Victoria Pendleton on retirement, and women cycling

[Mr Haematocrit]

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.

The article makes no reference to Vicky wishing to buy the bike, it simply stated that she was surprised when they had sold it. At this point Vicky had announced her retirement and left the sport, If she had a desire to buy the bike she did not make it clear before she left team GB.
Although sales reps are given an opportunity to buy the company car when retiring it remains unrealistic imho to expect the company to hold onto the car in case the sales rep wishes to buy the car or use it at a later date. This is basically what Vicky did.
Vicky now has her own brand of bikes, as does Chris Boardman and perhaps British cycling believed she would also ride this brand moving forward.
I do not think British Cycling behaved poorly or underhanded and it was Vicky who did not convey her wishes.
When I enquired about buying a bike from them I had a great experience and interaction, I can't see why Vicky could not

 

[Durian]

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

He turned it down though. He knows what all those swimmists 'do' in the pool.

 

[LarryDuff]

I still think she's lovely.

 

[Flying Dodo]

The article makes no reference to Vicky wishing to buy the bike, it simply stated that she was surprised when they had sold it. At this point Vicky had announced her retirement and left the sport, If she had a desire to buy the bike she did not make it clear before she left team GB.
Although sales reps are given an opportunity to buy the company car when retiring it remains unrealistic imho to expect the company to hold onto the car in case the sales rep wishes to buy the car or use it at a later date. This is basically what Vicky did.
Vicky now has her own brand of bikes, as does Chris Boardman and perhaps British cycling believed she would also ride this brand moving forward.
I do not think British Cycling behaved poorly or underhanded and it was Vicky who did not convey her wishes.
When I enquired about buying a bike from them I had a great experience and interaction, I can't see why Vicky could not

But she had asked to buy it (although the Guardian don't mention that). This isn't in fact a new story - the whole issue was aired after the Olympics.

 

[mark st1]

I still think she's lovely.

+1

 

[gavgav]

She seems really happy, and good luck to her she earned it. I can't quite believe, though, that the team bosses didn't let her keep the bike she trained on - they sold it! Do the men get to keep their bikes I wonder?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/may/28/victoria-pendleton-enjoy-riding-bike

Having just finished reading her autobiography it is not surprising they didn't let her keep it, as sadly her relationship with them was VERY strained over the last 4 years because of her other relationship

 

[vernon]

It's not about the bike!

Now where did I hear that before?

 

[ColinJ]

[Thread resurrection!]

She seems really happy, and good luck to her she earned it.

Unfortunately, VP was really struggling at the end of last year - Pendleton reveals she contemplated suicide. The good news is that she is feeling a lot better now, She is assisting a mental health charity.

She always seemed emotionally vulnerable to me. I watched a TV documentary about her which included an interview with her father and I could immediately see where a lot of that insecurity came from ... (He kept going on and on about how he had missed out on greatness, rather than being proud that his daughter had actually achieved it!)

 

[snorri]

I wish a warning could be posted at the start of ancient threads brought back to life.
The thought had occurred that VP fans on here had been lying low, and now I know why, she retired 6 years ago

 

[Levo-Lon]

I wish a warning could be posted at the start of ancient threads brought back to life.
The thought had occurred that VP fans on here had been lying low, and now know why, she retired 6 years ago

Lot of jockeys get depressed..
Seeing the late great Vernon posts above was my clue..