Q & A with Joe
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April 7, 2010
The 2010 Ronde Van Vlaanderen was truly a monumental classic! Still have chills from simply watching it. My question: Saying afterwards that he could’ve followed Boonen and Spartacus on the Molenberg, but hesitated, why wouldn’t Big George have tried to bridge as soon as possible, as he was still at least in sight of the leaders as they took the race up the road with only 42k left?
Massimo JaboffoGreat question there, Dr. Jaboffo. First off, I have to admit that I didn’t see that particular part of the race live. One of my most favorite spots on the RvV course happens to be the Eikenberg, which finishes about 5 km from the Molenberg, so while the dudes were making history, my crew and I were capturing a few more photos and making friends with race fans and locals alike on the Eikenberg.
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Share this PageFebruary 14, 2010
Hey Joe – I just finished reading A Dog In A Hat – what a great read, finished it as soon as I got it. One thing that I’m curious about is your training – it seems sort of spotty by how you describe it and you mention that you get much better form by racing. However, I’m also sure you didn’t just show up and start racing without some fitness. I’m also wondering how you think you might have trained differently given what’s known about training (or that it seems less traditional, more individualized) today.
Dave King - Fresno, California
Dave,
I'm sure you've heard people say, "I was born a few years too early." Well, I was definitely a part of the era that didn't really know much about training, but I would never have been able to train like they do today, so I am perfectly happy with when I was born.
Dave,
I'm sure you've heard people say, "I was born a few years too early." Well, I was definitely a part of the era that didn't really know much about training, but I would never have been able to train like they do today, so I am perfectly happy with when I was born.
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January 12, 2010
Hi Joe, Great book and interesting article in this months cycling mag in the UK. Where did you get the old’s cooler T from…..being in my forties, one of those would certainly help put my ripstart sons in place!! Even for a few seconds! (They all count, apparently!)
Andy Pulford - Luton, EnglandThanks for the kind words. I've actually not had a chance to go pick up the new ProCycling yet and need to go grab a copy.
I remember back when I was a little kid watching tennis on television with my mom and dad; my dad would ramble on about how he really didn’t like Jimmy Connors all that much. The details are vague, but I seem to recall that what he didn’t like about Connors was the fact that he wasn’t old, tried and true. By the time John McEnroe had established himself on the scene, Connors was a bit more of an “old man” of tennis, so my dad warmed up to him and even cheered for him to win – it seems to me that by the time this happened, Jimmy Connors, he was all of 35 years old. Now it seems it is my turn to cheer for the old guys.
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January 4, 2010
Hi Joe Loved the book. I was wondering on your viewpoint of the Bradley Wiggins and Sky transfer saga. Did this contract breaking happen back in your era?
Dave - Shropshire, England
Hi Dave,
Thanks for the kind words. I am happy you found the book entertaining.
The Bradley Wiggins transfer to Sky is interesting to me because so many people (in this country at least) are having a hard time with it. As a former (underpaid) pro, I really don’t have too much trouble with his desire to make more money or ride for a major team that’s based in his home country. I am not suggesting in any way that he was underpaid by his former employer, but if a guy can find a better paycheck and/or situation, and the rules make it possible for him to leave, well, good for him, I guess. I broke my contract with Transvemij (later TVM) to go to another team in the silly season of 1987/88, but it wasn’t for more money. It is certain that young Mr. Wiggins is making a deservedly large amount more than the young Mr. Parkin did, too.
Hi Dave,
Thanks for the kind words. I am happy you found the book entertaining.
The Bradley Wiggins transfer to Sky is interesting to me because so many people (in this country at least) are having a hard time with it. As a former (underpaid) pro, I really don’t have too much trouble with his desire to make more money or ride for a major team that’s based in his home country. I am not suggesting in any way that he was underpaid by his former employer, but if a guy can find a better paycheck and/or situation, and the rules make it possible for him to leave, well, good for him, I guess. I broke my contract with Transvemij (later TVM) to go to another team in the silly season of 1987/88, but it wasn’t for more money. It is certain that young Mr. Wiggins is making a deservedly large amount more than the young Mr. Parkin did, too.
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December 30, 2009
Joe, I understand you lived in a rain cape for 6 years, but what did you use to keep your hands and feet warm/dry during all those early season days of cold rain?
Brian Ignatin - Pineville, Pennsylvania
Hands and feet? Honestly, I cannot remember because they have long succumbed to frostbite and fallen off.
Brian, it took me a really long time but eventually I wised up and fled the cold weather. This is one question that I have absolutely no answer for. I have tried any number of different kinds of shoe covers (aka booties) and gloves of every shape, kind, color and construction, to absolutely no avail. Yes, there are a ton of outstanding glove and shoe cover option available now but, for the most part, keeping your feet and hands warm has a lot to do with your own hands and feet.
Hands and feet? Honestly, I cannot remember because they have long succumbed to frostbite and fallen off.
Brian, it took me a really long time but eventually I wised up and fled the cold weather. This is one question that I have absolutely no answer for. I have tried any number of different kinds of shoe covers (aka booties) and gloves of every shape, kind, color and construction, to absolutely no avail. Yes, there are a ton of outstanding glove and shoe cover option available now but, for the most part, keeping your feet and hands warm has a lot to do with your own hands and feet.
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December 21, 2009
I have always personally loved the black shoes on the bike, black socks too, but as of late the euro cool thing of course is ‘white only’. I just don’t like it, haven’t adopted it, and probably won’t change it, but wonder as I look for new shoes if I should even entertain white as optional. Afterall, mavic has some primo junkie shoes in black, carbon and all. So do Sidi, so, if euro makers make them, can they be all that wrong?? I am a masters cat. racer and love the euro look otherwise, just not white shoes. Did you wear white or black during your tenure as racer??
Dan Johnson - MissouriMy name is Joe and I have a shoe problem. I think you might even refer to it as flat-out craziness. I have owned (bought and been given) more cycling shoes than I can remember. I have filed, cut, heated, bent, sawed, glued and otherwise mutilated them in, pretty much, every way imaginable -- shoe mania. Imelda Marcos had nothing on me.
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