The Soiled Chamois: It's Well Known (Sort of)

Over the years I think it has become apparent on this blog that while I occasionally partake in road riding, I am not a HUGE fan of it, nor of Pro road racing. Sure I get sucked into the classics, mostly because they are the closest thing to mountain biking/cross racing that Pros do on a road bike, and I will watch some stages of the Grand Tours (OK, ONLY the Tour de France, because that's the ONLY one that Versus will show, even though I would MUCH rather see the Giro d'italia than the Tour de France or the Tour of California (personal preference only, so take it easy Road Nazis).

Sadly road riding is a necessary evil to mountain bike racing fitness, and one that I am happy to side step (ever so slightly) by my move to Michigan. F*ck riding in traffic when I can ride dirt roads on my cross bike or my mountain bike for an infinite amount of miles, not worry about traffic (except for tractors, cows, and Amish buggies), and not worry about all the "road rules." I am happy to align my road riding beliefs with those who partake in events such as the Almanzo, Dirty Kanza, or Trans Iowa. Not that I've done those events, but to me, those are the NEW classics. REAL riders, REAL racers, putting in sick amounts of miles on gravel, dirt and shit roads, most often (if not always) self supported.

I have lived in Michigan since October of 2010. How many times have I been on my road bike? Once. For about 3 miles. But I have logged hundreds (maybe even thousands now) on my cross and mountain bikes.

Wait, where was I going with all this. Oh yeah, the new Rouleur mag.

Rouleur??? Why would a dirt worshiping, (sort of) anti road ride type dude buy a $20 magazine dedicated to road racing? Well...

A. Each issue of Rouleur is more like a book than a mag, and it looks, feels and looks (did I say that already?) amazing!

B. The BEST thing about Rouleur is that if most often focuses on the racers of yesterday. The "hard men" of the sport that inspire and take one back to the days of REAL racing and riding. No carbon, no doping (except maybe some beer, wine and speed, but that's real life stuff, right?).

Sure, the writing can be a bit flowery for my rude, crude, borderline 7th grade educated brain, but it is an amazing mag.

Issue #23 of Rouleur has a story about Fiorenzo Magni. Dude was amazing. Tough as nails, often getting to races on his own dime (or lack there of), and finding a way to win Flanders and the Giro 3 times! Yet many folks don't even recognize his name! Eeeesh! And to tell you the truth neither would I if it weren't for Rouleur magazine.

Does reading it make me want to actually start using road shoes and pedals, do an (actual) road race, or buy blood mail order from a "doctor" on an island off the coast of Spain? No. But quite often it does make me respect the early days of the sport even more and have me identifying my own "road" riding with what these "real" racers of yesterday did. For that I thank Rouleur, even though THEY could probably give to shits about what I think. On top of all that, it usually has the magazine publisher in me, and the graphic designer in me, in a masturbatory frenzy when I get each issue in the mail. Wow, I've come a long way since that stack of Playboys in my closet.