Old racer argument

Get your age on!

Racing season is soon upon us, even though we are currently under a white layer of “stay on the rollers” powder. And with the new season comes another chance to grab at glory like a high school freshman at his first school dance. The question this week is: who has the longest streak of racing seasons going? Who’s been out there year after year for the longest time?

 

 

47 Comments

Anonymous

I love his answer to the question: Do you dope?
Coppi: Only when I have to.
Journo: And when is that?
Coppi: Nearly all the time.

Ah the good old days.

Anonymous

I know he’s no Euro-pro, but he’s been racing on the domestic scene and still winning races for over 30 years.

Anonymous

I’ve been out there cranking out 250 watts for 10 seasons. This year I’m finally up to an ftp of 260 watts and can’t wait to unleash my 900 watt sprint on the cat 4 field.

Anonymous

1. Joe Saling
2. Clarance Ballard
3. Aubrey Gordon
4. Betty Terrell
5. Jackie Simes…oh, wait…that’s a family dynasty
6. Mike McCarthy (note his recent national masters championships with the Specialized Masters team…a really great concept w/ crafty vets mentoring up and coming juniors, something we should replicate in NYC).

Anonymous

Yes, should of course have put Patrick G. on that list, too.

For those of you guys who don’t know about the history of the Simes clan…below is a snippet from when Jackie II passed away. Jackie Simes II was a contemporary of Adolf Juner, who sold me my first racing bike [Peugot] from his “shop” in city island (on a recommendation from Ed Battone, former president of CRCA)…wonder who ever was down in the Juner basement to see the wooden wheels, jerseys, and other stuff & listen to tales of racing Sommerville in the early early days.

Jackie Simes II Dies at age 87Jackie Simes II the 1936 national road champion and U.S. Bicycling Hall of Famer, died August 10 at age 87 of heart failure following a series of strokes. He died in a hospital near his home in New Tripoli, Pennsylvania. A second-generation racer, Simes inspired his son, Jack Simes III, to compete in a career that spanned three Olympics and a silver medal in the pursuit at the 1968 world championships, and grandsons, Ryan Simes Oelkers and Jack Simes IV to make the Simes family span more than a century of racing.

Simes was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999, four years after his son. Musing on how he followed his son’s induction, the elder Simes’s competitive spirit flared. He observed, “My son was voted in a few years after he was nominated. I was voted in on the first round.”

Anonymous

Bruce has been racing since the 70s and was a Friday night superstar at T-town, winning Rider of the Year and battling it out with Gil Hatton, Les and Lee B., Art McHugh, Paul Pearson, and more. Though his famous red hair has thinned, his skill and strength are still a force. I remember going to see him race in the 80s — the guy was a monster on the oval. He’s still around, racing for Morgan Stanley — which is made up of a few retired T-towners.

Anonymous

Zoltan is the toast of the local peloton – no question. Current holder of the Hungarian National cross champ Title, on a UCI Continental Road squad + an all around awesome dude that has done lots for the nyc community of athletes!

Anonymous

Zoli’s generosity and willingness to do just about anything help others ride and race is something I’ve never encountered. His enthusiasm is infectious.

Anonymous

uh, I sprinted at 1400 watts as a cat 4, and I’m not much of a sprinter. you clearly need to train harder if you’re under 1000.

Anonymous

what the hell does that even mean?

Do you mean, who has been racing the most seasons in the NYC area? And, who cares? are you that lacking in topics?

Anonymous

I feel so ashamed, I laughed at “Assburgler’s syndrome”… he he he damn, I did it again.

On a more serious note – Fred Mengoni is the man – every time I see him in CP I think “damn he is still ticking!” – right before I yell “hold your line “Fred!”

Anonymous

Zoltan is the consummate cyclist. Kick ass CX, road, track, and I hear he tears it up on a Mt Bike. Super nice and generous guy too.

Anonymous

I was never a cat 5. I never finished a cat 5 race and only entered one. So not everyone was a cat 5.

Greg Battista

Anonymous

Regional answere is…. Joe Saling. Racing, getting results, training, he has been going for a long time. I saw a photo of him getting the better of Hercules with a bike throw to the line.

AAA

Anonymous

I got my first ABL of A license in July of 1969, when I was 15…I haven’t had it every year since then, but the last five years I have. I think this years makes 34 licenses in 41 years…wow…not only am I putrid and old, I have early onset alzheimer’s and a pinch of latent OCD thrown in.

I should give up this sport for tiramisu and martinis.

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