Flying Dutchmen coming to New London/ June 13th

What to do when in conflict with Big Races

(Thomas winning stage in Holland)


What To Do When All The Rock Stars
Are At the Big Races on Your Race Weekend


The Air Force Cycling Classic, Nature Valley Grand Prix and the Tour de Beauce, are all huge events that take place on Sunday June 13th the same day as my Whaling City Cyclone now in its 3rd year.


Although I have produced some big races over the past 30 years my present location and prize list does allow me to compete with these prestigious monsters for pro team rosters.


So I make a couple of phone calls to Holland where I have established some substantial contacts over the years and “Voila” we have a 6 rider under 23 club team coming to Connecticut for 3 races over a 10 day period.


So, I am bringing a little bit of Europe to the New England racing scene at no cost to the local pro, 1, 2 riders who are not on the big time circuit.


The Whaling City Cyclone goes “International” in the 3rd year and hopefully this will bolster the registration in all categories not just the pro, 1, 2’s.


How often to the local’s who race week in and week out from March to August get a chance to race against “Dutchies” or get to watch these kids from the Lowlands do their thing?
New London and the Cyclone are the host city and race that are making this all possible and we sure hope the Northeast riders respond, by coming here and showing our local residents what a big day of bicycle racing can really do for a mid- sized community’s entertainment value.


When you see the team picture and the brief bio’s they wrote to me, you will see many similarities between these kids and your own cycling experience.


This is a group from different club teams, who have been racing since they were 9 or 10 years old and then hit the 19 year old “Amateur” category and had their dreams of being a “proffie” somewhat altered and now many of them work full time and race 3 times a week just like most American riders.


Some are students, some work part time, others full time but like you, they still love to race and ride their bicycles and a few still have not given up their aspirations to turn professional.


So if you are not a big time American Pro or if you are and just did not make a squad for one of the big aforementioned races, we will welcome you to our corner of the world, “Mystic Country” to bang it out with a great bunch of kids that are coming to America for the first time, “to see how it really works over here.”


They will stay at Connecticut College for a week and visit Block Island, The Mystic Aquarium, Olde Mistick Village, Mystic Seaport, the casino’s and do lots of miles on our scenic rolling countryside.
They will make friends and I am sure there will be locals going over to visit and “To see how it works over there,” in the coming years.


Check out the Cyclone on Bike Reg.

http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=10770

or
http://www.bikeguy.biz/


We hope to see you all in New London.
Bill Humphreys
Bike Guy LLC

Tour of the Winelands/South Africa 1975

Here is the story of my epic adventure way back in 1975,
JUST THE WAY I WROTE IT THEN.

Today it is 35 years after I finally won a stage in an international stage race. I blew a chance for a stage win in the 1973 Tour of Ireland, and as a domestique I was not sure if I would ever get a chance.

Tour of the Winelands

Bill Humphreys
Bike Guy 1975


In the December 1974 issue of our club newsletter, “The Bike Rider” there was an invitation.

“Riders needed for a 672.2km four day individual stage race in South Africa in early March, all expenses paid from NYC.”

I sent my name into club headquarters in Princeton, NJ from San Diego where I was spending the off-season training.

On January 17th I received a letter from the South African Cycling Federation saying everything was arranged for Dickey Dunn and myself to compete in the event.

I immediately called Bob George at Velo-News to see if he could send a publicity picture to the organizers in SA.

For preparation I managed to get in 2000 miles in 8 weeks, most of which was LSD, (long slow distance) as referred to by Eckhard Rieger Feb 7th issue of Velo-News).
I trained alone mostly but did do one San Diego Bike Club training race and placed 4th in a 95-mile road race in Mexicali, Mexico.

The Old Mission Beach Athletic Club who supported me when I first started racing in 1971 paid for my, “Red Eye,” coach fare to NYC from San Diego. Upon arrival at JFK airport I was told to call Mr. Ernie Seubert the president of the USCF who advised me not to go to South Africa. He said South Africa was not a member of the UCI because of their apartheid policy and we would probably face a suspension if we went. I was totally unaware of this fact and had written a press release on our accepting the invitation for Velo News. It was printed in their latest issue, which had been out for over two weeks, probably sitting on Ernie’s desk unread. Velo News made no mention of the imminent suspension we would face because of this policy.

Both Dickey and I had trained hard, quit jobs early and were 2 hours from departure when we got this news. We had given up too much and come too far at this point to not get on that plane. We were going even though under threat of suspension.

We began to realize how efficient the race organizers were when we arrived in South Africa, (which for me had taken 48 hours from San Diego). Our flight from Rome was late on arrival at Johannesburg so they held up the connecting flight to Capetown and rushed us past customs, a few photos for the press and we were off to wine country.
On arrival in Capetown we received a 22 page Tour of the Winelands riders manual. On the cover was a color pictorial map of the Capetown region. The contents included the history of wine making and how cycling and the tour were a good fit.
The list of competitors consisted of only 40 riders and included riders from Rhodesia, Scotland, England, Italy, France and the USA. Five black riders from the Bantu tribe were entered also.

There were 30 race officials 4 pages of rules and breakdown of each stage, with topographical maps.

The sponsors were the KWV, or Cooperative Wine Growers Association of South Africa, and they were quite surprised and proud when I told them there were no events like this in America.
Listed in the program, as Organizing Secretary was one Mrs. Botha, an unbelievable source of energy who was the heart and soul of this event. She and the KWV had been working on this Tour for two years. It was cancelled in 1974 because of the energy crisis.

I won’t go into the details of Dickey’s accident only to say that all things considered, it could have been much worse, and the KWV saw to it that he had the absolute best treatment available. Dickey was very fit, “The Rocket” was flying, and he would have been a contender for a podium position. He will be back, mark my words, so stop looking over your shoulder, he is back there now but not for long.

Before the riders meeting the KWV let me call Ernie Seubert again to check on our possible suspension but he still had nothing definite to tell me. At this point I was committed to riding, for the sponsors, who had paid my way, for myself and for Dickey.

At the meeting each rider received 2 pair of Wineland’s riding shorts, 2 T-shirts, a tie, luggage tags, and a list of hotels with our room numbers.

It was to be an individual race comprised of 3 separate competitions, overall, king of the mountains, and points. The KWV leaving nothing to chance had purchased 10 pair of Campagnolo wheels with Fiame Red Labels and Regina cogs for neutral support.

The South Africans had just finished up their track racing season and this would be the first road race since the Rapport Tour the previous October. Their big hope rested on the shoulders of Alan Van Heerden and he was sure to get a little help from the 26 other South African riders. The French were strong and knew most of the riders from previous races in South Africa and the same could be said for the Italians. John Curren from Scotland was seventh in the 1974 Tour of Ireland and this was his second race in South Africa.
Wes Mason a former British pro with the Raleigh team was a reinstated amateur, looking to get some form at this event.



Stage I 99km

After a very fancy rider’s introduction in Paarl with over 5000 spectators, the 99km stage began. A five-man break consisting of an Italian a Frenchman, a Bantu, John Curren and Alan Van Heerdan got away in the first hour and I figured that was it. With all the combinations of blocking going on, who was I to attack or bridge the gap? I was too busy pedaling squares and looking for shelter from the crosswind. At the half way point the break had 4:30 minutes on the field, but on the descent after the KOM ten of us got clear and formed a well organized chase group. We caught the break with 14 kms to go and I attacked several times to no avail. We were all blown apart in the run into town and I ended up 10th about 1:30 down on the Frenchman, Blandon.

Stage II 32km afternoon.

The afternoon stage of 32 km was short and sweet with a point’s preme and a KOM at the top of Michells Pass. I was still straightening my toe straps when the field let the other Frenchman, Jacquier get away by himself. After several of my attempts to catch him failed, I went into a concentrated sleigh ride until the bunch finish to a crowd of 3000 spectators. Jacquier went the distance winning by 25 seconds and taking over the leaders jersey. At this point I really missed not having Dickey in there to help. It would have been a lot more fun sitting in while he did his classic tempo breakaways.

After each stage there was plenty of water, juice and grapes served up by a fine group of hostesses from the KWV. Each morning our suitcases were sent ahead to the hotel where we would sleep that night. Our shorts and jerseys were washed and returned to us every night after dinner. We were all served four course meals with fine wine each evening when daily awards were handed out.

I received the “Most Aggressive Rider” award on day one, and I would pay for it on the following morning stage.

Stage III day 2

This was a scorching hot day about 95 degrees with an 81.5 km stage which included one of the toughest climbs of the Tour. The heat really got to me and I finished about 12 minutes down along with Wes Mason the former British pro who was about to pack it in.
John Curran won the stage but the leaders jersey went to little known young South African, E. Bezuidenhout who was not expected to hold on to it for long.

Stage IV day 2


I ate lots of fresh grapes and tried to recover for the afternoon 100km stage. I was determined to sit in and recover and not waste any more energy. It was still hot but I was starting to feel better and decided to put on the lightest equipment I owned in the form of a Maillard 6 speed block. Of course I was putting it on a stone crusher of a rear wheel with pencil thick straight gauge spokes, but I was psyched.
“I’m ‘gonna’ get a Stage Win for the Rocket,” on this, his 23rd birthday, and I did!!
In a five man break consisting of an Italian, Rhodesian, Frenchman, and South African I made my move at the last corner with 1 km to go and had time to raise my arms in front of a reported 10,000 spectators.

Bezuidenhout was still holding on to the leaders jersey as we started the third day, which had 3 stages.

Stage V 47.6 km day 3

Very fast and flat nobody was able to get away, resulting in a bunch finish, Van Heerdan wins.

Stage VI 18.6km TT day 3

Van Heerden wins easily with a special titanium time trial bike. I just tried not to get caught by my minute- man. It was a point, to point TT not too hilly but still very hot out.

In talking with the young race leader Bezuidehout, between stages I could not help but notice the size of his chain-ring. It was a “57.” “Can you believe this guy? Even Stan Swaim doesn’t ride a “57,” I said to him. In fact you are the only 19 year old in the world with a “57”. (Also the only 19 year old to hold a leaders jersey for 2 days and 5 stages I thought to myself). It turns out he had been training 500 miles a week for 3 months specifically for this race, and he obviously still had some snap left in those young legs.

Stage VII 116km day 3

Everyone is toast, a very hot day and a tough hilly stage ahead. We started out for one mile into a raging crosswind and we were echeloned across the road before the left turn, which would put us into a headwind for the rest of the stage.
I attacked just before the turn and was shortly joined by 6 others including 2 of the Bantu tribe, but the race leader was not among us.
The Bantu Tribe which work in the Gold mines around Johannesburg were taking part in the race to show case the progress South Africa was making in regards to apartheid. Each gold mining area has its own athletic facilities, which include some fine 400-meter bike tracks. What these riders lacked in knowledge and strategy on the road, they more than made up for in strength and determination.

We were away for 2.5 hours with our lead on the bunch varying between 3 to 4:30 minutes when we were finally caught by a chase group of 5 including the race leader, king of mountains and points leader. Keeping track of the time, I figured there could not be too many miles left in the stage of 116kms after 2,1/2 hours, as soon as we were caught I attacked, and managed to get a gap of 2 minutes at the urging of the officials and the press caravan that was covering me. The finish had to be visible soon as I topped this endless roller coaster of rolling hills.
Then I hit the wall and bonked big time. One hour later I straggled in between 2 and 4 minutes down on the group I had attacked. Five riders had packed it in during this stage including the Frenchman, Blandon, and the Italian favorite, Tagliavini.

I entered the last day in 14th place, but after 124 kms in two stages and three major passes I finished 16th overall.

Van Heerdan, a world-class rider, took the lead by seven seconds on the morning stage and won the Tour by 57 seconds. In third place GC with an incredible effort was Jack Ntseou of the Bantu. His performance, and the Bantu participation had gone a long way towards bridging the gap between black and white cycling in South Africa.


That evening at the gala awards banquet, I was asked to make a speech on the rider’s behalf. It was an honor I won’t soon forget. What I said basically was, “It was hard to believe that this was only the first Tour of the Winelands. So much work was put into it and things ran so smoothly, with a huge impact on every stage town, that I am sure the event is here to stay. We riders were all proud to have been apart of what is sure to become one of the best tours of all time.”

Later evening the Minister of Sport for South Africa spoke, and his knowledge of cycling and where South Africa stands on the international sports scene was very impressive.

He like virtually everyone I talked to, riders and spectators alike appreciated the foreign riders participation in their country and were totally aware of the risks we had taken in regards to suspensions when we returned home. To the South African riders we gave them someone new to race against with international experience that helped raise
their own level of competition. To the people of South Africa, who are overwhelmingly hospitable and sports-minded, it gave them a chance to talk face to face with an American and express their feelings before the press and the distance between us distorted things out of proportion.

In France where cycling is the national pastime the riders receive no suspension for racing in South Africa. Great Britain, and Scotland are ridiculously harsh on suspensions causing Scotland to lose one of its best riders in 20-year-old John Curran who will stay and race in South Africa before returning to race in France this summer.

I am an athlete, not a politician, but just let me say that South Africa’s problems are more complex than ours ever were or will be and they are taking steps to improve the situation. I know, I was there, and learned from the people both black and white that these things take time if they are to be done properly. What they don’t need is the whole world getting down on their case by suspending athletes who go there to compete.

We have too much to gain by going to South Africa for a first class international stage race, (something we don’ t have here) learning about promotion, the people and it’s problems.

I received only a 30-day suspension and I will be racing again by the time you read this. I am not bitter with Mr. Seubert and the ABLofA over the decision that was made, because I was somewhat aware of it before I got on that plane. My main concern is that the penalty will be worse in the future and that no other Americans will reap the benefits of riding a firs class Tour in such a beautiful and interesting country.

Mad Alchemy-"It's what you put on your legs!"

Mad Alchemy
100% Natural Embrocation
It’s What You Put On Your Legs

“

“Back in The Day,” We used to make up our own batches of liniment to put on our legs to keep them warm for cold, wet weather races. Bike shops didn’t carry any of the existing European brands like Musculor so we made our own out of witch hazel, olive oil, capsulin and wintergreen. It usually washed off in the first hour but it was our only option at the time.

So you’re wondering how old is this guy anyway? Old enough to know a good thing when I see and smell one that is for sure. Mad Alchemy!

When I stumbled on a rave review of Mad Alchemy in Bicycling Magazine last Spring I was impressed and made a mental note to try some when the weather turned cool again in the fall.

As a guy that pioneered the modern day soigneur position for traveling national teams in the late 1970’s I had been fortunate enough to learn from the best soigneurs in Europe during stage races like Tour de L’Avenir ,Grand Prix, Wilhelm Tell and at the World Championships.

This area of using embrocation on legs is one of the most over looked traditions of cycling for riders in America. In this modern day high tech accessory gadget world of power meters, GPS’s, Heart monitors, and electronic shifting on 15 pound bikes the trickle down of information about what the top soigneurs have been using for decades has just not penetrated down to the club rider level in this country

Front and center steps Mad Alchemy, a small company in Massachusetts that makes an all natural and 100 pure embrocation for several different levels of warmth AND instructional video’s on just how and when to apply the six hand made types. See http://www.madalchemy.com/

My first experience was with the “Cold Weather” labeled Mad Alchemy which is a medium warmth paste with a perfect texture and consistency that can be applied easily with a little dab spreading nicely over a large area while rubbing in. The fragrance is unlike so many of the chemical based euro products, because of the natural combination of herbal ingredients, it has a refreshing nose, one of the only massage creams I have ever been allowed into the house with.

I started showing up for the late fall group rides of 45 degrees with my knickers and bare calves while everyone else had full tights. Full tights were going to be the uniform of the day soon enough and barring a mid winter thaw, we would all be trapped into them until mid February at the earliest, so with the help of this fragrant pure product I was able to put off the inevitable for several weeks and still be comfortable.

Oh yeah, I did not have to put on heavy booties at this temperature either because of a basic trick I had learned years ago while doing up riders legs before stage starts in Europe.

Why stop applying liniment at the ankles or the top of the socks? Why not put some warm stuff right on the rider’s feet on those cold wet stages? Nothing like warm feet inside those soaking wet shoes! Plus with Mad Alchemy you have nice smelling warm feet. All I needed was a light pair of Defeet shoe warmers and I was good to go.

While in Europe back in the “early days” my soigneur kits were full of tubes, jars, and bottles of massage creams with unpronounceable ingredients that should have been checked off on the ban substance list.

During my first weeks, using the right combinations on different parts of the riders legs and lower backs was by trial and error and when I got it wrong or when the sun came out unexpectedly, riders would let me know in no uncertain terms just how uncomfortable they were. It could even mean stopping on the side of the road and wiping their legs down with alcohol to reduce the burn or adding more heat and covering it with a thick paste so it would not wash off. It was like picking the right color klister wax for a pair of wooden xc ski’s when the temperature of the snow did not match the air temp…but that makes me even older and I digress.

The “Cold Weather” embrocation kept my legs warm for several hours of riding but I had to be sure to wipe my legs down thoroughly with rubbing alcohol or witch hazel at the end of the ride or it would fire up again 6 to 8 hours later when I got under the covers to sleep that night.

I have been using something on my legs in all seasons of the year and I am excited to try some of the other Mad Alchemy products meant for even colder winter temps and for those warmer to even hot days of summer.

What a treat for this old timer to come across such a great product made with pride and all natural ingredients that really works in all conditions. I am looking forward to putting the knickers back on soon and sloshing about in those early spring group rides with fenders and bare legs.

One more tip from the Bike Guy before I go. It is OK to put on a thin layer of Mad Alchemy under your tights or leg warmers when starting out on those soon to warm up cold morning rides. That way when you peel off the above-mentioned layers your legs will still be protected and warm for the rest of the ride.

.

Compression Works/SKINS

Compression Works!
SKINS
BioAcceleration Technology

I stumbled on Skins compression tights while attending an Outdoor Sales Rep Regional Trade Show in 2004. It did not take me long to recognize the recovery and performance benefits of using these tights for cycling.

The major endorsement they had at the time was from the airline pilots association which made total sense to me knowing how swollen my legs and feet would get on long flights to Europe in past years.

I bought a pair of long tights both top and bottoms and put them to use immediately for my after ride “Honey Due” activities like mowing and raking the lawn not to mention standing around the sidelines during my then 5 year olds soccer games.

The upper body tights came into play after long mountain bike rides and then snow shoveling and cross country skiing in winter.

Early spring miles on the bike are always hard to sneak in especially on weekends but when limping the last few miles home and my cell phone rings, I already know it will be time for Stage 2 of the day, playing soccer with my boy.

Being an older dad I have to use all my recovery tricks to keep up with Ian after a ride and these Skins were my saving grace. The luxury of stretching out, drinking some recovery drinks eating some pasta before taking an hour nap were a thing of the past.

So while compression was still very new to cycling back then, I was taking full advantage of this new technology wondering when the full impact of it would hit the cycling world.

I kept thinking about all the working class masters that could benefit from Skins compression while sitting at a computer all day, bending over a Volvo as a mechanic being a school teacher or whatever but when I did mention the advantages of compression to them it was not backed up with any advertising campaigns.

Now the triathlon market has embraced the concept and in those magazines and web pages you will find the full-page ads with all the proven research on the benefits. The top professional road teams have been using compression for a several years now and Skins has become the official compression clothing of USA Cycling, HTC Columbia Pro Cycling Team, Rabobank, Milram see: http://www.skins.net/ for more information on all the different products they have and the clinical studies.

Skins was out of business in this country for a few years and I resorted to a medical supply store for some compression socks to hold me over until I could get back into some Skins and they too made a huge difference in my legs.

I just received my new pair Skins recovery tights about 3 weeks ago (just before we got 18” of snow dumped on us) and what a difference it is to have full graduated compression back again. I tell my master’s friends about them now and they are beginning to listen.

There is no reason that Skins recovery tights should not be the first thing a working class rider puts on his legs each morning before going off to work.

I used them under my dress pants on flights, on the show room floor at Interbike and on those long drives to and from races there is no doubt that they make a difference.

The Skins Bib riding tights with the Elastic Interface Technology pad are without a doubt the best I have ever worn and I have worn just about everything out there over the years.

Having some compression on my butt at this time of the year is also a very good thing. I don’t think there is a rider out there who couldn’t use a little compression on their butt’s in January.

From the Research Page on their Web: www.skins.net/us/en/Research/default.aspx

Research Reports have demonstrated the following benefits from wearing Skins™:

• Increases venous return


• Reduces post-exercise muscle soreness


• Removes lactic acid faster


• Increases strength and power


• Improves endurance


• Improves body temperature control


• Reduces in-flight ankle edema
  
  Skins have a year warrantee and nice CD to learn more about the technology.
  
  
  As John Belushi of the Blue Brothers used to say. “I suggest you buy as many as you can.”
  
  
  
  
  

For Reasons I Find Hard to Explain

For Reasons I Find Hard to Explain

My current bike will be six years old in 2010, but it has a pair of brand new wheels waiting for springtime. Old or not this baby still feels fine. Once the base miles are in my legs she can still float me on beautiful country roads while my mind drifts away. There is not a ride I take these days that does not bring back some fleeting memory of a training ride or race from the distant past.

Whenever I go for a ride now, I am more, how should I say it… congenial, and I attempt conversation with those I come across riding the roads I have been riding since 1971.

It has taken a few years, but nowadays I don’t just chase down and blow past any rider in front of me. Maybe my lack of form or my age or both have finally caught up to me. In fact the last two riders I’ve met and talked to on a ride had actually caught me and were nice enough to say a few words as they came by allowing me to get on their wheel without too much chasing.

I’ve met some interesting people this way. Some are racer types but most just love to ride and get out for some decent mileage each week. This second type is usually training for some fundraising charity ride that has drawn them further into the sport and they are hungry for any tips on how to get better.

Memories in the legs once awakened, bring back lost stories of days long ago and far away when hanging tough in stiff cross winds on cold rainy days, day after day earned us the respect of our hardnosed peers, many of whom are gone now while others of us are still out there remembering the old times while sitting in some younger guy’s group ride.

On the other end of the spectrum are the master’s racers, who make up the largest category of licensed racers in this country. These guys have been racing for anywhere from 10 to 20 years, hold full time jobs and have families.

The sport has been ready made for them and they have found easy entry into it thru web pages, racing magazines, local bike clubs and bike shops. They have acquired all the latest equipment and technology that has attracted them to the sport and they are always on the lookout for the latest trend that can make them lighter and faster

I’m 65 now and still get up before the sun on cold Sunday mornings to massage liniment deep into my calves and start putting on the layers for a local group ride, in which virtually no one will really know what it was like back in the day when we wore wool, had toe clips and used down tube shifters.

. It was an “Anger” driven sport back then, presenting a rare opportunity for negative energy to actually be a good thing for those of us determined to get to the front and defy the odds of getting ahead in a hard and unrecognized sport in this country.

Cycling was the number two spectator sport in the world at the time, second only to soccer but it was obscure in America. My favorite trivia question for my non-cycling friends was: “Who is the third most famous athletes in the world?” They never got it right. Eddy Merckx the famous Belgian cyclist was the answer then and he is still considered to be the best cyclist of all time (regardless of Lance’s seven Tour wins.)

It was difficult to find entry into bike racing back then and new riders were not always welcomed with open arms. Finding training partners or clubs with coaching was elusive and even under the best conditions it was a lonesome endeavor. The turnover was high many kids got discouraged and quit.

I can only guess that they were being reasonable by finishing college, getting jobs, getting married, having kids and developing a portfolio.

The Raleigh Boys spawned a movement of riders from around the country, that over a 25 year period from the early 70’s to the early 90’s, made a conscious decision to put their heads down and overcome all the built in obstacles that prevented cycling from being popular here. Slowly discovering by trial and era the established traditions of the European racing culture and devoting themselves to the dream, regardless of the consequences, this group broke down the barriers and took US cycling to respectability on the international scene.

We decided to put our “Futures” on hold with no thoughts for “What are you going to do when you grow up?” College, getting married, full time jobs, kids, we had miles to put in and weight to lose and races to get to. It was a small world here, but we knew how big it was elsewhere and we had experienced “elsewhere” and we wanted more.

Suffering through stages when we had to wear two pair of wool shorts because our butts were so sore from racing day after day on rough roads in the rain, while washing out our own shorts and jerseys in hotel sinks, knowing they would still be damp when we put them on the next morning, was all part of the life we had chosen. Finishing too far down on certain stages meant getting to the hotel too late for there to be any hot water left for a shower, after cramming 4 riders into a 2 person room for the night.

This was just part of the job, the payoff for making it to any kind of stage race in Europe or South America. We had arrived, we were where the real action was, where the euro kids were fighting tooth and nail for every wheel every day and no American was going to take their spot. We clawed our way up thru the bunch, got our butt’s kicked and came back for more, we took some wheels and some wins in the process.

When we came home there was only another teammate to pick us up at the airport no cycling blogs or mainstream press there to interview us We were on our own to get a job in the off-season so we could afford to go racing the following spring.

My Mom used to complain to anyone who would listen. “My son is racing on the USA cycling team in Europe and I cannot read about it anywhere in the news or hear about it on the radio or TV?”


By then Greg Lemond had won the Tour de France three times, was voted Sports Illustrated’s Athlete of the Year, Lance Armstrong had won a World Championship was coming back from cancer and was about to win the Tour de France seven times in a row.

Now cycling was cool.

Now everyone was jumping on the bicycle.

So who were these guys from the 70’s & 80’s that took it upon themselves to take bike racing out of the dark ages and into the modern era? Where are they now and what price did they pay so others could ride the wave of popularity, media coverage and lucrative salaries?

I cannot speak for all the riders of that period that helped launch the sport to where it is today but I do stay in contact with many of them and our camaraderie and respect for the sport is still there. We are excited about the exposure the sport receives now.

Some still scour web page results looking for the old names (or son’s of old names) to see who is still alive and fit.

Life goes on, it was a special time in our lives, and we savor every minute of it.

Juniors Then (1978) and Now (2008 & 2009)

Bike Guy Blog
June 24, 2008

Juniors Then and Now


The last time I coached a junior team was 1978. As junior national road coach working under Eddie B we were fortunate to have a talent pool of dedicated riders to select from.

We started with an open camp in the dead of winter at the Olympic Training Center (OTC) in Colorado Springs. They came from a variety of backgrounds and club systems. They came by bus, car, and airplanes from all over the country.

The history of previous junior world’s road teams was one that (other than Greg Allison [Demgen] winning a stage race in Switzerland—a great trivia question) lacked results and produced discipline problems.

This year, the Junior World Championships were to be held in Washington, DC and not in Europe. This meant that the whole U.S. cycling community would be watching closely and any unruly teenage behavior was not going to be tolerated. Not that this cast of soon to be famous characters were not above pulling a few pranks in the dorms of the OTC, but that is another story.

This was to be Eddy B’s first assignment as national coaching director, and his arrival on the American cycling scene was something that every faction of our amateur governing body, and existing “good old boy” network recognized as a godsend. VeloNews was still being published in Vermont, there was no Internet, and entire regions of the country were acting independently in how they developed riders and race programs. Leaders in these regions were made up of former riders, overworked state reps, officials, and bike shop owners who, at the same time, did most of the race promotions.

Eddy B’s arrival galvanized all these different factions. One thing they all recognized was the successful systems of the Eastern Block countries sports medicine schools and universities that had been producing powerful cycling teams for many years.
One thing we all knew; you did not tell Polish jokes in the peleton. The Poles, Russians, and Czechs told American jokes, punching our tickets and moving us the DNF pages of results columns around the world.

Our guru had arrived and the trickle down was such that these fresh-nosed kids totally understood the importance of the moment. Those that did not get it in the first 24 hours of that dark and desolate camp that February in Colorado, either figured it out got their shit together, or were gone in the middle of the night.


The final trials, which were held back at the USOTC in Colorado Springs, were to tell the story, and it was during these events that the mysterious chemistry completed the transformation of a skeptical, somewhat bewildered group of teenagers into a well prepared, dedicated national team with a positive, serious approach to the challenge of world class competition.

It was difficult for me to stand in front of all these kids, many with their parents in attendance and read off the names of those who would wear the stars and stripes, while others would go home.

Looking back on it 30 years later this week, I can see where it was a true turning point, and a turning off point, if you will, for many of them. Those that were so close had to be consoled and tears were shed.

Talking with their parents was difficult as they had major investments in time and money tied up in this venture. To encourage them, to tell them there were still opportunities for the travelling teams in future years was falling on deaf ears.

When you see the names of those selected on that night in June 1978 even those of you new to the sport will understand how difficult it was to make this junior team. Those that did not make the team 30 years ago know now more than ever what they were up against. Looking back on the results these riders would continue to accomplish for the next 10 to 14 years should make anyone of those not making the cut that June of 1978, proud to be there and to have competed at that level. It was a watershed year that is still be felt in the European peleton to this day.

Some of the names I read off my scribbled yellow pad that night would include:
Greg Lemond
Greg Demgen
Ron Keifel
Chris Carmichael
Thurlow Rogers
Jeff Bradley

Need I say more?

In the final event of the Junior Worlds Championships that year, the 70km 4-man Team Time Trial, Greg LeMond, Greg Demgen, Jeff Bradley and Ron Kiefel, defeated such traditionally strong cycling nations as Poland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, France, Belgium, Holland, and West Germany, losing only to the powerful East Germans and the famous Soviet athletic machine, for a Bronze Medal.

The rest is a history of winning races and stages in the most prestigious events our sport has to offer over the next 15 years. Many of them would win Olympic medals before turning professional and making great money, speaking several languages, getting married and owning homes in two countries.

That was then, this is now.

Recently one of those juniors from 1978, Greg LeMond, came to visit me and spend a day riding and coaching my current junior team of local kids, most of whom are 15-year-olds.

My next entry will flash forward 30 years to this very special day for both me, and my new group of renaissance juniors.