bike_VA21

Well I did my first organized ride yesterday….The story isn’t so much my ride but the two events before/during...

First, I’ve read over and over on the board about that it isn’t “if”, rather, “when” one falls with clipless pedals. Well I was feeling pretty good after 3 weeks of riding with clipless and not spilling. I’m happy to report that I was flying down the flat start line at exactly 0.0 MPH (talking with a friend) and clipped in one foot, someone bumps me from behind with feather like pressure and DOWN I go. So my first drop was at the start line of my first ride, with tons of people, and the local news station(s) present. Smiled, laughed, told those (numerous) witnesses I’m still learning how to ride a bike, got back up and had a great ride.

This was the Tour de Cure in Northern Virginia and surprisingly Greg Lemond actually rode in it. At the first rest stop he and I were there at the same time and I had a brief but nice conversation with him. He actually approached me in passing, asked me how the ride was going, and I asked the same --- we made some small talk and moved on. I found him to be an extremely grounded, approachable, and genuine person; seemed like one of the “guys”. It is nice to see that people, regardless of the fact they won some little race in France , are still human and don’t take themselves to seriously. Of note, I guess he was paranoid about getting his bike stolen; he stenciled his name on it.

Cheers.....

jschen

Cool story.

blonduathlongrl

I love when I hear about other falls from those clipless shoes.. makes me feel so much better, I ride just about everyday and I still fall an average of twice a week, my legs are a mess from all the bruises and myself esteem too at times.. last time I fell was in front of 200 tourists and they all laughed.. I did too but not as hard as they did ..

botto 

now that's pretty cool. i have yet to hear a bad word about him from (normal) folk who've actually met him in person.

i found out from my training partners that i had my own 'brush with greatness' yesterday. we passed by a cyclist with no helmet who jumped on. we pacelined for a bit, but the guy with no helmet couldn't hold the pace. found out later that it was Peter Post. not bad for a guy who's +/- 70.

btw - If you don't knwo who he is, then you're either a newbie to cycling, or ignorant

astrodaimler

I met him on a stage back in the mid-80s, stage on the Red Zinger classic. Him and Hinault were riding it. He was pretty nice back then, huge guy maybe just his presence was huge but to me, I was 18 and he seemed bigger than life. When I got back to biking about 7 years ago (just bought a bike for commuting, not really riding), I wanted a Lemond cause of the impression he made on me.

Got serious about riding again 3 years ago. I still love that Lemond Zurich with quill stem and steel ride. Reminds me of watching Hinault, Fignon, Lemond, Kelly, and I feel like a Junior category again.

Psimet2001 

*swooning like little school girl meeting current boy band on cover of "Tiger Beat"*
...did you say LeMond?

....maybe someday....I'll meet him.....*tear in corner of eye*

DrPete 

Sounds like Mr. LeMond is more approachable than some of the racers who post on this forum.

DrPete

bike_VA21

Now that is just good comedy!!!

Katrogen

Witty, yet well stated.

botto 

didn't realize that the two were mutualy exclusive