Meeting ex pro cyclists

cyclingfury

Have you ever chatted to a stranger about cycling only to find out later that the guy was a cycling legend?
A few years ago I was collecting my bike from my LBS and this guy came in with a box of cycling shirts he was delivering. We got chatting and I told him I was off to ride the Pyrenean Raid in a few weeks. He told me how he used to race up and down them and gave me some tips on descending. "Are you an ex pro then?" I asked. "Yes" he replied.
My bike emerged from the workshop and as the owner was helping me load it into my car he said, "Do you know who were just talking to?" "No", I said. "You were talking to one of the best pros this country has ever had. His name is Barry Hoban."
When I later did my research on this guy only to find out that he had ridden eleven TDFs and won 8 stages I couldn't believe just how humble this guy had been when I had met him. One could have forgiven him for telling me exactly what he had achieved in his pro career but he was simply content to chat about what I was doing.
Mr Hoban I salute you. I just wished I'd known then what I know now!

LangerDan

I've met Barry a few times when he's been over here doing the rounds of the bike shops in Ireland. As you say, he's a nice, down-to-earth bloke. Sells nice stuff too! However I had the advantage of knowing who he was when I met him so I didn't try to give any racing insights from the lofty heights of the domestic calendar

Sean Kelly is another very personable guy.

OffTheBackAdam

Pity that the BCF never gave him the England team manager's job when he applied for it. They didn't like him telling them that the current crop of Senior riders (at that time) were going nowhere and that they should concentrate on the Juniors.

Old Tuggo

Harry Hall brought Barry to our club lunch many years ago and my wife who was sat next to him asked him if he rode a bike.

oldwelshman

OffTheBackAdam wrote:

Pity that the BCF never gave him the England team manager's job when he applied for it. They didn't like him telling them that the current crop of Senior riders (at that time) were going nowhere and that they should concentrate on the Juniors.

I think there may have been quite a few more others he upset also and there were possibly some other interesting matters that could have gone against him!!!

Anonymous

The original Mr Grumpy.

cougie

Barry Hoban has come out with our club a couple of times. Very nice bloke.

synchronicity

The only ex-pro that I'm aware I have talked to is Brian Smith... he's hired a few of my road bikes here in Tenerife! A nice honest chap.

ynyswen24

I went to the bike show in birmingham a couple of years back and as I was leaving I saw Sean Yates standing by his landrover. I said hello and he asked if I had a set of jump leads as he'd left the headlights on and his battery was flat. Very tall (but then I'm quite short).