Look at me, I am a Vegan! Can I persuade you to become one too?

[For The World]

Just a few questions:

1. How is it that you end up riding with these teams? Do you know members of each time and they call you up and say "Hello, DurianRider? Would you like to come out riding with us today?".

2. When I'm out riding, I generally don't have someone following with a camera. Do you invite your friends along with you to tag along with the teams?

3. Do you take turns at the front, or do you just tag along? I'm not trying to have a go at you, I'm just honestly curious.

4. How long have you been vegan for? Was it a teaching from your parents, and thus you've always been vegan, because you haven't tried anything else? Or was it a conscious decision on your part to abstain from ingesting any animal products? I've been vegan for a while (although now that I'm living with my fiancee, I've had to make dietary changes), and I made a decision to try it, but only after I made sure I could get all the nutrition I require.

I also did end up with a lot of people asking about it (just out of curiosity), but no one ever approached me with the anger that people here seem to do. It's intriguing.

 

[For The World]

Just another quick thing: Being vegan, you more than likely are aware of who Brendan Brazier is. His delivery of advice seems to be slightly more effective than what yours has been at times. If you really want people to look at veganism, you need to get people asking "What's in it for me?" and give them some food for thought, so to speak. Give them some simple steps to try that aren't hard to do (remember, some people have a hard time making changes) and ask them in two weeks how they're going.

Perfect example is carbonated drinks. If they drink those regularly, tell them to try stopping for a week (two gives a better result usually), and just replace the soda with water. Get them to start snacking on mixed, unsalted nuts and dried fruits rather than chips or lollies. Little things that can start to facilitate bigger changes.

 

[durianrider]

What I'm wondering is when will durianrider take a pull?
He appears to be wheelsucking Astana in one photo and pulling a Schleck behind BMc in another.

Ha ha! Yeah Ive got a better pic before my chain jumped.

 

[TexPat]

Please post! Please post!
I am overcome by jealousy. It has been too long since I've bathed in the soft, warm glow of professional road cyclists.

 

[durianrider]

Just a few questions:

1. How is it that you end up riding with these teams? Do you know members of each time and they call you up and say "Hello, DurianRider? Would you like to come out riding with us today?".

Often its just a 'hey vegan! come show us around again! A lot of the directors know my face and kit and there is also lots of new teams each year. Depends on what my schedule is like and what sort of riding I want to do. Lots of tools in the pro scene and lots of cool crew too. Bit like life. Anyone can be a tour guide. You just need the legs and directions to show em around.

2. When I'm out riding, I generally don't have someone following with a camera. Do you invite your friends along with you to tag along with the teams?

Often its journo's, someone in the team car or another team rider. After they get to know you, they look after you cos you make their training easier by giving certainty of where to go.

3. Do you take turns at the front, or do you just tag along? I'm not trying to have a go at you, I'm just honestly curious.

For sure I swap off the front with all the crew. You will get waved thru if they want you up there. I remember riding with Once in 2003 and being on the front all the time and frying myself each day. Was great training. I usually like to sit on though. What I have found is that riders like Lance, Ogrady, Cadel, Valverde, Contador, Pereiro, Camenzind, IGG, Ballan, Boonen , Lloyd etc are pretty cool guys out on the bike. I dropped my chain up norton summit the other day and Ballan gave me a push to get back in contact.

4. How long have you been vegan for? Was it a teaching from your parents, and thus you've always been vegan, because you haven't tried anything else? Or was it a conscious decision on your part to abstain from ingesting any animal products? I've been vegan for a while (although now that I'm living with my fiancee, I've had to make dietary changes), and I made a decision to try it, but only after I made sure I could get all the nutrition I require.

Ive been vegan for coming up 10 years. NEVER felt better. I had chronic fatigue, anemia, acne, asthma and chrons disease. Now Im all good. I was raised on the SAD (Standard Australian Diet) and always had health issues as a kid. I think thats why Im so evangelical thesedays cos I dont like seeing people suffer via ignorance.

I also did end up with a lot of people asking about it (just out of curiosity), but no one ever approached me with the anger that people here seem to do. It's intriguing.

When you tell people the truth, you better make em laugh or they are gonna kill you. Maybe cos Im so fast on my feet and bike that I dont take too much care in holding back the truth!

 

[Barrus]

When you tell people the truth, you better make em laugh or they are gonna kill you. Maybe cos Im so fast on my feet and bike that I dont take too much care in holding back the truth!

Now it's because you are an arrogant anti social *** that people want to kill you and you don't listen to well intended advice and feel completely attacked even when you are not. You are narcissistic and only make these threads to make yourself feel better, you do not make them for the betterment of your feloow man, or you would at least react in a civil and informative manner when normal criticism is given, instead of acting like a total asshat

@ for the world, the anger here is not directed at the fact that he is vegan, but the manner in which he evangelizes it and the manner in which he calls everyone who does not agree with him stupid and ignorant, thus in essence not facilitating debate, but instead stifling it

 

[durianrider]

Just another quick thing: Being vegan, you more than likely are aware of who Brendan Brazier is. His delivery of advice seems to be slightly more effective than what yours has been at times. If you really want people to look at veganism, you need to get people asking "What's in it for me?" and give them some food for thought, so to speak. Give them some simple steps to try that aren't hard to do (remember, some people have a hard time making changes) and ask them in two weeks how they're going.

Perfect example is carbonated drinks. If they drink those regularly, tell them to try stopping for a week (two gives a better result usually), and just replace the soda with water. Get them to start snacking on mixed, unsalted nuts and dried fruits rather than chips or lollies. Little things that can start to facilitate bigger changes.

Yeah me and Brendan have hung out. Great guy. We have different speaking styles and thats important cos we reach different audiences.

 

[bhilden]

I would definitely recommend taking off the rear deraileur unless you want a bent or broken hanger. For that matter, if the box allows it, I would leave the rear wheel on.

Bruce

 

[online-rider]

I don't get it. Is it a Timetrial bike, a Mtn bike or a road bike? Just what were the designers thinking with that one, the best of 3 worlds?

 

[BroDeal]

I think you accidentally used the dollar sign instead of the cent sign.

Groovy pedals, rear brake, spoke protector, and "quick" release, though. Are those from the 1980's or the 1970's.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

How old is that thing?

 

[Martin318is]

Yeah me and Brendan have hung out. Great guy. We have different speaking styles and thats important cos we reach different audiences.

LOL, I have the same bike.


that said, just what have any of these team photos got to do with the question that you (half) answered? Just post a link to your website and be done with it.

the reason I say half is that the other half of the question pointed out why his method seemed better received than yours. Why not give that an answer?

 

[durianrider]

Its 2011 the sales dude told me. They said that the rear bolt on axle is more aero than a QR skewer.

 

[Benotti69]

well there goes all this years monuments to S-Works riders

 

[durianrider]

I would definitely recommend taking off the rear deraileur unless you want a bent or broken hanger. For that matter, if the box allows it, I would leave the rear wheel on.

Bruce

Excellent tip with the rear wheel Bruce. Some boxes allow this.

Ive only bent one RD hanger in all my travels in the last 10 years. It was just a bit bent, thats all.

 

[craig1985]

Perry said to me yesterday 'Im not a vegan but I hardly ever eat meat as it just sits to heavy in the stomach'. Allan Pieper is a long time vegetarian that occasionally eats dairy/eggs. He is leaner than most of the pro peleton.

Cannondale brought out integrated bottom brackets and oversized steerers ages ago but everyone said 'thats too 'extreme' you gotta stay with traditional stuff..'

Same with coloured tyres, lycra vs wool, steel hubs vs alloy, laced shoes vs straps/speed dials etc.

Old habits die hard and its up to people that aint afraid to live each day with an open mind. People say "Harley, you need to keep your mind open mate!" I say 'hey! Im the one thats made the big changes and your still doing the same crap all your life! What do you mean bud?!'

As for LIT's comment: We can learn to shut off our drama based reactionary impulse and hear the facts of the message. I couldnt agree more.

Ive developed the art of not taking things to personally and I cant recommend it enough. Its made life so much easier and fun. Its none of my business what other people really think of me at the end of the day.

Anyways, here is a photo from 2 days ago. Ive just dropped my chain and trying to get it back on. http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/ipad/drivers-and-riders-need-to-get-along/story-fn6bqphm-1225985844472

Dude in the background is riding an Orbea (as far as I can tell). Top bloke.

 

[brianf7]

Put an old axel + skewer in front and rear forks and wrap the rear mech thick in bubble wrap or foam.
Take out insurance and make sure it coveres carbon parts

 

[forty four]

how long did it take to weld all that? thats a trip you have much time on your hands evidently im sure youll manage to confuse some people though.

 

[Archibald]

and you don't listen to well intended advice

nah-fence, but it looks very much like he could say the same thing to many of those cutting him down... sure, the delivery may upset many, but you can't say his advice isn't "well intended"...

 

[Race Radio]

Photo of Freelee from last week. Just for you RR!

Thank you.

Maybe there is something to this Vegatablefarianisum stuff

 

[darkcloud]

Are those tires in production yet? The pros get all the cool gear.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Its 2011 the sales dude told me. They said that the rear bolt on axle is more aero than a QR skewer.

No it's not

 

[pedaling squares]

nah-fence, but it looks very much like he could say the same thing to many of those cutting him down... sure, the delivery may upset many, but you can't say his advice isn't "well intended"...

I think we can say that, Archibald. If he came here and wrote that, after a decade of a strict dietary and fitness regime, he felt like he had some advice that we might want to consider, I think he would be well received. I would show interest even if I chose not to adopt his routine. We can all learn from others. But the approach we get is that we omnivores are fat, bad for the environment, and all but believe in a flat earth. Meanwhile, he is not only fit but fabulous and people cannot resist telling him so any more than he can resist telling us. As for the endless stories and photos about his contact with professional cyclists, well I think it's great that he gets to hang onto the pros if that turns him on. I don't think the stories serve any purpose beyond self-promotion, but that's not nearly as annoying as the lifestyle preaching. I figure the photos are taken by the girlfriend.

Normally I just lob sarcasm and derision at fruitboy but this is my attempt at a serious post.

 

[Barrus]

nah-fence, but it looks very much like he could say the same thing to many of those cutting him down... sure, the delivery may upset many, but you can't say his advice isn't "well intended"...

I refer myself to pedaling square who much more eloquently put forth my own argument

 

[pedaling squares]