Wiggins Just Watching the 2014 Tour that Starts in England

This entry was posted in Comments about Cycling on by .

A few articles came out this morning on Bradley Wiggins, 2012 Tour de France winner, won’t be racing the Tour this year with Team Sky. I haven’t been shy with my opinion of Bradley. I’ve written a couple posts on the guy in the past. I’ve never much liked his public persona. And I’ve found if a person is unlikeable in public, then they tend to be complete utterly terrible, privately.

I guess Chris Froome, plus the powers at Team Sky, realize this and have decided that even though Bradley is one of the top 5 stage racers in the World, and maybe even has the form and ability to win this year’s race, they don’t want him around. Man, that is making a pretty definite statement.

He has said some pretty weird statements over the years. Talking about Paul Kimmage being a hypocrite because he was a bad doper. Saying that he never intended to win the Tour more than once. Feeling ashamed of winning the Tour because of the previous winners. Saying that he would like to focus on winning a gold medal at the Olympics in 2016, on the track. Etc, etc.

I’ve never heard any one of Bradley’s team mates say much nice about him. And the guy has a complete potty mouth. But that isn’t enough to leave him out of the Tour, that starts in him home country, England. He obviously has made some very serious enemies on his team. His quote of “The team wants to win the Tour, that’s how it is, and they cannot have even a small issue, because that would be disastrous.” says a lot.

But, Bradley, as usual, is wrong again. He is a big issue. I think he needs to start looking for a new jersey to wear next year because his current team already knows him.

PS. If you want to read a good write-up from a “real” biker and not just this post about a multi-millionaire robot, then click here to read Dan Hugh’s personal observations of his Dirty Kanza 200 race last weekend. Dan is a 4 time winner of the DK200, so he has the most race miles on those beautiful gravel roads, through the Kansas Flints hills, than about anyone else.

Bradley's bike change form. Remove the bottles, then toss the 10K $$ bike into the ditch so his mechanics have more work to do later.

Bradley’s bike change form. Remove the bottles, then toss the 10K $$ bike into the ditch so his mechanics have more work to do later.

Celebrating after doubling up winning the Tour and the Olympic Games in 2012. Great role model.

Celebrating after doubling up winning the Tour and the Olympic Games in 2012. Great role model.

Waking up in Colorado

This entry was posted in Just Life on by .

Yesterday I decided to drive out to Colorado and hang at Vincent’s house in Arvada Colorado for a few days. I was getting into a valueless rut, sitting around at home, plus my friends, Stacie and Karl from Louisville, were going to be out there, so I thought, sure. Trudi was just getting into a flow back in Topeka, so she was a little hesitant about breaking her rhythm, but I can’t drive yet, so she volunteered to drive me out.

I had only slept about 3 hours the previous two nights, so I was hoping to sleep most of the 7 hour drive out to Denver. But, nada. Karl was already out in Colorado, riding his bike and motorcycle around Salida, so Trudi and I drove by DIA and picked Stacie and their kid, Adam. It was really right on the way, at a pretty convenient time, so that was easy.

Vincent is at home alone, with his kid, Pascal. His wife, Lisa, is out in Seattle for a doctor’s conference and is having dinner tonight with Catherine and Keith Walberg, so everyone is a little inbred somewhat this weekend.

I stayed up until after 11, Colorado time, and then slept pretty good for 6 hours, which matched the previous two nights, so that is pretty good.

One of the real reason I came out here is that Vincent has a way to turn slides and media content digital, so Trudi loaded up nearly all the old slides and most of the old articles and hauled them out. If I have a few loaded up this morning, I’ll post a few. I have a million photos too, but those are going to have to wait to make their way to the 21st century.

Okay, I thought I got up pretty early, but within 5 minutes, Vincent rolled down, then Stacie and Karl. They are all morning people, which I am definitely not. So, it is going full gas here. Trudi is still playing catch up from her last BMC stint, plus playing nurse maid to me, so she is sleeping in with Bromont. Maybe this will turn out as a better rest for her than for me.

Not a bad view to wake up to.

Not a bad view to wake up to.

The back of the car loaded up with old articles and slides.

The back of the car loaded up with old articles and slides.

My next door neighbor is in her mid 80's and still mows her lawn twice a week with a manual push mower. This is great exercise.

My next door neighbor is in her mid 80’s and still mows her lawn twice a week with a manual push mower. This is great exercise.

Yesterday was National Donut Day. It just happened at the cell phone lot at Denver, there is a Dunkin Donuts, so we bought a couple just because. I really like donuts.

Yesterday was National Donut Day. It just happened at the cell phone lot at Denver, there is a Dunkin Donuts, so we bought a couple just because. I really like donuts.