I've just read "It's not about the bike"

[brokenflipflop]

by Lance Armstrong and I'm halfway through "every second counts".

Old news I know but what is your general opinion of Lance Armstrong if you have one?

How is he regarded both as a cyclist and as a person by all of the cycling boffins on here? I have my own thoughts about the chap but I'm interested to know what the general consensus is as I'm new to the bicycle game.

 

[brokenflipflop]

?!!

 

[TheDoctor]

Well, here's clearly a very talented and commited cyclist.
But, and it's a big but.
I have to say, even in his autobiography he comes across as arrogant and self-centred.
IMHO, obviously.

 

[brokenflipflop]

Yeah, I know exactly what you mean. I struggled to think bad of a guy who fought cancer and came back to win all those tours but he treated the people around him like crap and he did come across as arrogant. He didn't lack confidence for sure.

 

[MossCommuter]

People like that get on in life

 

[brokenflipflop]

I mean that I know how you are reticent to offer an opinion and usually wait to see what the herd thinks so that you can fall in but, just for once, try sticking your neck out and telling us what you think. That way we might stand a chance of getting to know the real flip-flop.

In my defence I haven't ever followed you, the nerd herd, but you all get so infuriated at me questioning the work ethic of a bin man, I was quaking in my slippers at the thought of giving my opinion about a 7 time tour champion who contracted cancer.

 

[brokenflipflop]

People like that get on in life

true true

 

[screenman]

Amazing strength of character to over come all his battles both on and off the bike. Arrogant or American, either way if more people worked as hard for charity as he does the world would be a better place. Entertaining, I for one have enjoyed watching him ride a bike, and also reading his books.

 

[slowmotion]

A deeply unpleasant individual, and a bully to boot.

[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZgns7CXeUI[/media]


Doper? Well here is Greg LeMond..

[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryH650Br8uI[/media]


Not very pretty is it?

 

[junglegusset]

Awesome cyclist, clearly talented but in many ways an unpleasant person to my mind. Nowhere near as inspiring or as interesting as some other tour winners, to me anyway.

 

[raindog]

For me, he came across as a spoilt brat in that book.

 

[Bicycle]

The achievements of some top sportspeople take my breath away. Armtrong is in that number for me. Also Pantani, Zabel and others. In other sports I am astounded by Rossi, Schwantz, Rainey, Senna, Johnson, Le Tissier, Blanco and many others.

I know none of them personally. They say Rossi is a hoot and Armstrong is a boor, but they don't live in my town or share lifts with me.

As to arrogance, the pressure put on a top professional athlete is extraordinary. They are judged all the time on relative performance. To be subject to that sort of comparative assessment from one's early years and not let it affect your personality a little would be unusual. There is also an extent to which you have to be slightly 'keen on self' to think you can mix it and win at the very top level.

I believe Armstrong was a doper and a very successful one. I believe that very many in his era were. Doping doesn't change my view of him one jot. He won in an era dominated by dopers.

I think the man deserves his legendary status and it bothers me not at all whether he kicks kittens or does voluntary work among the homeless.

 

[yello]

I don't think one has to be arrogant to succeed. Neither do I think that all arrogant people are successful.

Personally, I'm waiting for the fat lady to bring the curtain down, not that Jeff Novitsky is either fat nor a lady. For those wondering 'who?', google the name. My opinions are elsewhere on this forum so I don't need to go into them on this thread.

As for the book, it's not the best sporting biography I've ever read but it's an easy enough read. I can understand why Armstrong is an inspiration for many.

 

[Andrew_P]

I think if I had recovered from cancer, and made a come back to promote Livestrong and some fat twat referred to me as cancer I think would have gone a bit further.

People perceive driven ambitious people as arrogant, because normally they have a goal and are single minded in getting there. Sometimes they might do things that are not pleasant to get to their goal.

I like the Lance story, I cannot give a flying fig what he was on, some “journalists” are now trying to attack Livestrong to try and pin something on him.

 

[yello]

I think you'll find it's a bit more than journalists loco. Federal investigators... law men.