamins, which some of the others admitted to, but thats only a team code violation). His DNA was found all over the vials, (not necessaily the equine hormone ones)...guy gets chucked off the olympic team for lieing...why did he lie if he had nothing to hide....got what he deserves so far. No positive drug tests (as usual) but plenty suspicion, i doubt he'll get rubbed out, but the Oz institute of sport withdrew his scholarship today!.....
3/ Eadie...difficult one. No positive drug tests, plenty of suspicion. The authorities should of pinned him to the wall on the growth HGH. This was 4 years ago, but they did nothing (duh!). There's nothing to get him on cos he didn't actually recieve the drug. He claims anyone could have 'sent' it, (ie an opponent trying to set him up b4 the Olympics). no-one has been able to show that it was 'him' that ordered it (yet). he'll survive this time, but needs to watch his step.If he's proven guily, he should be rubbed out for life as well.
4/ sean kelly?.....well, we're all judged by the company we keep.
sorry you asked?.....my general take on 'doping' is that if you're proven to have doped....out you go, no 2nd chances, you're a cheat. Be it Aussie, Pom, seppo or martian.
cheers,
Hitchy
The USA is not very strong in the velodrome events, there are only 14 venues in the country (most outside) I think, and almost all are in disrepair, and struggling to stay afloat. The Aussies are killing it on the track lately. I think the Aussies shattered the world record for the team pursuit recently.
And since we are on the subject....
What are your thoughts about Mark French and the Equine growthe homone syringes and Sean Eadie's 5 mail order packages of Growthe Hormone seized by Customs?
G'day,
I actually asked in a post the other day about how much o/s attention our current track doping scandals are getting. FWIW (probably not much), my take is:
1/ French is an admitted drug cheat. He's admitted taking some stuff which he claims he thought was 'only' a tonic. He claims he didn't know it was illegal & relied upon the more senior members of the team (read Eadie & kelly) to advise him. It contains a steroid, even though it is in very minute quantities. he's admitted taking it, no positive drug test (as usual). He's been banned for life....he got what he deserves.
2/ Djakia. he's the one associated with the Equine growth hormone (his family is connected with vetinary practices). The guy's an idiot if nothing else. he denied injecting anything at all, (including vitamins, which some of the others admitted to, but thats only a team code violation). His DNA was found all over the vials, (not necessaily the equine hormone ones)...guy gets chucked off the olympic team for lieing...why did he lie if he had nothing to hide....got what he deserves so far. No positive drug tests (as usual) but plenty suspicion, i doubt he'll get rubbed out, but the Oz institute of sport withdrew his scholarship today!.....
3/ Eadie...difficult one. No positive drug tests, plenty of suspicion. The authorities should of pinned him to the wall on the growth HGH. This was 4 years ago, but they did nothing (duh!). There's nothing to get him on cos he didn't actually recieve the drug. He claims anyone could have 'sent' it, (ie an opponent trying to set him up b4 the Olympics). no-one has been able to show that it was 'him' that ordered it (yet). he'll survive this time, but needs to watch his step.If he's proven guily, he should be rubbed out for life as well.
4/ sean kelly?.....well, we're all judged by the company we keep.
sorry you asked?.....my general take on 'doping' is that if you're proven to have doped....out you go, no 2nd chances, you're a cheat. Be it Aussie, Pom, seppo or martian.
cheers,
Hitchy
lotek
08-06-04, 08:59 AM
The madison is an olympic event this year, a pair of dirty socks to whomever can tell me why its called the Madison........ ( i know)
Madison Square Garden. . .
The current Garden is the 4th incarnatio of it,
the original velodrome long since gone.
I vaguely remember the previous garden, mostly from
watching the Friday night fights with my grandfather.
you can keep the socks (unless they are kewl smartwool socks!)
Marty
Madison Square Garden. . .
The current Garden is the 4th incarnatio of it,
the original velodrome long since gone.
I vaguely remember the previous garden, mostly from
watching the Friday night fights with my grandfather.
you can keep the socks (unless they are kewl smartwool socks!)
Marty
Tennessee
08-06-04, 09:31 AM
I was reading on cyclingnews.com yesterday and saw this short article about a possible velodrome in Charlotte, NC. I was surprised to read that "there are only 19 existing velodromes in the country".
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2004/aug04/aug06news
Interest for North Carolina velodrome
A group of businessmen and cycling enthusiasts in North Carolina hopes to build a $1.5 million multi-use velodrome in the Charlotte area. The Carolina Velodrome Association envisions a 250 metre track with a 1,000-seat grandstand, designed to lure events to the city.
"There are only 19 existing velodromes in the country," said Michael Cowan, member of the Carolina Velodrome Association, to News14 Charlotte. “By building one we'll automatically be a candidate for hosting international and national events."
To date the Carolina Velodrome Association is still negotiating for funding and a site for the facility, but the group has the support of the likes of Humpy Wheeler, president of Lowe's Motor Speedway, which this weekend will host the Bank of America Invitational Criterium.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2004/aug04/aug06news
Interest for North Carolina velodrome
A group of businessmen and cycling enthusiasts in North Carolina hopes to build a $1.5 million multi-use velodrome in the Charlotte area. The Carolina Velodrome Association envisions a 250 metre track with a 1,000-seat grandstand, designed to lure events to the city.
"There are only 19 existing velodromes in the country," said Michael Cowan, member of the Carolina Velodrome Association, to News14 Charlotte. “By building one we'll automatically be a candidate for hosting international and national events."
To date the Carolina Velodrome Association is still negotiating for funding and a site for the facility, but the group has the support of the likes of Humpy Wheeler, president of Lowe's Motor Speedway, which this weekend will host the Bank of America Invitational Criterium.
velocipedio
08-06-04, 09:39 AM
the madison race was developed because new york law prohibited any individual professional athlete from performing his sport for more than 18 hours in a 24-hour period. this was a health and stafety regulation. since six-day races went around the clock in those days, the promoters of the six days of new york came up with the tag-team concept. the race would still run for 144 straight hours, but one rider could rest while his teammate rode, thus skirting the law.
made for a better race, too -- by the end of day three of a traditional six-day, the racers moved pretty slowly; the best day was day five, when twitching, hallucinating riders who hadn't slep in days would have all kinds of crashes. the madison made the race faster and more exciting.
made for a better race, too -- by the end of day three of a traditional six-day, the racers moved pretty slowly; the best day was day five, when twitching, hallucinating riders who hadn't slep in days would have all kinds of crashes. the madison made the race faster and more exciting.
Smoothie104
08-06-04, 10:07 AM
Correct, the Madison is great fun to watch, as 5 or more teams of 2 guys are hand-slinging each other into the action every lap and a half or so, while riding wheel to wheel.
Im taking a trip to Michigan next weekend, my training partner was involved with the start up of nas-track, and they are on TV now in the Detroit Area. There are races this weekend, and I'll get a chance to fire around the track on Saturday. Frankie Andreau will probably be there too, so that will be cool. He and my buddy grew up together.
check it out.............
www.nas-track.com
www.velodromeatbloomerpark.com
Anyone in the Michigan area, get up there and give it a try. The first ride and bike rental are free. You will love firing around the banked oval on a fixed gear with no brakes!
Im taking a trip to Michigan next weekend, my training partner was involved with the start up of nas-track, and they are on TV now in the Detroit Area. There are races this weekend, and I'll get a chance to fire around the track on Saturday. Frankie Andreau will probably be there too, so that will be cool. He and my buddy grew up together.
check it out.............
www.nas-track.com
www.velodromeatbloomerpark.com
Anyone in the Michigan area, get up there and give it a try. The first ride and bike rental are free. You will love firing around the banked oval on a fixed gear with no brakes!
gonesh9
08-06-04, 10:19 AM
Soccer was also big in the US back then, and hemp was the country's #1 cash crop. We've certainly gone to hell in a bucket this last century.
Moonshot
08-06-04, 10:36 AM
I was reading on cyclingnews.com yesterday and saw this short article about a possible velodrome in Charlotte, NC.
Thanks for the info. I lived in the Charlotte area until 1998. It has a great racing scene. Hincapie and Rodriguez even lived there for a time. And Humpy Wheeler (owner of the Lowes Motor Speedway) is a great supporter of bicycle racing. He hosts a time trial series on the Lowes 1.5 mile oval.
I'll bet a velodrome in Charlotte has a good chance of happening.
Thanks for the info. I lived in the Charlotte area until 1998. It has a great racing scene. Hincapie and Rodriguez even lived there for a time. And Humpy Wheeler (owner of the Lowes Motor Speedway) is a great supporter of bicycle racing. He hosts a time trial series on the Lowes 1.5 mile oval.
I'll bet a velodrome in Charlotte has a good chance of happening.