tonym

Yesterday, £4.99 each, along with Fench Connection/ French Connection II dvd set..... Now I have something other than Big Brother to watch.

Wow. I am aware that we have some 'insiders' here on this board but here I am, browsing through the liner notes of the Miles Legacy remaster of 'Filles..' and whos name pops up? That's right. Of course you probably all know it's Jim Sangrey's. Is this a common occurence? Who else is name checked in the jazz print? C'mon blow your own trumpets.

I would be up for anywhere really. I have just 'tuned' back in after a week of modem problems, hence the silence. Later in the year sounds great, UK, mainland Europe, whatever. I like a nice drive.

I do think Armstrong is a classy rider Clem. The way in which he won the Worlds back in Norway against a who's-who of big hitters was fantastic; showing his aggression and strength in a way which that particular race can sometimes lack (last years victor had the same qualities IMO). Bugno was obviously a different rider, possibly no match for LA in the high mountains but the Tour is not the be all and end all. Re: Riis. Well, a good rider who started showing maybe 3 or 4 years before his Tour win. He had a gallop, he could struggle up climbs with the better climbers and he could always time trial and he was always aggresive: a friend of mine lived with him in Luxembourg when they were both amatuers in the mid-late Eighties and would confirm this. BUT I have never, ever seen anyone crack big time, on a big climb no less (was it Luz Ardiden), only to stick it in the 53 ring and start it going again!!! That was definately 'superhuman'.

Don't really know what constitutes the typical European pro. Some riders may resort to doping if they are finding life tough, some may need that extra edge for the contract that's been on the horizon for a few years. Others may use some tackle to keep that pro contact. There are lots of factors at play and I'm sure the American schedule is as hectic as the European one these days. If anything there may be a bit more going on in the more open events where the doping controls aren't present as often. It is common for riders to be aware beforehand whether there will be a control. Ultimately, doping will go on and if the sport wants to be clean then the onus is on the authorities not to hunt out the odd offender (that is the ones who get caught) but to spend time and money catching up with technological advances in the administering etc of the substances. As for Armstrong. The fact that he came from triathlon may give him an appearance somewhat different to most 'normal' cyclists, more robust perhaps but not necessarily more superior. I think as far as physical superiority is concerned then Indurain and Bugno were maybe the best recent candidates for that title, in terms of tour riders anyhow.

I rode the Tour Of Austria in my early twenties and the Circuit des Mines in France. I didn't win much but have had experience and placings in Belgium, France, Spain and Germany. I've had the pleasure(?) of hanging onto some quite impressive wheels and I've had the pleasure of having my name on an impressive trophy with some big names on (Robert Millar for one). My last race proper was in the company of Jens Heppner (and a small Telekom team), Stuart O'Grady, Brett Aitken, Bradley McGhee et al. I climbed OK when I was racing and have had none other than Lucien Van Impe shouting encouragement at me on a big mountain, that was rather special. I think I packed in too early as I seem to have gotten stronger over the last few years. Also I think I would appreciate travelling around a bit more now. One of my friends spends about a third of the year at home and he still live out of his suitcase then! Not sure that appeals though.

Interesting that it was Lemond who chose to say this, given that the same could have applied to himself after his 'mishaps' immediately after his '86 win. Among many cyclists Lemond was always 'suspect', as there is with any great sportsman I suppose, but the peaks and troughs he achieved during his career indicate, to some, that his high points weren't exactly au natural. A very close friend of mine rode up to him on one particular day during a short tour. He was getting back on after a puncture, Lemond was slipping off the back on a short climb. Apparently my friend looked upon Lemond as a bit of a hero but was mortified when he saw this overweight, panting mess struggling to stay in contact. He gave him a bit of a sling up to the back of the bunch and received a grateful "Thank You". It takes a lot of miles and preparation bfeore you look like the lean bodied machine that won the 1989 event. He managed that in a very short space of time. On hardly any racing. Who was it said though, might have been Anquetil, that you couldn't win the Tour on muesli and water. Anyone seen any pictures of Lemond lately by the way?

Neither did Richard Virenque and look what the press made of him. Cycling, like many sports, has it's share of doctors and scientists who are always a step ahead of the doping controls. If Armstrong has been doping, quell surprise, he won't be the last. When one can get hold of a course of EPO at 100 Euro, then things have obviously moved on to something more effective/less detectable. Actually what was quite interesting, the following year after the 1998 ('Festina-affair') Tour was the obvious unwillingness on the part of most of the on-form French riders to chase the seemingly superhuman Armstrong on the Cols when he took off. They were visibly looking around as though to say "Oh no, it's not worth the hassle". One of the after effects of the 98 race was the stringent testing of many French riders. Even teams lower down the ranks experienced the 4am wake up call by the authorities checking haematocrit levels. Hence, the practice of going for a ride around the car park at 3am. And FWIW David Walsh is quite respected in cycling circles (maybe not literary ones -- big mistake to confuse the two!) he was instrumental in Sean Kelly's biog from 17 or so years ago. A somewhat seminal piece for aspiring cyclists; predating the dross that cycling journos Paul Kimmage and Will Fotheringham mustererd up in the years that followed. Sadly in the UK this is exactly the sort of news which gets cycling onto the main terrestrial channels. No mention is ever made of who wins Tour of Flanders or Roger Hammond's third place in Paris-Roubaix. A doping scandal assures some decent press coverage and TV interest.

CHECK IT OUT SAXMAN will come around and 'do you in'.

An interesting point, but one I would have to respectfully disagree with, at least to some extent. A beginner may not appreciate or fully understand what is being played (inside, outside, harmonic or root movement etc., etc.) but they may just appreciate the sound. Going from relatively 'safe' music to something like this may seem wreckless and exciting and that alone would guarantee some element of enjoyment. My first jazz album was Ornette's 'Something Else'. My second was Dolphy's 'Out to Lunch'. In some respects quite obvious (they are both readily available and from well known artists) but on the other hand quite naive purchases; in that I thought all jazz would sound like this. Maybe that's why I posted in the first place. I haven't heard any pianist playing like Taylor before --- it was refreshing and exciting given that I'm a huge Bill Evans fan! In hindsight though maybe it would have been a wise choice for a first jazz purchase --- preparing oneself for that rollercoaster journey. It won't be my last Taylor purchase and Unit Structures may well be my next.

Well. It's 9:30 am-ish and I've just finished listening for the first time. In fact it's a Cecil Taylor initiation for me. I'm aware of Grimes's stuff and that of Cyrille's but I've often wondered what Lyons would sound like. I'm impressed; in that "I've just had a bucket of cold water thrown over me " way, or having an ex-girlfriend slap your face, even that feeling when you have a swig of fresh orange juice after a hangover. Is it just me or does anyone else hear a vibist in Taylor's playing. Not so much the technicalities and all that stuff, but just the sound? This will certainly get it's fair share of play time. Feel free to rubbish, agree or generally point the finger and ridicule.

My son who turned 3 last month. Any excuse to post his pic. Scottb --- what gorgeous children with beautiful names.

It's the other edge Bev. Normally the cold, windy side of the Moors! My wife is also a teacher so I can empathise with the way you are feeling. She is stooping over work just now.

All the very best of luck AB. We may have all gotten older and wiser next time you sign in!

Nearer home.

The warmest day of the year so far. I'm riding back from the café to home in order to collect my son from nursery. Pics taken about 7 and 1 miles from the village where I live. I don't normally have the camera with me on my bike but a friend had brought it out as I had left it at his house after a party last night. Again i had chatted over my coffees too long and left myself insufficient time to get back, therefore the picture was taken whilst moving.

Hoegaarden Grand Cru.

And those pics are about the third of actual size. Too much memory to upload onto a post. I may be wrong but I think that scaling them down also affects resolution. They are brill though.

Proving the sun can shine in Scotland.

Edinburgh castle Wednesday morning (about 10am) just taken from across the road. Warm, sunny and smelling very sweet for a busy city centre!

Peanut S & M.... hmm? Not for those with allergies to nuts.

Yes, I am staying out of the Politics forum intentionally, but I saw the Dalai Lama doing a meet 'n' greet in Edinburgh, Scotland. I was just ambling along with a new CD cache and there he was, hopping out of a bullet-proof X 5. Our hotel was in the midst of a load of road closure and every 2 minutes a limo and police outriders zoomed past, but I hadn't read that morning's news. As it happens The Guardian didn't even mention it anyhow. There were several placards on display at his arrival, the usual stuff, but it was quite refreshing to see a world leader as such on show without jeering, rotten tomatos and eggs being hurled. Got a few pics too. Quite the tourist eh?

Not to bother reading every thread. Actually, the depth of knowledge around here is astounding. People here have the most interesting approaches to subjects, like 'hardbop' for example, which you thought previously had been covered comprehensively. Bring up almost anything on this board and I'm sure there'll be an expert. S & M? Any takers?

Looks like we may see the odd one on UK roads soon. Wonder how much they are going for? Contact Starsky's Torino UK.

Jackie McLean --- Let Freedom Ring RVG Cecil Taylor --- Conquistador rvg Grant Green --- Complete Quartets Eliane Elias --- Plays Jobim Miles --- Filles (upgrade for old 90's disc, the last of the quintet's that I 'needed' to replace) N.E.R.D --- Fly Or Die All for £45. New Fopp store opened in Edinburgh to complement smaller store in the old town.