Tumblr (3.0; @messengerdad)http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m23qchrFvq1r4mfcxo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Well, my time on Tumblr has come to an end. </p> <p>If you’ve followed me, liked my posts or re-blogged, many thanks. All content and further musings can be found at <a href="http://messengerdad.wordpress.com/">messengerdad.com</a></p>http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/20642994451http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/20642994451Sat, 07 Apr 2012 05:03:00 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m20x1bHeQU1r4mfcxo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddy_Merckx" title="Eddy Merckx" target="_blank">The Boss</a> </strong>and <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudi_Altig" title="Rudi Altig" target="_blank">Rudi</a> </strong>visit the <strong><a href="http://www.schauff.de/schauff/index.php?language=e&action=misc&ort=Intern&id=16" title="Website" target="_blank">Schauff Cycles</a></strong> factory.</p> <p>Like a couple of hoodlums collecting protection money?!! Class.</p>http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/20543460375http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/20543460375Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:31:59 -0400Eddy MerckxRudi AltigCyclingSchauff<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m204fkDDPS1r4mfcxo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mapei_(cycling_team)" title="Mapei" target="_blank">The good ol’boys! </a></strong></p> <p><strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_Paris%E2%80%93Roubaix" title="Domination" target="_blank">1996 Paris Roubaix</a></strong>, Glory for Mapei.</p> <p>Can’t help thinking of the theme to the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtG0BN4FKZQ&feature=related" title="Never meanin' no harm!" target="_blank"><strong>‘Dukes of Hazard’</strong> </a>whenever I see this photo?!</p>http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/20520023222http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/20520023222Thu, 05 Apr 2012 06:14:00 -040090'sCobblesCyclingMapeiMuseeuwParis Roubaix<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1zsuoMqsp1r4mfcxo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Happy Birthday <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnaud_Tournant" title="Wiki" target="_blank">Arnaud Tournant</a></strong>, 34 today!</p> <p><span>58.875 seconds for the <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Track_time_trial" title="Wiki" target="_blank">Kilo</a></strong>, frightening!!!</span></p>http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/20515098547http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/20515098547Thu, 05 Apr 2012 02:04:00 -0400Arnaud TournantFranceVelodromeCyclingTrack<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1z0byDC6v1r4mfcxo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I think I’ve found you a more suitable <strong><a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/paris-roubaix-bikes-how-theyve-evolved" title="Evolution!" target="_blank">bike</a></strong> for your <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_of_Flanders" title="Ronde van Vlaanderen" target="_blank">Flanders</a></strong> trip next year Kev?!</p> <p>Hope you manage to get that watch fixed!</p>http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/20479930691http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/20479930691Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:47:58 -0400BianchiCyclingParis Roubaix<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1yaodp7Zz1r4mfcxo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Hey! Wheres <strong><a href="http://www.uitgeverijkannibaal.be/boek7.html" title="A very expensive book!" target="_blank">mine</a></strong>?</p>http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/20461010815http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/20461010815Wed, 04 Apr 2012 06:33:49 -0400Eddy MerckxBooksCycling<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1y4r0mx8X1r4mfcxo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>It was 20 degrees in <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester" title="City" target="_blank">Manchester</a></strong> last week! </p> <p>It isn’t today. 2 degrees, monstrous wind and SNOW?!!!!!!!!! If anybody needs me I’ll be making the <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Hinault" title="The Badger" target="_blank">Hinault</a></strong> face all day long.</p>http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/20458721209http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/20458721209Wed, 04 Apr 2012 04:25:00 -0400WeatherManchesterSpringSnow<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1wo8arrn51r4mfcxo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Oh dear, it’s gonna be a <strong><a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/weather-service-predicts-rain-for-paris-roubaix" title="Bad weather for Roubaix!" target="_blank">wet one</a></strong>!</p> <p>I think <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabian_Cancellara" title="Fabian Cancellara" target="_blank">Spartacus</a></strong> might be glad he’s watching this one at home?!</p>http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/20406768927http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/20406768927Tue, 03 Apr 2012 09:31:22 -0400Paris RoubaixCobblesClassicsCycling<iframe width="400" height="299" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kQsJK81rZ4E?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br/><br/><p>An appetiser!</p> <p><strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris%E2%80%93Roubaix" title="Race" target="_blank">Paris-Roubaix</a> <a href="http://www.livestrong.com/teamradioshack/staff_dirkdemol/" title="Dirc Demol" target="_blank">1988</a> </strong></p> <p>Fantastically dated documentary,</p> <p><strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Liggett" title="Dude!" target="_blank">Phil Liggett</a> </strong>channeling <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inspector_Clouseau" title="Peter Sellers" target="_blank">Inspector Clouseau</a></strong>!!! Genius.</p>http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/20340658515http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/20340658515Mon, 02 Apr 2012 03:59:00 -0400Paris RoubaixCyclingDocumentaryCBS<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1t9h09Swa1r4mfcxo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>The <strong><a href="http://www.omegapharma-quickstep.com/" title="Team" target="_blank">Quick-Step</a> </strong>express keeps rollin’ on!</p> <p><strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Boonen" title="Tom Boonen" target="_blank">Big Tom</a> </strong>takes<strong> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_of_Flanders" title="Ronde van Vlaanderen" target="_blank">Flanders</a> </strong>today. <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filippo_Pozzato" title="Filippo Pozzato" target="_blank">Pippo’s</a> </strong>disappointment at failing to attack more vigorously on the <strong><a href="http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paterberg" title="The Climb" target="_blank">Paterberg</a> </strong>is pretty obvious. There was a couple of seconds where he had <strong>Boonen</strong> in a spot of bother and should have made an almighty dig. Even if you don’t eventually win, it’s far better to try?!</p> <p>Broken collarbones for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabian_Cancellara" title="Spartacus" target="_blank"><strong>Cancellara</strong> </a>and<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sebastian_Langeveld" title="Sebastian" target="_blank"> <strong>Langeveld</strong></a>, OUCH!</p> <p>Attendance record for <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Hincapie" title="George Hincapie" target="_blank">Big George</a>.</strong></p>http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/20294537239http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/20294537239Sun, 01 Apr 2012 13:19:00 -0400Ronde van VlaanderenCyclingBelgiumClassicsTom Boonen<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1ro7xgOS11r4mfcxo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>As always, <strong><a href="http://prollyisnotprobably.com/" title="prollyisnotprobably" target="_blank">Prolly</a> </strong>is the benchmark!</p> <p>A great video interview with <strong><a href="http://www.fyxomatosis.com/" title="fyxomatosis" target="_blank">Andy White</a> </strong>foundon<strong> <a href="http://www.bikingbrisbane.com">www.bikingbrisbane.com</a></strong></p> <p>Click the picture to read and watch. What a lovely bloke!</p>http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/20244366908http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/20244366908Sat, 31 Mar 2012 16:43:00 -0400John ProllyFyxomatosisCyclingAustralia<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1rhl1PXLV1r4mfcxo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>There was a talented cyclist who happened to be born at the same time as Eddy Merckx. Like so many others, the cyclist spent the best years of his career trying to be beat Merckx but was constantly frustrated. Time and again he knew he was in perfect form, time and again The Cannibal defeated him. When he died, the pro went to heaven and was greeted by St Peter. The saint put him on the start line of a race on the smoothest velodrome he had ever seen, on the finest handbuilt Italian frame. All the greats who had predeceased him were on the start line: Fausto Coppi, Maurice Garin, Ottavio Bottecchia and so on, but, even so, our cyclist knew he could win. He rode the perfect race, timed his effort just right, and had victory in the bag on the final lap. As the line approached, however, he sensed a wheel coming past, glanced to the side and saw the face of The Cannibal. Afterwards, in a state of some distress, the cyclist went up to St Peter and said, ‘Eddy isn’t dead yet, what’s he doing here? St Peter replied gravely: ‘That wasn’t Merckx. It was God. He likes to pretend he’s Merckx.’</p> <p>Taken from, the fantastic  <strong><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Merckx-Half-Man-Bike/dp/0224074482" title="Amazon" target="_blank">MERCKX: HALF MAN, HALF BIKE</a> </strong>By <strong><a href="http://www.williamfotheringham.com/" title="Website" target="_blank">William Fotheringham</a>.</strong></p>http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/20237765056http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/20237765056Sat, 31 Mar 2012 14:42:00 -0400Eddy MerckxBooksCyclingWilliam Fotheringham<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1pc54CBVD1r4mfcxo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Would love a print of <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faema#Cycling_team" title="Faema team car" target="_blank">this</a></strong>!</p> <p>Find more lovely illustrations at <strong><a href="http://www.chrismcnally.com">www.chrismcnally.com</a></strong></p>http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/20170174493http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/20170174493Fri, 30 Mar 2012 10:27:04 -0400FaemaCyclingArtIllustrationMerckx<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1p6tmInn61r4mfcxo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I wish I was going to be in <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_of_Flanders" title="Ronde Van Vlaanderen" target="_blank">Flanders</a></strong> this weekend but sadly, I’m not!</p> <p>I will however be making the best of things at home. Eurosport, a <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_in_Belgium" title="Spoilt for choice!" target="_blank">Belgian beer</a></strong> or two and some <a href="http://www.belgianfries.com/bfblog/?page_id=1426" title="Frites" target="_blank"><strong>chips & mayo</strong> </a>for lunch! Hopefully all shared with my little boy (minus the beer of course!)</p>http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/20167366937http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/20167366937Fri, 30 Mar 2012 08:32:10 -0400Tour of FlandersBeerFoodBelgiumCycling<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1nw8yKKsJ1r4mfcxo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><strong><a href="http://prollyisnotprobably.com/" title="prollyisnotprobably" target="_blank">Prolly</a> </strong>visits my favourite <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco" title="San Francisco" target="_blank">place</a> </strong>and makes me very jealous!</p> <p>Want, want, want! <strong><a href="http://www.bicyclecoffeeco.com/" title="Website" target="_blank"><a href="http://www.bicyclecoffeeco.com">www.bicyclecoffeeco.com</a></a></strong></p>http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/20127680211http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/20127680211Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:46:00 -0400John ProllyCoffeeCyclingSan Francisco<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1nuvjkIpf1r4mfcxo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvain_Chavanel" title="Sylvain" target="_blank">Chavanel</a> </strong>unleashes some super form!</p> <p>Final time trial and the overall at <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Days_of_De_Panne" title="3 Days of De Panne" target="_blank">3 days</a>. </strong>Love that trophy!!</p>http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/20126258058http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/20126258058Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:16:00 -0400Sylvain ChavanelCyclingBelgiumQuickstep<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1m5g9mP511r4mfcxo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Three <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddy_Merckx" title="The Boss" target="_blank">Merckx</a></strong> books released in the same year?!!</p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Merckx-525-Frederik-Backelandt/dp/1934030899" title="Amazon" target="_blank">Merckx 525</a> </strong>due out September 2012 through <strong><a href="http://velopress.competitor.com/" title="Site" target="_blank">Velopress</a> </strong></p>http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/20078142031http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/20078142031Wed, 28 Mar 2012 17:09:45 -0400Eddy MerckxBooksCyclling<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1hvglXQnM1r4mfcxo1_r1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Batten down the hatches.</p> <p>The hour of <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_of_Flanders" title="Ronde Van Vlaanderen" target="_blank">battle</a></strong> is nearly upon us!!!</p>http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/19952432652http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/19952432652Mon, 26 Mar 2012 09:43:00 -0400Ronde Van VlaanderenFlandersCyclingCobblesClassics<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1ghvtmsRb1r4mfcxo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>One happy little chappy.</p> <p>We all had a wonderful weekend in the sunshine. Fantastic to rediscover the garden!</p>http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/19948978770http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/19948978770Mon, 26 Mar 2012 06:45:23 -0400ToddlerSunshineWeekendsHappiness<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1hgtfz8Cc1r4mfcxo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>New wheels!</p> <p>I wish my good friend, ex-messenger, bike obsessive and dad to be, <strong><a href="http://cantgoslo.com/" title="Cantgoslo" target="_blank">Craig Nasty</a> </strong>all the best of luck in his new venture. He’s gonna need it!!!</p>http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/19946760191http://messengerdad.tumblr.com/post/19946760191Mon, 26 Mar 2012 04:27:15 -0400CantgosloManchesterTrack bikesBike messenger