Monthly Archives: July 2011

Nature’s first

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Green is gold.

The Tour de France is over people, and cycling was the winner.

I’d say more, but there’s more than enough that has been said. Maybe I’ll come back to it. Either way, it’s a very lovely evening here in Brisvegas and I’d like to introduce you to Nat. On her sweet chopper, riding around last beautiful Sunday about to leave the New Farm vicinity and take this terribly appropriate ride up a large hill.

Many things working for me here: stripes, matching and a beautiful bike smile.

I am beginning to see more beauty in Brisbane, after several months of thinking that basically no one rode here in regular clothes. Just crazed variants of dad lycra. Sorry Dad.

So it was a sight for sore eyes (literally) when on Sunday afternoon I spotted Nat. I’ve not been feeling much like approaching strangers for several months now, so it was kind of a new-old experience for me.

I’d almost forgotten how embarrassing it is folks.

I’m not sure what the next few months will bring, I feel that there are some serious challenges afoot. And someone’s going to have to start walking if they’re going to get there.

——

As an aside.

I’ve never really liked Mia Freedman. Surprisingly, this is not a result of her recent opinions on Cadel Evans. It’s more the years of seeing her byline on a range of truly perplexing magazine articles. She is my generational push me pull me. On one hand, I agree in many ways with her idea that, in Australia, sports people receive undue accolade and recognition in comparison to say, “saving lives”, “being a fireman”. And yet, I still find something inherently offensive about the way she expresses her opinions. I think I’m having Cosmo’s Body Love policy flashbacks, torn between the desire to support efforts to promote more realistic images of women in the media, and a sneaking suspicion that the Mia Freedman is a noxious feminist charlatan. Ugh. I just really don’t get into her. Sorry Mia. I’ll try to be less judgemental of you, and give you the airtime you so rightly deserve, saving lives and being a fireman.

Thatch, my very kind interwebs mentor, once said that saying mean things on the internet was a lame hobby and that he would help me with my blog so long as it’s point was not to say mean things on the internet*, but I just can’t help it. I hope never to have to read another Mia Freedman article again.

 

*I’m paraphrasing

only a few more hours

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To see what the hell happens.

Last night was so amazing that I was unable to write today, due to a mixture of awe and total freaking exhaustion. I had to wash my sheets, because I seem to be spending a lot of time in bed watching the tour on my laptop and eating unplanned snacks. I had a poetry gig before the stage and was feeling the odd combination of fatigue and adrenalin that comes after performing. What followed was crazy exciting and amazing. If you were watching last night,  you’ll know that it was unbefreakinglievable good fun. Attack attack mechanical excitement mountain hilling climbing charging alpe go cadel cadel frank you wheel sucking dullard.

(via cyclingtips)

It was something else. And if we are to be frank (not Andy) with each other, I am not really wanting to write anything write now, but I need to do something to stay awake. Because a TIME TRIAL BORES ME STUPID, but this one I am totally watching.

*the only good thing about time trials is that there are a few times that do some sweet customised helmet action.

there is something pure and painful

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About watching a massive mountain stage like last night.

(Bettini)

Full credit to Andy Schleck who rode a tactically and technically amazing race. Equal credit to Cadel who is – despite criticisms to the contrary – for my mind an amazing and exciting rider. Determined and resolute.

Do take the time to watch the full(er) round up on SBS.

In stages like this, when I see riders like Contador farewelling expectations of another successful tour, or Voeckler grimacing to the finish line, or any number of other contenders really struggling against what is possible or even plausible to achieve with your body – I get a really strange and transcendent feeling.

This may sound completely weird, for a sport which is marked by such huge amounts of money, such persistent allegations of doping and  (objectively speaking) such dumb outfits. There’s a lot to support to the idea that professional cycling (and the watching of it) is a sport for dudes with too much money and too much time and too much tight clothing. And sometimes I really do agree.

Other times, I can ignore it all. I don’t see the shouting crowds, I don’t really notice the scenery, I don’t even really hear Phil and the pedal stamping or the yo-yoing, I feel the way I feel when I watch Sufi Muslims spinning: somewhat lost, somehow confused and oddly transfixed.

Could be that I was half asleep. Could be that it was an amazing demonstration of what you can achieve with the human body, particular when the precise balance of its physical and mental limitations and capacities are at their limits.

I try not to overthink it, I just like to feel the presence of profane gods while I watch things spin.

If we’re honest with ourselves

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(bettini – from, oh, bugger I just deleted the link)

I’m pretty sure that Mary is not interested, I have it on good authority that she’s above that sort of thing.

 

So you see, although Thor has scored himself a free beer, and Mary loves a good bunny hop out of a car park and thinks Voeckler is kind of cute, and those Schleck brothers seem well-brung up,  she’s still not settled on a drinking partner.

 

This little Contador fellow made a few passes last night, but she’s never gone the sleazy type.  And she’s heard he takes drugs. Though he’s really a very good dancer.

 

That said, she is having a total cracker of a time. Apparently the DJ is going to really kick in some time around 12am tonight.

 

Mary has always had a big thing for salvation and redemption, maybe she’ll give Cadel a chance. Usually the nice guys finish second. We’ll wait and see.

 

I believe we will be seeing some serious uphill mano-a-mano tonight and tomorrow night.

 

(ooh… And rumour has it I might have a new bike visitor in my home, for my bicycling visitors, stay tuned for further rumours)

 

(oooh, and double oooh… I sent all your questions to Anna Meares last night! There was quite a lot in the end, though – folks, clearly I was the only one interested in her helmet.)