A Real Class Act
10-23-05, 08:42 PM
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A Real Class Act
Showed up for my regular group ride in Toronto on Saturday morning. It was a cold and windy day, real miserable damp Canadian fall weather, around 4 degrees celcius. Glad I showed up though, since it turned out Michael Barry from Discovery Channel was in town and would be along for the ride. Not often you get to ride with someone of that caliber.
After about 65-70 km there is a stop a a bakery out of town to regroup. By this point not only is it only about 5 degrees but it is about to rain also. At the bakery a young rider and aspiring racer around 12 whose father is a faithful member of this ride usually joins in for the part ride back to the city. He is a big fan and thrilled to see Michael who he had autograph his frame last time he met him on this ride. This time he is not only warmly greeted but is also given the shirt off of Micheal's back, literally, on a day when no one should be sacrificing a layer. Michael gave him a Discovery Channel jersey that he was wearing on the ride. Suffice it to say that it ended up pouring on the ride back and I'm sure the extra layer would have been nice, but so is the fan for life that I am sure he now has.
After about 65-70 km there is a stop a a bakery out of town to regroup. By this point not only is it only about 5 degrees but it is about to rain also. At the bakery a young rider and aspiring racer around 12 whose father is a faithful member of this ride usually joins in for the part ride back to the city. He is a big fan and thrilled to see Michael who he had autograph his frame last time he met him on this ride. This time he is not only warmly greeted but is also given the shirt off of Micheal's back, literally, on a day when no one should be sacrificing a layer. Michael gave him a Discovery Channel jersey that he was wearing on the ride. Suffice it to say that it ended up pouring on the ride back and I'm sure the extra layer would have been nice, but so is the fan for life that I am sure he now has.
10-23-05, 08:47 PM
#2
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That's a great story. Too bad that little kid is going to get dropped now that he has that jersey by some poseur-hunter tuned to 400 watts 
10-23-05, 09:20 PM
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Isn't it interesting that the guys who are the strongest are also often the nicest when riding with us 'normal' folk? Great story! Hope you got to sit behind him and watch his pedal stroke.
