• The Cycling News forum is still looking to add volunteer moderators with. If you're interested in helping keep our discussions on track, send a direct message to @SHaines here on the forum, or use the Contact Us form to message the Community Team.

    In the meanwhile, please use the Report option if you see a post that doesn't fit within the forum rules.

    Thanks!

Andy Hampsten Interview

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
F

flicker

BANNED
Aug 17, 2009
4,153
0
0
I have to say Andy has it pegged, old school bikes, wide tyres and lovely American lassies. That is what I saw to day at the Northern California race i was in. Also epic weather.
 
rhubroma

rhubroma

Apr 2, 2009
8,660
16
17,510
Le breton said:
Access denied.
Too bad, I would like to know what Hampsten has to say.

In particular how he managed so well (compared to LeMond) post 1990
Click to expand...

He never won the Tour probably.

But seriously, he was always someone of culture from what we were told in the press, read a lot, appreciated the sport also at the level of European history. And he has adopted Italy as a second home outside the US, where he conducts a cycling tour business in Tuscany. Lemond, by contrast, seems to have remained trapped within that pioneer spirit and Mid-Western "values" he brought with him to the sport in the early 80's from his native America. He has thus not expanded his horizons after his sporting career, as Hampsten has done.

Not that its bad, just that he seems to have never outgrown that culture and, not having outgrown it, has remained stuck in the past.

Of course, however, I sincerely admire his efforts to expose doping and Armstrong.
 
F

flicker

BANNED
Aug 17, 2009
4,153
0
0
rhubroma said:
He never won the Tour probably.

But seriously, he was always someone of culture from what we were told in the press, read a lot, appreciated the sport also at the level of European history. And he has adopted Italy as a second home outside the US, where he conducts a cycling tour business in Tuscany. Lemond, by contrast, seems to have remained trapped within that pioneer spirit and Mid-Western "values" he brought with him to the sport in the early 80's from his native America. He has thus not expanded his horizons after his sporting career, as Hampsten has done.

Not that its bad, just that he seems to have never outgrown that culture and, not having outgrown it, has remained stuck in the past.

Of course, however, I sincerely admire his efforts to expose doping and Armstrong.
Click to expand...

Hampsten brings a lot of joy around himself, while Lance brings controversy and LeMond, awe and sorrow at the same time.
 
rhubroma

rhubroma

Apr 2, 2009
8,660
16
17,510
Greg was probably the greater raw talent. Had he lived the monkish lifestyle and ruthlessness in pursuing his objectives, he would have probably won a lot more.

Andy seems to suggest this, without stating it.

But the 80's were a differnt era from the 90's and the 2000's. And the results were accordingly.
 
O

on3m@n@rmy

Jun 17, 2010
5,139
237
17,880
BroDeal said:
Not very long.

http://www.elevationoutdoors.com/current-issue/straight-talk/andy-hampsten/
Click to expand...

I was particularly interested in Andy's comments about bike design, including this one referring to Eddy Merckx's theory:
His (Eddy's) theory was: “Don’t select equipment that makes you gain seconds on an uphill and lose minutes on a downhill.” His bikes were a bit heavier. His theory was that if you were a climber or a sprinter, you needed most of all to conserve energy. His point was that if you sacrifice the ride quality, your muscles get jarred for six, seven hours. You are beat up. All anyone cares about is if you have what it takes to breakaway or take a climb at the end of the stage. Even if you go slow for the middle five hours, your muscles are tired later. Now, that theory is certainly also true for us working stiffs who don’t ride everyday. If you go ride for six hours your only complaint should be that you wanted to ride seven, not that your neck hurts.
Click to expand...
 
9

9000ft

Feb 4, 2010
547
0
0
I was glad to have met Hampsten a couple times back in the day at promotional/charity rides. Really nice, unassuming guy. Seems like he's just a plain happier person than a lot of the highly driven, egocentric, hyper competitive, highly strung guys in the elite bike racing world. (maybe that's just the kind of person one needs to be to make it these days) Always kept bike racing in perspective. Never needed to keep himself in the spotlight and grab headlines during or after his competitive career.

Seemed to be just a very talented guy who loved to ride and race bikes. Of course having met him twice at promotional events doesn't mean I know the guy but that was my impression. Maybe that's why he was never a super star (that's not a dig at Hampsten, Andy's career speaks for itself. By super star I mean somebody who is a household name outside of the bike racing world.)
 
O

Oldman

Jun 19, 2009
5,220
0
0
9000ft said:
I was glad to have met Hampsten a couple times back in the day at promotional/charity rides. Really nice, unassuming guy. Seems like he's just a plain happier person than a lot of the highly driven, egocentric, hyper competitive, highly strung guys in the elite bike racing world. (maybe that's just the kind of person one needs to be to make it these days) Always kept bike racing in perspective. Never needed to keep himself in the spotlight and grab headlines during or after his competitive career.

Seemed to be just a very talented guy who loved to ride and race bikes. Of course having met him twice at promotional events doesn't mean I know the guy but that was my impression. Maybe that's why he was never a super star (that's not a dig at Hampsten, Andy's career speaks for itself. By super star I mean somebody who is a household name outside of the bike racing world.)
Click to expand...

You are right about him, even with such a short exposure. His family was raised by two very intelligent parents and having met them and his brother I'd guess the qualities are shared. That alone could be a major factor in his success and well-adjusted attitude.
 
pedaling squares

pedaling squares

Jul 23, 2009
2,891
1
0
icebreaker said:
Andy and his brother Steve are partners in a bike building business in Seattle.

Yu should go check out the bikes at their website ( hampsten.com - I think), anyway you will see a lot of really sensible design built into those bikes - they aren't the heaviest, nor are they the lightest, but they are real nice and make a lot of sense.

PS: The Crema is sweet!
Click to expand...
Hard not to like that Strada Bianca model.


Thanks for linking the interviews. It's nice to see a former pro who seems so content with the day to day.
 
E

Echoes

Oct 8, 2009
3,391
6
13,495
Race Radio said:
Andy says he saw the same as LeMond when the sport changed and supported him in speaking out

http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=6730
Click to expand...

Yup. I had read this interview. I find that he denounces doping with much more dignity and humility than his fellow countryman.

LeMond still did well in the nineties (9th in Paris-Roubaix). But one of the reasons he could no longer perform as well as in the 80's is that he was sick (myopathy probably consecutive to the shooting accident).

Other riders who had a 'good reputation' could still perform in the 90's. See Mottet or Van Hooydonck !
 
Alpe d'Huez

Alpe d'Huez

Mar 11, 2009
10,526
3,149
28,180
Class guy and one of my heroes. Just a real inspiration when I was getting into racing in my youth (not that I ever did very well!). I would have dreams of riding like the 7-11 guys. It was a wondrous time.

Glad to see he's still pretty fit and loves cycling as much as ever.
 
Indurain

Indurain

Mar 10, 2009
272
2
0
Classy guy for sure except the time when he tried to backhand this young kid that got a little to close to him in one of his tours. I found it quite funny actually. The kid just stops dead and nearly wet himself. Well deserved in my opinion.

Pity there is no video on his awesome Giro Ride in 88.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom