Blast From the Past

This photo is of the “cannibal” Eddy Merckx and my old cycling coach Nestor Gernay. Eddy is clearly not as fit as he was during his peak, but I guess when you have suffered as much as that man certainly did, you deserve to take it easy in your later years. The photo was given to me recently by an old cycling friend, and was taken during the Olympics when they were in Atlanta. Merckx is legendary and defines cycling’s best. Nestor is most likely unheard of in the cycling ranks outside of the South East. Merckx and Nestor are good friends and both are Flemish. I can recall many a ride in the bus listening to stories of famous Flemish cyclist and the cruel conditions which they seem to thrive. The Paris-Roubaix classic defines Belgian cycling. Bad roads and bad weather. Winners are legendary and hopefully Flemish.
Bars in Belgium have famous cyclist pictures on the wall, and you will most likely find professionals changing before the race in the bar, waiting to ride the pave.
Nestor is in his 60s now, but still rides competitively, and is always willing to share his passion of cycling with anyone who will listen. It was his ability to paint a seductive picture of cycling that got me going and to some degree keeps me riding today. Cycling as a kid kept me from being a delinquent, and today probably keeps me from being 200 lbs. Eddy is wearing a retro Savanah Wheelman jersey, which of course has the Belgium colors. The Savannah Wheelmen has been around a long time and they still have the equivalent of our Tuesday night series, albeit everyone is deadpan flat.