When I first read the description of BIKE MECHANIC: TALES FROM THE ROAD AND THE WORKSHOP, I anticipated a quick read filled with profiles of team mechanics and humorous anecdotes of life on the road and the daily grind of cleaning and repairing bikes during the Tour de France.
Cycling is a team sport; races may be won by individuals, but those individuals generally would not be successful without the support of a good team behind them, a team not only of riders but of support personnel as well, from the Directeurs Sportif, to the mechanics and soigneurs.
The father of the Tour de France, Henri Desgrange, likely turned over in his grave when the first Mavic Neutral Service car joined the caravan in 1973. In the early years of the Tour, riders were responsible for conducting their own repairs and were forbidden any outside assistance. So how did that first Mavic Neutral Service vehicle come to be?
As a cyclist for nearly 30 years, I’ve worn clothing from a lot of different manufacturers, and while there is certainly some fantastic kit out there at a fraction of the price, there is still nothing quite like ASSOS. They’ve been on the forefront of cycling apparel technology since riders started making the transition from wool shorts and jerseys to Lycra and other synthetics.
I’ve had a love affair with Silca pumps since I first started riding bikes some 30-ish years ago … in fact, my original Silca Pista from the late-1980s is still going strong with just a couple of overhauls to replace gaskets and the leather plunger in that time. That commitment to quality did not die when Silca changed ownership and moved to the United States
“Boring boring boring … Chaos! Chaos! Chaos!” This was how Competitive Cyclist Racing Team director Gord Fraser described what can be a typical day in team car behind the professional peloton; especially on a long, hot, hilly day, like the first stage of the 2012 Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah.
I’ve been wearing Sidi shoes since the original buckles, the original soles, and since they only had one Velcro strap. Suffice it to say that I am well versed in Sidi.
If you don’t already have this book, then you need to get this book.
Robin Williams died today; news reports are indicating that it was a suicide. Robin was one of our clients when I worked at A Bicycle Odyssey in Sausalito. He was a great client for the shop. The time he spent at the shop after closing included some of the most enjoyable conversations about bicycles and movies I’ve ever had. Robin had a genuine love of all things bike, and I think he really appreciated the way that we treated him as bike rider, and not as a celebrity.
After going over an early version of the A.S. Gillott history contained elsewhere on this website, Ron Cooper and I sat down for a conversation during a trip to Northern California in 2004.
