Armstrong vs Contador

frenchfighter

Rich - are you aware that a lot of riders use different wheels or bikes than those of the sponsor. They simply cover them with the sponsors decals. And if your dad made quality road bikes and you had probably been involved in the process, I would think you would want to ride one - a pretty unique situation.

DaveyL

dennisn wrote:

afx237vi wrote:

dennisn wrote:

afx237vi wrote:

dennisn wrote:

Why do you care? If you had people "chomping at the bit" wanting to design clothes, bikes, wheels, paint jobs, and the like for you, would you say no?

When they look like that: yes.

Riiiiiiiiiiight. And you don't pimp yourself and your bike up a bit when you go out riding?

If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis.

So you're saying you DON'T pimp yourself and your bike. Not even a little bit. Just ride in rags and on a rusty old bike. I'm betting you're out there on as flashy a bike as you can afford, with deep, possibly carbon, wheels, color coordinated tires and bar tape, carbon bars and seat post, and as high end of components as you can afford. But that's OK, you're not pimping.

You've assumed a lot about the poster there without having met him, Dennis.

Have you turned over a new leaf?

stfc1

frenchfighter wrote:

Seriously though, can someone explain to me why he thinks he is special enough to deserve custom bikes and cannot wear team kit like every other rider? Normally special kit or pain jobs are EARNED.

Not normally one to jump to Lance's defence, but seeing as he isn't getting paid to ride for Astana, I'd say he is under no obligation to wear their kit except when racing. If he wants to promote Livestrong during rest days, I think he should be allowed to do so. Not everything he does is evil.

That TT bike is horrible though.

afx237vi

dennisn wrote:

So you're saying you DON'T pimp yourself and your bike. Not even a little bit. Just ride in rags and on a rusty old bike. I'm betting you're out there on as flashy a bike as you can afford, with deep, possibly carbon, wheels, color coordinated tires and bar tape, carbon bars and seat post, and as high end of components as you can afford. But that's OK, you're not pimping.

Who says I even ride a bike? You're making quite a lot of assumptions there about someone you've never met. :roll:

RichN95.

frenchfighter wrote:

Rich - are you aware that a lot of riders use different wheels or bikes than those of the sponsor. They simply cover them with the sponsors decals. And if your dad made quality road bikes and you had probably been involved in the process, I would think you would want to ride one - a pretty unique situation.

So he's 'earned' the right to a different bike then.

Merckx was promoting Daddy's company, Armstrong is promoting his charity.

DavidBelcher

afx237vi wrote:

dennisn wrote:

afx237vi wrote:

dennisn wrote:

Why do you care? If you had people "chomping at the bit" wanting to design clothes, bikes, wheels, paint jobs, and the like for you, would you say no?

When they look like that: yes.

Riiiiiiiiiiight. And you don't pimp yourself and your bike up a bit when you go out riding?

If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis.

"High profile"?? This is a time-trial bike we're talking about. Surely it's a low-profile mid-life crisis?

David

frenchfighter

RichN95 wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

Rich - are you aware that a lot of riders use different wheels or bikes than those of the sponsor. They simply cover them with the sponsors decals. And if your dad made quality road bikes and you had probably been involved in the process, I would think you would want to ride one - a pretty unique situation.

So he's 'earned' the right to a different bike then.

Merckx was promoting Daddy's company, Armstrong is promoting his charity.

You don't understand. Most people wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a team bike by brand X and a bike bike brand Y covered in the same team paint as brand X.

PeteinSQ

a pretty unique situation.

A bit like winning the tour 7 times I would say...

The hate is blinding you a bit here. There's plenty about Armstrong to take issue with but his desire to ride minging bikes and where black socks is a rather small thing.

DavidBelcher

frenchfighter wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

Rich - are you aware that a lot of riders use different wheels or bikes than those of the sponsor. They simply cover them with the sponsors decals. And if your dad made quality road bikes and you had probably been involved in the process, I would think you would want to ride one - a pretty unique situation.

So he's 'earned' the right to a different bike then.

Merckx was promoting Daddy's company, Armstrong is promoting his charity.

You don't understand. Most people wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a team bike by brand X and a bike bike brand Y covered in the same team paint as brand X.

You mean as per this dodgy joke (5th message down) I posted not that long after I joined BR a couple of years ago:

http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopi ... 79b829be02

I got my coat back then; I'll do the same again now. :oops:

David

frenchfighter

PeteinSQ wrote:

a pretty unique situation.

A bit like winning the tour 7 times I would say...

The hate is blinding you a bit here. There's plenty about Armstrong to take issue with but his desire to ride minging bikes and where black socks is a rather small thing.

You don't understand either. Has his TT bike or his road bike got anything to do with him winning the Tour 7 times? Is it covered with sevens?

dennisn

afx237vi wrote:

dennisn wrote:

So you're saying you DON'T pimp yourself and your bike. Not even a little bit. Just ride in rags and on a rusty old bike. I'm betting you're out there on as flashy a bike as you can afford, with deep, possibly carbon, wheels, color coordinated tires and bar tape, carbon bars and seat post, and as high end of components as you can afford. But that's OK, you're not pimping.

You're making quite a lot of assumptions there about someone you've never met. :roll:

But you're not? Or maybe you know Lance?
C'mom, let's hear it. What do you ride? Nothing fancy I would hope? You probably bought a top line Colnago and had it spray painted flat black to avoid having anyone see you?

PeteinSQ

Axel Merckx (of Silence Lotto) --->

http://www.flickr.com/photos/caro/28744411/


Mario Aerts (of Silence Lotto) --->

http://www.flickr.com/photos/caro/28741 ... et-648608/

How come one of them is on a Merckx and the other rider is on the Ridley???? OMG :twisted: :evil: :twisted: :roll:

moray_gub

frenchfighter wrote:

Furthermore, heis paint jobs have nothing to do with that. Maybe you should have a look at his palmares...it is ridiculously bare of top results for a supposedly top rider.

.

If you take away Brazils' 5 football world cup wins they havent won much either ! Listen mate your hatred is becoming clear for all to see hear you need to let go a little

PeteinSQ

You don't understand either. Has his TT bike or his road bike got anything to do with him winning the Tour 7 times? Is it covered with sevens?

It's to do with him being diagnosed with cancer etc etc. All that 1274 business.

Why does Cav ride a bike that looks like a riveted fighter plane?

frenchfighter

Just in case you guys were not aware of what he has this year. There are also a couple more which I haven't got the inclination to look for. I don't care what the reason is...there is something wrong here.

moray_gub

RichN95 wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

Normally special kit or pain jobs are EARNED.

What more do you want him to do? Juggle penguins on a unicycle?

Even if he did it still wouldnt enough to go along with his 7 TDF wins for some.

PeteinSQ

The only thing wrong with all of that is that it is bringing a lot of attention to Trek bikes and they're really boring.

I can see it now....

Trek Marketing manager; "how can we get some more attention to our brand of bikes?"

Trek Marketing assistant; "well Lance has come out of retirement so we could customise his bikes so that people will be able to write reports on Bikeradar about Lance's latest customised TREK bike"

Trek Marketing manager; "you, sir are the cleverest man in that chair. Have a pay rise"

Meanwhile in the dark recesses of the internet;

Frenchfighter, "what has that bloody Texan done to earn the right to flounce around on a fancy TREK with a customised paint job, will you just look at them"

PeteinSQ.... "hmmmm those Treks look nice, I wonder how much one costs...."

frenchfighter

And just for the record, if any other rider had ridden that many HUGELY different bikes to their team and decided not to train with their team in the same kit, I wouldn't be impressed with them either and if there was a thread about them I would make my point known. It just so happens in this instance that it is Lance.

As for Axel well that is pretty poor show if he did that for every race, even if the two are not hugely different.

Cav rides a custom bike as the is the undisputed fastest man in road cycling. End of story. Furthermore, he didn't do it five or 15 years ago, he is doing it now.

afx237vi

dennisn wrote:

afx237vi wrote:

dennisn wrote:

So you're saying you DON'T pimp yourself and your bike. Not even a little bit. Just ride in rags and on a rusty old bike. I'm betting you're out there on as flashy a bike as you can afford, with deep, possibly carbon, wheels, color coordinated tires and bar tape, carbon bars and seat post, and as high end of components as you can afford. But that's OK, you're not pimping.

You're making quite a lot of assumptions there about someone you've never met. :roll:

But you're not? Or maybe you know Lance?
C'mom, let's hear it. What do you ride? Nothing fancy I would hope? You probably bought a top line Colnago and had it spray painted flat black to avoid having anyone see you?

I'm perfectly happy to make assumptions about Lance Armstrong based on what I see on TV or read in the press. He puts himself out there, people are entitled to make up their own mind. You're the one who has continually said you can't form an opinion of people unless you've met them personally - yet here you are, forming an opinion of me as a pimped-out Colnago rider with carbon wheels, colour coordinated bar tape and high-end components. That's a tad hypocritical, don't you think?

FWIW - and not that it's actually any of your business - I have a disability that prevents me from riding a bike. No-one on this forum knows that, because it's never cropped up in conversation before (it's a cycling forum, we talk about pro cycling, why would it?) I don't think it's all that relevant. I enjoy watching pro cycling purely as a spectator sport, simply because it's a beautiful sport to watch. And yeah, I form opinions of the cyclists I see on TV.

PeteinSQ

As for Axel well that is pretty poor show if he did that for every race, even if the two are not hugely different.

Why though? He will have agreed it with the team and they will have been happy about it.

With Armstrong you're getting a rider who actually transcends the sport, he has played a relatively important role in raising money for his cancer foundation and is actually an inspiration to lots of people.

People who follow cycling closely know that he is a bit of a cnut and possibly a cheat but the one thing that he has done that is indisputably a good thing is his cancer charity. That is what he is promoting with these bikes. The team agreed that he could do it. He is doing nothing underhand...

equivalence

There is clearly nothing wrong with having the bikes and it's utterly bizarre that someone can get logic so skewed about a rather innocuous situation. In fact, if I remember correctly each of the bikes is going to be auctioned off at the end of the year for the LAF. This surely makes the previous posters point both redundant and moot, with regards this situation.

moray_gub

frenchfighter wrote:

And just for the record, if any other rider had ridden that many HUGELY different bikes to their team and decided not to train with their team in the same kit, I wouldn't be impressed with them either and if there was a thread about them I would make my point known. It just so happens in this instance that it is Lance.

yea sure..........and oh my god a pig has just flown by my window ! ffs imagine get all hung up about decals on a bike how sad is that !

frenchfighter

I am against all personal comments which is why I never make them. I have said it many times and will say it again: Those who resort to personal comments have lost.

The irony about Dennis' comment though is that you have missed the point. Afx or any other cycling enthusiast doesn't ride with a team so can wear and ride what they like. A professional cyclist does so they can't.

moray_gub

frenchfighter wrote:

I am against all personal comments which is why I never make them. I have said it many times and will say it again: Those who resort to personal comments have lost.

The irony about Dennis' comment though is that you have missed the point. Afx or any other cycling enthusiast doesn't ride with a team so can wear and ride what they like. A professional cyclist does so they can't.

They cant ?

robmanic1

C'mon frenchie, let it go. After all, it's not about the bike(s)

frenchfighter

Moray I suggest you only contribute to this thread if you have something interesting to say.

If you feel strongly about point X and have posted about it on a thread, I will not come on and comment on your opinion in the way you have commented on mine regardless of whether I think it is ridiculous thing to feel strongly about it.

It doesn't do your intelligence any favours.

dennisn

afx237vi wrote:

dennisn wrote:

afx237vi wrote:

dennisn wrote:

So you're saying you DON'T pimp yourself and your bike. Not even a little bit. Just ride in rags and on a rusty old bike. I'm betting you're out there on as flashy a bike as you can afford, with deep, possibly carbon, wheels, color coordinated tires and bar tape, carbon bars and seat post, and as high end of components as you can afford. But that's OK, you're not pimping.

You're making quite a lot of assumptions there about someone you've never met. :roll:

But you're not? Or maybe you know Lance?
C'mom, let's hear it. What do you ride? Nothing fancy I would hope? You probably bought a top line Colnago and had it spray painted flat black to avoid having anyone see you?

I'm perfectly happy to make assumptions about Lance Armstrong based on what I see on TV or read in the press. He puts himself out there, people are entitled to make up their own mind. You're the one who has continually said you can't form an opinion of people unless you've met them personally - yet here you are, forming an opinion of me as a pimped-out Colnago rider with carbon wheels, colour coordinated bar tape and high-end components. That's a tad hypocritical, don't you think?

FWIW - and not that it's actually any of your business - I have a disability that prevents me from riding a bike. No-one on this forum knows that, because it's never cropped up in conversation before (it's a cycling forum, we talk about pro cycling, why would it?) I don't think it's all that relevant. I enjoy watching pro cycling purely as a spectator sport, simply because it's a beautiful sport to watch. And yeah, I form opinions of the cyclists I see on TV.

Sorry you're unable to ride. Great sport. Good fun. Still I'm thinking that if you could you'd
be just like the rest of us in our brightly colored clothes, high end helmets, shiny bikes and components. Yes? No?
As for me being hypocritical. You bet. Most people are in one way or another. And yeah,
I form opinions of the people who post on this forum. Just like everyone else.

afx237vi

Personally I don't have a problem with Armstrong riding so many bikes. My only problem is with how ugly they are.

afx237vi

dennisn wrote:

Sorry you're unable to ride. Great sport. Good fun. Still I'm thinking that if you could you'd
be just like the rest of us in our brightly colored clothes, high end helmets, shiny bikes and components. Yes? No?
As for me being hypocritical. You bet. Most people are in one way or another. And yeah,
I form opinions of the people who post on this forum. Just like everyone else.

Who's to say I don't sit on my sofa watching TV whilst wearing lycra, a helmet and a pair of Oakley shades anyway? 8)

(I'm KIDDING, people.)

PeteinSQ

A professional cyclist does so they can't.

Except that they can... You've just said that they can even if they have to "earn" the right to do it.