New Clinic Visitor - Daniel Chew

[joe_papp]

I just invited Daniel P. Chew, 2x RAAM-winner and top-finished at USPRO back in the 1980s (and also host - along w/ the entire Chew family - to none other than Davis Phinney when the young lad would spend summers racing in Pittsburgh) to come visit the Clinic and explore all of the doping-related questions he has. Danny was one of the most naturally-talented riders I ever trained or raced with but he never succeeded as a pro road racer because he gave himself over to high mileage, ultra-endurance cycling.

I can't begin to explain the uniqueness of Danny Chew but I'll see if I can find a link to a magazine article on him. He is truly a character and Pittsburgh cyclists have an entire lexicon of DanielChew-isms, like "A.D.I." = "all done in!" lol

Here's the article: http://www.dannychew.com/CityPaperChewarticle.html.

"Danny Chew is snarling, snorting and barking at me, his face thrust forward so it's only six inches from my own. White flecks gather in the corners of his mouth. He's pushed his bristling brown hair back on his head, and his eyes gleam behind his glasses, the bifocal lenses coming down almost as far as his gap-toothed grin.

Just when I start to think maybe I should make a break for it, he dissolves into laughter.

This is, he tells me, one of his best party tricks: turning into a werewolf. He's already shown me some others. He's performed renditions of his favorite tunes: "How 'bout a band called The Re-Flex? 'The POL-i-TICKS of DAN-cing, doo doo doo!' The Hooters! 'Doo! Doo! DOOT! We were liars in love and we DANCED, doo doo DOOT!'" He's also guessed my height, weight and shoe size -- all accurately..."

Danny has a bit of an obsessive personality, and while he's never doped, I sense that he's become very interested in doping now that he realizes he completely missed out on the phenomena yet was most likely competing against athletes who had been doping. I suggested he come here to pose to you all the questions he's been emailing me. Be gentle with him, please.

 

[ElChingon]

Hello Danny, maybe we should start the Q's to break the ice.

How did you avoid the whole doping scene as we're told its pretty much a default thing with bike racing? Sort of like wheels on a bike.

 

[Polish]

RAAM is nutz.
Hard Men and Hard Women.

So, what kind of PEDs are used during that race?
Legal ones I mean.
Caffeine? Anti-Depressants? Anti-Hallicunation? Saddle Sore Meds?

 

[BotanyBay]

One need only to look at this motley bunch of guys to get a good idea of RAAM:

 

[BotanyBay]

And all of us SoCal folks know who the inspriation for this image was:

Yep. Michael Shermer.

Enough of today's history lesson. On to the discission folks. (Sorry).

 

[hwyrngr]

And all of us SoCal folks know who the inspriation for this image was:

Yep. Michael Shermer.

Enough of today's history lesson. On to the discission folks. (Sorry).

There was a LBS I think in the south part of LA Co. maybe Paramount area that sold "Don't be a Fred" t-shirts that they had made up. That is until they realized they were offending most of their customers

 

[BotanyBay]

I've never been able to "peg" the LBS, but I certainly remember the shirts. The little rear-view mirror was priceless. They were the funniest thing in 1984-85.

And look at Shermer's buds: Even John Howard is wearing a cycling cap under his Skid-Lid. Gotta love Lon Haldeman with his knee-high socks tho. He was the ultimate "Fredster".

 

[Velodude]

RAAM is nutz.
Hard Men and Hard Women.

So, what kind of PEDs are used during that race?
Legal ones I mean.
Caffeine? Anti-Depressants? Anti-Hallicunation? Saddle Sore Meds?

If worried about your saddle sore medication banned status take along a prescription pad and have a shady Spanish doctor on hand in case of an emergency.

 

[epluribusnev]

And all of us SoCal folks know who the inspriation for this image was:

Yep. Michael Shermer.

Enough of today's history lesson. On to the discission folks. (Sorry).

I've lurked here for many years, but I feel that I need to pipe up and defend Michael's honor on this one. Even though he may have dressed the part, "Fred" is not a moniker that I would assign to Michael's riding abilities. He would often be found cruising along competently enough on the mid-week Barry Wolfe (if you are a SoCal rider, I'm sure that you were familiar with Barry) rides. He could even be found on the Simi Ride where he would take the good-natured(?) ribbing regarding his attire in stride.

As far as the helmet mirror goes, for more years than I would like to remember, I have participated in many 'cross races and been on the receiving end of a Paul Curley beat-down. I wasn't there, but I'm sure that he was proudly sporting his helmet mirror when he won his last (age-graded) National Cross Champs jersey.

Just two (alleged) "Freds" that I have learned quite a bit from.

Just my 0.02...I'll return to lurk-status now.

 

[BotanyBay]

I've lurked here for many years, but I feel that I need to pipe up and defend Michael's honor on this one. Even though he may have dressed the part, "Fred" is not a moniker that I would assign to Michael's riding abilities. He would often be found cruising along competently enough on the mid-week Barry Wolfe (if you are a SoCal rider, I'm sure that you were familiar with Barry) rides. He could even be found on the Simi Ride where he would take the good-natured(?) ribbing regarding his attire in stride.

As far as the helmet mirror goes, for more years than I would like to remember, I have participated in many 'cross races and been on the receiving end of a Paul Curley beat-down. I wasn't there, but I'm sure that he was proudly sporting his helmet mirror when he won his last (age-graded) National Cross Champs jersey.

Just two (alleged) "Freds" that I have learned quite a bit from.

Just my 0.02...I'll return to lurk-status now.

Sorry. The Bell Biker helmet, full beard, Grab-on grips and side-mirror were the opitome of Fred-dom at the time.

John Howard was the farthest thing from a Fred, but he sure looked the part that sad day.

 

[webvan]

Hello Danny, maybe we should start the Q's to break the ice.

How did you avoid the whole doping scene as we're told its pretty much a default thing with bike racing? Sort of like wheels on a bike.

Same here, how could that happen?

 

[epluribusnev]

Sorry. The Bell Biker helmet, full beard, Grab-on grips and side-mirror were the opitome of Fred-dom at the time.

John Howard was the farthest thing from a Fred, but he sure looked the part that sad day.

You're absolutely right, of course. That entire aesthetic is not one that I would care to emulate. I had the pleasure of being on a couple of rides with John Howard, and yes, he did reek of cycling pro style. Very lean and hella-strong. I remember riding down to the Santa Monica Pier to see the RAAM start. I think that ABC's WWof Sports was covering it then.

A-waaay back in the late-70's, my favorite uncle rode from Boston to my family's home in LA. He showed up at our door - yellow Skid-Lid helmet, full beard, Grab-On grips (brown, if you must know), Avocet touring shoes, hairy legs that would make a mountain gorilla proud. His only saving grace was that he was riding a beautiful blue Cilo.

I was so taken by his visit that I purchased a $160 Shogun at the local bike shop, asked for the optional Grab-Ons and "safety" brake levers. I eschewed the cycling shorts & touring shoes and went with the cut-off jean shorts, T-shirt, and Converse hi-tops...I was a helluva sight. Somewhere in my archives there is documentary evidence of me atop Mt. Wilson, grinning like an idiot, sporting the latest in Fred-chic.

My style evolution was prodded (not so gently at times) by my participation in various local group rides, and the very kind mentoring of Barry Wolfe (rip)

But back on topic... Is Danny Chew the new "breaking news coming Tuesday" headline fantasy?!? Does he actually exist? Will he deign to converse with the regular denizens here? Inquiring minds what to know!