NorCal Cycling News

here’s a quote from his latest VsNewz dispatch …

Cente and I chatted about our kids, life in Spain and racing. During our four hours on the front we had somehow developed a bond in that we were both committed to the same goal and had worked together to get to that point; he had given me food during the race when I was out, and in the front we had somewhat nursed each other like teammates to reach our goal. We chatted about riding on the front and he told me how he enjoyed it, how it was his job, he was hired to do and did it because Valverde trusted him and respected that he would give everything for the team.

He told me the new younger generation didn’t understand what it was to ride for a leader and that they all thought they would make the final, none wanted to ride on the front, or do the domestique’s work—and few respected it. He said he was always the first to put up his hand for the job although he has a palmares better than most.

The television audience might only see Cente on the front for the first hours of the race but he is known in the peloton universally, for his strength on the front and for making everybody scrap for some draft as he pedals convincingly up front.

In a quantity over quality society where most dream to be an overnight superstar, a flash in the pan American Idol, hard work has been devalued. A few nights ago, I finished watching the Beatles musical movie “Across the Universe,” and there was a great quote from the protagonist, Jude. The dialogue at the dinner table unfolds between three people:

“What you do defines who you are.”

“No, no Uncle Teddy. Who you are defines what you do, right Jude?” Maxwell replies.

“Surely, it is not what you do, but the way that you do it.”

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i’m just sayin’ … what a mighty fine individual that be.

I’ve no idea if it’s a guy i’d dance on bar tops with, but still ~ my kind of bike rider.

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The hurdle cycling has in drawing American interest … is that it’s a sport born out of empathy.  As we don our superfan hats ~ we FEEL the ride our heroes put in.  We know the pain, we see the discipline needed, the patience, the choices each day, each moment to pedal on …

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When cyclists talk about ‘brand loyalty’ ~ what they’re referring to is …

Michael Barry rides for High Road.

I didn’t know that until i googled his ass for pics.

I know who Michael Barry is, and will well past when ‘high road’ disappears

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that’s cycling