I know there are those that are Lance fans and those that are not among the cycling community. No matter where you fall on the Armstrong spectrum, I think it is hard to argue against the fact that he has a drive like few other athletes.
Just before his sub-three hour marathon run, Lance was interviewed by ESPN.com (via Dirtpedaler)regarding his activity post retirement:
I didn't want to be the typical professional athlete, where the
tendency is to get lazy and sedentary and not doing anything.
Especially those first couple years. I didn't want that for my life.
It's not good for my health and I don't want to be a 40-year-old 50
pounds over weight. Now, on Sunday, I'll be like every other
35-year-old guy in the field who has an hour a day to exercise, has
kids to tend to, business to take care of and drinks a beer or two
every night.
Now that the marathon is over, it looks like endurance mountain biking may be next for Lance. Here's Lance on what's next:
There are other events in cycling I'd like to do, like the Leadville
100, an extreme mountain bike race in some of the highest parts of
Colorado. I don't think people have to worry -- I'll find something to
keep myself motivated.
Lance was active in mountain biking before his prolific professional career. While no one believed Lance could win the marathon, it's not beyond the realm of possibility that he could top the podium in a 100 mile endurance mountain bike race...is it?
By the way, here's a link to an old Nike commercial with Lance mountain biking I posted a few months ago.
So what if "cycling is the new golf?"
After reading "You paid how much for that bike" in the New York Times, most long time cyclists will be disgusted (or at least roll their eyes). The article begins with a story of a woman who is just learning to ride that starts out buying a $9,000 custom bike. Next it details a New York City bike shop that is reminiscent of the Harvard Club, including massage tables, showers, espresso machines, and top shelf wine and liquor.
Yeah...I know...crazy, right?!
But why do we, pragmatic cyclists, get so up in arms when this seemingly over the top exuberance pervades our beloved activity? Why not embrace it?
For some, cycling has just become a more approachable sport. And not all of these new bandwagon hoppers are assholes.
I say, the more the merrier.
As we roll our eyes and shun the invasion of the ultra-rich newbies we are essentially closing our activity to only those that we want to join our "cult." It reminds me of the surly shopkeeper we all know and love...you know...the one that makes you feel like shit, because you don't know as much as he does about bikes.
So let's learn something about service. Let's open up our approach. Find the positives in this new "user" group and it's potential to influence the industry. An industry executive in the Times article summed it up best:
Of course, I would add the airline and department store industries to the list, but nonetheless, the point is that we need to open our minds a bit and be inclusive even as the sport becomes more exclusive.
Posted by Graham in Commentary, Cool Bike Quotes (CBQ) | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBack (2)