To commemorate the TC's fast approaching 400th post (it'll be the next one as this is #399), Oude Granny is busting out the wayback machine (and incorporating some of the technology that's sweeping the blog-o-sphere; that $6 Billion thing called You Tube), so Sherman if you will...Ah, right away Mr. Peabody.Let's take you back to Stage 13 of the 1986 Tour de France...Bernard Hinault is in the Maillot Jaune, but his La Vie Claire team is splintered. Greg Lemond is seeking revenge on his boss for having reneged on last year's promise of "as he has bled for me so I will bleed for him." Amazingly, this mountain stage victory marked the first time an American had won a mountain stage in the TDF. If you're not a fan of Greg Lemond, at least enjoy the "wonderful" 80's music that's been dubbed in with this video, and the commentary of a young Phil Liggett.
What a great video, I remember this well, and phil liggett is the voice of my memories , "toe straps" I bought a greg Lemond bike recently, tried to fit it with toe straps( as am a bit old fashioned like that) but geometry all wrong and now have those bloody awfull clips -somethings do not improve with time.
ReplyDeleteC146,
ReplyDeleteYeah I grew up a Lemond fan as well...watching the video again was somewhat awe inspiring as the tactics were certainly different back in the day, when riders had enough bravado to actually try and win the TDF rather than simply try not to lose it. Those attacks by Hinault, then Hampsten, and finally Lemond...wow.
I surprised by the toe clips messing with the geometry of the bike...you should be able to adjust the seat tube height and seat to accomodate them...have you seen the strapless toe clips out there?
C146,
ReplyDeleteForgot to ask, were you a Steve Bauer fan? Certainly one of the great La Vie Claire domestiques, and great Canadian riders, who after the splitting of the team, helped Lemond to his first TDF victory.
Je suis British, emigrating to Canada last year. I had the pleasure of watching Bradley Wiggins race in Yorkshire, was fantastic stuff. My colleagues and I were there unofficially at the request of the bike shop sponsoring the event, we were running a paramedic bike team , but that`s another story!
ReplyDeleteThe toe clips actually touched the wheel in some turns, it wasnt an unsolvable thing , but the clips were at a discount due to the link with paramedic bike unit.
Suppose I will get used to them .
Didnt` catch sight of Bradley,but he was with Cofidis at this years tour.
ReplyDeleteWell then C146, with your roots in the mother land, you have to be familiar with the Track and the 6 day events? Have you gotten to one of the velodromes?
ReplyDeleteAfraid not, my sum total of racing is essentially time trialling in short triathlons, and sprinting on a bike in the lab to a max power output of about 1080 watts, and a VO2 max of 43 ish.
ReplyDeleteHowever a colleague at work ( whom I have not met yet) is alledged very good on a bike, so good she has a tattoo of "one speed revolution". As a green cyclist I look forward to looking like a courier in years to come..