Published 34 BB
few years ago, and as a good friend of mine said when I put the shorts did not even know my father. You all know what this means outputs the pulse knife runaway, leading the forces to the limit. In so blind that we do not reparábamos in the landscape, or people, or its people. We did not see anything. The goal was to go as fast and far as possible. Today, my view of cycling has changed, thanks in large part to this magazine that has given me the chance to see the bike world with different eyes ... eyes of BB.
Do you dare?
With this question, yes, opened before me the opportunity to be with them, my idols, cyclists whom he had followed since his youth or, as in the case of others, in recent years. However, the vision was to change "training" of cycling in the interview with one facet cyclist, closer to us all, fans who enjoyed the bike all weekend. So the word "competition" was taboo and was almost forbidden to talk about race with them. We had to find that side "noncompetitive" the bike in the character. And I think sometimes we get it.
In my case, my first interview, I was there, in front of the coliseum Blaugrana, Nou Camp, to chat with one of the greatest cyclists Catalans Melcior Mauri. It was exciting to talk to him. What most struck me was how thin that is still preserved, as when she competed. Melcior was all kindness and grace, as when he pedaled with his impressive class. He taught us to love his champion's jersey in the Tour of 91, carefully placed in the museum of Barcelona, \u200b\u200bfor anyone who wants to contemplate. Too bad next year, as you know, the club broke up the section, leaving one of his greatest illusions Mauri: take the Tour team. Could not be. Joan Llaneras
, my next "guest", I impressed by its great simplicity. Despite being the most decorated athlete in history in this country, I was talking to him like I did with my best friend. It was a very emotional interview. This was in November and again in August was crowned Olympic champion in Beijing, putting finishing touches on his career. For me it was an honor to think that I had been talking to Joan, and my desire for him just outside that, closing the conversation, which brought the gold medal for his native Mallorca.
Months later it was the turn of Miquel Poblet, another living legend in cycling. Perhaps it was the character that has given me more respect, no doubt by its more 80 years under his belt and the mythical aura that surrounds it. Not for nothing I'd find the best English sprinter in history. I remember as I was concerned was not late for the appointment ("Come at five o'clock"). I was lucky and did not expect. I received in his office, the office of his workshop, surrounded by bikes, veritable museum of cycling. It was a very pleasant conversation with a dear man. At one point pulled out a book from the drawer and, without saying anything, began to write it. With a big smile she gave him. Sports was his biography "The yellow arrow" and I had spent ("To the friend Jordi Escrihuela, with sympathy and affection. Miquel Poblet). Save it as a treasure.
Later I was lucky enough to interview another great champion and a great idol for me: Roberto Heras. The meeting, how could it be otherwise, was a bicycle, and there I found myself riding next to a triple winner of the Vuelta on the roads they normally trained. Confidences were many who told me, and I keep jealously to me, especially by the great confidence you gave me, if only I can tell you still have the feeling that in your legs at least had a tour. Then I remember I read somewhere that Robert had to be given much more explanation in this interview to which I replied that it was granted to BB and not another type of press objectionable. Finally
Paco Antequera, which was my last interview so far. Nothing less than the national team, the most successful English sport. I was also surprised his extreme simplicity, a very direct man, who likes to call things by their name. We wanted to do the interview also bike, and it seemed that he was funny and was accessed, but then when we met with him in his own land, in Valencia and in the Alto del Oronet, the end came without her, which was a small disappointment to us, but we understood perfectly. Yes, presented with a spectacular sport that we took the hiccups, as you could see in the photos.
Ports, harbors, ...
ports ... Oh! Where would we be without them, without our precious mountains, where we passed it well, having a good time, usually over a thousand feet, although other shorter, also give us great "satisfaction." BB's eyes gave me the opportunity to see the mountains in a different way, so I took my bike, my camera, my tape recorder and my GPS and I went hunting for terrible ports in order to experience feelings of first hand and then to explain it. It was the horrific case of Pradell and Collfred, or the equally hard Montnou, a port unpublished, unknown at the time, and that the hand of Raul and Guillem, the discoverers, I could present exclusively in full "hunting season ".
Other times I have not hesitated to throw the bike into the car, sparing no efforts to address the Pyrenees and narrate my experience in my "first Tourmalet", or the Alps, to climb the legendary Alpe d'Huez and tell you how I was dodging the "21 bows, or even navigate to Italy to climb the Three Peaks of Lavaredo, on a trip to" the limit of the unreal and fantastic. "
I've been lucky enough to have presented much of my favorite ports, starting from my homeland, Catalonia, and its flagship: the Turo de l'Home. A wonderful evening of May, and with Claudio Montefusco, we climbed the colossus, hand in hand, we brought you our experiences in these pages a port that is "so close yet so far." O my dear Montserrat, the top I will have gained more times in my life and given me the most. Not even remember how many have been many ... I explained all what this "dream come mountain" for the Catalan cyclist, and attended a mythical event, the National Day Montserratina, to finish a season.
But ... what is behind these articles? ("How were shot.") In addition to a photographer than as Pau and Sergi, whom I had the good fortune to meet, but even more privileged for having been able to accompany portray many ports, most hard, but above all beautiful, many hours sleep, early mornings, trying to catch the first light of day, like when we went to Port Bou, a frigid January 4, to ride up Prades through ports, and it snowed, as Xatard and Palomera, covering a story of first stage of the Pyrenees. I remember we very cold, exiting the coast, perhaps more than in high mountains and is, without doubt, that morning had a temperature inversion.
But everything has its reward, and we could enjoy the sunrise over the sea to rise, almost overnight, the hard-Rat Penat in Garraf (and new star in the upcoming Vuelta), where we live real "horror stories" or feel the warmth of the first ray in Valencian lands, as we pass through the beautiful ports of Eagle Peak, and Eslida Almedíjar, through the extraordinary vision of the morning at the Shrine of Bellmunt, a spring day and a environment, which inspired a "history medieval. "
We have not always been lucky when good hunting photos in our early mornings, and recently we are left with the desire in the Turo de l'Home, as a thick fog hid us the splendid view. Nor looking believe that all the colors of a season, as the case may be fall, we have always found the first, and so on four occasions we had to visit the Montseny, until finally one day said, "now yes, you are ready. "
But not everything is up early and sometimes we have to find just the opposite, the colors of the sunset, the sunset, as in Mare de Deu del Mont. Be at its peak, a late-night Summer month of June, watching as the sun king was behind the imposing Canigó, is priceless. No wonder that this mountain was the "inspiration of the poet."
Others have rushed so much that we made at night on the road. I remember our bikes down from Prades completely dark. Amazing experiences we've lived, always looking for that particular vision that makes us also to see, feel and think about BB.
On March
Two cars stopped in front of a traffic light. 6 am on any Sunday. What distinguishes the occupants of the two vehicles? In addition to the bike that takes up one, it seems that some are younger than others and some have more sleep than next door. It is clear that some are "run" and other van (we're) running ... cycling. It's a big difference. In the marches enjoy it by trying ... against other colleagues or against ourselves? BB
eyes gave me the opportunity to enjoy them differently, very differently than it did before. I remember pedaling over 10 hours through the beautiful land of France and Navarre Pyrenees with Francis, up and down a lot of ports, very hard, very beautiful, like Errozate or Larrau, in a memorable day, a platoon line, slowly but surely. An unforgettable day in which he also met Rotsen another pedalierman. I remember that he laughed, good vibes, the wobbling and stumbling that was taking place in the last meters of Larrau.
But perhaps the hardest thing for me was to represent crankset Quote Moraira. I said 'do you want? "And I, with a smile, replied" yes, I like! ". I caught a bit of a surprise invitation to cover the event, and barely had at that time, mid-February, 600 km of training, when only 4 days would be 400, we would to cover on a real field rompepiernas, really hard. I had a hard up to Castell de Castells, Bernie, the slides Beniaya-Toll or the walls of Cumbres del Sol, but I think the flag stayed decent, finishing all the courses provided in a few unforgettable days also where I met wonderful people between she and her son Eduardo Huts. Although my stay at the stage had gone unnoticed until now, despite my shorts and I wear BB stickers on the bike, the last day, the good of Edward, came to say I was there, with what avalanche journal request was quite important, as congratulations for the way we are. It was a privilege for a few days cycling lands of Alicante, in the heat of the sun almost spring.
more opportunities given to me by wearing the jersey and shorts Bottom Bracket: my bike to visit the neighboring lands of Teruel and Valencia, participating in Degollaos and discovering a privileged area for cycling, narrow roads set between rocks and natural monuments as the bodies of Montoro. Roki where I met the organizer and his hand look "rocks, vultures and wind." A simple person, friendly and charming.
also had the satisfaction of attending the 1 st March edition of the Villa de Ayora-Cofrentes, we enjoy riding through the Natural Park Cabriel River Gorges and the Cañada de Jarafuel, short but tough road, and new star, Pico Caroche. The organizers, Manuel and Miguel, they treated us wonderfully. And to say you're coming from BB opens many doors and people can not do enough to make you feel at ease. Bearded
Nor has escaped my new vision BB. Last year, which was my 10th participation, I wore my senses more open than ever to perceive all that gave off that last mile Portalet magic. I'm still looking for the girl who accompanied me during those wonderful thousand meters, but can not find it. I have looked at videos, and even on youtube, but nothing. I hope to see it again next year.
Now, as I write these lines, it's snowing out there and very cold. It's December and since then the weather is not called out for a ride with the bike, but my mind is already moving forward and you're thinking of all the marches I'll enjoy next year and also hopes to have first-hand. For now I'll dream I'm riding on a beautiful lonely road, surrounded by mountains, with other friends, no cars, no hassles, alone the beautiful landscape and we ... I did not awaken until March.
My people
Perhaps a of the most rewarding contributions that has given me to work with BB, and always with these new eyes of our small and big world of cycling so special: having met through interviews of all types to more than 20 characters, men and women of all ages, from "young" retirees "triumph" on two wheels at an advanced age, as Caesarius Teruel Dolz or Catalan Jordi Camps, or veteran and Aleix gorgeous Catalina, Valencia and recordwoman of shares in the QH , and also Catalan Antonio Espinal, women entrepreneurs as they come and a precursor to the Cor de Catalunya Volta, in 2009, passed the baton to the guys at Terra Diversions.
is because these lines have passed the likes of Huesca Luis García Landa, one of the fathers of the Bearded hard we explained the beginning of his first editions, the Spaniard Ricardo Landaburu "Buru", an "activist" mountain passes, which is dedicated to providing name "wood and wind," one of the most altruistic activities we have seen, through Spiluttini Fernando, first Argentine to end the Paris-Brest-Paris, Catalan Frederic Rafols, the man with "a thousand ports," San Sebastián José Luis Garcia, another record holder with 24 hours on the bike, or its 1000 km and 1000 miles, non stop.
Wonderful people, all extraordinary people, with whom I had the pleasure of chatting with them. "It would seem that you're interviewing me, like a conversation between friends," he told me a lot and I'm proud of it, submitting them all in the spirit always BB. But the list does not end here, we continue.
I also gave a good account of Barcelona, \u200b\u200bCarlos Barreiro, stand-up comedian, singer and a great cyclist who became famous with Buenafuente, the Vitoria Oscar Diaz, Dandy, and his group "no training", passing by the young age of 16 Catalan Jordi Vallés , a whole promise in the making, or a beautiful love story to the hand pedals of Guipuzcoa and Zaragoza Look Igartua Santi Jiménez, a relationship that goes on wheels. People who have lots to tell, with a story behind many of them poignant, effort, achievement and motivation, as in the case of Tolosa Edorta Andueza, mountaineer when he attacked his first eight thousand suffered frostbite in the toes, something that has not prevented him keep pedaling, or Burgos, Catalan and adoption, Merche Lopez, who suffered a terrible stroke, which was able to overcome and go on enjoying their favorite sport.
All these stories very moving, as well as the Rafa Sánchez Medinan the "Baker", with its 160 kg weight and 3 packages of snuff a day, doctors gave him no more than two years, but like many other bike found the solution to all problems , or Catalan Joan García Ayllón that a serious accident left him confined to a wheelchair, but continued its project to measure and edit port, or the Peruvian Israel Hilario, incabiónico rider, whose prosthetic leg is capable of stop the clock in the Bearded Vulture in just over 8 hours, and most recently, Paco Gonzalez, who beat Vitoria also a serious leg injury and is playing hard out there, or the beautiful Malaga Remedios Jury, Portalet Lady, who finished the QH after recovering from a fainting training two months earlier. And I say, anonymous people, important people, interesting people ... and look forward to many more stories rehearsing nearby.
Societies cyclists there are
The group, other association, rock or society, whether rider or cyclist. Also known as bicycle club or union, or bike, even casual cyclist. Different terms to refer to the same reason associative: they are the clubs. Something for everyone and of all colors, from all corners of the geography, pedaling God for these roads every Saturday and Sunday, following a schedule some "pro" from February to October. Other, more bike, from March to November, and some that do not stop throughout the year, hot or cold, although I must say, some stand not only in winter, but also the summer when many of its members march to their second homes. There are those who do not follow any set schedule, just stay in and out.
Some are centuries old, or nearly 100 entities, 75, 50 or 25 years giving pedals, even young ones with low miles in his legs. Until a few months, we have presented here. Large companies, with many members, others less, and some almost familiar, but many organizers of large marches, some media, some not so much to the delight of those who love what we call cycling hiking, or biking, teaching the roads where they move, their ports, their towns, its hidden corners.
Some, many, working from the base with children and youth in different schools, so that cycling remains what it is or, if possible, even better. How many great champions have emerged from these modest quarries? Many, no doubt. That is also why the need to set up their amateur careers, youth or masters, but as you know, BB's vision is to try to escape forever from the competition. It is our philosophy.
I had the opportunity to meet more than 30 clubs who have taught us all how to ride it ... on the bike. We visited La Mancha, the Noguera, Parque Natural de Sant Llorenç del Munt il'Obac, Ultzama Valley, Costa Dorada, Serra Calderona, Garraf, Cerdanya, the Sierra de Urbión, the mountains of Moratalla, the Maestrazgo, Garrotxa, Picos de Europa, Burgos, to Menorca, the Canary Islands or Andorra. Entities
nearby where you like you've seen, or have you felt reflected in a section like, in general, because after seeing the jerseys that appear in these pages then many are in the marches, participating in them or organizing them. What would the bike without cycling clubs? Nothing, absolutely nothing. They are the base engine, its members are those who buy bicycles, clothing, material. Even those who are close to the gutters to see the idols and flood the roads every weekend forming innumerable colorful snakes.
We have always tried to go in search of land little known to the bike, and with our eyes BB, nice areas to teach the practice of our favorite sport, sometimes accompanied by them, by members of the clubs that we have made roads leading us cicerones ideal for cycling. But no doubt, and as he said a while ago another good colleague of mine, the best of a club is the people behind its enormous human capital.
