Bradley Wiggins needs media training

PedalPedant

DonDaddyD wrote:

For me, bottom line? If this guy is going to be the spokesman for us cyclists I would like him to do a better job of representing us than giving a rant about helmets that achieves nothing.

I wasn't aware that he was. Has anyone told him? Does that mean Lewis Hamilton is the spokesman for all car drivers?

What Bradley said didn't strike me as a rant or the ramblings of a drunkard. He was asked his opinion and he gave it. His opinion on compulsory helmets is slightly controversial but that's all it is, an opinion.

I really can't see what the fuss is all about.

PP

waddlie

One man (a Brit, no less!) wins an olympic gold only a couple of weeks after winning the TdF.

Another man dies in a horrendous accident.

And yet. What we still end up talking about, is DonDaddyD.

okgo

One thing that annoyed me yesterday was his

"the people that have come out to support on the roads around here ermm whereever we are is great" You know where we are you muppet.

"you couldn't as for a better backdrop than this, wherever we are, that castle" What probably one of the most famous English palaces in the world?

He came accross a bit bad there for me, just pointless throwaway comments.

vermin

EDIT: I prefer Veronese68's interpretation

DonDaddyD

Waddlie wrote:

One man (a Brit, no less!) wins an olympic gold only a couple of weeks after winning the TdF.

Another man dies in a horrendous accident.

And yet. What we still end up talking about, is DonDaddyD.

I take it you have an some imagined issue with me.

Attack the argument not the person. :roll:

pangolin

okgo wrote:

He came across a bit bad there for me, just pointless throwaway comments.

I for one enjoy never coming across badly, and all my jokes being wildly hilarious.

Wiggins on twitter a few minutes ago

@bradwiggins wrote:

Just to confirm I haven't called for helmets to be made law as reports suggest

@bradwiggins wrote:

I suggested it may be the way to go to give cyclists more protection legally if involved in an accident

*

@bradwiggins wrote:

I wasn't on a soap box CALLING, was asked what I thought #myopiniondoesntcountformuch

*This is sad but true, it is one less thing to use against the cyclist, whatever the circumstances. I know it shouldn't matter but there you go.

His last hashtag suggests he has turned down DDD's offer of becoming spokesman for us cyclists. Seems a shame.

rick_chasey

It's not the first time it's happened, nor will it be the last for Wiggins.

When journos ask questions, you know why they're asking. You know what the motive is.

It's not a question of media training, just a bit of common sense. Likelihood is he was a bit sh!tfaced anyway.

DonDaddyD

pangolin wrote:

His last hashtag suggests he has turned down DDD's offer of becoming spokesman for us cyclists. Seems a shame.

Where did I offer or ask for Wiggins to be our spokesman? I said by virtue of his visiblity and public profile he is. Regardless of whether he wants to be or if we want him to be, to the lay person Wiggins is a cyclist end of.

How many people see my fat ass ride a bike to work and then drop a 'Wiggins' into conversation, I'm a Contador fan, 'Conta-what' they say.

cyclingprop

DonDaddyD wrote:

How many people see my fat ass ride a bike to work

I heard you're always at the back, so erm.... none?

jedster

Surely they say "what that cheating barsteward?"

pangolin

They were probably winding you up because they disagree with Contador's past

Really? No-one has mentioned Wiggins to me because of me cycling, just the normal "did you see the TT", type stuff you would expect. No-one has wagged their finger at me for not wearing a helmet following his comments yet either.

I just find this whole cyclist death / wiggins comment / media overblowing stuff really sad and boring. Can we go back to discussing what hybrid is best?

king_jeffers

Really who cares? He did a great job, so he might have put his foot in it a bit, its his opinion nothing more. I really fail to see what the point is. First slagging Victoria Pendleton off now this, everyone has flaws. Just enjoy what they are good at and be thankful for the publicity the sport is getting. :roll:

rubertoe

pangolin wrote:

They were probably winding you up because they disagree with Contador's past

Really? No-one has mentioned Wiggins to me because of me cycling, just the normal "did you see the TT", type stuff you would expect. No-one has wagged their finger at me for not wearing a helmet following his comments yet either.

I just find this whole cyclist death / wiggins comment / media overblowing stuff really sad and boring. Can we go back to discussing what hybrid is best?

The one your ridding is always the answer.

DonDaddyD

I just think Wiggins could perform better in the media and do more, if these questions are going to be continually posed to him, for grass roots level cyclists like us commuters. Maybe he doesn't want to be the spokesperson, he may find he has no choice.

Anyway....

cyclingprop wrote:

DonDaddyD wrote:

How many people see my fat ass ride a bike to work

I heard you're always at the back, so erm.... none?

daviesee

Not getting much support here DDD.

The correct answer to your original question is - No.

Move along, nothing to see here.............

DonDaddyD

daviesee wrote:

Not getting much support here DDD.

The correct answer to your original question is - No.

Move along, nothing to see here.............

I don't do it for support I have a view, I post people can either agree, disagree or not comment at all. I always try to look at the counter argument and add it, if viable, to my own personal view. Sometimes my view changes due to gaining insight to others perceptions or not.

supersonic

if these questions are going to be continually posed to him

But what was the question?

jzed

I think Wiggins is a breath of fresh air. He's a normal guy who isn't bothered with all the red carpet stuff. Yeah he doesn't come across as well as Cav might but thats not his thing. He lives in a northern town, keeps himself to himself and tried to offer an opinion of cycling safety. The helmet thing was just part of a general theme that things can't remain as they are and more needs to be done for cyclists saftey, including cyclists taking their share of the responsibility. Yeah he could have phrased it all better but its got everybody debating cycling safety so maybe something good will come of it all.

PBo

DonDaddyD wrote:

Many of you have shouted me down for suggesting that Bradley Wiggins needs media training.

looks like many of us have still shouted you down!!! would you argue with yourself if you couldn't go online!!!

Honestly, what good do these raw Wiggins outburst achieve?

Why should they do any good? He's just a bloke who's good at cycling. Don't give me any role model stuff. Parents/ carers are children's main role models. I've worked in education, with kids, and I'm telling you, if they come from a crap home life, with awful parents, Wiggins having media training won't make a blind bit of difference to their lives. Maybe teachers, social workers, youth leaders etc. might change things for them. But Wiggins won't. Sure, maybe one poor kid will be inspired to take up cycling, and that turns his life around for whatever reason. But - he's been inspired by wiggo as a cyclist - not following him because he's a role model

So don't shout me down until you yourselves weigh and consider the wider picture.

We've all weighed and considered...

yep,then shouted you down!!!

DonDaddyD

I believe this might be it - I can't see it on my work computer: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2 ... ists-video

dhope

DonDaddyD wrote:

I said by virtue of his visiblity and public profile he is. Regardless of whether he wants to be or if we want him to be, to the lay person Wiggins is a cyclist end of.

Then blame the lay person for being an idiot, don't blame the cyclist for being able to ride a bike.

supersonic

DonDaddyD wrote:

I believe this might be it - I can't see it on my work computer: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2 ... ists-video

Seems like a decent enough statement to me, covered a lot of things - maybe not as eloquently as you may like it, but it does not seem he was asked specifically about the accident in question nor how it happened, nor about riding down the left hand side of vehicles. It seems a general response to the likes of: "what can cyclists (and maybe drivers) do to make themselves safer?". But we just don't know. In fact watching it again, I thought his comments on cyclists and motorists coexisting was rather good.

rhext

DonDaddyD wrote:

daviesee wrote:

Not getting much support here DDD.

The correct answer to your original question is - No.

Move along, nothing to see here.............

I don't do it for support I have a view, I post people can either agree, disagree or not comment at all. I always try to look at the counter argument and add it, if viable, to my own personal view. Sometimes my view changes due to gaining insight to others perceptions or not.

Ah, but if you're not after support then you're surely just another 'visionary' shouting to the passers-by on the digital equivalent of speaker's corner. Which is pretty much the way you come across to me!

Jay dubbleU

No - leave the guy alone, he's entitled to his opinion.
He's an athlete not a cycling spokesman - don't try to turn him into something he's not.

veronese68

okgo wrote:

One thing that annoyed me yesterday was his

"the people that have come out to support on the roads around here ermm whereever we are is great" You know where we are you muppet.

"you couldn't as for a better backdrop than this, wherever we are, that castle" What probably one of the most famous English palaces in the world?

He came accross a bit bad there for me, just pointless throwaway comments.

He was setting up a joke but nobody stepped up.
Wiggo "...wherever we are"
A N Other "Hampton Court"
Wiggo "No, I always walk like this"

I hope I don't need to translate rhyming slang

jzed

Bradley Wiggins: "Just to confirm I haven't called for helmets to be made the law as reports suggest. I suggested it may be the way to go to give cyclists more protection legally I involved In an accident. I wasn't on me soap box CALLING, was asked what I thought #myopiniondoesntcountformuch "

roger_merriman

supersonic wrote:

DonDaddyD wrote:

I believe this might be it - I can't see it on my work computer: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2 ... ists-video

Seems like a decent enough statement to me, covered a lot of things - maybe not as eloquently as you may like it, but it does not seem he was asked specifically about the accident in question nor how it happened, nor about riding down the left hand side of vehicles. It seems a general response to the likes of: "what can cyclists (and maybe drivers) do to make themselves safer?". But we just don't know. In fact watching it again, I thought his comments on cyclists and motorists coexisting was rather good.

about the only bit he seemed vague was about helmets, I suspect as his twitter feed sugests he was thinking more on the legal cover, rather than new laws on compultion per say.

vermin

@ Veronese68

Ha!

notsoblue

JZed wrote:

Bradley Wiggins: "Just to confirm I haven't called for helmets to be made the law as reports suggest. I suggested it may be the way to go to give cyclists more protection legally I involved In an accident. I wasn't on me soap box CALLING, was asked what I thought #myopiniondoesntcountformuch "

Thats better...

I don't think Wiggins needs any training at all. I think the journalist who asked him the leading question while he had had a few celebratory drinks needs the training.

Gizmo_

PBo wrote:

Honestly, what good do these raw Wiggins outburst achieve?

Why should they do any good? He's just a bloke who's good at cycling. Don't give me any role model stuff. Parents/ carers are children's main role models. I've worked in education, with kids, and I'm telling you, if they come from a crap home life, with awful parents, Wiggins having media training won't make a blind bit of difference to their lives. Maybe teachers, social workers, youth leaders etc. might change things for them. But Wiggins won't. Sure, maybe one poor kid will be inspired to take up cycling, and that turns his life around for whatever reason. But - he's been inspired by wiggo as a cyclist - not following him because he's a role model

You know something? I think in this age of over-polished and 'perfect' sportsmen, he might actually have more effect on kids because he's a bit... grumpy. Almost Kevin and Perry-esque. "Leave me alone! I HATE you. I just want to ride my bike!"