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LOMBARDIA!!! (Spoilers)
Last Post 08/24/2020 04:52 PM by 79 pmooney. 18 Replies.
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longslowdistance
Posts:2886
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| 08/22/2020 06:51 PM |
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Dumpf@ck called out.
https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/driver-who-cut-off-schachmann-during-il-lombardia-fined/
"I didn't know there was a race."
I've seen that facial expression from many drivers who find themselves surprised that they unwittingly attempted to kill me: WTF where did you come from? if they saw me at all. More on motorcycles than on bicycles, I guess because on a moto I'm in the lane and moving faster, which competes with older or distracted (cell phones) drivers' slower reaction times.
Another vote for mountain bikes. May hit a tree or o/w crash, but won't be run over by a dangerous moron. |
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79pmooney
Posts:3189
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| 08/22/2020 10:20 PM |
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lsd, do you remember Alan Kingsberry (sp) who was hit by a cement truck while defending his National TT title, 1979 or '80? That drive was just driving the main road to a job, drove though an intersection where both cross streets had stop signs. There were no signs or marshals to alert him a race was happening. He T-boned Alan who was going what? 28 mph? and had just gone through a stop sign.
The marshals were 6th grade girls and both were on the other side with traffic.
Two years before I'd watched the MA/RI district TT champs. In southern NH because our district rep didn't know of a suitable, safe road to run the TT in Massachusetts. The NH course was open highway with a big, gentle round-a-bout with excellent visibility. Plenty of marshals. When I read of Alan's accident, I was pissed. You mean our district rep (Grace Jones RIP) puts on a much safer championship than our governing body?
A little personal for me. Grace was my biggest fan after my head injury. She watched me struggle in a bunch of races then ride OK at the States and take the field by surprise. A month later, I asked her if she could upgrade me to Cat 2 so I could ride the Mt Washington road race. Without my accident I would have been close on finish points. She upgraded me and watched me really struggle in 1-2 crits. Once, she saw me get dropped, caught by clubmate and National TT champ Lynn Lemare, then towed by Lynn until the 1-2 field came around. Good training but pretty humbling!
The Mt Washington race was run that year as a long point-to-point from southern NH to Conway, 113 miles, no big hills. Big wind, very small field; 39 of us. Two were as high on a bike as me. I got dropped halfway when the winning break left. I stayed out in the road, not letting the wheel/observer van pass me because I knew when it did, my day was over. Finally caught the next droppee. Eventually five of us got back on. Grace got to watch me from the passenger seat. I finished in the field Nothing grand but a long, long ways from where I was 10 months before when she was attending my club's annual dinner and it was announced I was in a coma. Thank you Grace.
Ben |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2886
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| 08/23/2020 03:48 PM |
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Hi Ben. Good stories, especially the autobus story. Yes I remember Kingsbury’s crash. Broke every bone in his body. I still feel bad or the hapless marshal. Kingsbury tried to make a comeback but not a chance. I thought of him when Froome was injured.
AndJones. Same as Jones cycle wear? Trying to remember the name of the NH-Maine and Vermont reps back then. Both women. One was gorgeous and had a thing with John Gromeck. |
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79pmooney
Posts:3189
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| 08/24/2020 04:52 PM |
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lsd, yeah. Grace of Jones Cycle Wear. They provided custom jerseys for us at NEBC. Wool or last forever synthetic. Very good fit and workmanship. I had several. I was wearing one that day. It died to scissors. I still have my custom un-sponsored NEBC jersey from my strong (and accident) year, 1977, when the club was between sponsors. Except a lot of fading, practically as good as new and I still wear it occaisionally. (No it hasn't stretched. It is the very quick fitness check!).
I didn't know those other two district reps. Funny about John Gromeck. Didn't know John but raced against him in 3 of the 4 of an early season series in southern NH. I'd ridden all winter and had good form. All I had to do was ride decent the 4th race and the series 3rd was mine. Two days before was my birthday that I shared with my grandfather. Dinner with all of us, my dad pouring the (very goo, properly aged name French) wine.
That was my wake-up call. Alcohol and racing do not work for me. 40 hours later I had nothing. John got to podium, not the he cared! |
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