Triathlism: an incredibly unserious sport

In article
,
--D-y wrote:

On Jan 6, 1:33Â*pm, Fred Flintstein
wrote:
On 1/6/2011 11:52 AM, Marco wrote:





Fred Flintstein wrote:

If you step through it slowly you can see him clip a pedal.

Yes, that's clearly what happened. His pedal hit the curb like PBA
suggested.

So Mr. Flintsein, you've often talked about how dumb it is for guys to
pursue bike racing, and that instead they should go to college and get
on the conventional career path. I've always felt that there is
nothing wrong with trying to do both in life. If you are passionate
about bike racing, why not devote a few years and fully experience it?
The guy who slid across the pavement there in your hometown stage race
is a perfect example. He spent four years riding as a mid-level D3 pro
in the US, and got to do the big US races like Philly week, Tour of
Georgia, etc. and even some international racing. But he also got a BS
in mechanical engineering, and when he finished bike racing he went on
to get a Masters from UC Berkeley. Now he has a great job designing
telescopes and rides his bike for recreation and fitness. There are
plenty of other examples like him in US bike racing.

What I've repeatedly stated was that being a professional cyclist
was not an acceptable career path. That story reinforces my point.

I also know people that went to many interesting places to do
interesting things while they were in school. Having to fit those
experiences around high level bike racing would have ****ed it all
up for them.

If I were magically young again I would waste less time trying to
be a fast bike racer. I'm not saying I wouldn't indulge myself in
an extended adolescence, I'm saying I would spend more time in places
more interesting to be than central city crits.

As a young man I was passionate about bike racing. As I grew older,
if I was going to compete in a high level competition it had to be
within easy driving distance of where I lived. If I was going to
make a sacrifice to go someplace and do something there was no way
it was going to be to do a bike race. That's why I've never been to
masters nationals.

Fred Flintstein

Gosh, I went to masters nationals (road race, TT) one year and it was
very interesting.

Sometimes this place reminds me of a story a friend told me long ago,
about some gathering of English majors who had gone on to not make
very much money in the world of academics.

At least they knew when they were splitting an infinitive.

--
Old Fritz

On Jan 7, 9:05*am, Fred Flintstein
wrote:
Superweek is a waste of time and money. Spending summers
racing crits was stupid. I went to the races because I
was a dumbass. If I had been smarter I wouldn't have gone.

I dunno ... if you can't be a dumbass when you're young, when can you
be? Working with college interns, I see too many of them who seem to
be on the grim death march to success. Even going somewhere exotic
and interesting gets turned into an exercise in achievement. There's
plenty of time for that nonsense. Race bike and be a dumbass when you
can. (just don't have the illusion that it's a career path. then
again who knows ... if you get a Ph.D. in exercise physiology was the
bike racing a wast of time?)

On Jan 7, 12:35*pm, "Kurgan. presented by Gringioni."
wrote:
On Jan 7, 6:08*am, Fred wrote:



On Jan 7, 3:06*am, "Kurgan. presented by Gringioni."

wrote:
On Jan 6, 9:42*pm, Fred wrote:

On Jan 6, 10:32*pm, "Kurgan. presented by Gringioni."

wrote:
On Jan 6, 11:33*am, Fred Flintstein
wrote:

On 1/6/2011 11:52 AM, Marco wrote:

Fred Flintstein wrote:

If you step through it slowly you can see him clip a pedal.

Yes, that's clearly what happened. His pedal hit the curb like PBA
suggested.

So Mr. Flintsein, you've often talked about how dumb it is for guys to
pursue bike racing, and that instead they should go to college and get
on the conventional career path. I've always felt that there is
nothing wrong with trying to do both in life. If you are passionate
about bike racing, why not devote a few years and fully experience it?
The guy who slid across the pavement there in your hometown stage race
is a perfect example. He spent four years riding as a mid-level D3 pro
in the US, and got to do the big US races like Philly week, Tour of
Georgia, etc. and even some international racing. But he also got a BS
in mechanical engineering, and when he finished bike racing he went on
to get a Masters from UC Berkeley. Now he has a great job designing
telescopes and rides his bike for recreation and fitness. There are
plenty of other examples like him in US bike racing.

What I've repeatedly stated was that being a professional cyclist
was not an acceptable career path. That story reinforces my point.

On Jan 7, 2:58*am, "Beloved Fred No. 1" wrote:
Kurgan. presented by Gringioni. wrote:
* Why isn't it acceptable? Because he didn't make as much money?

IMO, people should do what makes them happy. Everything else is
bull****.
Ryan Cousineau wrote:
Perhaps they should. But professional cycling is rarely a road to
happiness.

The road to happiness is a cul de sac.

Col. Col de Sac - it's in the Pyrenees I believe.

R

On Jan 6, 6:49*pm, --D-y wrote:

I got to travel much later in life and what can I say, I'll always be
an American but I wouldn't mind living elsewhere until I got homesick.
Amsterdam comes to mind.

Are you suggesting a RBR road trip?

R

--D-y wrote:

I got to travel much later in life and what can I say, I'll always be
an American but I wouldn't mind living elsewhere until I got homesick.
Amsterdam comes to mind.

RicodJour wrote:
Are you suggesting a RBR road trip?

Dumas will be providing a guided tour of the bordellos and best places
to smoke weed just so Flintstein can get finally get his vacation in an
exotic place.

--D-y wrote:
Sometimes this place reminds me of a story a friend told me long ago,
about some gathering of English majors who had gone on to not make
very much money in the world of academics.

Frederick the Great wrote:
At least they knew when they were splitting an infinitive.

Shirley that's something Liz does ?

On Jan 8, 12:58*am, RicodJour wrote:
On Jan 6, 6:49*pm, --D-y wrote:



I got to travel much later in life and what can I say, I'll always be
an American but I wouldn't mind living elsewhere until I got homesick.
Amsterdam comes to mind.

Are you suggesting a RBR road trip?

As a friend once said, I prefer to live in a colony of hermits.
Similar for travel arrangements.
--D-y

On Jan 8, 3:28*am, "Beloved Fred No. 1" wrote:
--D-y wrote:
Sometimes this place reminds me of a story a friend told me long ago,
about some gathering of English majors who had gone on to not make
very much money in the world of academics.

Frederick the Great wrote:
At least they knew when they were splitting an infinitive.

(BF#1 wrote):
Shirley that's something Liz does ?

Hey Fred, that's what it pays. Don't complain!

"To not make" is good English. Communication, please, and maybe a
little creativity, a little syncopation-- or maybe just being
oblivious of silly "rules".
Shakespeare. Beethoven. Just two examples of people who created on a
far, far higher plane. Point being: People complained about
Shakespeare's use of the language, and other people walked out of
presentations of Beethoven's music. Be glad you weren't one of them,
they missed a good show.

Again, despite our best efforts with the handbasket, Hell doesn't seem
to be getting any closer. Relax, enjoy the trip.
--D-y

In article
,
--D-y wrote:

On Jan 8, 3:28Â*am, "Beloved Fred No. 1" wrote:
--D-y wrote:
Sometimes this place reminds me of a story a friend told me long ago,
about some gathering of English majors who had gone on to not make
very much money in the world of academics.

Frederick the Great wrote:
At least they knew when they were splitting an infinitive.

(BF#1 wrote):
Shirley that's something Liz does ?

Hey Fred, that's what it pays. Don't complain!

"To not make" is good English. Communication, please, and maybe a
little creativity, a little syncopation-- or maybe just being
oblivious of silly "rules".
Shakespeare. Beethoven. Just two examples of people who created on a
far, far higher plane. Point being: People complained about
Shakespeare's use of the language, and other people walked out of
presentations of Beethoven's music. Be glad you weren't one of them,
they missed a good show.

Again, despite our best efforts with the handbasket, Hell doesn't seem
to be getting any closer. Relax, enjoy the trip.

Excuuuuse _Me_, William Snake****.

--
Old Fritz