Victoria Pendleton on retirement, and women cycling

[User]

 

[BigonaBianchi]

I doubt she's the only one missing her thighs

 

[ColinJ]

Good luck to her.

Yes - it was incredibly tight of the bosses not to give her the bike. Some male riders do get to keep theirs at the end of the season, some don't, but I bet you that most male riders at her kind of level do! It was nice of Chris Boardman to donate a bike to her instead.

She lost a stone of muscle after retiring - strewth! She never looked big enough to be carrying that much extra muscle ...

 

[ComedyPilot]

Helmet - check
Helmet - check
Helmet - check
Helmet - check
Helmet - check
Helmet - check
Helmet - check
Helmet - check
Helmet - check

Good to see British cycling is as spontaneous as the Dutch model.

 

[ColinJ]

Helmet - check
Helmet - check
Helmet - check
Helmet - check
Helmet - check
Helmet - check
Helmet - check
Helmet - check
Helmet - check

Good to see British cycling is as spontaneous as the Dutch model.

They didn't have a choice ...

Do I have to wear a helmet?

Wearing a helmet is compulsory for safety reasons. Wearing a helmet can dramatically reduce the risk of a head injury in a cycling accident so please wear your helmet whenever you ride a bike. Cycletta advises every participant to wear a helmet whenever cycling. It really is the best way to protect yourself.

And that was probably for insurance reasons.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Sorry if I seem antagonistic....but all this compulsion to wear helmets for events just reinforces the cycling is dangerous bollox....

Cycling isn't about getting the BSO out of the shed once every 2 years and riding 3 miles round a park with a 'celebrity of the moment'

It is a way of life, transport, social engineering tool and lots more besides, and should be treated as such.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

When I left my previous employer, they failed to let me keep my laptop, beemer and other things I required to my job. Vicky did not own the Pinerello she rode, it was owned by British Cycling and provided as tools of the job. I do not see why she deserved to be given it when she left.

Mark Cavendish purchased the McLaren Venge he won the world championship on.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

What about my comparison to Mark Cavendish (after my edit as I was quoted)
Mark Cavendish was sponsored by Specialized at the time he won the World Champs. He wanted the Mclaren Venge he won on while specialized wanted the bike for their historic bike collection.
A deal was made where it was purchased but if it was ever sold Specialized got first refusal and could use it for exhibition if desired.... This seems fair to me.

The article makes no mention if Vicky attempted to purchase the bike, or just assumed it would be given to her? - Selling the bike would generate money to continue investing in the future, While giving it away would only help Vicky IMHO.

I don't know why my comparison is rediculous though, is it because of who she is?

 

[dellzeqq]

Like Colin I'm amazed she had that amount of muscle to shed. And like TMN I hope she enjoys here retirement. I think the bike thing was just one of many small slights that soured things between her and BC, and it's to be hoped they learnt something from it.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Nice hijack CP

The only ones doing the hijacking are health and safety jobsworths hijacking British cycling and pushing for helmet and hi-viz wearing....

Makes me retch, it really does.

You wanna wear one fine. In some areas I agree it's actually a good idea, but for everyday cycling...?

 

[srw]

Great article - and congratulations to BoaB for such an insightful not-in-any-way grubby first response.

 

[srw]

The only ones doing the hijacking are health and safety jobsworths hijacking British cycling and pushing for helmet and hi-viz wearing....

Makes me retch, it really does.

You wanna wear one fine. In some areas I agree it's actually a good idea, but for everyday cycling...?

Oh for heaven's sake. The thread's about one of our greatest cyclists enjoying retirement. If you want to be a curmudgeon about helmets, there's a whole other forum to do it on.

 

[ComedyPilot]

OK

 

[MossCommuter]

"Oh, they sold poor Vicky's bike, her really, really, really expensive bike... What is one to do?"
"Oh, it's OK, just pop down to Halfords (that's Halfords folks) where you can pick up a Boardman which is basically just as good... Did we mention that Vicky's range of bikes is also available at Halfords?"

 

[Flying Dodo]

Eh? If I was overseeing their publicity I'd be noticing, as have others, that this makes them look like small-minded tight-arsed curmudgeons. Any advantage accrued by hahahaHalfords is minuscule by comparison.

True. It just seems bizarre that Team GB just didn't stop to think to offer her the bike. Complete lack of joined up thinking.