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How Did Lawson Craddock and Team USA Do at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics?

~ A Dude Abikes ~ 6 Comments

Texan professional racer Lawson Craddock rode in the Olympic road race and time trial in Japan. In my previous post about Lawdog, I got the date and time for the first event correct but not which one. The very long 146-mile road race came first. I missed the time trial, which isn’t as fun to watch. In both cases the Houston native acquitted himself well. I answer the question below, and there are spoilers including one about the Tour de France.

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Lawson Craddock in Time Trial and Road Race at Tokyo Olympics

~ A Dude Abikes ~ 4 Comments

Houston, Texas native and Austin transplant pro cyclist Lawson Craddock (who lives nearby me in Austin when he’s here but mostly in Girona, Spain) is headed for Japan. After winning the US men’s time trial with others on Team EF Education Nippo in third and fifth places) in Knoxville, Tennessee in June, and coming in fifth in the road race, he’ll feature in both disciplines in Tokyo next week. You can see my previous blogs about him by typing Lawson into the Search box on my home page.

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Send In the Bicycle Cav(alry): Mark Cavendish Wins Thrice at Tour of Turkey

~ A Dude Abikes ~ 4 Comments

If you don’t know Mark Cavendish, aka Cav, aka the Manx Missile, allow me to make a brief introduction. One of the greatest sprinters of modern professional cycling, he has won A LOT of races. Cocky and full of confidence, with a sly English (from the Isle of Man) wit and a low-key, self-deprecating sense of humor in post-race interviews, he was pure lightning on the bike. But he got older, moved to different teams, got sick, then depressed, and has been trying to make a comeback for a while. After a three-year drought, he just got three wins in a row at the ripe old age (for pro cyclists) of 35. Everybody loves an underdog, and as a perpetually suffering, aging, and fathlete cyclist, I was thrilled for him at the news. Read on for more on MC putting the hammer down.

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The Tour de France Departs in 10 Days from Nice. Nice! 10 Changes in 2020

~ A Dude Abikes ~ 7 Comments

Professional cycling’s biggest event was rescheduled from July to begin August 29, thanks to you know what. A few other pro racers have happened, and so there is hope Le Tour will start, and end, without problems. Of course there are always problems; it’s the nature of sport. Last year’s edition saw a huge storm blow up the last few stages with a landslide and flooding caused by snow and rain. This year is no different, except it’s completely different, again, thanks to coronavirus. Here are 10 changes and what to expect in 2020 with some of my commentary.

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C’est le 14 juillet, où est le Tour de France?

~ A Dude Abikes ~ 2 Comments

Bastille Day, France’s independence celebrated July 14th, is a day when a French cyclist turns himself inside out to win this day’s stage in the Tour de France. But not this year. Due to you-know-what, it’s been postponed. How, and whether, it happens at all is a big question. Sites like Cycling News explain how testing, keeping team staff and riders away from fans, podium protocol to a minimum and so on will perhaps make it as safe as possible. But it’s up to the microscopic coronavirus and local health officials what happens. Let’ s hope Mother Nature and the government will, as the Cajuns in Lousiana say: Laissez les bons temps rouler.

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Always Meet Your Heroes! Like Lawson Craddock, Who Denies Being a Hero

~ A Dude Abikes ~ 9 Comments

I met Lawson Craddock tonight and was impressed. Not because he’s a hero or did something heroic (which he denies being or doing). But because he’s a human being who rides a bike and overcame adversity to accomplish his goal. And he has thus far maintained what seems to be an authenticity, humility, humor and quiet strength. And also because he’s community-minded, aware of his good fortune and support he has from friends and family and the wider world.  Many of those things resonate, inspire or apply to me, and maybe to you too.  So as so-called heroes go, he’s very relatable. That plus of course he’s a kick ass cyclist and a nice guy to boot. Continue reading →

Pro Cyclist Lawson Craddock Looked Right at Me, Just Kept on Biking

~ A Dude Abikes ~ 4 Comments

True story:  Yesterday I was out for my morning walk near a downtown Austin, Texas cemetery, since I’m cat and housesitting.  I had on my Elmer Fudd hat that covers my ears and neck, headphones tuned to the classical radio station.  I was heading south and in the distance, I saw a flash of pink heading toward me.  It got bigger, and I recognized after watching the Tour de France:  it was Lawson Craddock.  He became famous due to getting a broken scapula on Stage 1 and fundraising almost $200,000 for the Houston Alkek Velodrome, where he trained as a youth.

Lawdog, as he’s known, wasn’t going too fast, but I didn’t have time to get out my camera or think of anything brilliant to say.  So I just said, “Hey, buddy!  It’s A Dude Abikes!”  Like a puppy dog quizzically cocking its head to the side when confused with something, he looked right at me.  A flash of recognition may have been there, or maybe not, since I’ve been posting notes on his Strava page.  The moment passed, and he kept on riding.  How can I not blog about that? Continue reading →

Retired Pro Tour Cyclist Ted King on “We Got to Hang Out” Podcast at SXSW Day 6!

~ A Dude Abikes ~ 5 Comments

Hanging Out with Cool Cycling Celebrities

Today at the South by Southwest convention / festival / happening / big mess o’ people, I lucked into a podcast by three cyclists from Portland, Oregon.  Anna Grace Christiansen, Annalisa Fish, and Abby Watson at www.WeGotToHangOut.com (which you should totes check out) have a funny and informative podcast about bicycling.  Today’s guest was retired professional bike rider and now entrepreneur Ted King.  He raced in the Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana and was a domestique for star Peter Sagan, so he’s the real deal.  So lucky for me, I got to ask a question on air and then meet and chat with all of them afterward.  That made it a pretty easy decision to feature them in today’s A Dude Abikes blog!  Readers:  you’re welcome. Continue reading →