I rode with Eddy Merckx today

[wtmusic]

Got a call from a friend that Eddy would be visiting a local bike shop to promote sales of his frames this morning, and that a "select few" would be invited to ride with him.

As these things tend to work out, the "select few" quickly grew into over 100 when word got out that the cycling legend would be in town. But the ride got off to an orderly start, and for a while it seemed as though Eddy would be taking a leisurely pace throughout. Then when stopping at one red light Eddy made his way through the throng, looked both ways, and took off like a rabbit -- through the light. A bunch of us gave chase and 62-year-old Eddy managed to drop everyone except ten of us or so. I was pedaling my ass off, with a smile glued to my face, just trying to keep up (at one point he was pulling at 30mph, into a slight headwind, while adjusting his saddle with a hex wrench).

At the start, Eddy at center:


Nice spread after the ride -- cheese, wine, and of course Belgian chocolate:


Afterwards he said a few words and signed autographs:


Eddy Merckx is regarded as the best cyclist of all time. Below his career highlights:
Tour de France, 5 overall, 34 stage wins
Giro d'Italia, 5 overall, 24 stage wins
Vuelta a España, 1 overall, 6 stage wins
World Cycling Champion, 3 times
Super Prestige Pernod International, 7 wins
Giro di Lombardia, 2 wins
Liège-Bastogne-Liège, 5 wins
Milan-Sanremo, 7 wins
Paris-Roubaix, 3 wins
Ronde van Vlaanderen, 2 wins

Records:
* Most career victories by a professional cyclist: 525.
* Most victories in one season: 54.
* Most stage victories in the Tour de France: 34.
* Most stage victories in one Tour de France: 8, in 1970 and 1974 (shared with Charles Pelissier in 1930 and Freddy Maertens in 1976).
* Most days with the yellow jersey in the Tour de France: 96.
* The only cyclist to have won the yellow, green and red polka-dotted jersey in the same Tour de France (1969).
* Most victories in the Classic cycle races: 28.
* Most victories in one single Classic cycle race: 7 (in Milan-Sanremo).

[peacebird]

1. I met him in Belgium at his factory, and I spoke with him at the Worlds in Montreal.

He is a truly gracious man. Not at all arrogant or rude. He is still THE all time greatest cyclist in the world! No one else can touch his record - he won everything from cobbled classics to each and every one of the Grand Tours. Eddie ROCKS!

I envy you being able to say you RODE alongside of Eddie M.... ! That is very cool!

[Oddball]

2. Glad to hear that Eddie M is..

...gracious. So many top level cyclists are not.

What kind of bike do you ride (road/mountain/both) and what brand? Just curious. I ride a Trek Mountain Bike and want a Voo Doo Cyclocross bike (hint to Santa). And do you ride Rails To Trails? I love their trails. And the route for the Tour De Georgia has been announced. :hi:

didn't know there was a bike forum.

[wtmusic]

5. I ride a Trek 5000

which is a discontinued carbon roadbike frame, and nearly identical to the one Lance won the 2000 Tour de France on. For $2000 it was a great deal. IMO Treks are fantastic off-the-shelf bikes.

My club, which in the past has been road only, is starting to add some offroad rides. I'd probably love offroad but don't need anything else to help empty my wallet right now.

They just put in about 20 mi of rails to trails in my area but there are too many crossings, so it's actually slower than riding the street (metro area).

Welcome to the forum, and I hope Santa didn't skimp on your cyclocross :hi:

[Oddball]

3. rode with eddie!!!!

Cool. I'm a big fan of his.

[keith the dem]

4. I also rode with Eddy,

Back in 1977 or 1978 out of Trexlertown. Was supposed to be a fun ride, Some of the best USA riders were there also, George Mount, John Howard to name two. The "fun" ride came down to a sprint. The recently retired Eddy whooped everybody.

[wtmusic]

6. Well if I'm going to get my ass kicked I can't think of anyone

I'd rather have do it. :thumbsup:

Some of the Tour greats of today could take a lesson from Eddy in the "grace" category.