The Thread about Nothing....

matagi said:

Let's not jump to rash conclusions - after all, he could be incontinent.

The end result for him is the same - he's still going to have to push as hard.

Well, not really but eitherway we could have a laugh.

Merry Christmas TANners!!!

Hope you and yours have a good day.

...

Merry Christmas TANners!

Merry Christmas to everyone. Been chiilin' with the peeps (including the outlaws) and generally having a splendid slack day. And I now have the turkey in the BBQ. It's the size of a woolly mammoth and will probably take several days to roast.

Hey Classic, I know you are a fan of Hinault... just not sure how big of a fan. I've never been able to warm to him and have always thought of him as a vulgar brawler.

But after reading William Fotheringham's biography of him (Bernard Hinault and the curse of French cycling), I have completely changed my mind. I really get Hinault now. And After evaluating his preternatural talent and drive, I don't think I can say Merckx's position as the greatest cyclist is unequivocal. Hinault was such a force of nature - but a lot more selective than Merckx in what he wanted to contest and win. Whatever... Hinault was just so phenomenal. And above all, I just loved the way he raced. Like a lunatic amateur... for the sheer joy of racing. Ace.

I love his Paris-Roubaix story. He thinks it's a bit stupid (or he used to), with elite athletes riding and crashing on dodgy, wet rocks, so he refused to race it for years. After some pressure, he did it and won his first shot and it, and goes: "there! I've done ya silly race; I won it, now stick; I'm not doing it again"

Classicals can correct me if I'm wrong 😄

Apparently he hated the miles and miles of cobbles they put in le Tour, especially after heavy rain*... it was one of the aspects of the race that led the whole peloton to strike. But when he did race them, and he was angry, he would put the hammer down and string out the whole field. He was an angry man, and when he had a temper on, the whole field would suffer. Paul Sherwan has some good stories about how Hinault made them all suffer like whipped dogs.

* Because the cobbled roads are so ancient, they are way below the level of the surrounding fields, so they act as drains. Hinault used to point out the fact that the water could be deep enough to disguise deep massive potholes.

Um...
merry [censored] cnuts.

Sorry, I was crook as a goog, but finally sharpened up a bit today. [censored] virus, worked my [censored] off through it until all my muscles failed together. Interesting thing to do. Miserable days on my [censored] since though, don't recommend it really.
Anyway I'm almost better, yesterday evening's bike ride to the pub was hysterical muscle pain, with total cardio incapacity, was almost funny to watch from outside, with slow the [censored] down as the primary impulse.
Anyway, [censored] that. I love you all, and the shiny new TAN, and the fartographer chose the song for the evening.

Sorry. I have to. It's [censored] [censored] day.

Hope you all had a fab day.

[censored] your music Beepers. I'll call you tomorrow.

paulambry said:

Hey Classic, I know you are a fan of Hinault... just not sure how big of a fan. I've never been able to warm to him and have always thought of him as a vulgar brawler.

But after reading William Fotheringham's biography of him (Bernard Hinault and the curse of French cycling), I have completely changed my mind. I really get Hinault now. And After evaluating his preternatural talent and drive, I don't think I can say Merckx's position as the greatest cyclist is unequivocal. Hinault was such a force of nature - but a lot more selective than Merckx in what he wanted to contest and win. Whatever... Hinault was just so phenomenal. And above all, I just loved the way he raced. Like a lunatic amateur... for the sheer joy of racing. Ace.

it's a great read, although I enjoyed slaying the badger more. Get the current edition of cycle sport to read about fignon as well .The stories of his Milan sanremo wins in his autobiography are ace.

I read an interview with guimard talking about Andy Schleck. He said Schleck had the potential to be great, maybe as great as the three great talents he'd managed in his career. Hinault, Fignon and Lemond. Then he said 'no, the badger was on another level'.

Hinault is a peasant, but he's a leader of men too. I like how when he says something he doesn't ever qualify it. It just is. And if you disagree he'll [censored] smash you.

bbp said:

You've gone too far this time, son. TOO FAR! You brought this on yourself.

bbp said:

The white man 'dancing'...
what,
a,
spastic.

paulambry said:

Hope you all had a fab day.

***Not-so-Wise Men gif** .

HA, not bad

Ugh! None of you have any taste in music.