Professional Cycling - Bobke

Bob Roll was in Seattle for the annual Bike Expo. He was signing his book "The Tour de France Companion" and also spoke on stage and answered questions from the masses. He was highly entertaining to say the least. He did a great Jan Ullrich impersonation. :D

Bob seems like he'd be quite funny in person, especially after a few beers.

In that photo, he sort of looks like that wild junkie doctor from "Cannonball Run".

no kidding! I thought it was a joke {the thumbnail} until I enlarged it. He looks baddd! (and not phat)

Bob is my favorite cycling personality. It goes back to the Cactus Cup (anyone still remember that race?) when he rode for Softride. I recognized him from Victims of Gravity and asked for his autograph. All the other pros just signed their name and threw it back. Bob asked my name and signed, "Patrick, Happy Trails! Bob Roll" then got his teammate to sign it for me too. His commentary on the Tour and other races always cracks me up too.

Yes, he does seam like a nice man. During the book signing, he talked with people and took photos etc. No one left without an autograph either. He signed every book until the line was gone. He's not that big a guy. I thought he was over six feet and a little chunky. But TV really does add the pounds. Plus he is only about 5' 10 or 11? Not as big as I thought he would be. But it made me think of how small Lance must be in person. Bob looks huge next to Lance. So Lance must be tiny.

He told a story about Lance, after the 04 Tour. Postal had a celebration party and Bob went up to Lance's table. He said he patted Lance on the back to congratulate him, and all he felt was skin and bones. He could feel every vertebra on his back. It made him think back to when he was a Tour rider, and how grueling the race is to finish. That it takes so much out of you. It was a cool story…..better told by Bobke.

He looks kinda like Neil Young in that pic...

Yes, he does seam like a nice man. During the book signing, he talked with people and took photos etc. No one left without an autograph either. He signed every book until the line was gone. He's not that big a guy. I thought he was over six feet and a little chunky. But TV really does add the pounds. Plus he is only about 5' 10 or 11? Not as big as I thought he would be. But it made me think of how small Lance must be in person. Bob looks huge next to Lance. So Lance must be tiny.

He told a story about Lance, after the 04 Tour. Postal had a celebration party and Bob went up to Lance's table. He said he patted Lance on the back to congratulate him, and all he felt was skin and bones. He could feel every vertebra on his back. It made him think back to when he was a Tour rider, and how grueling the race is to finish. That it takes so much out of you. It was a cool story…..better told by Bobke.

We had Roll in Minneapolis the same weekend but on Sunday. The stories are great and the guy can really work a room when it's all cyclists. Joe Parkin, a local up here who spent years as a Euro Pro and also rode for DBR on the NORBA circuit, opened for him and was a nice opener for Bob.

Well worth the price of admission... I just wish I'd have brought my copy of Bobke 2 for him to sign.

That pic is really funny! Bobke seems like a really funny and fun guy.