Radio Wales Interview With G

13»

Comments

  • Crankbrother
    Crankbrother Posts: 1,695
    RichN95 wrote:
    Crankbrother wrote:
    As I mentioned earlier, it's of no benefit to me if someone wins a medal ... and virtually none of it has entertainment value (mainly because any enjoyment is eradicated by nationalistic bias and the nitwits such events attract) ...
    The country isn't run solely for your benefit though.

    Nor should it be for those choosing to turn a hobby into a career ...
  • dsoutar
    dsoutar Posts: 1,746
    Crankbrother wrote:

    Nor should it be for those choosing to turn a hobby into a career ...

    Why not ?
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,163
    The recent upsurge in the interest in cycling can almost certainly be traced back to Olympic success since the National Lottery funding started. Therefore in addition to the improved health and fitness of those who have taken up riding either for leisure, commuting or sport purposes the country will have benefited from increased tax revenues from the cycle trade. I would say that's money well spent and the funding (in all sports, not just cycling) helps to increase participation in sport which has been a policy of successive governments. No-one is forcing people to buy a lottery ticket so if you object to the way the funds raised are spent just don't buy one - simple really.
  • Crankbrother
    Crankbrother Posts: 1,695
    edited March 2014
    Yes, but as a downside ... We have Sir Bradley Wiggins ... and a glamut of fanfolks to go with it ...

    edit: and nitwits on bikes who think a yellow vest is a cocoon of invincibility, p'ing off drivers and pedestrians alike so by the time i get round to going out on my bike the world is sick of nearly all cyclists ...
  • Richmond Racer
    Richmond Racer Posts: 8,561
    RichN95 wrote:
    Crankbrother wrote:
    As I mentioned earlier, it's of no benefit to me if someone wins a medal ... and virtually none of it has entertainment value (mainly because any enjoyment is eradicated by nationalistic bias and the nitwits such events attract) ...
    The country isn't run solely for your benefit though.


    Jesus, dont rain on his parade
  • Crankbrother
    Crankbrother Posts: 1,695
    Why, incase Wiggins is out on his bike?
  • Richmond Racer
    Richmond Racer Posts: 8,561
    Thought there was a decent debate going on here

    Then you decide to make it a showcase for your particular object of hatred (must have been a day or so since you last did that in a thread)

    Infantile
  • rayjay
    rayjay Posts: 1,384
    As a pro musician I would not like the to see sports run the same way as the shambolic music industry we have.

    I have worked with and know some incredible musicians who are struggling to earn a decent living, Some of them still have to sign on or work a crappy job.

    In most forms of entertainment, talent is not always the things that open's doors. It's more about who you know or who your are related to or who's ar%e you are prepared to lick i.e. the directors couch route.


    In sport talent should be the only thing that opens the doors.
  • Macaloon
    Macaloon Posts: 5,545
    Let's be honest, here. The Olympics are one part great power politics (Beijing, Sochi...), one part worldwide global soap opera controlled and funded by global brands, with a bit of sport attached. Perhaps the most nauseating spectacle is the 'ordinary' people giving thanks to their equestrian sponsors for a shot on their horse. And Gary Richardson: like a tropical disease vector.

    The Olympic 'movement' is a monument to hypocrisy.
    ...a rare 100% loyal Pro Race poster. A poster boy for the community.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,163
    rayjay wrote:
    As a pro musician I would not like the to see sports run the same way as the shambolic music industry we have.

    I have worked with and know some incredible musicians who are struggling to earn a decent living, Some of them still have to sign on or work a crappy job.

    In most forms of entertainment, talent is not always the things that open's doors. It's more about who you know or who your are related to or who's ar%e you are prepared to lick i.e. the directors couch route.


    In sport talent should be the only thing that opens the doors.

    I agree :shock:
  • Crankbrother
    Crankbrother Posts: 1,695
    edited March 2014
    Richmond Racer wrote:
    Thought there was a decent debate going on here

    Then you decide to make it a showcase for your particular object of hatred (must have been a day or so since you last did that in a thread)

    Infantile

    You have a snide salad for lunch? ... again ... you should vary your meals ...

    edit: Apologies, I should know better than to bite ... But you need to take criticism of Wiggins less personally and be less personal in your responses, you're better than name calling ...
  • Richmond Racer
    Richmond Racer Posts: 8,561
    Crankbrother wrote:
    Richmond Racer wrote:
    Thought there was a decent debate going on here

    Then you decide to make it a showcase for your particular object of hatred (must have been a day or so since you last did that in a thread)

    Infantile

    You have a snide salad for lunch? ... again ... you should vary your meals ...


    I loathe and detest Valverde, more than any other rider by a very long way. But I dont bang on about it in every possible thread. Because that would be boring and highly tedious for everyone else.
  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,310
    Pross wrote:
    TailWindHome wrote:
    Exceptions made if the motivation is laziness or an inability to spell

    Or when it's the person's commonly accepted nickname :wink:

    Their initial being their commonly accepted nickname is the problem, not an exception

    It's all a bit 'football commentator trying to be matey' with the players.
    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • Crankbrother
    Crankbrother Posts: 1,695
    Richmond Racer wrote:


    I loathe and detest Valverde, more than any other rider by a very long way. But I dont bang on about it in every possible thread. Because that would be boring and highly tedious for everyone else.

    In fairness, it is relevant to mention 'Britain's greatest Olympian' whilst discussing the merits of pro riders focusing on the olympics rather than their pro career ...
  • Macaloon
    Macaloon Posts: 5,545
    TailWindHome wrote:
    Pross wrote:
    TailWindHome wrote:
    Exceptions made if the motivation is laziness or an inability to spell

    Or when it's the person's commonly accepted nickname :wink:

    Their initial being their commonly accepted nickname is the problem, not an exception

    It's all a bit 'football commentator trying to be matey' with the players.

    It's a minefield out there for the striving non-native speaking commentator - going with the authentic hard 'g' sound as in Geraint.
    ...a rare 100% loyal Pro Race poster. A poster boy for the community.
  • gsvbagpuss
    gsvbagpuss Posts: 272
    Dragging this back on topic, i can completely understand his desire for an Olympic medal, won at home of course. He's much more famous to non-specialist cycling fans (such as those on this site) becasue of it.

    I think he'll struggle to take on the real GC contenders so Classics sounds like a great idea, and BMC is a fair shout as they've had a good start to the year so far. He's probably the right age to miss the real peak powers of Boonen and Cancellara - just need to find a way to beat Sagan...
  • DeVlaeminck
    DeVlaeminck Posts: 9,031
    Pross wrote:
    The recent upsurge in the interest in cycling can almost certainly be traced back to Olympic success since the National Lottery funding started. Therefore in addition to the improved health and fitness of those who have taken up riding either for leisure, commuting or sport purposes the country will have benefited from increased tax revenues from the cycle trade. I would say that's money well spent and the funding (in all sports, not just cycling) helps to increase participation in sport which has been a policy of successive governments. No-one is forcing people to buy a lottery ticket so if you object to the way the funds raised are spent just don't buy one - simple really.

    I disagree, I think the inspiration factor is massively overstated by groups like BC who have a vested interest in continued state/lottery funding of elite athletes. Cycling was already taking off, along with running and to an extent triathlon before we had high profile success in the sport.

    I also doubt more than maybe 1% of non cyclists/cycling fans would have a clue who Geraint Thomas is - the Olympics is a big deal in this country for a couple of months every 4 years - maybe when we only won a couple of golds winning one made you a household name but not now. Amongst the rest of us - cycling fans - it's the road that counts - that is where you test yourself against the best and that is where you build your reputation. If BC wasn't funded for track medals like it is I'll guarantee they wouldn't be steering talent like Geraint Thomas to the Olympics.
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • Macaloon
    Macaloon Posts: 5,545
    edited March 2014
    GSVBagpuss wrote:
    Dragging this back on topic, i can completely understand his desire for an Olympic medal, won at home of course. He's much more famous to non-specialist cycling fans (such as those on this site) becasue of it.

    I think he'll struggle to take on the real GC contenders so Classics sounds like a great idea, and BMC is a fair shout as they've had a good start to the year so far. He's probably the right age to miss the real peak powers of Boonen and Cancellara - just need to find a way to beat Sagan...

    Sadly I think the Tour is similarly influential in a non-specialist cycling land. A few near misses at the Tour may well be more valuable than a couple of monument wins: so it's worth the risk. If he needs to specialize to win, he should probably get on with it. Does he climb that much better than Kwiatowski, to name but one?

    Edit Good start today :D
    ...a rare 100% loyal Pro Race poster. A poster boy for the community.
  • DeVlaeminck
    DeVlaeminck Posts: 9,031
    Tom James, Peter Charles, Carl Hester, Anna Watkins - famous?
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,163
    DeVlaeminck wrote:
    Pross wrote:
    The recent upsurge in the interest in cycling can almost certainly be traced back to Olympic success since the National Lottery funding started. Therefore in addition to the improved health and fitness of those who have taken up riding either for leisure, commuting or sport purposes the country will have benefited from increased tax revenues from the cycle trade. I would say that's money well spent and the funding (in all sports, not just cycling) helps to increase participation in sport which has been a policy of successive governments. No-one is forcing people to buy a lottery ticket so if you object to the way the funds raised are spent just don't buy one - simple really.

    I disagree, I think the inspiration factor is massively overstated by groups like BC who have a vested interest in continued state/lottery funding of elite athletes. Cycling was already taking off, along with running and to an extent triathlon before we had high profile success in the sport.

    Really? I didn't see any signs of this upsurge in the early 90s. Club membership in my club was pretty much static and other clubs were disappearing. The only sign of a boom was in the new sport of mountain biking. I could go out on a 60 mile ride and not see another cyclist despite living in a fantastic area for road cycling. 'Velodromes' were decaying concrete tracks with occassional track leagues and maybe a few winter road bike sessions - a million miles away from the thriving scene we now have at Newport, Manchester etc. where you are months on a waiting list to get on a beginners course. We now have around 50 kids at our club coaching session every Saturday - in 1994 I don't think we had that many members.

    OK, you can argue that other factors such as C2W or the cost of fuel have helped increase the rate of growth but if you look at the timelines BC's success started post lottery and the growth of the sport / past time has continued since then - success breeds success and participation.
  • gsvbagpuss
    gsvbagpuss Posts: 272
    Macaloon wrote:
    Sadly I think the Tour is similarly influential in a non-specialist cycling land. A few near misses at the Tour may well be more valuable than a couple of monument wins: so it's worth the risk. If he needs to specialize to win, he should probably get on with it. Does he climb that much better than Kwiatowski, to name but one?

    You think a nera miss is still valuable now a Brit has won the whole thing twice?
  • Macaloon
    Macaloon Posts: 5,545
    GSVBagpuss wrote:
    Macaloon wrote:
    Sadly I think the Tour is similarly influential in a non-specialist cycling land. A few near misses at the Tour may well be more valuable than a couple of monument wins: so it's worth the risk. If he needs to specialize to win, he should probably get on with it. Does he climb that much better than Kwiatowski, to name but one?

    You think a nera miss is still valuable now a Brit has won the whole thing twice?

    Something in that. The big news will be a Brit not winning the Tour.

    But it's cycling's Wimbledon. A month of daily updates on most news channels - including BBC keeping tabs on 'our' Olympians vs a one day splash on winning Roubaix. No brainer (in grubby commercial terms only).
    ...a rare 100% loyal Pro Race poster. A poster boy for the community.
  • DeVlaeminck
    DeVlaeminck Posts: 9,031
    Pross wrote:
    DeVlaeminck wrote:
    Pross wrote:
    The recent upsurge in the interest in cycling can almost certainly be traced back to Olympic success since the National Lottery funding started. Therefore in addition to the improved health and fitness of those who have taken up riding either for leisure, commuting or sport purposes the country will have benefited from increased tax revenues from the cycle trade. I would say that's money well spent and the funding (in all sports, not just cycling) helps to increase participation in sport which has been a policy of successive governments. No-one is forcing people to buy a lottery ticket so if you object to the way the funds raised are spent just don't buy one - simple really.

    I disagree, I think the inspiration factor is massively overstated by groups like BC who have a vested interest in continued state/lottery funding of elite athletes. Cycling was already taking off, along with running and to an extent triathlon before we had high profile success in the sport.

    Really? I didn't see any signs of this upsurge in the early 90s. Club membership in my club was pretty much static and other clubs were disappearing. The only sign of a boom was in the new sport of mountain biking. I could go out on a 60 mile ride and not see another cyclist despite living in a fantastic area for road cycling. 'Velodromes' were decaying concrete tracks with occassional track leagues and maybe a few winter road bike sessions - a million miles away from the thriving scene we now have at Newport, Manchester etc. where you are months on a waiting list to get on a beginners course. We now have around 50 kids at our club coaching session every Saturday - in 1994 I don't think we had that many members.

    OK, you can argue that other factors such as C2W or the cost of fuel have helped increase the rate of growth but if you look at the timelines BC's success started post lottery and the growth of the sport / past time has continued since then - success breeds success and participation.

    I agree there was no upsurge going back to the 90s but then I'm not sure we had much high profile Olympic success back then either, the real medal boom started in Beijing, the cycling boom was well under way before that. OK so Hoy and Wiggo got gold before that in 2004 but Wiggins at least said he came back from those games thinking he was made and his life didn't change.

    I also agree that the sport is booming, I just think the influence of Olympic success on that has been over stated. It has an impact but I doubt it's been a necessary factor in rising participation levels.
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • yorkshireraw
    yorkshireraw Posts: 1,632
    The 'funding' on a personal level for athletes (generic) from the lottery is also means tested - so as soon as Ennis, Farah, Hoy etc started earning a few bob they wouldn't receive actual cash - but obviosuly still have access to the medical & coaching support etc.
    There was a big story a year or two back when Paula Radcliffe was dropped from the funding 'list' - although she hadn't had any money from it for years.

    There are a multitude of factors that have influenced more people getting on bikes, just as there are a multitude of activities (commuting, fitness, sport, leisure etc) they are using bikes for.
  • Crankbrother
    Crankbrother Posts: 1,695
    So Thomas may have been better concentrating on his real job after all ...

Categories