What Would You Ask A Pro?
Today I’m going to ask you to do most of the work for me. Part of that’s because I have a cold and my head is full of packing peanuts. But more of that’s because I’ve got something very cool lined up, and I need your help to make it great.
Essentially, I need to know what, if you could talk to a pro cyclist — mountain or road — would you ask him or her?
This is not a hypothetical (“hypothetical” is a fancy word for “fake”) exercise, by the way. I’ve apparently crossed some magical threshold, and am now so beloved of an internet cycling blog supermegaduperstar that — from time to time — I’m going to be able to post interviews with pros.
The thing is, I don’t want to ask questions VeloNews (I mean, Velo: Now Without News!) or Bicycling or even Cyclingnews (Still With News!) might ask. Because they’re all going to ask questions that are related to extremely current events. What it means to be joining a new team, how they felt about their current results, how they feel their chances are for some upcoming race.
I’m more interested in asking them questions I might ask if I were trying to get to know someone. And then, ask them some questions about their unusual and interesting job.
Oh, and I’m also not interested in being the “gotcha journalist” guy. Which is my way of saying that I am not planning to be the guy who, in a Perry Mason moment, hammers away at my guests until they confess the several crimes they may or may not have committed during their lifetime. Or crimes they’ve seen others commit, for that matter.
I am, of course, working on my own list of questions. And they will be very good questions indeed. But since you’ll be the ones reading the answers, I want to make sure you have a say in deciding what the questions are.
So: What kinds of questions would you ask pros to get to know them? And what would you ask them about what they do — how they train, how they race, what they fear, anything like that.
And soon you’ll find out who will be the first pro to answer those questions. I think it’ll make for some fun reading.
UPDATE: I just wanted to say that you guys are knocking it out of the ballpark with your questions. Seriously, these are awesome. Keep it up!
Comment by The Bike Nazi | 12.6.2011 | 9:13 am
You could ask questions like:
What is a sample training week at the height of your season? For example how many hours per day, how many sets of intervals, how long are they, and at what heart rate? The purpose of the question being so that average cyclists could compare what they do to what a pro does.
When riding in the TDF, do you get annoyed at how close the spectators come to you on the edges of the road? Do you hate when they run along side?
Comment by Rob W | 12.6.2011 | 9:20 am
I would ask them (pro road cyclists) about the behind the scenes stuff….like….
-Does all the traveling suck?
-Do you enjoy or loathe living part of your life in Spain or whatever part if Europe they train in?
-For the most part, are most in the riders in the peloton friends?
Comment by Mark in Ottawa | 12.6.2011 | 9:22 am
I’d like to ask a pro what is was like for them when they got their first pro kit? How did it feel to put on the jersey for the first time, and see their new halo bike? Was it incremental from the stuff they currently had, or was it a monumental jump and they were giddy like school children?
Mark (in Ottawa, Canada)
Comment by Mark in Ottawa | 12.6.2011 | 9:25 am
I’d also like to ask if they went to their hometown bike club or old training routes they used to ride with their new pro kit and how did the locals react?
(i.e. it would be totally cool and weird to see like a full-on ProTour professional on the same weekend climbs that all the weekend warriors also suffer up). How was that experience for them?
Mark (in Ottawa, Canada)
Comment by markusw | 12.6.2011 | 9:26 am
Some silly, get to know you, ice breaking questions…
How about asking about helmet hair. Have they given up on worrying about it? If they worry about it, what is their preferred method of prevention, what do they do once it occurrs, the quick fix for the end of race interview, an involved fix when they have time?
For those sporting a shaved head, what was the inspiration? A bald spot, going grey, aerodynamics, helmet hair, Fatty? Levi?
You could ask about leg shaving. Straight razor or saftey razor, canned foam, or bar soap and a brush. How far up? First time. Would they ever consider something like Nair for Men?
Other questions, not mainstream, which might get interesing answers…
You could ask about favorite training rides. Which route do they like to do in the off season over and over. What about it do they like?
What non race rides are on their bucket list?
How mechanically apt are they? Would they end up riding 7 miles on a flat? Proudest mechanical achievement? Best “field fix” ever. Worst mechanical experience.
Comment by Bodhi | 12.6.2011 | 9:40 am
Chunky or creamy?
Comment by KM | 12.6.2011 | 9:43 am
What’s their favorite route to ride (road or MTB)? Both racing and training routes.
What was your worse wreck and what happened?
Who was their inspiration to take up bicycle racing (or MTB racing) and how were they inspired?
When the off season hits, what’s their favorite cross-training exercise? What’s their off season training regimn look like for a week or month?
Do you refer to your shoe size in Euro or American measurements?
If you could have just one road and MTB bike with you what would it be and why?
Finally, what would they think about changing the rules of racing so the guy who wins first had to submission wrestle the guy who gets last in order to claim their prize? The first with two submissions wins. (This is my attempt to level the pro ranks with the Clydesdales. It’s going to catch on, trust me.)
I really like the question about what events/races would they like to do…that’s a good question. If I think of any more I’ll get posting.
Comment by Tucson Dave | 12.6.2011 | 9:44 am
I’d ask what toll does being in pain & suffering on a daily basis during training take on you? Both physically & mentally.
Comment by Clydesteve | 12.6.2011 | 9:51 am
How old were you when you first started riding seriously?
When did you begin to think and dream and believe that you could be good enough to be a pro peloton rider?
Were you picked on for being a skinny little kid when you were young, or did you have ’short man’s syndrome’?
Comment by Elisabethvi | 12.6.2011 | 9:54 am
I’d ask what was the favorite local ride before becoming pro?
Comment by Gabi | 12.6.2011 | 9:57 am
Have you ever been embarrassed to wear an ugly kit?
Comment by Brian in VA | 12.6.2011 | 9:59 am
I’d like to know what they think about when they’ve gotten to the point where there’s no gas in the tank. What sustains them and takes them to another level of pain?
What hobbies do they have? I mean, you can’t always be on a bike, can you?
If they could swap places with any other athlete, who would it be?
Comment by Justin L. | 12.6.2011 | 10:00 am
I would ask what everyone above asked!!!!!!!!
Comment by Nic Grillo | 12.6.2011 | 10:00 am
How do you deal with training fatigue? What do you do to get over the “I don’t want to ride today” feeling?
Comment by Nic Grillo | 12.6.2011 | 10:04 am
Also, what do you say when your wife nags you for riding too much?
Comment by TK | 12.6.2011 | 10:05 am
What is your favorite kind of pie?
Comment by ClydeinKS | 12.6.2011 | 10:06 am
How about do you remember your first bike? How old were you and what was it? Do you know where it is today?
What job/career would you be doing if not racing?
What does your inner voice tell you as the ride gets tough? (Shut up legs is great but I could use some more!)
Who has the best jokes within the peloton?
Jeff D
Comment by Maile in Florida | 12.6.2011 | 10:06 am
I love Gabi’s ugly kit question. Mine would be, how many languages do you know at least a few phrases in, and which are most useful as a pro cyclist? [I know, for the full-on European pros that's probably better started with how many languages do you speak? ]
Comment by Mary | 12.6.2011 | 10:09 am
Do you still love it? How do you keep it fresh and keep it from becoming “just a job”? Would you want your kids to follow in your footsteps, assuming they had the talent to do so (I mean really, truly–my husband’s job is great for him but we don’t want our kids doing it)…? Do you have to sacrifice things, like “I better not go skiing because I could break a leg and be unable to ride my bike?”
Comment by chad | 12.6.2011 | 10:14 am
Do they ever feel the need to take pictures of their bikes while out riding?
Comment by McBain | 12.6.2011 | 10:16 am
Do pro teams have someone dedicated to ranting and raging at stupid motorists on their behalf, to allow the riders to concentrate on the job?
Do chicks really dig scarred elbows on scrawny arms when combined with amazing quads and calves?
If you were able to re-design the collar bone, what breaking tolerance would you build in (since the current design is clearly too prone to shattering)?
Farting in the peleton: is it ever used as a tactic to clear the way for your top sprinter?
Why don’t pro bikes have bells on? It’s the law here in the UK that every bike sold must come with one! (If you had to have a bell on your bike, what tune would you want it to play?)
Comment by chad | 12.6.2011 | 10:16 am
oh, and do they ever get chain grease on their legs? If so, do their pro riding buddies make fun of their “CAT5 tattoo”?
Comment by Keighty | 12.6.2011 | 10:21 am
I always ask the same question when I meet someone semi/totally/un-famous.
Who would in a fight: Gandalf or the CareBears?
Their response determines whether or not I consider them respectable from that point forward.
Comment by Jacob | 12.6.2011 | 10:25 am
If you weren’t a professional, what kind of relationship do you think you’d have with cycling?
How long did it take to stop feeling silly wearing a racing kit?
What is something that you’d like to see changed about your sport that would make it better?
What do you see yourself doing when your body forces you to retire from competing professionally? What would you have done if you’d been unable to make a living as a rider? (The first question is more interesting for the guys who don’t have the name recognition to make a living from their name after they retire like Armstrong could).
What’s your favorite part of being a professional cyclist? What’s the worst part?
Comment by bacmapei | 12.6.2011 | 10:27 am
How many bikes do you own? Are any special/nostalgic or memorabilia from your early years or a special event?
Comment by Laura | 12.6.2011 | 10:31 am
Did you go to summer camp as a kid? Where, and what did you do at camp? What did you love about camp?
What was funniest, oddest, or most obnoxious prank you played on a sibling, or was played on you?
What do you see in yourself that reminds of your parents?
And of course: Star Wars, LTR, or Harry Potter?
Comment by Bernie | 12.6.2011 | 10:33 am
What do they do when during a long stage they feel the urge to go? Have they had any “accidents”?
Comment by Superstantial | 12.6.2011 | 10:35 am
The Pie and Gandalf v. Carebear questions must be asked.
Fatty, you’ve foresworn the Perry Mason style too soon. I’ve personally seen these people commit numerous infractions on the TdF, from blowing through stopsigns to going the wrong way down highways. You have to get them to call out their ring-leaders. This horrific reign of petty vehicular criminality must stop and only you have the power to stop it.
Comment by dirtengineer | 12.6.2011 | 10:36 am
I’m not a racer, never will be. So here is my my question:
I ride a bike for fun. I get to see things, go fast (when I want), feel exercised and healthy, make stops at coffee shops and eat a cookie after 20 miles, be with friends. As a pro, do you now (or did you ever) ride just for personal enjoyment – or does every ride have to turn into a suffer fest with 18k of climbing? Imagine yourself free from racing/training obligation for a long weekend – what types of riding would you do?
Comment by jjay | 12.6.2011 | 10:41 am
What are your plans, if and when you retire?
Do you ever ride a bike made by a different company with your sponsors name on it?
Comment by Andrew | 12.6.2011 | 10:43 am
How much do your socks cost?
Comment by Sara | 12.6.2011 | 10:46 am
I’d ask them who is their favorite person to “hang out” with in the peloton during the boring parts of a stage.
And also how many times Levi has put them in a headlock.
Comment by Stephen | 12.6.2011 | 10:51 am
How many times do they visit the john before a big race?
Comment by yannb | 12.6.2011 | 10:57 am
All the above questions. And also how about the questions James Lipton asks in Behind the Actors studio
1. What is your favorite word?
2. What is your least favorite word?
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
5. What sound or noise do you love?
6. What sound or noise do you hate?
7. What is your favorite curse word?
8. What profession other than your Cycling would you like to attempt?
9. What profession would you not like to do?
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
my own:
11. what annoys you most about riding?
12. what do you love most about riding?
13. who do you look up to in the non cycling world?
14. who do you look up to in the cycling world?
15. what kind of car do you drive?
16. what does your wife/girlfriend/parents think about your choice of career?
17. if you could build your own dream cycling team, who would you have in it (past and current pros)?
18. what is your favorite food to fuel up pre ride and favorite food post ride?
19. what race/ride have you not done that you have always wanted to do?
20. given what you know now about pro cycling would you do it again/what would you change?
Comment by bcbeck | 12.6.2011 | 10:57 am
Do pros also hear Phil Liggett’s voice in their head when doing something epic?
Comment by Obstinate Roadie | 12.6.2011 | 10:59 am
Have you ever accidentally hit Alberto Contador with a snot rocket?
How about Mr. Leipheimer? Did he put you in a headlock in response?
How many pounds of salt do you estimate you’ve sweat out through your pores during your career?
Is Dave Z really nuts?
Do you ever post comments on Fat Cyclist?
Comment by briebecca | 12.6.2011 | 10:59 am
I’d ask them who the most respected are in the peloton? It’s probably Jens Voight for many but still I could be wrong. And do you do mental games like some of us mere mortals when going through a suffer-fest or climbing a never-ending pass?
Comment by Obstinate Roadie | 12.6.2011 | 11:09 am
Sorry, just a few more . . .
What is your favorite flavor of road grit? Belgian Cow Dung, Spanish Sand Dune, or some other?
Have you ever looked at Bradley Wiggins and seriously considered force-feeding him a whole platter of Triple Cheeseburgers?
Comment by George | 12.6.2011 | 11:09 am
Do you:
1. ever sing in the peloton?
2. get annoyed when others sing?
3. wonder if you’ll ever get that song out of your head?
Comment by Miles Archer | 12.6.2011 | 11:17 am
Do you pee while riding, of do you get off your bike?
What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever seen while riding your bike?
Do the crowds at the big races scare you? Do they get as close as it looks on TV?
Comment by Christina | 12.6.2011 | 11:30 am
How do you turn off the loud screaming in your head when going THAT fast down a hill?
Do you ever worry that your white shorts are see through?
Are nights on the team bus like a big sleepover?
Is it hard to ride for fun? Is it really like a job?
If you weren’t a pro, what would you be doing (and no cheating and saying, “Designing gear” or “Coaching.”
Are there cycling groupies? (Wink, wink, nudge, nudge)
How do you maintain personal relationships while training?
Do you believe in God? (Can’t resist…we live within the epicenter of Tebow…)
Can I ride with you? (Well, if I was asking the questions, I’d ask this one.)
Thanks, Fatty, for letting us ask!
Comment by wishiwasmerckx | 12.6.2011 | 12:00 pm
Do you have a road map of all of Europe in your head? Do you say to yourself “There is a barn on the right just over this rise?”
Comment by Alex | 12.6.2011 | 12:33 pm
I would ask what is it that they mentally talk to themselves while riding in a group.
For example:
1. The legs on that cyclist look extremely strong/cut up. I wonder how much pain is he going to inflect on me?
2. I feel strong today, let me see if I can make them cry UNCLE?
3. I wonder if the rider in front of me knows his wheel is warped?
4. Did the rider in fron of me forget to use some deodorant?
5. Oh sh$$, this is going to hurt?
6. What’s for dinner tonight?
7. Oh shoot, my spouse is going to be mad at me for crashing and hurting myself. How can I hide my injuries from her/him?
8. I can’t believe he/she made that riding mistake, ROOKIE?
Comment by Chris | 12.6.2011 | 12:36 pm
How easy is it to get to bed before a big race?
Do you prefer always having the same roommate or does it not matter?
Do you have the same need as us to pee/poop 58 times in two hours before a big race/stage?
Comment by Hautacam | 12.6.2011 | 12:45 pm
1: Are your hip muscles so tight that it’s hard to sit cross-legged on the floor? Or does that go away when you turn pro and join a team with soigneurs and coaches that can force you to stretch?
2: Do you ever do long or intense workouts on an indoor trainer? If so, does it drive you absolutely berserk? Or is it just a fact of life?
3: Over time, do you find that your brake calipers inevitably rotate a bit so that one pad is always a millimeter or two closer to the rim than the other?
4: If you were a middle-aged amateur cyclist who occasionally races, and you had a limited budget, what would be the best investment for an increase in performance if used correctly: (A) power meter (B) heart rate monitor (C) lightweight wheelset (D) online coaching; (E) new bike with Ultegra, carbon frame and fork?
5: Are tubulars really, truly that much better than clinchers?
Comment by Joe Noakes | 12.6.2011 | 12:46 pm
What’s up with shaving your legs but not your face on race days? And if you use the exuse of potetial road rash to explain shaving your legs, do you also shave your arms?
Comment by The Flyin' Ute | 12.6.2011 | 12:49 pm
How much does the weight of a bike really matter? Is a one pound difference really that big of a deal?
Comment by StephBDC | 12.6.2011 | 12:51 pm
In the off-season and when you are just starting to put miles in, do you plan your rides or just head out and see where you end up?
When you are out on a training ride in full kit and see some local cyclist spinning around, does the chase music automatically start in your head?
Do you like to interact with other cyclists you encounter on training rides?
Comment by VT_Rob | 12.6.2011 | 12:54 pm
1. Coolest person in the peloton?
2. Biggest douche in the peloton?
3. Frank or Andy?
4. Are you contractually obligated to talk about sponsors on Twitter, or are you just being nice? (Looking at you Radio Shack riders.)
5. 26″ or 29″
6. (For roadies only) MTB or CX?
7. Bike you’d buy with your own money? (frame, wheels, grouppo)
Comment by Kel | 12.6.2011 | 12:56 pm
I would ask about eating. Do teammates share food/water if you run out? Are all the food bags the same? What is in there that you keep or throw out? What do you eat/drink the first hour after a ride?
Comment by VT_Rob | 12.6.2011 | 12:57 pm
And the caveats:
#3 can’t be both/Frandy
#7 can’t be your current sponsor
Comment by The Hamer | 12.6.2011 | 1:03 pm
At what point did you start to feel macho while wearing spandex with shaved legs? Should white cycling shorts be banned?
Comment by Rumpled/Jim | 12.6.2011 | 1:04 pm
For the ones that aren’t the superstars – Do you really make enough money as a pro cyclist? Or, are you living like a poor college student eating PB&J and ramen? (or Euro equivalent)
What’s it like to have two different residences? Like one in Santa Rosa and one in Spain? Do your dogs remember you or do you bring them along?
When you start learning a new language from another cyclist, do you learn the swear words first? ‘Cuz when I was a swimmer and met foreign swimmers that’s the first thing we learned. I used to be able to cuss you out in at least 10 languages. Forgot most of them.
What foreign language expressions are funny to you? Even American ones to other natives. Like stomach of anger or duck skin for goose bumps.
What’s your best excuse for telling the airlines that your bikes aren’t bikes to avoid the surcharge? Of, do you care?
Do you have to get on the podium to hook up with a podium girl?
Do you aim for a certain person with the champagne on the podium?
Comment by peter | 12.6.2011 | 1:06 pm
Tell me about:
your most miserable time on a bike, in terms of weather, exhaustion, lacking calories etc.
Your most embarassing moment on a bike.
Your most spectacular crash.
Comment by Rebecca | 12.6.2011 | 1:07 pm
Do your parents think you’re crazy too?
When you dream about cycling, can you do anything differently than real cycling (such as, fly on a bike)?
Where’s your favorite place in Europe to get ice cream/glace/gelato?
Comment by BeerBiker | 12.6.2011 | 1:07 pm
From Twitter
@BeerBiker
When in the ‘off season’ what’s your favorite beer? & where is your favorite place to drink it?
Comment by Mateo | 12.6.2011 | 1:17 pm
“What’s the airspeed velocity of an unladen
swallow?”
And…”Are you afraid of Jens?” If they answer “no” ask if they are lying because they dont want to make Jens angry.
Comment by m burdge | 12.6.2011 | 1:24 pm
One setup thing you are absolutely picky on. Merckx had his white tape and always-changing saddle adjustments. What is yours? Tire label orientation? Saddle adjustment? QR angle? left-handed rear brake?
DO you ever ride for fun?
Recumbents: discuss.
What are you reading right now?
Comment by Geoffrey | 12.6.2011 | 1:25 pm
If you retired from cycling today, what city would you go to, just to ride and enjoy?
Where is the best food?
Describe a funny interaction with a fan.
Describe the moment when being a pro cyclist seemed like an awful idea, and when it seemed like a brilliant idea.
An example of perseverance paying off
Comment by Zlatko | 12.6.2011 | 1:32 pm
What do you think of women’s cycling races?
Comment by Eric L | 12.6.2011 | 1:34 pm
I’d ask a question relating to an article I’d like to write or see written called Professors in the Peloton (as in Laurent Fignon) all about pro racers who need eyewear.
Do they wear Rx sunglasses? Deal with contacts? Horror stories?
As a glasses wearer, I’m usually jealous when I see them jam their sunglasses into their helmets during races. I take my Rx shades off and things go blurry.
Comment by Eric L | 12.6.2011 | 1:39 pm
The other question would relate to their bikes. Cavendish often spoke about how much he loved his Scott Addict, then the very next year HTC switched to Specialized. Now he’ll be riding a Pinarello on Team Sky.
Do pros hate it when they have to switch bikes/brands, or are they such pros that it really doesn’t matter? If it doesn’t matter, is there really any significant differences between top-tier racing bikes?
Thanks Fatty
Comment by Drew | 12.6.2011 | 1:50 pm
How intrusive in your off the bike life is the doping control? i.e. do you really have to tell them where you are every day?
Do they view technology the same way as doping? Not every team has the luxury of wind tunnels or altitude tents, for example, and these are proven to give a huge advantage. Maybe we should call out Lemond for his areo bars and helmet???
Comment by Florian | 12.6.2011 | 1:52 pm
Do you sometimes secretly have bikelust for other teams’ bikes?
Do you use a bike for transport (around town, when not hauling stuff) sometimes?
Do you exchange pleasantries with podium girls, or do they all just ask if you can give them mario cipollini’s phone number?
If Fatty was a rider in the pro peloton, what would be his cycling-superpower?
Comment by T Foster | 12.6.2011 | 1:56 pm
If you had to buy your own bike, about how much would you spend?
Or,
When you comment at FatCyclist.com what name do you use?
Comment by Bill H-D | 12.6.2011 | 2:12 pm
Sports folks are always superstitious and/or humorously obsessive about their routines. It’s hard not to be. I’d ask:
1. What are your superstitions about the bike? What routines do you keep up that border on the irrational? What do you imagine happening if you do/don’t break these?
2. What are funny superstitions your teammates or fellow racers have?
Comment by Mikeonhisbike | 12.6.2011 | 2:21 pm
1. Your preferred chamois cream solution
2. Do you dream of some day not shaving your legs?
3. Do you ever just ride you bike without going full out just for fun?
Comment by Fat Monte | 12.6.2011 | 2:28 pm
Your most embarrassing rookie mistake in a race (tactical, strategic, peloton faux pas, blown assignment, etc)?
The treatment a typical rookie receives by senior members of his own team? Within the peloton?
The moment (if it’s happened yet) when you knew you “arrived” as a professional?
What do you talk about on long training rides with your teammates? Or in the peloton during a race?
Has another racer intentionally crashed you? Or attempted to?
Who is the cleanest racer? The dirtiest (if you can say)?
What do you consider your strengths on the bike? What do needs the most improvement?
What are your assignments within your team? Do they fluctuate? And if so, how and why?
Your favorite food cheat?
Alcohol in season? And if so, what?
Mentioned before above, but I’m curious, too…bike groupies (with the nudge-nudge)? In America? In Europe?
(Also above) I hate spectators in the roadway, acting like fools, and possibly impeding the progress of the racers — do you? How do you deal with fans that crazy? What’s the worst/most-clueless thing you’ve seen a fan do?
If you’re American, is it upsetting/bothersome when encountering so-called U.S. “sports fans” who just don’t understand the level of athleticism, commitment, endurance and strength it takes to cycle professionally?
Weight/strength train off season?
What’s been the greatest sacrifice you’ve made to the bike? To get where you’re at today?
Any pre-race rituals or superstitions?
The thing most cycling fans misunderstand most about what it’s like to be a professional cyclist?
Comment by Christopher | 12.6.2011 | 2:29 pm
What foreign language word or phrase have you used/said/pronounced incorrectly to your own embarrassment?
Comment by EpicBiker | 12.6.2011 | 2:31 pm
Do you know how to fix a flat?
Comment by Brian | 12.6.2011 | 2:36 pm
OK, my first question was pre-empted by dirtengineer, above, but maybe as an addition: do you enjoy cycling when it’s neither training nor a race? Do you go cycling with friend/family/partner, or do you find that too irritating?
And a couple questions that are variations on others: what is the last bike you bought yourself? If you were to buy a bike for yourself now (while you’re still an active professional), what kind of bike would you want?
Comment by Shirley | 12.6.2011 | 2:39 pm
1. when did you realize you wanted to be a pro cyclist, or did you just fall into it?
2. What are you doing to make womens cycling more prominent both in monetary funding and media coverage?
3. do you feel perpetually starved in racing season in order to maintain your best riding weight?
4. what is your favorite cheat meal?
Comment by BG | 12.6.2011 | 2:43 pm
Is being a pro cyclist “just a job” to you? If so, when did it become that? If not, do you get nervous before every race? Every stage?
What question do you get asked all the time that you are really tired of answering?
What do you miss most about “home” (wherever that is) when you’re on tour?
Comment by davidh-marinca | 12.6.2011 | 2:49 pm
WOW!! I’m always fascinated by what posts generate ‘over the top’ responses. Apparently inquiring minds want to know…
How you winnow these questions down to your allotted time with a pro is going to be a chore I wish you luck. I have my favorites; Gabi)kits), TK(pie), Chad(bikeporn), and Yannb (well presented) to name a few. I have two:
Where would you like to ride you haven’t already? (pleasure or race) road or mtb.
and to close I think you should have them make a list to support the efforts of Outside Magazine’s #4 most popular blog. (this is for you Laura S) http://bangabledudesinprocycling.com/post/11871379775
Pretty sure that would end all conversation!!
Comment by Daniel | 12.6.2011 | 2:50 pm
I’ve always wondered how many bugs they swallow in a training year or month, logging all those miles…. must be a bunch.
Comment by JeffA | 12.6.2011 | 3:19 pm
Embrocation: how often do you use? Favorite type/brand?How warm?
Thanks Fatty.
Comment by RL Julia | 12.6.2011 | 3:36 pm
Recommended brand(s) of razors/shaving cream.
Ingrown hair removal tips?
Favorite pre-race dinner?
Do you ever text while riding your bike? Talk on the phone?
Any feelings about the driving habits of certain car owners (i.e. everyone who drives an Audi smokes or doesn’t use turn signals etc…).
Comment by Eman | 12.6.2011 | 3:50 pm
-What do pros really think of the bikes they ride. Have they ever had to ride a bike they thought was ugly or handled horribly? How many gripes do they hold back for the sake of their sponsors?
-Most cyclists have been racing since their early teenage years, I started at age 23 (1.5 years ago). Am I just too old to have hopes of performing like a pro even if I put in the time to train at a similar level?
-Do any riders have any weird rituals they do before a race? I’m thinking about how Maximus (Russel Crowe) always sniffed a handful of dirt before he fought in Gladiator.
Comment by Shane | 12.6.2011 | 4:03 pm
Wow these are great! I love Florian’s podium girl question. I do wonder what those interactions are like. And I laughed when I read “do you know how to fix a flat?” I would add:
Are pro riders always managing pain in knees, backs, etc due to all the miles, or does the difficulty of getting a pro contract weed out most with tendencies towards overuse injury?
Comment by Jeff Dieffenbach | 12.6.2011 | 4:24 pm
I swear this isn’t a Perry Mason “gotcha” question–I’d love to know if you could put a substantial enough motor in the down-tube (or any other tube) of a bike to gain more than the added weight would cost.
[Helpful hint--if Spartacus is your first interview subject, perhaps maybe just save this one until interview two]
Comment by RogerH | 12.6.2011 | 4:29 pm
Question for Dave Z.
How’s the development of DZLIPS coming along? Has there been much in the way of product testing? Any details you could provide would be appreciated.
Comment by Garcia | 12.6.2011 | 4:36 pm
Not sure if it has been mentioned, but I would like to know if the pro’s can LEGITIMATELY feel a performance gain from riding an ultralight carbon frame over an ultralight steel or titanium frame, or if carbon taking over the peloton is the result of marketing and whatnot. I ask, because I recently received a custom steel bike, and my high end carbon bike is now for sale, because the steel just feels better. Stoked to maybe get an answer!
Comment by rt | 12.6.2011 | 4:44 pm
Give us some figures:
Maximum speed ever,
Max power output,
Max climbing i one day,
Longest race (time and/or miles).
Comment by Patrick #4091 | 12.6.2011 | 4:47 pm
Why won’t you return my calls Jens/Fabian/Phillipe?!
Comment by Anonymous | 12.6.2011 | 4:50 pm
if you are friends with DZ do you get his nuts for free?
Comment by Twindad3 | 12.6.2011 | 4:50 pm
If you had to buy/make your own food during a ride, what would it be?
If you could choose anyone, past or present, to ride with, who would it be and why?
What is the quickest you’ve ever changed a flat (by yourself without swapping out wheels)?
What is your favorite post-ride indulgence?
Comment by Boozer | 12.6.2011 | 5:02 pm
Question:
How on earth do you maintain racing weight and resist the call of the forbidden donut?
Comment by Nick | 12.6.2011 | 5:04 pm
can I have your bike?
Comment by davidh-marinca | 12.6.2011 | 5:21 pm
I would second Nick’s idea with a slight adjustment;
“would you be willing to give your bike to a ‘contest’ at the end of the season?”
I would never fit on one but I’d still donate.
Comment by MojoRider | 12.6.2011 | 5:25 pm
how bad does the peleton smell? I mean, it must be really bad with all those sweaty guys.
Who’s the worst smelling guy in the peleton?
how much of your time is spent riding empty trails or country roads, sitting in no man’s land, wondering when the pain will end?
do you want your kids to ride?
Bobke, Phil or Paul. Who do you want to sit next to on your next overseas flight?
Fatty or bikesnob. Same question
and…can *I* have the bike that Nick didn’t get?
Comment by daddyo | 12.6.2011 | 5:32 pm
1. how long do you have to ride before you develope perineal numbness and what do you do about it? how long does it take to resolve?
2. how specialized has your fitness become? i.e. how many chinups, pushups or dips can you do? ever try crossfit?
3. ginger or maryann?
4. can you beat Chuck Norris at anything? can anyone?
5. what will you do for fitness after you hang up cycling? will you gain 50lbs?
Comment by Nogocyclist | 12.6.2011 | 5:34 pm
Fatty, you are not the normal reporter, forget asking the questions a normal reporter would ask.
Forget totally about the cycling questions. Let the guy know you value them for who they are, not what they do.
Ask them questions about who they are and let them experience for once (probably the only time they will in their professional life) a conversation about everything else but their cycling life.
Ask the cyclist what their favorites are: Car, Splurge Meal, TV shows, favorite football (or soccer) team, what they like in women. Anything you would find interesting, just totally ignore cycling. At least try to find out how long you (an avid cyclist) and a pro cyclist can carry on a conversation before one of the two of you, can’t help it, but have to start talking about bikes instead.
Comment by Raymond Parker | 12.6.2011 | 6:13 pm
I’m with @Nogocyclist here. It might throw more light on the person to ask sideways questions.
However, I’m always interested in how other cyclists manage pain–a mantra or something? How does she “ride through” when the going gets really tough.
As a randonneur, I have my own tricks: stop and eat, maybe a power nap. Racers, of course, don’t have this available to them.
Comment by Michael | 12.6.2011 | 7:13 pm
I’ve interviewed a few pro athletes, including a couple of Olympic medalists, national record holders and national champions. Really, the best questions are the get-to-know-you type. I had a really fun experience asking the endurance athlete things like, “What’s your favorite color? What’s your favorite food? Why?”
Of course you want to know the things we all want to know: “How do you train? How is your diet different as an athlete?” So you want to get to those things eventually. But be careful not to assume too much. You might instead want to ask, “Is your diet different as an athlete?” Or, “When you shave your legs, or do you actually shave your legs?”
But make sure the purpose of your questions is to actually get to know the athlete, not to tease out a bunch of information so your readers can use it to train better. “How did you get started as a pro athlete? Was this something you always dreamed would happen, or did it come about some other way? What’s the story there?”
Never hesitate to use, “Tell me about …” So: “Tell me about your typical training day. What do you do?”
One thing you should know: Pro athletes HATE talking about doping. And who can blame them?! You get them on the phone and all you want to know about is what they think of the cheaters and lowlifes in their sports—it’s pretty annoying.
Do your research in advance and figure out what the touchy subjects are before you call. I interviewed one athlete right after she got beat by another athlete who had no business beating her. I didn’t bring it up. If I would’ve, she probably would’ve become tight-lipped.
I like the “Tell me the story about your favorite race experience”-type questions. “What was your favorite race? Why?”
What really makes a good interview are the follow up questions, though. So while you’ve gotten some really good suggestions for conversation starters, you’re going to need to be quick-witted and ask the right follow up questions: “You mentioned that you … tell me a little more about that. Don’t you think …”
Anyway, I’ve been interviewing difficult-to-interview folks for the better part of the last decade, and I’ve talked to a handful of Olympic athletes in the last five years. If you want to yap about interviewing, drop me an email.
Comment by LMNOP | 12.6.2011 | 7:15 pm
Do you think steroids offer an advantage in cycling? I understand baseball and sports where you need bulk- but indurance road racers?
Comment by MattC | 12.6.2011 | 7:23 pm
Hopefully these aren’t repeats…sheesh there’s a LOT of questions so far!
-Do you have bike-envy over someone else’s bike? (and a sub-question, do you covet new parts for your bike(s)?
-Over your career, do you find all the ‘pro level’ bikes to be pretty comparable?
-What is (was) your favorite bike? (might not be able to honestly answer this w/out making their current sponsor angry)
-What’s your FAVORITE thing about being a pro cyclist?
What is your fav music when training?
Comment by spinecho | 12.6.2011 | 7:40 pm
Heh – you asked…
What is life in the peleton like? Is is social — in other words, is the pace slow enough so that people chat? or is it all business? Do people gossip (“hey, I hear levi is out beating folk up again…”)Is there a peking order in the peleton?
How sick do you have to be to bail on a scheduled ride?
What brought you to cycling as opposed to a different sport?
Would you ever ride a recumbant? a unicycle?
Would you do it all over again?
Any tattoos? If so, why? and of what?
How much difference do you really think the brand/make/model of the bike/gear makes — I mean really.
What is your favorite sport to watch?
Comment by George | 12.6.2011 | 7:47 pm
If Bobke ask you to go for ride with him would you go or dodge the question?
Comment by roadrash | 12.6.2011 | 8:09 pm
I wonder:
– Do most pro cyclists have a coach who inspired them? Or were they born to be a pro cyclist?
– When does a cyclist know, really know, that they have what it takes to be a pro?
– What advice would they give Dads who are introducing their kids to the sport?
Comment by StephBDC | 12.6.2011 | 8:29 pm
Have the soigneurs figured out a magic laundering routine to keep your kit from stinking? If so, pleeeaase share.
Comment by will | 12.6.2011 | 8:45 pm
Would you consider doing the Tour de France on a unicycle? Excuse me but I mean’t a fixie unicycle. How about a tandem?
What is your personal best bench press?
What rapper would you like to bike with and why?
Comment by roan | 12.6.2011 | 9:00 pm
Ton-O-Tips
So here’s more.
Do you ever ride incognito/anonymous(kitless) ? If answer is yes. Q. For how long before someone tries to drop you ?
Of the above I liked (and there’s a lot to like),
Q. Ginger or MaryAnn ? or you may need to modify with,
Q. The Professor or Gilligan ? Though either Q may result in a blank stare with today’s breed of racers.
OR Out LOUD laughter & a headlock.
Comment by Steve | 12.6.2011 | 9:05 pm
How many hours before a race do you swear off sex?
Comment by aussie kev | 12.6.2011 | 9:29 pm
ever ridden nude
Comment by Mrs Brooks | 12.6.2011 | 9:46 pm
Do you remember the very first bike you ever rode? Was it your own?
Comment by Carl | 12.6.2011 | 9:49 pm
I have always been curious to know what supplements it is common for pros to take during training that helps you with endurance, recovery, etc?
Comment by Jim B | 12.7.2011 | 12:05 am
- At the start of the interview, ask how many jerseys they own, then casually mention that you have more than 200 (or whatever the current count is), just to help establish the pecking order
- Have they ever sat up to zip up their jersey and spiff themselves up for the photo at the finish line only to have someone sail past and take the win?
- Do they have any anxiety over how they measure up when standing up on the podium in their tight biking shorts?
- Could they maintain their own bikes if they had to?
- If you lost sponsorship tomorrow, what would you do to make a living?
- If you could be good at only one thing, what would it be: climbing, sprinting, time trialing?
- If they have children, ask if they would encourage or discourage their children from becoming a pro cyclist
Comment by KanyonKris | 12.7.2011 | 12:49 am
Pro cycling is: grueling races, endless training and dieting, crashes are frequent (and only your head is marginally protected), you live on the road, not much social life, and the pay is tiny (except for the top stars).
So why are you a pro cyclist?
(Maybe you better not ask that question, the pro might think too much about it.)
Comment by skippy | 12.7.2011 | 1:47 am
Hanging out with ProTour Racers i have always asked ” What do you personally do to Promote ” Para Sport ?” You would be surprised the number who do great work in this area including giving their “Sponsor Award cheques( eg Lindsay Vonn )” and training or donating bike parts ( Too many to name )!
So many Racers read Fatcyclist that Levi will be passing around a copy of this post to his new team colleagues on the be prepared principle and no doubt Horny is discussing this at the training camp meals with the LeOpard contingent today !
Fatty GREAT POST ! Racers agents will be ringing your phone off the hook to get in first with trying to answer the best questions . Be prepared for big phone bills as the racers will be answering the questions before you get to pose them ! What a great response to your enquiry , so many questions that you and i wouldn’t have thought about ?
Looking forward to the future posts generated as a result of your asking for our input .
Take a look at asking ” 637daystogo.blogspot ” as a practice run ! He is a fatty that shed 80lbs to become a World Class Track cyclist !
Comment by Russ | 12.7.2011 | 4:48 am
Great idea!
If it was me i’d love to ask:
As someone who is new to distance cycling, i’d love to know how you mentally prepare for longer, more challenging rides. When the pain comes along during the ride what do you think about to keep your focus?
Comment by rolfrander | 12.7.2011 | 5:28 am
It is reasonable to believe that when deciding to go pro (in any sport, I guess), you have to make some sacrifices.
Q: what do you feel are the most important sacrifices you had to make?
Comment by Kent | 12.7.2011 | 7:28 am
Do you know Dr. Lammler?
BTW, I’m enjoying your book. The next time your are crunched for time at work, have a back log day. We can share what stories we like, relate to.
Comment by Staci | 12.7.2011 | 7:54 am
Chocolate, strawberry or vanilla?
Diet or regular?
Best/worst dog story–every cyclist has dog stories!
Who is their dream date.
Are they a back, side, or belly sleeper?
Do they snore?
What’s their favorite t.v. show/movie?
Who was their best friend as a kid? What did they do? Do they stay in touch?
Tell us about their first kiss.
Worst date.
Favorite teacher.
Comment by Jenni | 12.7.2011 | 8:30 am
LIke most others, I’m interested to know how they handle pain, what gets them through it.
Also, the unladen swallow question. +5
Comment by StephBDC | 12.7.2011 | 8:30 am
What’s up with the contrast stitching around the chamois in some pro kits? Is it to refocus all the attention given to the shaved legs?
Comment by Rica Mendes (@rica620) | 12.7.2011 | 8:42 am
1) Have you ever been presented with a team kit that, in your gut, you said to yourself, “I’d rather be caught dead than seen in public in this thing!” If so, which team kit?
2) On that note, what is, in your opinion, the most awful kit you’ve ever seen in your career? What made it so terrible?
3) Does the tush-patting ever make you uncomfortable?
4) Which ride was The One that made you say to yourself, “I have to do this professionally?” And, what ride have you had that has made you wonder why you do this professionally?
5) If a young child approached you and said, “I want to be a professional cyclist,” stripping away the “right” or the PR-friendly answer, what would you REALLY want to tell that kid?
6) Why, in your opinion, is cycling a sport dominated by men and not women? And do you think it’s fair that there is no women’s/co-ed Tour de France?
7) What race/event have you watched that you’ve said, “There’s no way in hell I’m going to do that?”
8) What fan interaction in your mind is indelible? For better or for worse?
Comment by Jim | 12.7.2011 | 9:04 am
1) Please describe the worst saddlesore you ever got, and how you treated it. Or “treated” it as the case may be.
2) Most pros can pee off the bike. You ever inadvertently doused somebody? How did they respond? How did you respond?
3) Bobke famously had to stop during the TdF to sprint into the bushes with the runs. There was no toilet paper, so he yanked the tablecloth from a french family having a picnic on the grass, used it, remounted, and rode off. Epic Win for Bobke, or Cancer on the Sport?
4) Doping… Do you drink your hard liquor straight, or do you prefer to cut it with things like soda and fruit juice?
5) Is Dave Zabriskie really that weird? Did he in fact fall into a time warp from a Dead show in 1968 in San Fransisco? Is he in fact Bobke’s love child? There are resemblances…
6) Meatball Friedman singlehandedly brought the porn star moustache back to the pro peloton, along with personalized license plates for pro racing bikes. Cancer-on-the-sport mockery, or should road purists get a grip and have fun once in a while?
7) Beltbuckles for Leadville and the Breck Epic are cool. Would they be cool in pro roadracing? Would classics riders get it, but not GC specialists in the grand tours?
8) Describe the coolest, most awesome, hellishly screwed up day you ever spent on the bike that you still think of as a great day.
9) Triathletes riding bikes: should they be banned?
10) Who do you think is the hottest pro cyclist (of the opposite sex please)?
Comment by Rica Mendes (@rica620) | 12.7.2011 | 9:35 am
Follow ups…
9) Have you ever seen podium girl a gag/indicate utter disgust at having to kiss a guy who just finished a lengthy race and must be rather sweaty/sticky/stinky?
10) If you were buying yourself a custom-built dream bike, what brand/build builder would it be? Material? Components?
11) What is the coolest handmade bike you’ve ever seen/ridden/wanted?
12) What hobby/off-the-bike activity did another cyclist have in the peloton that made you go, “HUH?”
13) If you could design your own “Tour de ____,” where would it be? How many stages? What would be it’s profile? And who do you think would win?
14) What kinds of things run through your head while you ride casually? Train? Race?
15) What did you think you were going to be when you grew up when you were in kindergarten?
@yannb, I was thinking the SAME THING re: the James Lipton questions!
Comment by Keith cocking | 12.7.2011 | 9:47 am
Describe the ride when you fell in love with cycling.
Comment by Sean | 12.7.2011 | 10:03 am
What incident made you realize you had the passion pursue professional cycling vs a more traditional career?
What is the most humorous thing that has ever happened to you during your career?
- I love asking medical professionals this one.
Comment by Jeff Bike | 12.7.2011 | 10:58 am
My wife has always been a little curious. She has noticed that on stage races, especially the Tour de France, the wives of cyclist will often attend some of the stages. So, how does that work? Can they spend the night with their mate? Is sex allowed? Or does that have an negative effect on endurance and stamina the following day?
Comment by Joe in San Diego | 12.7.2011 | 11:35 am
My day job is engineering. My hobbies are riding and woodworking (Fatty to substitute his own job and hobbies). When I get together with my friends, I don’t talk work – I talk cycling or woodworking. What are your hobbies and what do you talk about with your friends when you aren’t working (riding/training)?
Comment by Clydesteve | 12.7.2011 | 11:53 am
1. Whaen you prepare your own toast, do you spread butter haphazardly or over every square milimeter?
2. How about the jam or other follow-up spread of choice?
3. Do you insist on the same when toast is prepared for you?
4. Have you ever served overcooked toast to a girl you wanted to date, like Jack Black’s character on Nacho Libre?
Comment by MJ | 12.7.2011 | 12:07 pm
What is the most common mistake that you see weekend warrior cyclists make?
Comment by Bike and the Fat Man | 12.7.2011 | 12:13 pm
Has anyone asked the most important question…
Boxers or Briefs?
Comment by georgethecyclist | 12.7.2011 | 12:28 pm
Do you randomly toss your empty water bottle or do you try to be selective of where your throw it or to whom?
Is it true, as Cycle Sport reported, that Thomas Voeckler is the least liked rider in the peloton?
What would you prefer: dinner with The Devil or a night at the opera?
Ask them too if they can spell peloton. All too many not fully versed in the sport spell it “peleton,” such as at least three of those submitting questions here and Lance’s mother in her autobiography.
Comment by GenghisKhan | 12.7.2011 | 1:05 pm
I got nothing to add as most of the above questions are already interesting and/or humorous. I hope that Fatty is going to get a pro on retainer ‘cuz I want to see answers to all if these!
Happy Holidays to all!
Comment by Phinzz | 12.7.2011 | 2:36 pm
What is the worst thing that has happened to you on a training ride? In a Race? What is your diet like during the various training stages you go through as you approach a race? How did you get your start in bicycle racing?
Comment by Brian in VA | 12.7.2011 | 3:16 pm
And don’t forget the all important, “What’s the stupidest question you’ve ever been asked?”
Comment by MtlDan | 12.7.2011 | 4:00 pm
Nobody can stick to a diet forever. Can you?
You have to race in the cold, in the rain, in the wind and heat. Do you train in it, too, or just ride the rollers on miserable days?
Were you a good student in school?
Do you do your own taxes? Are airline charges for bikes deductable?
If you’re not racing, do you watch cycling on T.V.?
Do you think it should be legal for your D.S. to use the race radio to play “Renegades of Funk” in your ear when it’s time to attack?
Comment by Scott Gilbert aka ScottyG1962 | 12.7.2011 | 4:05 pm
I would ask:
What goes through your head when you are either off the front solo by yourself for long periods or off the back just trying to get back on or make the time cut?
Comment by spinecho | 12.7.2011 | 5:24 pm
@georgethecyclist
Oops. Guilty as charged — I misspelled peloton as peleton. And, on top of that, I misspelled pecking. Bah.
Comment by Chris from DownUnder | 12.7.2011 | 7:37 pm
Spokey Dokes, do you ever see them making a come back to the Peloton?
Comment by Wade | 12.7.2011 | 8:07 pm
On the training side I would ask if they thought it was possible for an amateur to create their own periodization based training plan and succeed. Or is it worth the time to get a coach.
Comment by Spiff | 12.7.2011 | 9:37 pm
I would ask:
Have you ever just felt like you just wanted to stop? Stop riding when everyone else is just sleeping or watching TV. Stop riding in the rain (or snow). Stop saying no when everyone else is having seconds.
Sometimes I just want to stop, get fat(ter) and be happy. I can’t. Do pros ever feel that way? How or why do they get beyond it?
Comment by leroy | 12.7.2011 | 11:32 pm
My dog wants to know if Levi ever rides with his chihuahuas.
Do they ever drop him?
Comment by Cookster | 12.8.2011 | 12:46 am
If you are out on a general ride do you stop to help other cyclists in need, would you talk to someone riding who obviously hasn’t got their bike setup correctly about a better steup.
when at home and you need something from the corner shop, do you ride down to get it or take the car?
Comment by roan | 12.8.2011 | 8:11 am
Q. As a pro racer all the routes are predetermined, what race/location was so burned into your brain that you would return to ride at leisure ? You know the ride that you would stop to smell the flowers or have coffee at the corner cafe ?
Comment by Jeff Bike | 12.8.2011 | 10:54 am
Hey Fatty
I Googled “supermegaduperstar” your the 5th listing. You have made it. I think you need to use “belovedsupermegaduperstar” that would be a better discription and should Google first.
Comment by shawn | 12.8.2011 | 11:01 am
Wow, tons of questions for roadies, but what if he interviews a pro mountain biker?
What is your favorite trail or mtb destination?
How often do you get to ride there?
Do you enjoy riding on the road for training, or will you do everything in your power to find dirt or gravel for training?
Gel, waffles, or chews?
If you had a day job other than cycling, what do you think it would be?
Comment by Geo | 12.8.2011 | 11:05 am
What do you take from bike-to-bike? When switching teams the bike sponsor can change. While you must ride their frame, what components (seat, pedals, etc) do you insist on always using no matter what frame?
Comment by Ripkenfan | 12.8.2011 | 4:30 pm
Fatty,
This is an idea I love. I want to know who has the quirkiest superstitions? Does someone out there sleep in their cycling shoes? Who tucks their shirt into their underwear at dinner prior to a race? I also want to know the superstitions of the people you are interviewing. Things like that. Thanks Fatty.
Comment by fliesonly | 12.9.2011 | 2:27 pm
This ones probably been asked already, so I’m sorry if it’s a repeat, but…
Do pros ever really “turn it off”?
I do some amateur races (mostly mtn bike stuff) and I, of course, try to be as competitive as possible while actually racing. But even during “fun” rides and/or “training” rides, I find myself competing with those around me. I don’t like getting passed on climbs and I usually take off and try to be the first one the reach the parking lot (i.e. Finish Line).
So I guess I’m just wondering if an actual pro can go out with a another rider or a group of riders and honestly, truly, really not care about getting beaten to a stop ahead sign, or to the top a climb, or to the “parking lot” finish line? Are they ever non-competitive?
Comment by Kevin | 12.9.2011 | 2:33 pm
What was the worst ride of your life?
What was the best one?
What is your pre-race ritual?
What is the longest you can go without riding barring injury (my wife’s)?
Which race do you want to win the most?
Comment by Patti | 12.9.2011 | 10:12 pm
Do you really “need more cowbell”? It seems so loud and I did it anyway but I wondered does it irritate you?
Is it bad spectator form to take pictures during the cool down ride?
How on earth do you find time to meet a girl, and then convince her to date you long term?