Victoria Pendleton on retirement, and women cycling

[SWSteve]

"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?"

"Ride beautiful"

 

[MossCommuter]

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.

You wondered about sexism. I wondered about commercialism.

 

[Noodley]

Do the men get to keep their bikes I wonder?

No.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

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.

Seems equally bizarre to me that she felt she could continue riding the bike she was provided with when she left British Cycling. Did she not realise she was also leaving the equipment, mechanics and support structure behind?

 

[ComedyPilot]

You work in an engineering factory, and retire.

Can you walk home with the Bridgeport you have worked on...?

Doubt it.

But if you're VP you can cry about it and get your way.....

 

[Noodley]

Fight.

No fight required. I am right.

 

[RWright]

I have a feeling Pinarello would be more than happy for her to have any of their bikes...free...I bet they would pay her a tidy little sum just to own and ride one. It was a great publicity stunt for her line and the Boardmans. I wouldn't be surprised if her contract doesn't let her ride anything else.

 

[Archie_tect]

Never fails to amaze me how people who have made a very good living from their connections expect to acquire things for nothing .... I've done a couple of footballers' houses and you wouldn't believe their arrogance in expecting free k*tchens/ bathrooms fitting and installation... Olympic sportspeople are just as bad it would seem.

The irony is that having made it the marketing advantage they have attracts intense media attention for a very short spike, then they are forgotten.

Jonathan Edwards really struggled when he was starting out [he worked in the NHS with Mrs A_T for a while- he's a nice lad] trying to fit in his training around his full time job, and get time off to attend amateur events, but once he got into the British team the free stuff and 'sponsorship' he was offered just took off. I think his ego got too used to the lifestyle and he lost his way for a while but seems to have sorted himself out OK. VP may be going through similar trauma.

 

[Fnaar]

I can see Archie's point above, but I think it's fair enough, not to expect it, perhaps, but to me it seems a decent thing for the team to do, gifting her the bike on which she triumphed.
And I think Mo Farah should get the Olympic running track too.

 

[Archie_tect]

Up to the changing room door, then off they came...

 

[Crackle]

I find it astonishing and have done since I first read about Pendleton's demons, how she managed to win so much on the track. Her insecurities and worries seem legion and are again reflected in that article. She must have a core of inner strength few of us can imagine and a desire to match.

Despite that, I am ambivalent towards her. I don't know why. Perhaps I like my heroes flawed in a different way, my upbringing on Biggles and his stiff upper lip doesn't take well to insecure heroes, I find that interesting, as interesting about my own pre-conceptions as it is about Pendleton's perceived flaws.

And on the bike front: Well Lance didn't get to keep his, he flogged them, allegedly

 

[mark st1]

And on the bike front: Well Lance didn't get to keep his, he flogged them, allegedly

tbf though he has a very expensive habit to fund.

 

[TheDoctor]

tbf though he has a very expensive habit to fund.

And we don't even have to say "Allegedly..." after that any more!!

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I can see Archie's point above, but I think it's fair enough, not to expect it, perhaps, but to me it seems a decent thing for the team to do, gifting her the bike on which she triumphed.
And I think Mo Farah should get the Olympic running track too.

Phelps got offered all the water out of the pool when he retired, nice gesture I thought.

 

[Flying Dodo]

Seems equally bizarre to me that she felt she could continue riding the bike she was provided with when she left British Cycling. Did she not realise she was also leaving the equipment, mechanics and support structure behind?

She wasn't expecting to be given the bike, more to be given the opportunity to buy it. Bearing in mind that Team GB sell the bikes on anyway. It was the fact no-one thought to ask her if she wanted to buy it, in the same way when a sales rep. retires, they're given the chance to buy their company car.