Racing quotes or statements from interviews, books, etc.

[Big Pete 1]

Please feel free to add quotes and statements/sentences which will give the reader a helpful insight or tip for road bike racing.

Example:
'A true grand cyclist would have created weakness in others rather than wait for it to be revealed' - Owen Mulholland in "Uphill Battle".

[ironhanglider]

"Put me back on my bike." - Tom Simpson

Cheers,

Cameron

[P!N20]

It never gets easier; you just go faster - Greg LeMond

[P!N20]

They wanted to see me give up when I was suffering like an animal, but nothing would have made me quit then. the pain was unbearable and yet I continued. I’d rather have died. - Bernard Hinault talking about the 1986 Tour de France.

[fat and old]

Don't buy upgrades, ride up grades. Eddy Merckx

[Uncle Just]

Every one's a champion with a tailwind. Anon.
As long as I breathe, I attack. Bernard Hinault
Crashing is part of cycling as crying is part of love. Johan Museeuw
Re crashing...Not if, but when. S O'Grady
If you brake, you don’t win. Mario Cipollini
When my legs hurt, I say: “Shut up legs! Do what I tell you to do!” Jens Voigt
I used to work in a bank when I was younger and to me it doesn’t matter whether it’s raining or the sun is shining or whatever: as long as I’m riding a bike I know I’m the luckiest guy in the world. Mark Cavendish

[trailgumby]

“I’ve come to learn that truth is a living thing. It has a force inside it, an inner springiness. The truth can’t be denied or locked away, because when that happens, the pressure builds. When a door gets closed, the truth seeks a window, and blows the glass clean out”

[P!N20]

I’d rather finish shattered and last having attacked a hundred times than finish 25th without having tried. - Jacky Durand

[Big Pete 1]

Some great quotes here. Wish this forum had a 'like' button.

Here is another one:
Win Van Est loved to attack when he was hurting because "If I am hurting the others must be dying".

[Big Pete 1]

The ancient Greeks believed that the luckiest of men died at their greatest moment because the rest of life was a declining afterthought.

"The greatest joy of my career was at Alpe d'Huez in 1977, when I kept my yellow jersey by 8 seconds. I could have died a happy man on my bicycle that day. I gave it everything I had" - Bernard Therevet.

[fat and old]

I just read this from Cadel Evans, and immediately thought of the forum (not really the racing section!)

I’d rather spend my time riding my bike than talking about riding my bike.

[Derny Driver]

Here is another one:
Win Van Est loved to attack when he was hurting because "If I am hurting the others must be dying".

Wim van Est was a legend of the Tour as well as a great motorpace rider and track cyclist including the 6 days. Im friends with his son, William Van Peer.
Read this
http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/features/van_est.shtml

[Big Pete 1]

Yes, it's a great story of escaping death, and human comradery in rescuing him.
Thanks for sharing the story.

[P!N20]

Racing is licking your opponent’s plate clean before starting your own - Hennie Kuiper

[P!N20]

There’s a burning in my legs, but it’s not a killing burn. It’s hurting all right, but I can cope with this burn for 4km. The fire is lit inside. I’m riding almost to explosion, but if I explode I will drop. - Stephen Roche on his climb up La Plagne during the 1987 Tour de France.

[P!N20]

To me those are the moments that matter, you're in pain and you have to make a decision about volunteering for an increase in pain. To pull the pin, or to push deeper into the hurt and try and hold everything together. - Neil Robinson, htfu kid blog

[Sharkey]

Keith Bontrager talking about bike components :

"Light. Strong. Cheap. Pick two."

[ironhanglider]

7 days without riding makes one weak.

Cheers,

Cameron

[Duck!]

Maybe not entirely in the context of the thread, but a discussion some years ago on another forum got a bit too hung up on petty details, and one protagonist retorted with a line that I've since nicked as a signature in some places because it's too good to let go:

Just ride the bloody thing and enjoy yourself!

[P!N20]

The ride through total exhaustion is where the magic happens; the sensation of hopelessness at the daunting ride ahead slowly melts into certainty that I can override the messages coming from my body and keep chipping away at the task at hand. Eventually, a heavy kind of dull strength returns to my muscles when the body finally gives in and decides to collaborate in the mind’s mission to overcome. By the time I get home, drained, I am reborn. - Frank, Velominati.

[TheWall]

The ride through total exhaustion is where the magic happens; the sensation of hopelessness at the daunting ride ahead slowly melts into certainty that I can override the messages coming from my body and keep chipping away at the task at hand. Eventually, a heavy kind of dull strength returns to my muscles when the body finally gives in and decides to collaborate in the mind’s mission to overcome. By the time I get home, drained, I am reborn. - Frank, Velominati.

Great one.

[im_no_pro]

Rather surprised this one hasnt come up already.....

"Shutup body and do what I tell you!" & "Shutup Legs!" - Jens Voigt

[Uncle Just]

It did. See post 6 above.

[P!N20]

I can't help but feel that every time I've ever been on a bike has been in preparation for this hour, and that all my roads have lead me here. - Rob Penn.

[im_no_pro]

It did. See post 6 above.

Indeed.