NOS88

I was talking with my sons last night about how much we all enjoyed following the TdF this year. Both of them were impressed with seeing the Rainbow jersey serving as a domestique and they the Yellow jersey serving as a lead out for the team’s sprinter on the final stage. Surely something that showed a willingness to sacrifice for more than one’s own glory. One son said that if he had a magic wand he’d love to ride just once with Wiggins to find out more about him. The other piped in and said he’d love to ride with Armstrong to find out if he was the tyrant he suspects he was. This got me to thinking what famous rider I’d like to be able to ride with just once (this assumes, of course that the magic wand would give one the ability to actually keep up with that rider).

So, the query is: If you had a magic wand and anyting was possible what professional cyclist, past or present, would you like to ride with, and why?

My choice would be Marshall Walter “Major” Taylor. I’d love to know how he endured the discrimination he experienced. There must have been something in him that was extraordinary to perform at the level he did with all the background distractions and real attempts to harm him. Yet, he died a pauper at the age of 53.

qcpmsame 

My fantasy ride with a rider from the past would be with Joop Zoetemelk, the Dutch racer. He was my favorite rider to keep up with, as best I could back in the mid-late 70's.



He was a great rider but somewhat overshadowed by Eddie Merckx and Bernard Hinault, but did win the TdF in 1980 and came in 2nd six times. His palmares are too many to get into here.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joop_Zoetemelk for more biographical information.

He held the record for TdF entries at 16, until George Hincappie broke the record this year. Unfortunately he had some doping incidents which broke my heart at the time. Just a chance to ride some sections with Joop and listen to his stories wold be a big thrill for me.

Several other riders also come to mind but this is my foremost fantasy ride.

Bill

donheff

My fav is Hincappie, ever since I saw the video of him giving a lift to a fellow rider and his bike after a crash. Good evidence of a great guy who might be fun to ride with for 500 yards or so.

NOS88

Donheff, you've got a magic wand! Ride as far as you want!

DEK

I'd love to ride with Bob Roll. He seems to have a great sense of humor. Obviously knows a lot about cycling. And always seems to have a great story to tell.

volosong

Only one that I'd really like to take a casual ride with is Joseba Beloki.

JonathanGennick 

Lee McCormack, of leelikesbikes.com.

stapfam

Every rider that I have taken an interest in has been banned for drugs. Seems that I take an interest in how well they are performing and the next thing I know is that they are the latest to get a two year ban-- so I do not follow many riders as ardently as I used to.

But Cadell Evans. I never liked the way he rode- always relying on other teams to get him to the front-never had a good word at interviews for other riders--and that was if an interview was made- and never giving praise where praise was due.

Then he won the world championship on a solo ride from the front. That is the way he rides- or rather rode. He did not need a team around him- he was good enough to do it on his own.

Still don't like him but I do admire his achievements. Whatever he has done- he has done for himself and in the main- he needs no-one else. When he won the TDF last year it was well deserved. lost it this year but fast TT rider- he can climb mountains and can sprint to stay up the front--Or rather he could.

I know he is not a rider from the past but I think I can safely say that he was in at the start of drug free racing and he got the results needed.

Homeyba

Does getting passed by LA count? Levi was there too, I don't remember who the other Astana rider was.

bjjoondo 

I've never been a hardcore fan of bicycle racing in general but I did watch Greg Lemond rides so I guess that would be the one I'd like to ride with, although he'd have to have a "magic" bungee cord to tow me along, LOL!

12bar

Mark Cavendish would be my choice I would love to say I was dropped by him.

trackhub

Well, since this is a "fantasy" ride,,, Liz Hatch.