Getting Old

Today, around one p.m., I took a call from my eldest boy. He’d finished his last exam and was about to hit the pub with his course mates. The wee boy who fitted in my palm when he was born had finished his university course, Seems only yesterday he was playing on the beach with Meagaidh.

With his younger brother currently in China for a year teaching English?

and the youngest child stretching her intellect and boundaries…..

I feel old. Know what though? If you’d told me Ailsa and I could have raised such wonderful kids? I’d have laughed in your face.

Back to reasoned comment soon. For now? Bursting with pride.

Procrastination

I’d planned to start a discussion with Andy of BikePure via this blog today but had to see a doctor re my dodgy hip. I’ll endeavour to do the BikePure post tomorrow.

Funny thing today, the doctor I got was a delightfully blunt Dutch women. Never mind calling a spade a spade, she calls it a “fucking shovel”.

Prognosis is that there is significant wear in the joint and rotation is compromised. Flexion however is relatively unaffected so after appropriate pain relief I should be able to ride.

Pain relief started.

Advice to others? Please don’t enjoy outdoor activities, you’ll regret it when you’re older and the life affirming experiences you’ll have really aren’t worth it. *sarcasm*

Physical stuff aside? I’m nearly fifty and I really get the feeling that next year is going to be one of the most exciting ones to date.

I’ll keep in touch.

Dirty Dopers and Damn Assumptions.

Today Juan Jose Cobo Acebo won the 2011 Vuelta Espana after a total of 3295km of racing. Twitter has been afire with suspicions about his murky past. Hell, he beat our new British hero (was unaware that bits of Africa still counted as British) Chris Froome and relegated our Brad to third!

He must be cheating!

Given the number of folk citing his dodgy history I’m surprised there’s any doubt in folk’s minds.

So. Cobo as doper? Well, during the Ricco “golden years” of Saunier Duval? As Riccardo and Piepoli danced up the mountains fuelled by blood the consistency of molasses? Cobo was there. Doped to the gills in a team dirty as a dirty thing’s dirty bits. Dirty rider IMHO. No proof, just opinion, but the differences were HUGE.

This year, on this Vuelta though? Given the tentatively brave new world of possibly, maybe, might just be credible, clean racing?

Let’s take a look at some of those assumptions and assertions.

“His ride to take the red jersey was “incredible”"

Well he won the Angliru stage but, on the most heinous stage on the Modern Grand Tour circuit, he managed to wrestle a whole 48 seconds from a Chris Froome who’d clearly waited on the hill for Wiggins.

48 seconds?

A damning indictment! What are we to make of riders who gain more than that gap on any easier stage? Dopers all?

Let’s look at the finish of the three weeks.

After 3295km of racing he beat Froome ( a denizen of Her Majesty’s Empire so obviously squeaky clean) by a whole 13 seconds. That’s 0.0949924127 seconds per kilometer. Clear justification for hints of dopage. Hell, all those thousands of Euros paid to the likes of Fuentes for less than .1 of a second per kilometer? Money well spent. Is 0.0949924127 seconds per kilometer the difference between doper and paragon?

OK, all this Reductio ad absurdum shit is fun but the bottom line is that we live in changing times and our attitudes need to change with those times.

Rider who doped may be clean now whatever they did in the past.

Intelligent training may have narrowed the gap.

Big races have been more credible.

Constant cynicism is killing the sport we love. Doping is worse but why bother watching a sport in which every exceptional performance is greeted with scepticism?

My position? My bottom line given the current situation?

I don’t think I could express it better than I did in this tweet to my chum Stu Maclean this evening.

“Actually what this all comes down to is due process. I’m sick of the UCI applying rulings as they see fit. I’m sick of folk slandering riders and trying them in the court of public opinion. I want a fair, transparent, process that riders and public alike can trust. I want change.”

If you’re unhappy with an aspect of our sport? Strive to make a difference.

If you’re just moaning or speculating? STFU!

Dopers suck, so do haters.

Living Without a Car.

We’re just on the cusp of what my colonial friends call 9/11.

It’s the old JFK cliche.

Can you remember where you were?

Yep.

My dad, who died some two years later, called me as I sat playing guitar exactly where I sit writing this post now.

“John, turn on the bloody telly!”

The first plane had hit, the second was about to hit. Terrible memories. My thoughts are with my friends across the Atlantic today.

However, I digress.

10 days ago the Galloway family started their third stab at living without a car. Ailsa and I have done it before but that was before we decided to breed. ;o)

Thoughts so far?

No big deal, the weekly shopping is delivered via the wonders of the internet. Since the truck is carrying a good number of family’s shopping it’s greener than all those individual cars heading to Galashiels or Edinburgh.

The bicycle is perfect for a town the size of Peebles, need to decide on a decent flat/clipless combo pedal so I can get away with civvy footwear as well as Crank Bros cleat equipped shoes that are currently necessary.

Daily shopping at local produce suppliers is fun, if pricey.

Public transport is LUDICROUSLY expensive.

Biggest shock? There are some occasions for a family of five with an attached elderly relative when a car/van is necessary. The local Ford dealer, David Harrison, is totally switched on to the car free family concept and offers good deals/extended hire periods to folk like us. Kudos to them.

Minor panic when one of the dogs had a wasp sting related emergency. Friends saved the day but a taxi would have done the job.

All in all?

Going well, keep you posted.

Goat Got as Press Tries (Allegedly) Geared Up Granny.

While Scott does sterling work tilting at the Windmills of Aigle I’ve been neglecting this blog.  I’ve mentioned struggling to find time for these unpaid endeavours so often that it’s become a mantra. The simple truth though is that, whilst I’m conceited enough to believe I can write passably, I’m not passionate about the the “craft” of writing. It’s merely a means to an end. I only post when I have no other way to talk about things that mean something to me.

So, here’s something that’ll take more than 140 characters and I’m not doing other media (at the moment).

The latest cycling legend to be accused of having feet of clay is the venerable Jeannie Longo. 52 years old and owner of a palmares that makes Eddy look twice. As the decades passed and Longo kept winning the rumours of dopage gathered as quickly as the trophies she was taking from women half her age. As those rumours came to a head this week Longo claimed to be “the most tested athlete on the planet”. Given the length of her career I’d be inclined to take her word on that above the word of The Texan, who also claims that distinction.

Is Longo guilty? Well, I have an opinion but it’s only that, an opinion. All athletes deserve the benefit of the doubt until due process has run it’s course, even if that course takes longer than the time it takes to rear a Catalan cow.

So, as I sit here, Duvel at my side, you may well ask “Why the hell is John wasting my time if he’s not ranting about Jeannie Longo doping?”

Two words. Joe Papp.

Now, on the face of it, Joe should be the poster child for the rehab path that Scott and I have espoused since the early days of The Velocast. Don’t ostracise or demonise genuinely repentant dopers. Welcome them back and use their expertise to cleanse the sport of the corrupt subculture that’s existed for decades. Turn poachers into gamekeepers. I still believe that’s the way forward.

There’s something about Mr Papp though. Laying aside the fact that his cocktail of sampled PED’s reads like a wine list, he also admits to being a supplier.

I once had a weird Twitter exchange with him in which all of my posts were public and all of his replies were DM’s. I’m a firm believer in public debate so I un-followed Joe so he wouldn’t be able to DM me. The conversation stopped.

Derek, my co-host on the Flammecast used to get particularly apoplectic about some of Joe’s posts.

Let’s forget the past though and focus on today, let’s focus on a piece by Shane Stokes over on VeloNation . Which, by the way, you should all visit regularly. Great site.

Let’s focus on this quote:

“At this time I have not been called to testify in the case of Jeannie Longo, though it would not surprise me if based on my activities as an intermediary between various professional and amateur athletes and the Chinese sellers of the Eposino-brand of EPO and Jintropin HGH, I was asked to recount my dealings with a certain client in France who purchased EPO,”

I’ll keep this brief, since my beer is warming. The correct answer to the questions put to to Joe if he genuinely wanted to support due process and make a difference in the fight against doping would have been.

“I have no comment at this time”

Then go away and testify and be part of the solution.

If instead you choose to say (here it comes again)

“At this time I have not been called to testify in the case of Jeannie Longo, though it would not surprise me if based on my activities as an intermediary between various professional and amateur athletes and the Chinese sellers of the Eposino-brand of EPO and Jintropin HGH, I was asked to recount my dealings with a certain client in France who purchased EPO,”

What you are actually saying is

” I know more than you, I’m important, and by the way I sold Jeannie some good shit! Look at me please! I’m cool and in the know. Honest guv!”

In short, self aggrandising, attention seeking, playground level boasting totally at odds with respecting the previously mentioned due process. Lacking in class. Sleazy.

Happy to have a discussion any time if you disagree Joe.

Don’t get me started about Rebellin and Katusha. This retweet by Geraint Thomas says it all.

“@Daleappleby86: Why do WorldTour teams keep signing ex-chargers? So many good up & coming clean riders. #givethemachance”well said

 GeraintThomas86 3 hours

Update 10/9/11

Today I’ve received feedback from other’s who have been recipients of Mr Papp’s DM Twitter exchanges. I’m not alone.

In the interest of balance I’d also like to point folk at this post by Cyclisme Spandelles. Well worth a read. Mr Papp has been participating in the comment thread so I’ve left him a couple of questions.

Stuff from the hut. Part one ;o)

OK in no particular order I have the following stuff to get rid of. Will post to eBay later today so if you’re interested drop me a mail or DM. Any vaguely reasonable offer accepted.

58 cm Dave Yates 653 frameset with Alpina full carbon fork. 1″ Campy aheadset. Adaptor sleeve for 1 1/8th stems. 56 cm top tube. Metallic purple good condition.

Velocity Aerohead rims on Ultegra hubs 32 hole. 3x rear wheel, radial front wheel with bladed spokes. Not built by me but I’ll check them over before despatch.V Good condition.

Dura Ace Octalink Crankset. No rings. 172.5 mm. V V Good condition.

Italian thread Dura Ace Bottom Bracket to suit the above.

USE Alien titanium seatpost, Cyclops fitting.

Look Keo pedals. Carbon body, Cromoly axle.

The following bits of an Ultegra 9 speed Groupset

Crankset. 172.5 mm

DP brakes

rear mech

27.2 seatpost

A cuddly toy

A set of 9 speed 105 STI units double not triple front shifter.. Winter bike fodder. Scraped up but working fine.

Deda 250 Anatomic bars 44 cm 26.0 clamp

Cinelli Spinacci bars, silver.

Mail me at john.galloway @lineone.net or DM me on Twitter. All shipping at cost. More to follow. ;o)

Help Needed With French Plumb Line

I tweeted yesterday about fancying a jaunt through France in July next year inspired by Owen Philipson’s post here on his excellent blog “The Drum Up”.

To be clear I am entirely serious about this and have started a quick and dirty google map of the proposed route.

THE ROUTE

I’ve been to many areas of France but would love folk to help me with local knowledge and it would be a great opportunity to meet a few of the folk I’ve made friends with via social media. So if you’re resident in France or fancy a wee holiday……..?

I want to eat and drink well (surprise, surprise) and cover no more than 70 miles a day. Entirely unsupported and camping.

You can leave comments on this post or mail me at

thesofaboychronicles@gmail.com

Thanks in advance!

Well Done Chum!

Ancient history. 

Back in the mists of time Scott and I started The Velocast and sent our voices out into the ether. We saw that folk were downloading the show around the world and the numbers were growing steadily. We were operating in a vacuum though, the show was the social equivalent of one hand clapping.

One day though a “bong” announced the arrival of an email.

The world had started to talk back!

The email had arrived from a native of Hawick, although he was now an ex-pat living in St Albans in deepest Englandshire.

A native of Hawick, 32 miles from Peebles. We’re downloaded worldwide and the first person we hear from was born 32 miles away???? I was slightly deflated.

I shouldn’t have been.

That email started a virtual friendship which has been a thread that has run through me learning to use social media and continues to the present day.

That email was from the legend that is Fun Run Robbie.

FRR is a podcast enthusiast. 

The 2 John’s podcast and The Velo Club Don Logan ‘cast also received FRR’s enthusiastic mails as well as the wee surprises that arrive from FRR in the post. Mugs, customised to suit their recipient, badges, custom birthday cards etc all accompanied by notes that make you smile. I laughed aloud when the first parcel arrived, simply addressed to “John Galloway, The Fastest Postie in Peeblesshire”.

FRR just has a lust for life and can’t help sharing it.

That’s just background to this post though.

FRR and I are both what he likes to call “Big Boned Borderers“.

He’s being kind.

I like to call us “Formerly Very Fit Blokes Who Got Fat.”

Me? Raced bikes. Tolerable time-trialist but crap road racer. This was the result of an upper body that was a result of a decade of rock climbing and mountaineering. On the hill if we didn’t cut the guide book time for an approach to a route in half we weren’t trying. ;o)

FRR? Top end club runner, sub three hour marathon runner.

That’s Where the Similarities End

Some time ago, I think probably a year or so, FRR started exercising again. Now I still ride fairly often and I’ve toyed with the idea of getting properly fit again but it’s hard. When you’ve been good at something it’s hard to be inspired by aspirations to mediocrity. Hard to suffer so much to grind up climbs you used to fly up. Just plain demoralising. So, I’ve slunk back to my sofa and said “Next time”.

FRR though has stuck with it. From the initial “Soft shoe shuffle” runs to his epic battle with his own Moby Dick “The Dutchman” on his commute to his introduction to the fine art of time trialling he’s stuck with it and kept us all informed via Twitter.

This last weekend he traveled back to the place of his birth and tackled the 55 mile version of the Ken Laidlaw Sportive. 55 miles? Pah eh? These 55 miles have teeth though, particularly if you still have a few pounds to lose as FRR himself admits. Climbs in the Border country of Scotland that hurt like hell when I was race fit. Climbs that have featured in hilly time trials won by some of the greats of Scottish cycling.

FRR started way below ground zero compared to his peak fitness days. He stuck with it  through all weathers and he achieved the goals he set himself.

Call him what you like.

Podcast groupie? ;o) Certainly.

Slightly bonkers? Undoubtedly.

I call him Stewart Barker though and he’s living proof that these relationships we build up via social media aren’t in some way fake or trivial.

I’m proud to call him friend.

I Knew He Looked Familiar!

For the last 4 years I’ve collected mail from a local business. Every day I turn up at around the same time and the warehouse guy and I trip out the same old platitudes.

“Not a bad day”

“The weather’s shite”

etc etc.

Today there was a glitch in the matrix.

Warehouse guy said “I’ve got an international item, it’s got to go to Belgium”

Almost as a reflex I recited the  the old saw. “Name a famous Belgian!” Quick as a flash warehouse guy said “Eddy Merckx!”

“Whoa!” thought I. He’s heard of Eddy!

What followed was a delightful ten minute conversation.

I started cycling to keep fit for mountaineering.

He drifted away from cycling to start mountaineering.

We both had a relationship with the bike that dated back to our earliest memories.

We’d raced against each other FFS!

Moral of the story? Well, everybody looks different with their helmet off. ;o)………and talk to people. This guy I’d taken for granted for the last few years was really interesting and our paths had crossed many times. Yet I had no idea.

It’s a small world.

“Cyclists” Are Dicks.

Great things are afoot in the cycling world. Scotty has been more than ably commenting on it on The Velocast Journal (still feels weird seeing content from Velocast without an  [S] or [J] involved). However, whilst the great and the good get on with the business of Professional Cycling I’m going to talk about matters closer to home. Demographically as much as Geographically.

I’m lucky enough to live in Peebles, the jewel in the crown of The 7 Stanes. Home of world class mountain biking trails and gateway to road routes that are as good as anything available in the UK. A cyclist’s paradise.

A honeypot. A flytrap. If it’s on two wheels and self powered it’ll make it’s way to Peebles.

“Aye, there’s the rub”

I started in bicycle retail at a time when if you were engaged enough to visit a shop like The Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative as it was in then, as opposed to the hugely successful retail behemoth it is now, then I’d give you the benefit of the doubt. I am notably intolerant (ask Scotty) but if you walked through those doors I had something in common with you. We were cyclists. Simplistic? Yes but generally true.

Commuter? Cyclist.

Tourer? Cyclist.

Mountain biker? Trailblazer and cyclist, often a mountaineer or hillwalker as well.

Racer? Cyclist.

etc, etc,

These groups weren’t mutually exclusive, usually any given customer spanned two or three of these facets of enjoying the bike.

However at some point mountain biking moved from a thing cyclists did to an “extreme” sport/pastime. I know this is a sweeping generalization and that most of the folk who are taking the trouble to read this grumpy old man rant are folk I would have enjoyed having as customers back in the day but the shift happened.

Let’s take a wee trip back in time.

The approach to the outdoors drummed into me as a young ‘un can be neatly encapsulated in the phrase “Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints” (may be a Steppenwolf lyric)

Backpacking? If you carry it in then carry it out. Leave no avoidable trace.

Climbing? Same deal.

Cycling? Ditto.

So, why am I angry today? Well it’s been a week of disappointment for me. As my two collies and I wander the hills around Peebles we cover every kind of terrain from remote, narrow trails through unfrequented forests to the cycling skateparks of The 7 Stanes. Here’s this week’s observations.

Monday: Glentress. Came back from a two hour walk with a rucsac full of discarded juice bottles, crisp bags, discarded energy gels………..

Tuesday: Plora. Two discarded inner tubes. Damn tasty for a deer I’d think.

Wednesday: Harehope. A good day, only rubbish I saw was a discarded condom wrapper. Kudos for some obscure outdoor nookie! ;o)

Thurday: Nether Stewarton forest. Delicate bog plants ripped apart by mountain bike tyre tracks, damage to small paths caused by resultant tyre rut drainage channels.

Friday: Glentress again, more litter.

Today: Saw a road cyclist run onto the verge by a car carrying a Giant XTC and an Anthem. Saw a Peebles town centre road blocked by a Golf with three hardcore bikes on the rack. The occupants had gone for chips. Last year I mentioned on the Velocast how, whilst out on the road bike, I’d been given the finger and run off the road by a car which had a Commencal and a Santa Cruz on the back.

Bottom line? We’re a community here and you no doubt share my disgust but for the normal man in the street? These folk are “cyclists” and damage the land, litter and generally behave like dicks and we’re all tarred with the same brush. These arseholes affect us all and the bicycle advocates can have all of the “interesting debates” they want amongst themselves but it wont make a jot of difference to how we’re treated.

A Velocast title from last year. “The Battle is Lost in Britain”