Alan Sugar is a great big Fred

Chips Lovell

Full Garmin replica kit, including bibshorts.
Clashing with a Pinarello Prince in Spanish champion's colours.
Black socks. Oh no...
Shifters pointing to the moon. He obviously never, ever rides in the drops.
Zipp 404s for 27kph spins. Clinchers to boot.
The mother of all saddle bags. Does he have sandwiches in there?



First one to say "at least he's riding his bike" gets a slap.

Raam

Alan, you're fired!

DirkVoodoo

They had a show on about him a few weeks ago, he mentioned hs love of flying but how he had a new passion: cycling.

You think with that much money he could hire Raam to go over and sort him out. I'm telling you, you would make a fortune out of Euro-ing people like him up.

His bars sure are tilted up a lot.

FX Meister

Big deal. You think the dude you see driving a Lambo on the should be driving at 200mph.

Raam

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

You think with that much money he could hire Raam to go over and sort him out. I'm telling you, you would make a fortune out of Euro-ing people like him up.

I think he's too far gone.

DirkVoodoo

FX Meister wrote: »

Big deal. You think the dude you see driving a Lambo on the should be driving at 200mph.

Pretty much yup, nothing breaks my heart more than a Ferrari 599 or a 911 GT3 sitting in rush hour traffic at 10 km/hr.

If I bought a race horse I wouldn't stick it in my back garden.

Lumen

If I can keep up a 27kph average for an 80km spin when I'm 61 and arthritic, after a couple of groin operations, I'll be well happy.

He does look ridiculous though. You'd think he could afford a few wardrobes of bespoke tailored Rapha.

I've always been mystified about he got so rich running a company that produced such rubbish; there's hope for me yet.

DirkVoodoo

I would be suspicious of the article, it seems more like a showpiece to preserve his image as the uber-competitive business dynamo, as opposed to the misogynist bully that a lot of his former employees paint him as. Seems like he might have had the final word on what was printed, its quite flattering.

It comes with a massive 59-tooth chainring at the front, which means that on the flat Sir Alan is swift, though he slows markedly whenever there is a hill and has to come out of the saddle to pedal hard.

He must mean 39 right? I also think he needs to be informed of the benefits of physiotherapy and energy foods on a spin, just showing his usual ignorance there about things he knows nothing about.

Ok, rant over.

blorg

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

He must mean 39 right?

I think he has a standard 53/39, e.g. not a compact or triple, and the author got confused.

I'm firmly in the "at least he's riding his bike" camp I think this sort of thing furthers the "normalisation" of cycling, to be honest there does seem to have been a big change in attitudes recently in the UK (particularly in London.)

tunney

Wow - what a fred, all he needs now is a Boards.ie jersey.........

Raam

tunney wrote: »

Wow - what a fred, all he needs now is a Boards.ie jersey.........

He shoots, he scores!

topper75

So we want him - what? - back in the car? Poor like us?

Raam

topper75 wrote: »

So we want him - what? - back in the car? Poor like us?

We want him to make sure his bidons match.

RobFowl

Up til now I alway thought this Euro stuff was a pile of crap , but after seeing that :eek:
Now where can I get a pair of white shoes..............

ROK ON

I wonder does he shave the legs. A bit difficult to see, but they dont look as hairy as the rest of him.

Lumen

RobFowl wrote: »

Up til now I alway thought this Euro stuff was a pile of crap

Euro or not, be it Garmin, Assos, Rapha or Lidl, that's how the "normals" see us.

You too, Tunney.

blorg

ROK ON wrote: »

I wonder does he shave the legs. A bit difficult to see, but they dont look as hairy as the rest of him.

Haha, that was one of the best bits of the article:

It doesn't take long before we are past Ongar and heading up through the Rodings, with Sir Alan's big chainring eating up the miles powered by impressively toned calf muscles. I can't help noticing that his legs are virtually hairless.

'I see you shave your legs, Sir Alan.' 'What?' he replies, turning to me, his bike wobbling alarmingly.

Lycra-clad cyclists often do shave their legs in a slightly kinky tradition that goes back to cycle racing's earliest times, but I never would have guessed that Sir Alan would ...

'I don't bloody shave my legs,' he says, firmly. 'I am just not that hirsute, except on my face.'

CheGuedara

Anyone brave enough to put a link to the Fred wikipedia page in the comments for the article??

ROK ON

So he trains ut in Ongar, didn't know that.
Maybe all the D15 based boardsies should head out on a spin with him at some stage.:D

TinyExplosions

CheGuedara wrote: »

Anyone brave enough to put a link to the Fred wikipedia page in the comments for the article??

Done, but all comments are moderated, so don't expect to see it up there

rottenhat

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

If I bought a race horse I wouldn't stick it in my back garden.

If I only had a back garden, I wouldn't buy a race horse.

Lumen

rottenhat wrote: »

If I only had a back garden, I wouldn't buy a race horse.

A decent-sized chest freezer would take it.

DirkVoodoo

rottenhat wrote: »

If I only had a back garden, I wouldn't buy a race horse.

It was a poor analogy for speed limits. Whether you're driving a Micra or a Murcielago, you're bound by the same speed limits and crappy roads. For me that's kind of a waste of a car that needs to be pushed hard to be enjoyed. Sure it will look nice and the girls will swoon, but it's not being used for the purpose it was designed for, which makes me sad.

If I had a car like that, I'd be living in Germany.

Vélo

A garden wall won't stop a racehorse!

rottenhat

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

If I had a car like that, I'd be living in Germany.

No, I'm agreeing with you...the one time I was in Germany we were driving to Munich, three lads in a VW Golf or something and the chap who was driving was desperately trying to get it up to 200km/h when this teutonic superman in a Ferrari zoomed past us like we were standing still. After that I realised that anyone who owned a sports car in Ireland was (a) a moron and (b) deeply frustrated.

Chips Lovell

FX Meister wrote: »

Big deal. You think the dude you see driving a Lambo on the should be driving at 200mph.

Yep, it's much the same thing. But in this case, it's like someone buying a high performance sports car without being able to drive at that speed and taking out the low slung seats for something more upright and sticking in the odd cushion or two.

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

He must mean 39 right? I also think he needs to be informed of the benefits of physiotherapy and energy foods on a spin, just showing his usual ignorance there about things he knows nothing about.

I think either the author or Sir Alan got confused about the gearing, mixing up 53 and 39. His big ring doesn't look any bigger than 53 and Campag rings only go up to 55t. I'm not sure if anyone even makes a 59t ring.

tunney wrote: »

Wow - what a fred, all he needs now is a Boards.ie jersey.........

Says the tri guy.

topper75 wrote: »

So we want him - what? - back in the car? Poor like us?

Not the point.

blorg wrote: »

Haha, that was one of the best bits of the article:

Quote:
It doesn't take long before we are past Ongar and heading up through the Rodings, with Sir Alan's big chainring eating up the miles powered by impressively toned calf muscles. I can't help noticing that his legs are virtually hairless.

'I see you shave your legs, Sir Alan.' 'What?' he replies, turning to me, his bike wobbling alarmingly.

Lycra-clad cyclists often do shave their legs in a slightly kinky tradition that goes back to cycle racing's earliest times, but I never would have guessed that Sir Alan would ...

'I don't bloody shave my legs,' he says, firmly. 'I am just not that hirsute, except on my face.'

Another mark in the Fred column: totally freaking out at the idea of shaving your legs.

ROK ON

el tonto wrote: »

Another mark in the Fred column: totally freaking out at the idea of shaving your legs.

Leg shaving queries:
(i)Would I benefit in terms of Euro points if I shave my legs and dont shave my facial hair?
(ii) I am trying to shift another stone in weight, would shaving my legs help?
(iii) Will shaving my legs make me more aero?
(iv) Will shaving my legs make my cycle more pleasurable?
(v) What types of reactions have any of the (male) leg shavers here got from their wives/gf's/partners?

Thanks in advance:)

Vélo

ROK ON wrote: »

Leg shaving queries:
(i)Would I benefit in terms of Euro points if I shave my legs and dont shave my facial hair?
(ii) I am trying to shift another stone in weight, would shaving my legs help?
(iii) Will shaving my legs make me more aero?
(iv) Will shaving my legs make my cycle more pleasurable?
(v) What types of reactions have any of the (male) leg shavers here got from their wives/gf's/partners?

Thanks in advance:)

(ii) You'll only save a stone in the rain

Chips Lovell

ROK ON wrote: »

(i)Would I benefit in terms of Euro points if I shave my legs and dont shave my facial hair?

Yes, but don't blame me if you get mistaken for Salvatore Commesso (and believe me, you don't want to be mistaken for him).

ROK ON wrote: »

(ii) I am trying to shift another stone in weight, would shaving my legs help?

0.001 per cent of a stone gone for zero effort. It's win-win.

ROK ON wrote: »

(iii) Will shaving my legs make me more aero?

0.001 per cent more aero. It's win-win-win.

ROK ON wrote: »

(iv) Will shaving my legs make my cycle more pleasurable?

Whatever you're into.

ROK ON wrote: »

(v) What types of reactions have any of the (male) leg shavers here got from their wives/gf's/partners?

If it freaks her out, show her your credit card bill and she'll forget all about the legs.

Bruce11

He's on a bike and at least he is "one of us" that appreciates the good things in life. I'd hasten to add that most of us would gladly accept the Prince as a gift and not worry too much about the clothing we would wear that it does not match the Spainish colours.

Who knows but he may have an involvement with Garmin and this could be publicity.

DirkVoodoo

rottenhat wrote: »

No, I'm agreeing with you...the one time I was in Germany we were driving to Munich, three lads in a VW Golf or something and the chap who was driving was desperately trying to get it up to 200km/h when this teutonic superman in a Ferrari zoomed past us like we were standing still. After that I realised that anyone who owned a sports car in Ireland was (a) a moron and (b) deeply frustrated.

Ah, my mistake, sorry .

Yeah, if I had lots of money I would buy something like a mark 5 GTI for driving around town in, still more than enough and probably an F430 or some such for track days and touring around europe.

For now, my bikes are the next best thing .

Oh, and it is good to see him cycling, don't get me wrong. Hopefully though this won't lead to an explosion of ageing tycoons snapping up all of our dream bikes, much like the lads I see driving the cars, it somehow destroys the fantasy (I bet Lumen or Scott will hop on that, no I do not fantasize about Alan Sugar!).

Bruce11

Who's betting that for the next series off the Irish Apprentice we see a promo of Bill Cullen on a fixie dressed in Merino wool gear! Taking the reporter for a spin up the Sally Gap and back home via the Wicklow Gap.

And Jackie Lavin on a BMX beside him - beat that sir Alan

tunney

el tonto wrote: »

Says the tri guy.

I might only race tris but I probably spend more time in the saddle than most boardsies, and I'd probably give most a good spanking in a road race, hill climb or time trial as well.

Back in your box.

Bruce11

************************************************

That there is fighting talk Tunney

************************************************

I'd say some challenges will be forthcoming by some of the members here. Reckon I will try go watch the time trial tonight and see if anyone from tri is challenging the road lads?

TinyExplosions

tunney wrote: »

I might only race tris but I probably spend more time in the saddle than most boardsies, and I'd probably give most a good spanking in a road race, hill climb or time trial as well.

Back in your box.

No matter how good you may be mate, you're stil a trathlete (spit), so a second class citizen and one that may die suddenly

copacetic

have to say it's an impressive enough article to be in the mainstream press, the kind of thing that my generate a bit of interest from older people in proper cycling as a fitness thing, rather than the exercise bike.

From the pics the big ring does look pretty damn big to me?

On fast cars, there is plenty of fun to be had staying within the speed limit, it's the acceleration thats fun imo, especially in and out of slow corners, not the absolute speed.

Lumen

tunney wrote: »

I might only race tris but I probably spend more time in the saddle than most boardsies, and I'd probably give most a good spanking in a road race, hill climb or time trial as well.

No doubt.

What's your FTP, out of interest? Or is that like asking you to get the ruler out. :pac:

sy

Lumen wrote: »

...If I can keep up a 27kph average for an 80km spin when I'm 61 and arthritic, after a couple of groin operations, I'll be well happy.....

Quite a few old "Freds" can manage this with ease and probably at a higher average speed then some guys half their age I reckon you will be very happy Lumen:D

Agree that his stylist had minimal input to the clothing choice and he scores a zero for style but fair play to him for getting out there. With his background he was always going to be slated.
Wonder what some of us will look like when we are 62. He seems to have a few miles in the legs from the other photos in the link (the calves are always a give away) as posted by el_tonto.

Is that a team issue Garmin Edge 705 on the bars?
@ el tonto "If it freaks her out, show her your credit card bill and she'll forget all about the legs" lol moment

TinyExplosions

It is an Garmin issue 705, and if you look at the comments you'll find...

Good to see someone promoting cycling, well done Sir Alan, or should I say Sir Fred?
TinyExplosions, Boards.ie, The internets, 31/3/2009 11:45

-I included the wikipedia link, but they removed it

scottreynolds

its sad to see what computer geeks become