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Celebrity cyclists

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Echoes

Oct 8, 2009
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Jean Gabin, the greatest French actor in history was an avid cyclist and friend of many cyclists. He commented Bore de France on the radio in the 30's. When his friend Alfred Letourneur wanted to break the derny-paced hour record, Gabin held his saddle before the start. In Marcel Carné's masterpiece Le jour se lève, Gabin has pictures of André Leducq next to his mirror.

gabin.png



Michel Audiard was a junior track rider but he never turned pro or raced on the road because he couldn't climb a highway ramp. That's how he became a great film dialogue writer.

On the shooting of Visconti's Il gattopardo, Alain Delon escaped the crew, in order to shake hands with Fausto Coppi. He received Coppi's bike and still has it.


There was a time when cycling and cinema were two close worlds. ;)
 
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simo1733

Jun 15, 2010
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Alain Prost :former F1 champ
Roberto Mancini :Mancester City Manager
David Feherty :Golf Commentator
Lord Alan Sugar :British Entrepreneur and star of the Apprentice
 
Arnout

Arnout

Mar 10, 2009
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What I am about to say is not going to be popular with at least one of my Top Gear colleagues, but here goes anyway. I'd like to stick up for the bicycle.

The bicycle was without doubt one of the greatest inventions ever. Without the bicycle, and the desire for liberty it generated, we would probably not have the car. Many of our great carmakers began by making bicycles - Peugeot as well - and most of us learn the basics of the Highway Code riding a bicycle.

Many things in life are supposedly ‘like riding a bike', in that we'll never forget how to do them. But actually, it's very easy to forget how to play musical instruments, do quadratic equations, strip and reassemble a rifle while blindfolded and make pastry. Only the ability to ride a bicycle remains with us after decades of inattention, and that's because riding one taps into some innate understanding of basic physics. A bicycle really is an extension of both your body and your psyche.

Who doesn't have, or have access to, a bicycle? It's like having some shoes or a tin opener. In places such as Copenhagen, where cycling is pretty much the opium of the people, bikes are like community chattels. You can't really own a bicycle any more than you can actually own an umbrella or a cat.

I'm perfectly familiar with all the regular objections to bicycles and the cult of cycling, but they're all just cant, really. Cycling has long been hijacked for political ends, but so what? It can be ignored, like the BNP. I get annoyed with people who bought a bicycle three weeks ago and now present it to me as if they've discovered the cure for all society's ills. I know what they're good for, and what they're not good for. Among the latter is carrying a new refrigerator. Unless you're Chinese.

Cyclists jump red lights and ride across the pavement, but so what? Cyclists are pedestrians really, since they are leg-powered. They've just added a few levers and cogs to improve their own efficiency.

Bicycles should never be regulated, they should never be subject to road tax, they should not require third-party insurance and competence to ride a bicycle should not be tested. It tests itself, because if you can't do it, you have a crash. Bicycles are the first rung on the personal-transport ladder and should be free at the point of use. I'll champion the bicycle until I'm worn through to the canvas.

But I do have a complaint. Cyclists have become miserabilists.

Several times a week, I go for a bike ride alongside the river near where I live. It's good for me. Or at least it is until I meet another cyclist coming the other way. "Morning," I chirp, cheerfully, because I am cheerful, filling my lungs with the airy elixir and freeing up my tired old bones. Nothing.

I was keeping score for a while, but I've long since lost count. It stood at something like - May, 8,000; other cyclists, nil. I supposed I might just be coming across as a weirdo. So I then tried smiling instead. Still nothing.

People walking their dogs respond. So do people roller-skating, staggering home after a really late one, picking through bins, collecting rubbish, delivering parcels and trimming their bushes. Sometimes the dogs themselves reciprocate with a simple bark. Only cyclists reject these basic conventions of greeting that reaffirm our membership of a universal fraternity, which is being human. Just a nod of the head will do. Nothing.

Maybe these cycling crusaders don't take me seriously, since I ride in my clothes rather than in a Lycra gimp suit with TV packaging crash helmet and a stupid flashing light attached to my face. Just because I'm not dressed up as a Teenage Mutant Ninja *** doesn't mean I'm not a proper cyclist. I haven't been without one since the age of three. I had to be prised from one of them by a kindly old dear at the top of a Scottish mountain, as my fingers had frozen to the handlebars. Don't come over all superior with me, you saddle-faced gits.

This is what has gone wrong with the supposed bicycle revolution. In all honesty, I think there should be something in it. We could use bikes more, we could feel healthier, we could reduce some journey times and leave the roads more free for the ambulances we will eventually need to call. A bit of cycling could, possibly, improve the fiscal and physical well-being of UK plc.

But it won't happen until the people who presume to represent this ancient and excellent activity learn to do it with a bit of a smile and a wave. Either cheer up, or fall off.
Click to expand...

James May, from Top Gear.
 
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simo1733

Jun 15, 2010
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auscyclefan94 said:
Are these people that have been posted serious cyclists or celebrities riding a bike for the camera?
Click to expand...

Alain Prost is pretty serious.I think he has ridden the vets world champs.
 
Stingray34

Stingray34

Feb 16, 2011
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Sanitiser said:
I was pretty surprised to hear Alexei Sayle (the father of alternate comedy) is an avid cyclist: http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/video/2011/may/12/alexei-sayle-cycling-in-london
Good to see he dislikes cycle lanes as much as I do. Robin Williams I think is another one.
Click to expand...

Yes, a long-time cyclist is Mr Belovsky. On an Australian talk program in 1990-91, the host, having heard the moderately-rotund Mr. Sayle was a cyclist, presented him with a new MTB. He was a bit dismissive, opining that 'It only has 300EX,' a reference to the mid-level Shimano group!
 
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Sanitiser

Jan 20, 2011
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Stingray34 said:
Yes, a long-time cyclist is Mr Belovsky. On an Australian talk program in 1990-91, the host, having heard the moderately-rotund Mr. Sayle was a cyclist, presented him with a new MTB. He was a bit dismissive, opining that 'It only has 300EX,' a reference to the mid-level Shimano group!
Click to expand...
Yes his weight threw me off a bit. But then apparently his other hobby is eating at all you can eat buffets so it makes perfect sense. Must be a beast on the flats.

Jerry Seinfeld is another cyclists (owns a Pinarello) so I guess the green bike in the corridor was not just a meaningless prop.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo-vP02SEzo
 
Michele

Michele

Mar 26, 2009
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Christian said:
Mario Monti

ecco-il-mario-monti-sportivo-L-9gE_aD.jpeg
Click to expand...

That's not Mario Monti but Romano Prodi.;)
But Mario Monti said to press that he likes cycling and he still remember the first race he saw when his dad brought him to see the Worlds in 1951.
 
DirtyWorks

DirtyWorks

Feb 10, 2010
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James Cromwell

Actor James Cromwell is/was(??) a longtime cyclist. A while ago he would show up at the local competitive ride. He was not "competitive" but was game-on when the pace went up and hung in as long as he could last. I'm out of that circle now, but at the time there was no mistaking him because he's so tall.

IMHO, kind of a best case scenario. A guy with a successful, pretty visible, career who was nice as can be compared to many roadies.

Ben Bostrom is another. He's some kind of motorcyle racing dude with great accomplishments. Lives off of one of the great roads vaguely near L.A., Latigo canyon. Apparently, he's fast on a bicycle too.
 
42x16ss

42x16ss

May 23, 2009
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Polyarmour said:
3 times World Superbike Champion Troy Bayliss.

bianchi_3586.jpg
Click to expand...
Troy Bayliss is fast! He was mixing it up in Elite A at Battle of the Border last year.

Other Aus sports stars that can ride include:

Jason Akermanis - AFL (He is seriously fast too!)
Mark Webber - F1 (Like most F1 drivers)
Cam McConville - V8's
Will Power - Indy Cars
Jonathon Brown - AFL
Michael Slater - Cricket
Craig Lowndes - V8's
 
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PCutter

Apr 14, 2010
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42x16ss said:
Troy Bayliss is fast! He was mixing it up in Elite A at Battle of the Border last year.
Click to expand...

And I've never seen anyone go down the backside of Springbrook or Tomewin as quick - but I guess a 3X SBK champion probably knows a thing or two about cornering. Nor fears going fast.

The fat guy from My Name is Earl is also a keen cyclist, and far trimmer than he was in the show.
 
42x16ss

42x16ss

May 23, 2009
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PCutter said:
And I've never seen anyone go down the backside of Springbrook or Tomewin as quick - but I guess a 3X SBK champion probably knows a thing or two about cornering. Nor fears going fast.

The fat guy from My Name is Earl is also a keen cyclist, and far trimmer than he was in the show.
Click to expand...
I know, he descends like a lunatic! Even some of the NRS guys were freaked out by how he hit those descents. He came screaming past the bunch a few times. His bike handling in the crit was excellent as well, there were a few of us scrambling to take his lines at times :D
 
Archibald

Archibald

Jun 15, 2009
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a quick flick through Babes on Bikes thread will reveal a few...
Pamela Anderson comes to mind. Loves her fat tyre cruiser.
Pretty sure Kate Hudson was among them too?
More just cruising around the streets than lycra-ing up though...
 
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