Nyvelocity.com would like to give a very special thanks to Bicycling magazine for making this interview possible and treating us to some excellent meals and good times. Once we crush all of the big cycling media competition, we won’t forget these acts of kindness; your jobs will all be spared.
By Alex Ostroy Photos by Marco Quezada
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“My heart,†the Kid says to me, holding out his fist, “is three times larger than yours; my left ventricle is bigger than your whole heart. The other day I rode 400 watts for half an hour.â€
Sitting between the Kid and me happens to be super-fit local rider, Ken Harris. I say what he is no doubt thinking, “Ken can do 400 watts for an hour,” and of course his heart is much larger than average too. The kid is impressed — for like a second. What are the chances that he’d happen to sit down next to a guy who can put out that kind of power?
“Before,†says the kid, “I could ride at 430 watts for an hour and I weighed 145 pounds (right about Michele Ferrari’s magic number for winning the Tour: a minimum of 6.8 watts to the kilo). I’m a freak, dude, a total freak!”
Now Harris is just laughing to himself. It’s not too often that he gets bested in this game of numbers, but unlike the Kid, Ken isn’t caught by surprise. Why? Because the Kid is pro cyclist Saul Raisin, formerly – before what at first seemed like a routine crash on the opening stage of the 2006 Circuit de la Sarthe – one of the most promising American talents of his generation. Still only 24, Raisin is now a man on a mission to stage the biggest comeback American cycling has seen since, well, the last two biggest American cycling comebacks of all time.
“Dude, if I can race the American Pro Championships this year, I will surprise everyone. If I get my form back they don’t have a chance, none of them do.”
What about Levi?
“Nope.”
You are going to come around big George in the sprint?
“Not a problem, he won’t be anywhere near me by the end anyways, and you can write that down!”
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I’m trying to write it down but it’s tough because Saul Raisin never stops talking. He’s like a young Cassius Clay with Tourette’s. “Yup, when I win The National Pro Championship, ESPN will have to make me athlete of the year.” I decide to refrain from telling him that ESPN has probably never even heard of the new US Professional Road Championship.
Saul’s Circuit de la Sarthe crash left him with a broken clavicle, scapula, rib, and huge scrapes covering his face. But the bigger problem was what it did to his head. Surgery was immediately required to reduce the pressure a hemorrhage was putting on his brain. Saul’s condition was listed as extremely serious. “I had a hole the size of a half dollar in the side of my head,” Saul says. He only remembers being on the bus driving to the race and then a week later woke up from a coma in a French hospital, his dad squeezing his hand on one side and his mom squeezing the other. His first words to both were, “I love you.”
“And that is how my book is going to end, just like that,” says Saul proudly.
But why don’t you wait until you win the Tour, or at least a classic before you finish your autobiography, Saul?
“That’ll be my second book, Dude!”
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Before these dramatic scenes soon to be covered in his upcoming memoir, “Tour de Life”, with movie rights pending, there is the familiar story of a hard-working young racer impressing the right people and moving up through the ranks. A strong ride in the 2001 Junior National Championships led to his first campaign in Europe, riding for the US National Team in 2002 – a forgettable year marred by accidents – and then on to a stint with the Lombardi Sports/Ofoto team, for whom he rode his way to best young rider in the Tour of Georgia, his hometown race. Saul then headed back to Europe, where strong showings in World Cup races caught the eye of Credit Agricole Espoir boss Lionel Marie. On the very same day he signed the contract, he attacked the race leader, only to crash horrifically.
“I hit a post on a descent and knocked out half my teeth. As I was lying in a pool of blood, Lionel jumped out of his car so quickly that he didn’t even hit the brakes. I had swallowed my tongue and was having a seizure. He saved my life by prying my tongue out of my throat – and I bit his finger so hard that to this day he says he can’t feel the tip of it.â€
For Saul, of course, that ranks as only his second-worst crash. A couple weeks later he was back racing the Worlds in Canada with a mouth full of new teeth and he had the top American finish to boot.
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Riding over the George Washington Bridge, weaving through the usual obstacle-course of drainage grates and support girders built without any thought to the urban cyclists who would one day depend on the route’s access to the taxi-free roads of northern New Jersey, Saul navigates these nuisances with a young pro’s typical aplomb: no hands, talking on his cell phone. Today the ride is considerably more challenging given the ice and slush that have accumulated as a result of the weekend’s storms. Only the spectacular view of NYC to our left is arresting enough to capture his attention long enough for Marco, our photographer, to seize the opportunity for a picture of Saul with the city behind him. This is the first time Saul has ever been to New York and the first time in his eleven-month recovery that he has been away from his family, and it feels a bit like he has become our little brother over the past 24 hours. Despite his youthful braggadocio, he is actually quite likeable.
Earlier, as we recklessly squired him through the city’s early morning traffic, nearly getting him run over twice, we envisioned the headline, “Coma-Surviving Pro Cyclist Killed by Hack Journalists!” But Saul isn’t fazed. “In Europe we race on roads like this (the GWB bike path) with 200 guys; we will be riding on a five-lane highway and without warning it will feed into a one-lane access road. It’s just crazy, Dude! That’s one of the biggest differences between racing in Europe and the US,” Saul explains.
And then in a reflective moment he is talking about his recovery. “I remember my mom and dad watching me take two hours to put on my shoes, and they couldn’t stop crying. I don’t think too many people would have believed I could progress this quickly, no way.”
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At lunch, after weather conditions have cut short our ride, I ask Saul for some good anecdotes from the life of a young pro. He gives me a great one staring Jens Voigt. Unfortunately, it loses something in the translation minus Saul’s Georgian drawl imitating Voigt’s halting Schwarzenegger English. Jens took notice of Saul during his breakout performance in the 2005 Tour of Germany, where he finished an impressive 9th. “So Jens rolls up to me during the race, rests his hand on the hump on my back and says ‘What iz deese?’†Without missing a beat Saul tells him it’s his third lung. Jens cries “No! Its illegal, isn’t it? It can’t be!” But Saul assured him it was true. So Jens goes and tells everyone in the peloton about Saul’s third lung, and eventually Saul had to tell him he was only kidding. But just what is the strange hump on Saul’s back? Could it indeed have been a source of power? Oddly enough, it was. Saul grew up with a debilitating spinal disease, a form of Kyphosis, that left him with his trademark spinal curvature. “I used to be embarrassed by it, Dude. Now I’m proud. It’s the reason my heart and lungs grew so big.”
“The Tour of Germany was my breakout race. On the most difficult stage, I was in a 100K break and we were caught by fifty guys right before the hardest climb in the race, a monster slope, one of the toughest in all of Europe. I started in like fiftieth position and by the top I had passed all but six.”
@##=#<5,L>@##=# You can tell Saul has revisited this memory a million times in his head, just as he’s doing right now. It’s flashbacks like these that he’s going to need in order to regain the kind self-confidence his comeback will require.
“I just want to test myself. I feel like I never got the chance to fire on all cylinders. Credit Agricole planned to ride for me in the Giro (in 2006), and there was talk of me being the team leader in the ’07 Tour.”
Saul’s mind was wandering again, with thoughts that seemed simultaneously ecstatic and painful.
nice interview. where can i get a 3rd lung?
I hope we all get a chance to see what this guy can do in a major tour. Good luck Saul.
I agree, really excellent writing here. Hope he comes back for that ride one day
This is the good stuff.
inspiring…you know Lance seems to have a wild curvature of the spine as well…to make room for the heart and lungs it seems.
as far as his aspirations…it seems the power meter is the barometer…with his #’s and weight and aggressiveness..why not shoot for the moon. Sports psychology encourages visualizing success. I believe we will be reading about this guy for the next 10 years.
Truly an amazing story and an amazing guy. Wish I had the chance to meet the guy – I will be cheering him on, even if he never races again.
I have read several stories about this racer but this one is the first to make me feel like I was hanging out with him, you really get a feel for the man here. Great work!
And I like the site too BTW, my first time on it, I found the link from Saul’s site.
Is he really that arrogant? Wow, I would not have expected that.
Great article.
Nice story, I bet half the pros under 25 are as arrogant as he is, maybe not as colorful though.
Hell, there are good local racers who are that arrogant and who are they?!
If his numbers are true it’s not arrogance, it’s confidence.
Also, I hope Homeland Security doesn’t shut down this site – photos of the GWB!!! Are you trying to help the terrorists??
Alex, great piece. Did you at least drop him on hospital hill toward the bridge?
Great stuff.
Hey Cisco,
Yeah we took it to him on the hill, but it only worked because he was checking out the hospital, just in case…
Great piece. I’ll look forward to reading more about Saul "big heart" Raisin
What, am I supposed to worship him?
Looks like he is running a red light in the last picture… hopefully no more crashes…
No snark here.
go Saul.
Excellent interview, well done, great job Alex and Marco.
One can always tell when you write an article Alex. You’re the most "insider on the pro’s" dude that I know. Great stuff, good read, as always nice MQ shots. The artwork…..Es dooooope.
Saul, go get’em. I friggen love the confidence. Its good to know Americans are going to Eur. with a chip, or, lung on their shoulder and not like "whaaaa I cant understand the language, whaaaa, I have no friends."
when you get back amongst the big dogs give calcioli (sp?) the wink and drop Csc like somebody handed’em a piano!
I am embarrassed for Ken for even attempting to compare himself to someone of Saul’s caliber especially after what Saul has been through. Everyone knows wattage output is weight relative, Hell, Saul must weigh less than half of what Ken’s ego does.
Ken didn’t compare himself to Saul, I did. Ken was quite modest actually.
Since learning of his crash (shortly after it happened), I’ve always hoped that he would return to the sport in a big way. After reading this, though, I’m not so keen on him. I mean, I surely wouldn’t wish ill on him, but the bravado/bragging/conceited stance and the spouting of all that b.s. I think we can all do without–I certainly can.
Sure, he’s that strong and sure, he’s that tough–he’s earned the right to be proud–but to boast with such abandon? No place for it except among the shit-talking masses who AREN’T all that.
So, I say go forth and conquer, Saul, but show some humility and some reserve. Grow up a little. Live by these words: Show some class.
Love the illustration, is that by the Toto guy, Andy- right?
he’s a talented rider and has a ton of potential to do great things in the sport. his comeback is great, too.
however, he’d better be able to back all that S**t talking- power to weight ratios dont win tours- being savy and having a good team are big parts of it, too. Bragging about being able to beat big george and Levi? that’s not a way to make friends in the peloton, and I doubt it’d be an easy match up for him
Alex made me look a little cockey.. But you know?? Someone once said how can you be the best if you do not think your the best?? I had a great time in New York. I look forward to coming back..
Fair enough, Saul. Believe in yourself; it’s a great motivator and has helped many realize their potential. Believe you are the best, but you may want to keep it under your cap (or at least off the record) and "let your legs do the talking."
"Respect" is another thing, though, and you possibly/probably even look/looked up to George and Levi and others at one point in your career; maybe even gained some motivation/inspiration from their feats and outlooks. You seem to be trash-talking them in this piece; that’s simply not cool, not professional, and not humble.
All that said, get back out there, believe in yourself, congrats on your full recovery, and remember those three words.
‘Atta boy.
Illustration is by Alex, who is an actual professional illustrator.
That explains it but yours are good too Andy
Holy shit! 430 watts for an hour. That is just immense. Really puts things in perspective. Great story. TS
No trash talking seen here…all he says is they don’t have a chance. Nothing wrong with that at all.
This guy seems like an arrogant SOB. Not sure what his deal is but after this read I am less of a fan.
whoever thinks Saul is arrogant is totaly missing the point
If those qoutes are for real this kid is a tool
Tool for sure. I understand you need confidence to succeed in life and especially cycling. At the pro level what seperates the Bettinis and Boonens from the mid level pro is heart and head (in my opinion). With that said, this guy could go about showing his confidence in a more positive light. Its not like he has won a classic, a stage in any Grand Tour or even a GC of any Euro Stage Race. I wish him the best in is recovery and come back but with that ego he will find few friends in the peloton.
Welcome to New York. Dont take it to heart, they will love you when you do well.
Y’all come back soon, ya hear?
I remember reading about the exploits of this rider pre-accident all over cyclingnews and I couldnt wait to see’em grow into being "the man" on Cred.Agr.
I think his confidence will be refreshing. If you look at some of the good riders like Simoni, Pantani, etc. etc. – they all knew they had the goods and had no trouble expressing it.
So he feels that George and Levi will fall to the wayside when he turns the screws – well so be it, If thats his declaration then let’em voice it. I’ll shed a brief tear when Levi, George, and Bobby J hang up the cleats but thinking of who’s coming down the pipe to take the reigns of American cycling is a guy that declares he’s better makes me, well excited. Dont hate the messenger. Saul, Danielson, and a few dudes on Slipstream are all we have for the next 6 years. Learn to luv it cause a lot of guys will be stepping down. And if you dont like the in your face confidence – take up knitting or join a book club!
Look forward to riding with Saul at the Raisin Hell ride here this weekend! Was talking to some guys at the LBS yesterday, general vibe is he’s a helluvva nice guy and real down to earth. Go Saul!
Look forward to riding with Saul at the Raisin Hell ride here this weekend! Was talking to some guys at the LBS yesterday, general vibe is he’s a helluvva nice guy and real down to earth. Go Saul!
There is confidence and then there is tool cocky….those qoutes are tool cocky. My .02 is you got to at least bring it a little before you proclaim dominance over guys that have a far better resume than you…that’s it. Would love to see the kid do well…but I cringe when I read comments like that.
Look forward to riding with Saul at the Raisin Hell ride here this weekend! Was talking to some guys at the LBS yesterday, general vibe is he’s a helluvva nice guy and real down to earth. Go Saul!
Hey Fine Line you are the tool here. I met Saul when he was a 13 year old mountain biker. I broke a chain and he stopped to loan me a chain tool. He is the real deal! What a great kid and a great family, I ran into his mom and dad last friday at the local shop in Dalton they were making last minute preperations for the charity ride this weekend, they believe in Saul and he believes in himself, that is half the battle and I have no doubt he can do whatever he sets his mind to. Look out pro tour he’s coming back.
who’s gonna make the selection on the slopes of the Galibier for Uncle Sam against an in-form Cunego or that S.Duval dude Riccardo Ricco?
Saul may be one in only a small handful of riders born -n- bread that can answer.
The article read as a symbol of hope for all of us – and besides this site is pretty much like "smackdown" for cyclist anyway and at the end of the day. for him. its "showbiz". We all will be glued to our seats to watch how he handles the pressure @ that level just like we like to see T.Owens score a TD, the Rocket pitch a no-no and throw broken bat pieces back at a hitter or Shaq punishing anybody that steps in the paint.
right on Saul, you belong in NY with that attitude. Now go get ’em
Those who think Saul is arrogant most likely don’t understand when he’s talking about coming arond Hincapie or outclimbing Levi, he probably has a huge smile on his face. He’s saying those things tongue-in-cheek. Saul is anything but arrogant, and the fact that he can show confidence has to inspire others.
I think a lot of readers are missing the point. He may be the nicest, most down-to-earth guy in the world, but he’s trash-talking. Plain and simple. First off: down to earth? Hell, no. Down-to-earth means "practical and realistic"? His boasting is hardly practical; and realistic? Well, we’ll see. If not, then he’s not only braggadocious, but he’s a phony.
"Trash talk" is defined as "disparaging or boastful language used to demoralize or intimidate opponents." Baldwin: with all due respect (honestly), Saul IS trash talking in the absolute and true form of the term.
People are saying "bring it on." What’s it mean when Phil Liggett says that a rider has "so much class"? He’s a strong and tenacious rider on the bike and a gentleman off the bike (as well, likely, as on the bike). Perfect example: Jens Voigt. Jens surely knows that he’s one of the very strongest and most tenacious out there; seeing as he’s been voted to be a rider representative and that everyone in the pro ranks seems to think he’s such a great guy (Watch the bonus chapter on him in "Overcoming" if you’ve any doubts at all), I’m certain that Jens isn’t a trash-talker. He’s got class and is professional in every way.
Bragging isn’t COOL, it’s not TOUGH, and it’s not classy. Tossing around attitude is like a bully throwing around bravado. Give that bully a good shot back, and he loses confidence and backs down; he second-guesses himself. Bragging is more of a lack of confidence at play or one being unsure about themselves.
Simple as that. What’s wrong with being a classy person who happens to dominate races? NOTHING. It’s the way to be. Give and gain respect; by doing this does it make you a wimp or a loser? Hell no. It makes you a kind and gracious person.
lance armstrong was a prick but america loved to watch him…maybe this kid’s attitude will get more americans interested in cycling…who knows? if he wants to talk smack, that’s his right…maybe he’ll be like lance and back it up…
"The traditional definition of literacy is considered to be the ability to read and write, or the ability to use language to read, write, listen, and speak. In modern contexts, the word refers to reading and writing at a level adequate for communication, or at a level that lets one understand and communicate ideas in a literate society, so as to take part in that society."
Look forward to riding with Saul at the Raisin Hell ride here this weekend! Was talking to some guys at the LBS yesterday, general vibe is he’s a helluvva nice guy and real down to earth. Go Saul!
I would like to apologize for not making it completely clear in my article that Saul is recovering from a very severe head injury and though he really has made miraculous strides he is not fully recovered, physically or mentally. How much his accident has effected his mind is unclear now, I suppose there is no way to really measure it, but I can tell you that during the initial stages of recovery he did have tourette’s like symptoms that caused him to speak out loud the little voice we all suppress in our minds.
By all accounts he did like to talk a lot before the accident and is mostly back to his old self, he was always very talkative and friendly – but he is not 100% yet. Please keep in mind that he could barley put on his shoes a few months ago.
That passage reads like a guy that knows where he’s going down the road and who WON’T deny him. What you are doing is construeing words into what you assume to be a mans personality when the fact of the matter is you never met the guy.
Have you ever considered the fact that perhaps before his injury maybe he raced with H’Capie and Levi and knows that he has the goods to exploit them on climbs? The thing is – YOU can never be sure cause you dont know’em.
If Saul Raisin was putting out 430w for an hour weighing 145lbs, he would have been crushing his competition, not merely doing well. That’s higher than Boardman’s hour record power output. That’s higher than what Lance could do at his peak.
I say again: Saul may indeed be a super-nice guy; I don’t doubt it. And no, I haven’t met him. As I’ve said, I do wish him well for a complete and full recovery and hope to see him winning in Europe (and Georgia).
I took issue with his boastful/disrespectful remarks. Perhaps he said this as tongue-in-cheek, but the article does not present it as such. So…it came across simply as classless to me and disrespectful to some of the top riders in the world. It’s this and only this that I took issue with, not the man’s strength, tenacity, or ability.
Frankly, it’s my opinion only that says that if Saul’s "smack-talking" and "attitude" get more Americans into cycling, then that’s part of the problem right there. Too many Americans, for some disgusting reason, are into "talking smack" and not being civil and respectful. Think about it: one talks smack why? Why feel the need to take dumps on others? Sounds pretty ugly to me. People put on these "bravado masks" in order to feel better about themselves.
This is an honorable sport; let’s keep it that way. Ride with your legs, not your mouths, and earn respect.
A quote from Lances WAr
"When he
If he were calling George and Levi "douchbags" or something to that nature then you could justify it as being ‘disrespectful. Lance could give two shits about Lemond and its possible there is something printed that may illustrate that point whether its direct or between the lines. Last I checked plenty people still love Greg AND Lance.
It is common for people who’ve had head injuries to exhibit violent, erratic behaviour after recovery. I think, unless we’re all taking his comments out of context, it’s the injury talking trash.
Agreed, there is no way to know so let’s be respectful of him and his family
If he wants to give me some money, I’ll take it. But that’s where I draw the line.
why does it matter if he’s talking trash anyway? can anyone reading this site hang with him (if anyone replies yes, i challenge that)? trash talking is part of sport and it seems to me that the only people that should have a beef with his trash talking are levi "ice dancing" leipheimer and big george…
I’m sorry about his crash, but he’s been exceedingly lucky to recover this well, and should now find something else to do with his life. there are many cool and interesting things. I have a daughter his age, and I wince thinking about him training to race again. If he were a hocky player, his career would be finished, case closed. Even boxing is not this reckless, for chrissakes. He’s flirting with catastrophe. There’s all kinds of data to show that even a mild bump on the head will send him reeling backwards, and the next time he may not be so lucky. again, sorry to put a damper on the miracle, but this kid is playing russian roulette, and I find this sad. . . G.G.
If anyone can achieve this type of comeback,Saul can. His attitude is essential if he is to succeed. Although he appears self-involved in the articel, he cares as much for others as he does his own success and happiness.
Saul is necessarily confident; after all, how could any rider be successful on a screaming downhill or in a packed-tight peleton without confidence. Let’s face it, Saul is one of those rare people who has what it takes to make it as an elite athlete.
Saul is a great guy. While the article did a nice job capturing the hunger Saul has for returning to the pro peleton, it didn’t fully capture his down-to-earth respect for others that I know he possesses. The author wrote about a young pro fighting his way back into an incredibly competetive and unforgiving sport and focused his writing on that aspect of his interactions with Saul. The article did an excellent job of getting readers into the kind of thinking that drives a champion to success.
There’s another – equally important – aspect of Saul Raisin. He is not only confident about himself, but he is confident in the potential of others.
I am the principal of Saul’s former elementary school. He has kept a great relationship with the kids in our building. He has come in on multiple occasions to talk about courage, committment, and self-discipline. Personally, I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have as an example of these qualities.
He was kind enough recently to ride with me. During the ride, he talked only about how excited he was to be able to inspire others and give hope to those who might not otherwise have any. He has worked hard to develop and promote the Raisin’ Hope Charity Ride, and has proven himself to be an asset to our community.
When I rode with Saul, we talked a lot about building respect in young people for each other. He’s a
level-headed, all-around good guy.
The article did an excellent job of capturing some of the thinking necessary in a pro-athlete. Those of us who know Saul understand deeply that there’s more to him than a few selected quotes.
Great Article! Great Rider! Go Saul!
I invited Saul to New York City after spending some time with him in California and introduced him to Alex because I thought that people in our local cycling community would really enjoy meeting him and reading about him. It’s unfortunate that the weather wasn’t good the weekend he was suppose to be here for the group ride since I also wanted people to have a chance to meet him in person and hopefully find the same inspiration that I found after meeting him.
I am a little dissapointed at some of the innaporpriate comments on the site about his interview. Anybody who is connected to the pro level of cycling knows that Saul Raisin was and in my opinion still is the best American hope of his generation. Regardless of his physical gifts and ability to produce Watts his resume up to his crash is surpassed by only Lance himself.
There is no doubt in my mind that Saul will return to the highest level in cycling and in doing so will be an inspiration to millions of people, which at the end of the day is what he wants the most.
He spent three days in my home with my family and was the perfect gentleman and if I didn’t know he had this accident I would have never guessed it. On the bike he rides like a pro and what most people are reffering to as arrogance and trash talking is simply a confident 24 year old kid. There’s nothing wrong with that.
To the person who called him a tool and offered to know what seperates the Bettini’s and Boonen’s from mid level pros I would love to know what your credentials are to know what it is that seperates them. But of course you are anonymous so it must be because you are qualified to offer us that opinion.
I really enjoy this site and the discussions are great and I think its great that there is a forum for different opinions. I just wish people had a little more respect for a kid who is practically a miracle. I think he’s earned that.
Nice interview! Bring him back so we can all meet him on a group ride. It’s great to see that he’s making a strong recovery, and I wish him all the best in the coming months and years as a pro. I can’t even begin to imagine his injury, and his progress – and the work he’s doing in his Raisin Hell rides – is praiseworthy. A little spicey talk by a kid in his 20s would prob make Leipheimer and Hincapie laugh and remember when they were young and ambitious. Go get ’em, Saul!
Writing a book with Saul has been a fantastic experience. Reading this article I enjoyed what I interpereted as unrestrained enthusiasm for his first visit to the Big Apple, and also his first trip on his own in almost a year. I’ll bet the people who are judging him harshly will interperet this article in an entirely different way once they learn more about what he’s overcome to make that trip to NYC in the first place. Go Saul!
Writing a book with Saul has been a fantastic experience. Reading this article I enjoyed what I interpereted as unrestrained enthusiasm for his first visit to the Big Apple, and also his first trip on his own in almost a year. I’ll bet the people who are judging him harshly will interperet this article in an entirely different way once they learn more about what he’s overcome to make that trip to NYC in the first place. Go Saul!
the last few posts have been very thoughtful and literate…since i am neither thoughtful nor literate i will try to translate those posts into a message i and others like me can understand…
EAT IT, ELDER!
I have known Saul since he began riding. Jim, his father is on speed dial, and is one of my closest buddies. I worked in a bike shop and we took the father/son duo on rides many years ago. No one, not even his own parents who supported their only child in any way they could, EVER expected Saul to reach the level of cycling that he did prior to the crash. EXCEPT SAUL.
After the crash, NO ONE ever expected Saul to walk, talk, feed himself, or live any kind of normal life, EXCEPT SAUL. Do you see a pattern here? I know Saul very well, we are friends, and I have been privileged to witness his recovery first hand. It is nothing short of miraculous for sure, and to be very frank, his recovery is not over.
Saul comes across as arrogant and boastful in this well written article, and he and I have had conversations about humility and how he should present himself in the public. But the fact remains that he has a drive to excel and an appreciation for life that very FEW PEOPLE can understand because so few LIVE through and accident like Saul has experienced. Even fewer make the recovery that Saul has made.
His recovery continues to amaze and confuse the BEST HEAD TRAUMA doctors in the world. His ability, will power, confidence, and drive has them all scratching their heads. I don’t think that many people reading this forum and casting stones quite understand that. In a way I am glad Elder and some of the other guys have called him out because Saul needs to be made aware of those social traits he is showing, but why not show a little more class. Elder I appreciate the manner in which you made your points. You showed class unlike some of the others
To Saul:
I know you are reading this…don’t let the few A-holes get you down, but DO take their comments into consideration as you are, and hopefully will continue to be, in the public eye. Keep up the good work buddy and see you this weekend at the Raisin Hope ride.
shane
to clear up any confusion on wheither or not Saul disrespects George or Levi I can tell you after having a number of conversations with him he respect both of them greatly. And they respect him. Both donated signed Jerseys to Sauls online auction for his Raisin Hope foundation. George called to check on him during his recovery.
And if they read it, they would probably both laugh about it. George might even pick up the phone and call him to talk trash right back to him….
my .02
shane
Writing a book with Saul has been a fantastic experience. Reading this article I enjoyed what I interpereted as unrestrained enthusiasm for his first visit to the Big Apple, and also his first trip on his own in almost a year. I’ll bet the people who are judging him harshly will interperet this article in an entirely different way once they learn more about what he’s overcome to make that trip to NYC in the first place. Go Saul!
to clear up any confusion on wheither or not Saul disrespects George or Levi I can tell you after having a number of conversations with him he respect both of them greatly. And they respect him. Both donated signed Jerseys to Sauls online auction for his Raisin Hope foundation. George called to check on him during his recovery.
And if they read it, they would probably both laugh about it. George might even pick up the phone and call him to talk trash right back to him….
my .02
shane
i think his story is great. i admire his determination and his ability to even consider getting back to pro-level racing after what he’s been through. i know my nerves were shot after i had a run in with a cab once…i couldn’t imagine coming back from near death.
however, i’m with salut on this one. careful consideration should be made to get back into this sport. his type of injuries are very severe and there is a chance he could really mess with his health forever if, god forbid, something happened again. being gung-ho and ambitious is one thing, but taking great risks is quite another. i hope it all works out though.
Saul….No matter what you do…you will always be loved.
Saul….No matter what you do…you will always be loved.
It looks to me like riding a bicycle is where Saul wants to be. It’s out of bounds for anybody without the medical knowledge relating to his particular situation to say that he shouldn’t be allowed to do that. I think it would be a shame if he took this sort of advice and spent the rest of his life at a safe but soul-sucking desk job. Ride on, Saul.
It looks to me like riding a bicycle is where Saul wants to be. It’s out of bounds for anybody without the medical knowledge relating to his particular situation to say that he shouldn’t be allowed to do that. I think it would be a shame if he took this sort of advice and spent the rest of his life at a safe but soul-sucking desk job. Ride on, Saul.
Great article and pictures, really nice. I am a newly minted Saul Raisin fan.
Trust me, a guy who calls my four year old son to sing "Happy Birhthday" in english and french is NOT an arrogant SOB. We love Saul and know how blessed he feels to be where he is today! He is just excited about life and wants to live his dream. GO SAUL and we enjoyed the 1st Annual "Raisin Hope Ride".
Saul is far from arrogant or "full of himself" he is just a man with a dream and dares to believe that he can do it , and so do many others, I have talked to him several times, just did his Raisin Saul ride yesterday , talked to his Dad and Mom and observed him from the sidelines, he is a fine young man indeed ! He faced death and no longer fears it, reminds me of another pro cyclist and 7 time TdF winner! Go Saul .
Great article. What an inspiration! You go Saul!
Saul’s playful boastfulness is mild compared to the trash talking in most sports. Anyone perturbed by this must live a pretty sheltered life. You really think Hincapie or Leipheimer would be bothered by this? Those guys would smile if they read this.
hey, nice piece. i hope you guys get to do more of this kind of stuff.
I’ve been going to his website ever since hearing about the injury, and I even asked him a question in his blog, to which he quickly responded.
He’s a genuinely nice kid, with a love of life and a love for others. Anyone thinking otherwise doesn’t know much about him.
Ferrari’s number of 6.8 was the steady state test that does a 20 watt ramp up every 2-3 minutes until failure. That number has nothing to do with the length of duration of the effort and in fact much higher than even the person’s best 20 minute effort.
So now we have someone saying they can sustain 6.8 watts/kg for 1 hour? I’m not saying that Saul is arrogant or conceited; I’m just saying he’s lying.
Ferrari’s number of 6.8 was the steady state test that does a 20 watt ramp up every 2-3 minutes until failure. That number has nothing to do with the length of duration of the effort and in fact much higher than even the person’s best 20 minute effort.
So now we have someone saying they can sustain 6.8 watts/kg for 1 hour? I’m not saying that Saul is arrogant or conceited; I’m just saying he’s lying.
I’ve been going to his website ever since hearing about the injury, and I even asked him a question in his blog, to which he quickly responded.
He’s a genuinely nice kid, with a love of life and a love for others. Anyone thinking otherwise doesn’t know much about him.
hey, nice piece. i hope you guys get to do more of this kind of stuff.
Saul’s playful boastfulness is mild compared to the trash talking in most sports. Anyone perturbed by this must live a pretty sheltered life. You really think Hincapie or Leipheimer would be bothered by this? Those guys would smile if they read this.
Great article. What an inspiration! You go Saul!
Saul is far from arrogant or "full of himself" he is just a man with a dream and dares to believe that he can do it , and so do many others, I have talked to him several times, just did his Raisin Saul ride yesterday , talked to his Dad and Mom and observed him from the sidelines, he is a fine young man indeed ! He faced death and no longer fears it, reminds me of another pro cyclist and 7 time TdF winner! Go Saul .
Great article and pictures, really nice. I am a newly minted Saul Raisin fan.
Trust me, a guy who calls my four year old son to sing "Happy Birhthday" in english and french is NOT an arrogant SOB. We love Saul and know how blessed he feels to be where he is today! He is just excited about life and wants to live his dream. GO SAUL and we enjoyed the 1st Annual "Raisin Hope Ride".
It looks to me like riding a bicycle is where Saul wants to be. It’s out of bounds for anybody without the medical knowledge relating to his particular situation to say that he shouldn’t be allowed to do that. I think it would be a shame if he took this sort of advice and spent the rest of his life at a safe but soul-sucking desk job. Ride on, Saul.
It looks to me like riding a bicycle is where Saul wants to be. It’s out of bounds for anybody without the medical knowledge relating to his particular situation to say that he shouldn’t be allowed to do that. I think it would be a shame if he took this sort of advice and spent the rest of his life at a safe but soul-sucking desk job. Ride on, Saul.
Saul….No matter what you do…you will always be loved.
Saul….No matter what you do…you will always be loved.
i think his story is great. i admire his determination and his ability to even consider getting back to pro-level racing after what he’s been through. i know my nerves were shot after i had a run in with a cab once…i couldn’t imagine coming back from near death.
however, i’m with salut on this one. careful consideration should be made to get back into this sport. his type of injuries are very severe and there is a chance he could really mess with his health forever if, god forbid, something happened again. being gung-ho and ambitious is one thing, but taking great risks is quite another. i hope it all works out though.
to clear up any confusion on wheither or not Saul disrespects George or Levi I can tell you after having a number of conversations with him he respect both of them greatly. And they respect him. Both donated signed Jerseys to Sauls online auction for his Raisin Hope foundation. George called to check on him during his recovery.
And if they read it, they would probably both laugh about it. George might even pick up the phone and call him to talk trash right back to him….
my .02
shane
to clear up any confusion on wheither or not Saul disrespects George or Levi I can tell you after having a number of conversations with him he respect both of them greatly. And they respect him. Both donated signed Jerseys to Sauls online auction for his Raisin Hope foundation. George called to check on him during his recovery.
And if they read it, they would probably both laugh about it. George might even pick up the phone and call him to talk trash right back to him….
my .02
shane
Writing a book with Saul has been a fantastic experience. Reading this article I enjoyed what I interpereted as unrestrained enthusiasm for his first visit to the Big Apple, and also his first trip on his own in almost a year. I’ll bet the people who are judging him harshly will interperet this article in an entirely different way once they learn more about what he’s overcome to make that trip to NYC in the first place. Go Saul!
I have known Saul since he began riding. Jim, his father is on speed dial, and is one of my closest buddies. I worked in a bike shop and we took the father/son duo on rides many years ago. No one, not even his own parents who supported their only child in any way they could, EVER expected Saul to reach the level of cycling that he did prior to the crash. EXCEPT SAUL.
After the crash, NO ONE ever expected Saul to walk, talk, feed himself, or live any kind of normal life, EXCEPT SAUL. Do you see a pattern here? I know Saul very well, we are friends, and I have been privileged to witness his recovery first hand. It is nothing short of miraculous for sure, and to be very frank, his recovery is not over.
Saul comes across as arrogant and boastful in this well written article, and he and I have had conversations about humility and how he should present himself in the public. But the fact remains that he has a drive to excel and an appreciation for life that very FEW PEOPLE can understand because so few LIVE through and accident like Saul has experienced. Even fewer make the recovery that Saul has made.
His recovery continues to amaze and confuse the BEST HEAD TRAUMA doctors in the world. His ability, will power, confidence, and drive has them all scratching their heads. I don’t think that many people reading this forum and casting stones quite understand that. In a way I am glad Elder and some of the other guys have called him out because Saul needs to be made aware of those social traits he is showing, but why not show a little more class. Elder I appreciate the manner in which you made your points. You showed class unlike some of the others
To Saul:
I know you are reading this…don’t let the few A-holes get you down, but DO take their comments into consideration as you are, and hopefully will continue to be, in the public eye. Keep up the good work buddy and see you this weekend at the Raisin Hope ride.
shane
the last few posts have been very thoughtful and literate…since i am neither thoughtful nor literate i will try to translate those posts into a message i and others like me can understand…
EAT IT, ELDER!
Nice interview! Bring him back so we can all meet him on a group ride. It’s great to see that he’s making a strong recovery, and I wish him all the best in the coming months and years as a pro. I can’t even begin to imagine his injury, and his progress – and the work he’s doing in his Raisin Hell rides – is praiseworthy. A little spicey talk by a kid in his 20s would prob make Leipheimer and Hincapie laugh and remember when they were young and ambitious. Go get ’em, Saul!
Writing a book with Saul has been a fantastic experience. Reading this article I enjoyed what I interpereted as unrestrained enthusiasm for his first visit to the Big Apple, and also his first trip on his own in almost a year. I’ll bet the people who are judging him harshly will interperet this article in an entirely different way once they learn more about what he’s overcome to make that trip to NYC in the first place. Go Saul!
Writing a book with Saul has been a fantastic experience. Reading this article I enjoyed what I interpereted as unrestrained enthusiasm for his first visit to the Big Apple, and also his first trip on his own in almost a year. I’ll bet the people who are judging him harshly will interperet this article in an entirely different way once they learn more about what he’s overcome to make that trip to NYC in the first place. Go Saul!
I invited Saul to New York City after spending some time with him in California and introduced him to Alex because I thought that people in our local cycling community would really enjoy meeting him and reading about him. It’s unfortunate that the weather wasn’t good the weekend he was suppose to be here for the group ride since I also wanted people to have a chance to meet him in person and hopefully find the same inspiration that I found after meeting him.
I am a little dissapointed at some of the innaporpriate comments on the site about his interview. Anybody who is connected to the pro level of cycling knows that Saul Raisin was and in my opinion still is the best American hope of his generation. Regardless of his physical gifts and ability to produce Watts his resume up to his crash is surpassed by only Lance himself.
There is no doubt in my mind that Saul will return to the highest level in cycling and in doing so will be an inspiration to millions of people, which at the end of the day is what he wants the most.
He spent three days in my home with my family and was the perfect gentleman and if I didn’t know he had this accident I would have never guessed it. On the bike he rides like a pro and what most people are reffering to as arrogance and trash talking is simply a confident 24 year old kid. There’s nothing wrong with that.
To the person who called him a tool and offered to know what seperates the Bettini’s and Boonen’s from mid level pros I would love to know what your credentials are to know what it is that seperates them. But of course you are anonymous so it must be because you are qualified to offer us that opinion.
I really enjoy this site and the discussions are great and I think its great that there is a forum for different opinions. I just wish people had a little more respect for a kid who is practically a miracle. I think he’s earned that.
Saul is necessarily confident; after all, how could any rider be successful on a screaming downhill or in a packed-tight peleton without confidence. Let’s face it, Saul is one of those rare people who has what it takes to make it as an elite athlete.
Saul is a great guy. While the article did a nice job capturing the hunger Saul has for returning to the pro peleton, it didn’t fully capture his down-to-earth respect for others that I know he possesses. The author wrote about a young pro fighting his way back into an incredibly competetive and unforgiving sport and focused his writing on that aspect of his interactions with Saul. The article did an excellent job of getting readers into the kind of thinking that drives a champion to success.
There’s another – equally important – aspect of Saul Raisin. He is not only confident about himself, but he is confident in the potential of others.
I am the principal of Saul’s former elementary school. He has kept a great relationship with the kids in our building. He has come in on multiple occasions to talk about courage, committment, and self-discipline. Personally, I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have as an example of these qualities.
He was kind enough recently to ride with me. During the ride, he talked only about how excited he was to be able to inspire others and give hope to those who might not otherwise have any. He has worked hard to develop and promote the Raisin’ Hope Charity Ride, and has proven himself to be an asset to our community.
When I rode with Saul, we talked a lot about building respect in young people for each other. He’s a
level-headed, all-around good guy.
The article did an excellent job of capturing some of the thinking necessary in a pro-athlete. Those of us who know Saul understand deeply that there’s more to him than a few selected quotes.
Great Article! Great Rider! Go Saul!
If anyone can achieve this type of comeback,Saul can. His attitude is essential if he is to succeed. Although he appears self-involved in the articel, he cares as much for others as he does his own success and happiness.
I’m sorry about his crash, but he’s been exceedingly lucky to recover this well, and should now find something else to do with his life. there are many cool and interesting things. I have a daughter his age, and I wince thinking about him training to race again. If he were a hocky player, his career would be finished, case closed. Even boxing is not this reckless, for chrissakes. He’s flirting with catastrophe. There’s all kinds of data to show that even a mild bump on the head will send him reeling backwards, and the next time he may not be so lucky. again, sorry to put a damper on the miracle, but this kid is playing russian roulette, and I find this sad. . . G.G.
why does it matter if he’s talking trash anyway? can anyone reading this site hang with him (if anyone replies yes, i challenge that)? trash talking is part of sport and it seems to me that the only people that should have a beef with his trash talking are levi "ice dancing" leipheimer and big george…
Agreed, there is no way to know so let’s be respectful of him and his family
If he wants to give me some money, I’ll take it. But that’s where I draw the line.
It is common for people who’ve had head injuries to exhibit violent, erratic behaviour after recovery. I think, unless we’re all taking his comments out of context, it’s the injury talking trash.
If he were calling George and Levi "douchbags" or something to that nature then you could justify it as being ‘disrespectful. Lance could give two shits about Lemond and its possible there is something printed that may illustrate that point whether its direct or between the lines. Last I checked plenty people still love Greg AND Lance.
A quote from Lances WAr
"When he
If Saul Raisin was putting out 430w for an hour weighing 145lbs, he would have been crushing his competition, not merely doing well. That’s higher than Boardman’s hour record power output. That’s higher than what Lance could do at his peak.
I say again: Saul may indeed be a super-nice guy; I don’t doubt it. And no, I haven’t met him. As I’ve said, I do wish him well for a complete and full recovery and hope to see him winning in Europe (and Georgia).
I took issue with his boastful/disrespectful remarks. Perhaps he said this as tongue-in-cheek, but the article does not present it as such. So…it came across simply as classless to me and disrespectful to some of the top riders in the world. It’s this and only this that I took issue with, not the man’s strength, tenacity, or ability.
Frankly, it’s my opinion only that says that if Saul’s "smack-talking" and "attitude" get more Americans into cycling, then that’s part of the problem right there. Too many Americans, for some disgusting reason, are into "talking smack" and not being civil and respectful. Think about it: one talks smack why? Why feel the need to take dumps on others? Sounds pretty ugly to me. People put on these "bravado masks" in order to feel better about themselves.
This is an honorable sport; let’s keep it that way. Ride with your legs, not your mouths, and earn respect.
That passage reads like a guy that knows where he’s going down the road and who WON’T deny him. What you are doing is construeing words into what you assume to be a mans personality when the fact of the matter is you never met the guy.
Have you ever considered the fact that perhaps before his injury maybe he raced with H’Capie and Levi and knows that he has the goods to exploit them on climbs? The thing is – YOU can never be sure cause you dont know’em.
Look forward to riding with Saul at the Raisin Hell ride here this weekend! Was talking to some guys at the LBS yesterday, general vibe is he’s a helluvva nice guy and real down to earth. Go Saul!
I would like to apologize for not making it completely clear in my article that Saul is recovering from a very severe head injury and though he really has made miraculous strides he is not fully recovered, physically or mentally. How much his accident has effected his mind is unclear now, I suppose there is no way to really measure it, but I can tell you that during the initial stages of recovery he did have tourette’s like symptoms that caused him to speak out loud the little voice we all suppress in our minds.
By all accounts he did like to talk a lot before the accident and is mostly back to his old self, he was always very talkative and friendly – but he is not 100% yet. Please keep in mind that he could barley put on his shoes a few months ago.
"The traditional definition of literacy is considered to be the ability to read and write, or the ability to use language to read, write, listen, and speak. In modern contexts, the word refers to reading and writing at a level adequate for communication, or at a level that lets one understand and communicate ideas in a literate society, so as to take part in that society."
lance armstrong was a prick but america loved to watch him…maybe this kid’s attitude will get more americans interested in cycling…who knows? if he wants to talk smack, that’s his right…maybe he’ll be like lance and back it up…
I think a lot of readers are missing the point. He may be the nicest, most down-to-earth guy in the world, but he’s trash-talking. Plain and simple. First off: down to earth? Hell, no. Down-to-earth means "practical and realistic"? His boasting is hardly practical; and realistic? Well, we’ll see. If not, then he’s not only braggadocious, but he’s a phony.
"Trash talk" is defined as "disparaging or boastful language used to demoralize or intimidate opponents." Baldwin: with all due respect (honestly), Saul IS trash talking in the absolute and true form of the term.
People are saying "bring it on." What’s it mean when Phil Liggett says that a rider has "so much class"? He’s a strong and tenacious rider on the bike and a gentleman off the bike (as well, likely, as on the bike). Perfect example: Jens Voigt. Jens surely knows that he’s one of the very strongest and most tenacious out there; seeing as he’s been voted to be a rider representative and that everyone in the pro ranks seems to think he’s such a great guy (Watch the bonus chapter on him in "Overcoming" if you’ve any doubts at all), I’m certain that Jens isn’t a trash-talker. He’s got class and is professional in every way.
Bragging isn’t COOL, it’s not TOUGH, and it’s not classy. Tossing around attitude is like a bully throwing around bravado. Give that bully a good shot back, and he loses confidence and backs down; he second-guesses himself. Bragging is more of a lack of confidence at play or one being unsure about themselves.
Simple as that. What’s wrong with being a classy person who happens to dominate races? NOTHING. It’s the way to be. Give and gain respect; by doing this does it make you a wimp or a loser? Hell no. It makes you a kind and gracious person.
right on Saul, you belong in NY with that attitude. Now go get ’em
Those who think Saul is arrogant most likely don’t understand when he’s talking about coming arond Hincapie or outclimbing Levi, he probably has a huge smile on his face. He’s saying those things tongue-in-cheek. Saul is anything but arrogant, and the fact that he can show confidence has to inspire others.
who’s gonna make the selection on the slopes of the Galibier for Uncle Sam against an in-form Cunego or that S.Duval dude Riccardo Ricco?
Saul may be one in only a small handful of riders born -n- bread that can answer.
The article read as a symbol of hope for all of us – and besides this site is pretty much like "smackdown" for cyclist anyway and at the end of the day. for him. its "showbiz". We all will be glued to our seats to watch how he handles the pressure @ that level just like we like to see T.Owens score a TD, the Rocket pitch a no-no and throw broken bat pieces back at a hitter or Shaq punishing anybody that steps in the paint.
Look forward to riding with Saul at the Raisin Hell ride here this weekend! Was talking to some guys at the LBS yesterday, general vibe is he’s a helluvva nice guy and real down to earth. Go Saul!
Hey Fine Line you are the tool here. I met Saul when he was a 13 year old mountain biker. I broke a chain and he stopped to loan me a chain tool. He is the real deal! What a great kid and a great family, I ran into his mom and dad last friday at the local shop in Dalton they were making last minute preperations for the charity ride this weekend, they believe in Saul and he believes in himself, that is half the battle and I have no doubt he can do whatever he sets his mind to. Look out pro tour he’s coming back.
There is confidence and then there is tool cocky….those qoutes are tool cocky. My .02 is you got to at least bring it a little before you proclaim dominance over guys that have a far better resume than you…that’s it. Would love to see the kid do well…but I cringe when I read comments like that.
Look forward to riding with Saul at the Raisin Hell ride here this weekend! Was talking to some guys at the LBS yesterday, general vibe is he’s a helluvva nice guy and real down to earth. Go Saul!
Look forward to riding with Saul at the Raisin Hell ride here this weekend! Was talking to some guys at the LBS yesterday, general vibe is he’s a helluvva nice guy and real down to earth. Go Saul!
I remember reading about the exploits of this rider pre-accident all over cyclingnews and I couldnt wait to see’em grow into being "the man" on Cred.Agr.
I think his confidence will be refreshing. If you look at some of the good riders like Simoni, Pantani, etc. etc. – they all knew they had the goods and had no trouble expressing it.
So he feels that George and Levi will fall to the wayside when he turns the screws – well so be it, If thats his declaration then let’em voice it. I’ll shed a brief tear when Levi, George, and Bobby J hang up the cleats but thinking of who’s coming down the pipe to take the reigns of American cycling is a guy that declares he’s better makes me, well excited. Dont hate the messenger. Saul, Danielson, and a few dudes on Slipstream are all we have for the next 6 years. Learn to luv it cause a lot of guys will be stepping down. And if you dont like the in your face confidence – take up knitting or join a book club!
Welcome to New York. Dont take it to heart, they will love you when you do well.
Y’all come back soon, ya hear?
Tool for sure. I understand you need confidence to succeed in life and especially cycling. At the pro level what seperates the Bettinis and Boonens from the mid level pro is heart and head (in my opinion). With that said, this guy could go about showing his confidence in a more positive light. Its not like he has won a classic, a stage in any Grand Tour or even a GC of any Euro Stage Race. I wish him the best in is recovery and come back but with that ego he will find few friends in the peloton.
whoever thinks Saul is arrogant is totaly missing the point
If those qoutes are for real this kid is a tool
Holy shit! 430 watts for an hour. That is just immense. Really puts things in perspective. Great story. TS
No trash talking seen here…all he says is they don’t have a chance. Nothing wrong with that at all.
This guy seems like an arrogant SOB. Not sure what his deal is but after this read I am less of a fan.
That explains it but yours are good too Andy
Illustration is by Alex, who is an actual professional illustrator.
Fair enough, Saul. Believe in yourself; it’s a great motivator and has helped many realize their potential. Believe you are the best, but you may want to keep it under your cap (or at least off the record) and "let your legs do the talking."
"Respect" is another thing, though, and you possibly/probably even look/looked up to George and Levi and others at one point in your career; maybe even gained some motivation/inspiration from their feats and outlooks. You seem to be trash-talking them in this piece; that’s simply not cool, not professional, and not humble.
All that said, get back out there, believe in yourself, congrats on your full recovery, and remember those three words.
‘Atta boy.
he’s a talented rider and has a ton of potential to do great things in the sport. his comeback is great, too.
however, he’d better be able to back all that S**t talking- power to weight ratios dont win tours- being savy and having a good team are big parts of it, too. Bragging about being able to beat big george and Levi? that’s not a way to make friends in the peloton, and I doubt it’d be an easy match up for him
Alex made me look a little cockey.. But you know?? Someone once said how can you be the best if you do not think your the best?? I had a great time in New York. I look forward to coming back..
Love the illustration, is that by the Toto guy, Andy- right?
Ken didn’t compare himself to Saul, I did. Ken was quite modest actually.
Since learning of his crash (shortly after it happened), I’ve always hoped that he would return to the sport in a big way. After reading this, though, I’m not so keen on him. I mean, I surely wouldn’t wish ill on him, but the bravado/bragging/conceited stance and the spouting of all that b.s. I think we can all do without–I certainly can.
Sure, he’s that strong and sure, he’s that tough–he’s earned the right to be proud–but to boast with such abandon? No place for it except among the shit-talking masses who AREN’T all that.
So, I say go forth and conquer, Saul, but show some humility and some reserve. Grow up a little. Live by these words: Show some class.
I am embarrassed for Ken for even attempting to compare himself to someone of Saul’s caliber especially after what Saul has been through. Everyone knows wattage output is weight relative, Hell, Saul must weigh less than half of what Ken’s ego does.
One can always tell when you write an article Alex. You’re the most "insider on the pro’s" dude that I know. Great stuff, good read, as always nice MQ shots. The artwork…..Es dooooope.
Saul, go get’em. I friggen love the confidence. Its good to know Americans are going to Eur. with a chip, or, lung on their shoulder and not like "whaaaa I cant understand the language, whaaaa, I have no friends."
when you get back amongst the big dogs give calcioli (sp?) the wink and drop Csc like somebody handed’em a piano!
Excellent interview, well done, great job Alex and Marco.
Alex, great piece. Did you at least drop him on hospital hill toward the bridge?
Great stuff.
Hey Cisco,
Yeah we took it to him on the hill, but it only worked because he was checking out the hospital, just in case…
Great piece. I’ll look forward to reading more about Saul "big heart" Raisin
What, am I supposed to worship him?
Looks like he is running a red light in the last picture… hopefully no more crashes…
No snark here.
go Saul.
Nice story, I bet half the pros under 25 are as arrogant as he is, maybe not as colorful though.
Hell, there are good local racers who are that arrogant and who are they?!
Is he really that arrogant? Wow, I would not have expected that.
Great article.
I have read several stories about this racer but this one is the first to make me feel like I was hanging out with him, you really get a feel for the man here. Great work!
And I like the site too BTW, my first time on it, I found the link from Saul’s site.
Truly an amazing story and an amazing guy. Wish I had the chance to meet the guy – I will be cheering him on, even if he never races again.
inspiring…you know Lance seems to have a wild curvature of the spine as well…to make room for the heart and lungs it seems.
as far as his aspirations…it seems the power meter is the barometer…with his #’s and weight and aggressiveness..why not shoot for the moon. Sports psychology encourages visualizing success. I believe we will be reading about this guy for the next 10 years.
I agree, really excellent writing here. Hope he comes back for that ride one day
This is the good stuff.
nice interview. where can i get a 3rd lung?
I hope we all get a chance to see what this guy can do in a major tour. Good luck Saul.