Paris In July: Slaying the Badger

You already know that I'm a Tour de France fan. I would probably have to be with Rick as a partner! But what you might not know is that Rick's son is named Greg and that (in part) an influence behind that name was cyclist Greg Lemond, who won his first of three Tours in 1986.

Lemond was the first American to do so, and he did it by beating five-time winner Bernard Hinault of France, who was known as "The Badger."

"Slaying the Badger" chronicles this 1986 Tour de France, the two who competed for it, their rivalry and the careers that led to it. It's a great book for those who love cycling or are just fascinated by the Tour.

Richard Moore is a compelling interviewer and writer who relies heavily on interviews with both Lemond and Hinault, their teammates and others who worked with them. He paints a picture of remarkably different personalities from different backgrounds who are teammates -- and rivals.

Here's something about the Tour de France that you may or may not know -- and it holds true today. 

When you are on a team, there is the leader, the "patron," and that is the person that the team sets up to be the GC or grand champion. Teams have climbers and sprinters and those known as "domestiques" who help their guy to win and keep him fed and watered on the long rides.

Now, there may well be other riders on the team who are as capable of winning the GC as the team leader is. Take a look at last year's winner Bradley Wiggins and this year's leader (as I write this), Chris Froome. Froome may well have won last year -- but he was told to hold back, to help Wiggins.

The same situation happened with Lemond and Hinault in 1985 -- and it didn't sit well with Lemond. He was told by Hinault and their team manager, Bernard Tapie, "Next year you will win."

But Hinault liked winning. Others had won five tours as well. Did Hinault want a sixth, record-breaking win more than fulfilling his promise to Lemond?

Moore pulls together a captivating story with lots of behind-the-scenes drama. He tells it well, and one can't help but learn a good deal about this sport by reading about these two champions.

"Slaying the Badger" will not be for everyone, of course. But if you find bicycle racing and the Tour fascinating -- or for that matter, if you appreciate the mechanics and mischief behind any sport, you may well enjoy this well written book.

This post is part of Paris In July, a series of blog posts across the net sponsored by Tamara of Thyme for Tea and Karen of Bookbath. Please link to their sites for other Paris (and France)-related posts.

This post is also cross-posted on my book blog, Chopsticks and String, which is primarily reviews of books.

Paris In July: Tour de France Destinations

I hope you love the Tour de France as much as I do.

Even if you're not a fan of bicycle racing, how can you not enjoy the beautiful vistas and overhead views of France's sites?

On Tuesday (July 9) and Wednesday, the tour will be in Brittany and Normandy. So, as part of Paris In July I thought I'd take you OUT of Paris and to the area of the Tour.

Here is St. Malo -- a charming walled city in Brittany. You can see it best from the Marina outside the walls.

I posted in depth about St. Malo HERE. It's a sea town, with links to Chateaubriand and Cartier. Pirates abounded and is surrounded by ramparts.

In World War II, the town, including its beautiful church, were seriously damaged when the U.S. bombed the city, which was a Nazi stronghold.

Here in America, they would be likely to view the bombed out site as a potential shopping mall or village of houses made of ticky-tack that all look just the same.

Not in France. Proud of its heritage, it rebuilt St. Malo as it was before.

The tour will ride through the Brittany countryside.

They will find twisting roads and charming villages and towns.

Perhaps they will see sites such as this beautiful windmill amidst a field of rapeseed.

And take a look at that little spot in the distance!

On Wednesday, the Tour will arrive .at the famed Mont Saint Michel, which I wrote about HERE.

This is another "walled city" in its way. There are people who actually live in this mountain of rock that is also the home of an abbey.

In its time, it has been not only abbey but prison.

And you can see how it would be a mighty fortress. When the tide comes in, you are there, whether you want to be or not! The views were dazzling!

Lots of rocks. LOTS of steps. (Let's just say, I sent my PT a postcard from here, thanking her for getting my knees in shape to handle it!)
 

I especially loved the potager. I could envision monks growing their veggies and preparing them.

 

Of course we saw it on a mostly rainy day -- but the sun did shine...

...and we did play.

Please visit other blogs focusing on France this month as part of Paris In July. You can find links at Thyme for Tea or Bookbath.

Enjoy!

Tour de France Junkie

My name is Jeanie. I am a Tour de France addict.

While my own personal bike racer is wild to "compete in his mind" (he'd probably deny that, but really, what biker wouldn't?), I am content to watch my favorite riders take on mountains or pedal at amazing speeds to win a sprint.

I'm an Andy Schleck fan. I think he was robbed last year. But Caudel Evans is another favorite. Bike life. I marvel at the crashes this year...

The speed at which the bikes are repaired and back on the road.

I love the crowds, and watch eagerly to find places I know when they are touring through Paris or Normandy. And I long to visit all the other places the riders experience at such quick speeds, enjoying each shop, street or cafe at a more leisurely pace.

I am aghast at how these riders slog up the hills -- no, mountains -- at speeds I couldn't do no matter how hard I tried.

And then when they descend, what a feeling of exhilaration and freedom. I can feel it just watching -- and that's just fine with me!

Meanwhile, from 8-11 p.m. each night, you'll find me being a Tour groupie, enjoying the commentary of Bob Roll, Phil Leggett and Paul Sherwin. Routing for my favorites. Feeling bad for those who have crashed out.

And I'll be enjoying most of those nights with my favorite Faux-Tour rider! He'll explain things, I'll learn and we'll thoroughly enjoy!

If you are interested in the real Tour de France, visit HERE and if you want to visit the Paris in July postings, you can find a list on the right column of Thyme for Tea or Bookbath.

All Things Sporting

Today is Rick's birthday. Double Nickels. 55. Stay alive.

Tonight we'll celebrate with our annual bike-ride/cook out. I shouldn't say "our" bike ride. He rides. I cook. And he brings back his biking buddies to enjoy burgers, salads, cake and all.

So, I thought I'd include some of my favorite Rick pix from vacation -- when it comes to all things sporting last week, it was mostly him being sporting! And a few from Paris, as I share another of his talents!

Now, he did most of the sport at the lake (Well, I did walk and swim!)

And of course, that sport is the bike. We have been totally immersed in Tour de France over the past couple weeks.

We missed many of the opening sprints during our vacation, and finally broke down on the last night to go to Big Buck Brewery and take a table in front of a telly with the Tour!

Sometimes I think Rick is doing the Tour every time he rides. Not the mountains -- none of those here. I envy the dedication, the drive, the physical stamina it takes to dedicate yourself to a sport so wholeheartedly.

But then, everything he does, he does that way. His work. His guitar. Biggest mistake I made last year during my trip to France was to buy him guitar music I hadn't heard.

I went to the music district, near Gare St. Lazare, where there was one instrument and sheet music shop after another on Rue de Rome.

(Gare St. Lazare was painted by Monet, and it was great fun to see both the "real" thing and his version in Musee d'Orsay. The area was a short walk from the Opera House and some of the more elegant Parisian department stores. Ah, a good day!)

He had mentioned a particular publisher whose house used to be on that street and wanted photos. Here's one of the front door. I stood in the middle of a busy street to try and get them, and after nearly getting hit, decided an off-kilter look wasn't so bad!

When I found music in a shop by that publisher, I grabbed it! Perfect gift!

It's the most discordant thing I've ever heard. I love classical music. Melodic classical music -- not so much those with complicated harmonies. This doesn't cut it!

(I will say, it's sounding better -- and when he described to me this past weekend that this is the music he hears in his head when he rides, and why, I could see the narrative and liked it a little better!)

But with dogged determination, he has been practicing it. He tries to practice an hour or two a day, and at the lake it was two.

(Still, I'm glad I also bought him another book of something more "traditional!")

Rick and I have been together now since 1996, and known each other longer. Every year I am more grateful to his mom and dad for having this first of many. He's shared his boys with me -- his young men, I should say. He's shared his life with me. We're so different, but it works.

Stay upright this year, Rick. That's my birthday wish for you. No more neuro-ICU -- this year, or any other. Ride far, ride fast. And keep coming home!

Happy Day!

(Coming next -- another "Paris In July" post!)