Alexi Grewel in training for comeback at 50! Inspiring or Unwelcome?

[gobuck]

Yes Alexi has an addiction problem and so do you and I. He is trading his drug addiction problem for a healthier one. I will take the bike addiction every day of the week.
Yes, Steve Tilford is THE MAN!

 

[BotanyBay]

BTW, whoever told the story about seeing Alexi at Mammoth on a MTN Bike. That would probably have actually been his brother Rishi, the MTB racer. Rishi was every bit as physically talented as Alexi, and I know that he did Mammoth for several years.

And the apple drops not far from the tree.

 

[Granville57]

Btw, ephedrine was no joke...

You guys are arguing a relatively primative PED past, when ephedra and caffeine provided an edge in the Stone Age.

What I failed to mention, perhaps irresponsibly, is that banning ephedrine was a good thing, what with the negative side-effects, such as the possibility of increasing one's chance of dying, and all.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2003-02-20-cover-ephedrine-baseball_x.htm

But back to the main topic. A relevant question:

Alexi is talking about now and some folks are gauging his current efforts and the likelihood of success. Can an elder rider sit through a Pro race?

 

[flicker]

By Dugadas:


For example:
Many tablets of No-Doze up the rear end encased in a stick of butter for the time-release boost; the caffeine is absorbed through the colon wall, apparently- and many other just-as-crazy stories. Other people confirmed these stories and they took on a patina of reality, although now it's hard to know if any of it was real, it was always just hanging about the guy, how different he was.

Wow, that is really Ghetto, I would have to see that to believe it. But then again I did see Divine playing Babs Johnson in the John Waters' film epic
'Pink Flamingos' eat uh, never mind.....

I think Alexi was just joshing you.....

 

[fatandfast]

Yes Alexi has an addiction problem and so do you and I. He is trading his drug addiction problem for a healthier one. I will take the bike addiction every day of the week.
Yes, Steve Tilford is THE MAN!

as long as you don't mind the age and timing thing . Maybe Alexi should start a career as a pro rugby player or golfer. If you know anything about pro bike racing and other pro sports there is absolutely nothing healthy about it. You are confusing bike riding with bike racing. The 2 have little to do with one another. Chemically I wonder what effects will be on an older body that is already chemically out of wack.

You may want to read an article in the WSJ by Nate Jackson. many of the issues facing NFL players health have crossover value to pro bike racing.

I never thought I would have a kind word for the organizers of pro boxing but at least they try to live by Clint Eastwood's "a man has got to know his limitations"

 

[DirtyWorks]

Bzzt. Wrong

Yes Alexi has an addiction problem and so do you and I. He is trading his drug addiction problem for a healthier one. I will take the bike addiction every day of the week...

Trading one addiction for another is not addressing an addict's problems. More pretending.

I keep hammering away at this because I've met so many addicts that switched to some endurance activity or another as a way to 'deal' with their addiction. It doesn't work like that.

 

[Granville57]

Wow, that is really Ghetto, I would have to see that to believe it.

Not me. I just as soon not see something like that, but it's easy to believe. There are plenty of stories, from plenty of sports, describing similar and much worse things. Willy Voet spoke of inserting condoms filled with "clean" urine among one of them. Butter isn't always one of the "ingredients" that is spoken of in the above scenario but the overall practice as been referred to many times.

Now I need to go for a run, a ride and then a long shower...

 

[flicker]

Not me. I just as soon not see something like that, but it's easy to believe. There are plenty of stories, from plenty of sports, describing similar and much worse things. Willy Voet spoke of inserting condoms filled with "clean" urine among one of them. Butter isn't always one of the "ingredients" that is spoken of in the above scenario but the overall practice as been referred to many times.

Now I need to go for a run, a ride and then a long shower...

When I saw the TV series 'Players' about the NFL,(fictional) and by knowing how fanatical racing cyclists are I totally saw the picture. (Gutsy on ESPNs part to present 'Players') Catheterizing foreign urine for instance, clever.
Also 'North Dallas Forty' paints a great picture of pro sports.

 

[ricara]

Well, how much faster was Grewal than Bauer?
One percent? Two percent?...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tWg_CR43rg

OK, Einstein, we all know that Alexi was faster than Steve that day. I'm still asking for some evidence that he was doped that day. (Even with ephedrine!)

Citation, please.

 

[Zweistein]

The PED's is just one aspect of his kind of crazy. Getting back onto a bike to be competitive at a National level is just not dealing with his personal issues. It's more kinds of crazy.

I highly doubt you know Alexi on a personal level and for that reason I believe you are very arrogant to make so many assumptions about his personal life.

And just for your sake let's assume that he still has issues with addiction, I strongly doubt cycling is a negative influence. I would bet it is the opposite:


Former drug addicts find new fixation on triathlons

"It does wonders for the mind. The reason I started running — it was a switch that went off in my head. I started feeling positive and feeling great about myself."

"It kept me busy and because of the physical fitness, it was making me feel better about myself."

"One study showed that women trying to quit smoking were more successful when they exercised. And the National Institute on Drug Abuse held a conference last year to explore the possible role of physical activity in substance abuse prevention."

http://myfitnessdepot.com/news/former-drug-addicts-find-new-fixation-on-triathlons/

Running From Addiction

"When I’m running, I feel like I’m on amphetamine," he says. "People say to me that I’ve just swapped one addiction for another addiction. They’re both highs, but one is destructive and the other is extremely productive."

http://m.maxim.com/amg/sports/articles/57048/runningfromaddiction.html

Former addict dumps drug use for rigors of triathlons

“It destroyed me,” Niemeyer said. “Triathlon gave to me what I desperately needed: a purpose.”

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/jan/01/former-addict-dumps-drug-use-for-rigors-of/

Triathlon Training Is New Drug for Old Addicts

“It isn’t a huge surprise when you consider many positive effects exercise can have with regards to the brain chemistry: dopamine, serotonin, endorphin, epinephrine — these are all associated with mood altering effects,” said Dr. Cedric Bryant, the chief science officer for the American Council on Exercise. “If they’re able to get this natural high, through a natural endeavor such as exercise, it allows them to replace the means to achieve that high with a more positive approach.”

http://blog.sierratradingpost.com/in-the-news/triathlon-training-is-new-drug-for-old-addicts/



From addict to Ironman to Ultraman

"Today Crandell is the founder and Executive Director of Racing for Recovery, an Ohio based non-profit foundation with the mission of preventing substance abuse in adolescents and individuals and offering a positive alternative to those currently battling addiction"

http://www.examiner.com/endurance-sports-in-national/from-addict-to-ironman-to-ultraman

 

[Granville57]

Tell me how much you think the performance of an endurance athlete is boosted by ephedrine? Nothing? One percent? Two percent?

OK, Einstein...please ignore the fact that I actually asked the above question, you're only allowed to respond to my other point.

Fixed that for ya'

 

[Granville57]

When I saw the TV series 'Players' about the NFL,(fictional) and by knowing how fanatical racing cyclists are I totally saw the picture. (Gutsy on ESPNs part to present 'Players') Catheterizing foreign urine for instance, clever.
Also 'North Dallas Forty' paints a great picture of pro sports.

Much of what that series depicted had been laid out in 1996...

Dark, indeed.

 

[ricara]

Fixed that for ya'

Well, I guess you showed me!

You showed me that you have ZERO evidence that Alexi was doping on ANYTHING at the Olympics. No hearsay, no admission, no nothing.

Thanks for confirming.

 

[Anonymous]

Trading one addiction for another is not addressing an addict's problems. More pretending.

I keep hammering away at this because I've met so many addicts that switched to some endurance activity or another as a way to 'deal' with their addiction. It doesn't work like that.

Why keep hammering? I have been clean and sober 20 years and I picked up cycling in part because of the natural high I get from it. So what? I dealt with my personal sh*t by doing the only thing that I have found that worked. (Hey Passages Malibu, Charlie Sheen was cured by you, right...) The two are not mutually exclusive, and I never lost my job, my sanity, or took other people's sh*t and sold it at a pawn shop to cover my cycling habit.

Why don't you hammer the issues in your own life instead of the lives of others? That is sh*t loads more constructive.

 

[python]

a pass by view

Why keep hammering? I have been clean and sober 20 years and I picked up cycling in part because of the natural high I get from it. So what? I dealt with my personal sh*t by doing the only thing that I have found that worked. (Hey Passages Malibu, Charlie Sheen was cured by you, right...) The two are not mutually exclusive, and I never lost my job, my sanity, or took other people's sh*t and sold it at a pawn shop to cover my cycling habit.

Why don't you hammer the issues in your own life instead of the lives of others? That is sh*t loads more constructive.

i have no idea who grewel is and why an old man's desire to race again is creating so much controversy.

i just wanted to give props to this post by tff. yes, reflecting is the first thing to do when expecting so much of others.

 

[mewmewmew13]

i have no idea who grewel is and why an old man's desire to race again is creating so much controversy.

i just wanted to give props to this post by tff. yes, reflecting is the first thing to do when expecting so much of others.

Hi Python, if you really don't know who he is than at least you owe it to yourself and cycling history to do a little old-time research. He is a big part of some mystical and exhilarating times in American cycling. I must be a lot older than you, or maybe you really do know of him and all the pioneering riders of that era, but those were some pretty cool years.

Like him or not, there are bound to be a lot of opinions on an announcement so brazen and crazy, as there would be if any rider of that era stepped up and said he was going to ride pro again. Sheesh! We're old!

I do agree with you comment about TFF, he makes a very good point and it should be thought about by all.
cheers,
mew

 

[BroDeal]

I also don't see the reason people are up in arms over this. Grewal will shortly find out if he's still got it. If he doesn't then he can switch to something more suitable to an older rider, such as 100 mile or 24 hour MTB races. He could enter the PB100.

How old is Tinker Juarez these days? Ned Overend at fifty could still work the young guys over.

 

[ultimobici]

Hi Python, if you really don't know who he is than at least you owe it to yourself and cycling history to do a little old-time research. He is a big part of some mystical and exhilarating times in American cycling. I must be a lot older than you, or maybe you really do know of him and all the pioneering riders of that era, but those were some pretty cool years.

Like him or not, there are bound to be a lot of opinions on an announcement so brazen and crazy, as there would be if any rider of that era stepped up and said he was going to ride pro again. Sheesh! We're old!

I do agree with you comment about TFF, he makes a very good point and it should be thought about by all.
cheers,
mew

You might want to do some research yourself, into Malcolm Elliott.

Came back at 48 and handed out a kicking to guys 20 years his junior. Some weren't even born when he retired!

 

[mewmewmew13]

You might want to do some research yourself, into Malcolm Elliott.

Came back at 48 and handed out a kicking to guys 20 years his junior. Some weren't even born when he retired!

Thanks ultimobici! I just read all about him----very cool guy, love to see this as it is inspiring! Sounds like after a 6 yr layoff he came back @ 42, and at 49 accepted a management position.
The history of cycling is wonderful.

Lots of amazing characters....some likeable some not, but all cyclists.

So with that---good luck to Alexi, if that's what he needs to do.


Thanx,
mew

 

[montagna lunga]

I for one would love to have the legs to ride like I did thirty+ years ago ... not just to "be competitive" ... but to (also physically) whip the snot out of the typical (for here) trash-talking punks who cannot even carry a cogent debate

a lot of folks didn't like AG because of his mouth, I say bfd. In a lot of ways his "rep" was the first victim of PC-think. Oddly, male american bicyclists have always been dumpster-diving cheapskates and rationalizing self-serving boys ... always been a fringe-society in the states ... the one thing that is truly tragic internationally about our sport is not real or fancied "substance abuse" or "addiction" ... it's that much of today's peloton has adopted a yank trash-talking self-serving near-slanderous mindset, and abandoned a level of decorum and mutual, respectful civility that gave cycling its prominence during the past century. With apologies to Sir Winston Churchill they now have all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire

 

[JMBeaushrimp]

I for one would love to have the legs to ride like I did thirty+ years ago ... not just to "be competitive" ... but to (also physically) whip the snot out of the typical (for here) trash-talking punks who cannot even carry a cogent debate

a lot of folks didn't like AG because of his mouth, I say bfd. In a lot of ways his "rep" was the first victim of PC-think. Oddly, male american bicyclists have always been dumpster-diving cheapskates and rationalizing self-serving boys ... always been a fringe-society in the states ... the one thing that is truly tragic internationally about our sport is not real or fancied "substance abuse" or "addiction" ... it's that much of today's peloton has adopted a yank trash-talking self-serving near-slanderous mindset, and abandoned a level of decorum and mutual, respectful civility that gave cycling its prominence during the past century. With apologies to Sir Winston Churchill they now have all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire

Pardon me? I don't get your point (the bolded part anyway). I'm not hearing a lot of sh*t-talk about/between competitors in the peloton. In fact the only time these media-paranoid models shoot their mouth off is when someone obvious actually gets popped. Ricco's the perfect example. As is Contador - as one of ongoing Omerta.

I can appreciate your frustration at being old, and being in Boulder, but maybe you're just cranky. Or just talking about the domestic peloton...

 

[Benotti69]

You might want to do some research yourself, into Malcolm Elliott.

Came back at 48 and handed out a kicking to guys 20 years his junior. Some weren't even born when he retired!

there are some not nice rumours about his 'training'. just rumours as i say

 

[Oldman]

I for one would love to have the legs to ride like I did thirty+ years ago ... not just to "be competitive" ... but to (also physically) whip the snot out of the typical (for here) trash-talking punks who cannot even carry a cogent debate

a lot of folks didn't like AG because of his mouth, I say bfd. In a lot of ways his "rep" was the first victim of PC-think. Oddly, male american bicyclists have always been dumpster-diving cheapskates and rationalizing self-serving boys ... always been a fringe-society in the states ... the one thing that is truly tragic internationally about our sport is not real or fancied "substance abuse" or "addiction" ... it's that much of today's peloton has adopted a yank trash-talking self-serving near-slanderous mindset, and abandoned a level of decorum and mutual, respectful civility that gave cycling its prominence during the past century. With apologies to Sir Winston Churchill they now have all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire

Maybe in your neck of the woods...we don't hear much of that, fortunately. By the way, I've had to listen to Gaggioli and a flock of Aussies race here in the late 80s and 90s. Ask anyone what their modus operandi was.

 

[bridgeman]

Maybe in your neck of the woods...we don't hear much of that, fortunately. By the way, I've had to listen to Gaggioli and a flock of Aussies race here in the late 80s and 90s. Ask anyone what their modus operandi was.

Gagg was here is SF Bay Area in the 90's. I heard things.

 

[Oldman]

Gagg was here is SF Bay Area in the 90's. I heard things.

..most of it unintelligible but ended with fu*k you, I have this 2 X 4...