where are they now: nelson vails

[wallymann]

my club just hosted a convention last weekend in columbus OH. in addition to a bunch of organized rides and lectures and other activities, we were able to wrangle a visit by none other than nelson vails! dude is a bit older than the glory days of the '84 olympics, but even with a bigger midsection dude still looks good on a bike.

http://majortaylorcycling.org/events/2013_nbc-columbus/NBC%202%20032.jpg

http://majortaylorcycling.org/events/2013_nbc-columbus/DSC09293.JPG

http://majortaylorcycling.org/events/2013_nbc-columbus/NBC%20Day%202%20+%203%20011.jpg

http://cache4.asset-cache.net/gc/84838078-track-cycling-1984-summer-olympics-usa-mark-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=GkZZ8bf5zL1ZiijUmxa7QdNnGQZrWj8bXm%2f83UDuVBexs1 Xo0grVqFrlhtITAWPNH8J4WLW1eYXs7l6eZVGLBdgggei6Tg%2 f2jsv2negqPQ4%3d

http://nelsonvails.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/tumblr_ldkrl8lM591qbxnpgo1_4001-200x300.jpg

[Cat3roadracer]

I bet he still has some sprint in those legs.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . is almost as big around as my waist! :eek:

BBD

[bironi]

Saw him at Nationals in Seattle suburb in the 80's. Fun sprints, and the legs were enormous. Fun show.

[BumbleBeeDave]

You could take 'im, Cat3-Man! :banana:

BBD

[mike p]

Extremely cool! Thanks for sharing. He always seemed like a great guy. What does Nelson do these days?

Mike

[e-RICHIE]

Make sure you order one of his new Signature Messenger bags, coming soon -





https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/v/1063363_4396247723283_1774861109_n.jpg?oh=e7d3a22a e9e1e67aeb4807f2364a08bf&oe=5203E358&__gda__=1376063322_9ac45177cb0191731899fa4215dd1fe 5

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3453/3276073711_c7f18dafb6_z.jpg

[54ny77]

Toga club jersey and on an RS, no less. Holy flashback photo, Batman!

He lived in SoCal for some period of time in the 80's, I'd see him going up & down coast highway in Raleigh gear.

[BumbleBeeDave]

Who is selling these?

BBD

Make sure you order one of his new Signature Messenger bags, coming soon -

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/v/1063363_4396247723283_1774861109_n.jpg?oh=e7d3a22a e9e1e67aeb4807f2364a08bf&oe=5203E358&__gda__=1376063322_9ac45177cb0191731899fa4215dd1fe 5

[pbarry]

Who is selling these?

BBD

Looks like Chrome..

[pbarry]

In addition to U.S. Nationals Championships and an Olympic Silver medal, NV raced Keirin in Japan, and the Six-Day circuit in Europe. Definitely in the top 10 U.S trackies ever. Too cool you got to meet him.

Watch the derny, the disk wheels, and the bump, (remember, this is a betting event):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6f5rMRTzrk

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Vails

[Tandem Rider]

Very good friend of mine was a teamate of his, I never knew him, but all the good things said were true, if half my buddy's stories are true he's one hilarious dude to hang with.

[jghall]

Nelson is a good dude. Being in Indianapolis I got to meet him several times locally and at Major Taylor back in the days.

[gasman]

Cool pics=

It looks like he could get some serious speed still, but his bike looks like it might be groaning a bit.

[evo111@comcast.net]

I think he used to live in the Sunset Beach/Surfside area of Socal (just north of Huntington Beach) on PCH. Saw him at the Olympics - massive quads is an understatement!

[ptourkin]

I think he used to live in the Sunset Beach/Surfside area of Socal (just north of Huntington Beach) on PCH. Saw him at the Olympics - massive quads is an understatement!

He lives in North San Diego county now. I had the honor of giving him a tube during a ride once. Very nice guy. Traveling to promote his "Ride with Nelly" events.

[John Price]

I got to ride BRIEFLY with Nelson a few years back when a bike shop here hosted him and Greg Lemond. As the group rollled out of the shop parking lot and onto the path to head to Cherry Creek State Park I found myself riding next to Nelson. We chatted briefly - REALLY nice guy.
But then he said, "Come on, let's catch that group ahead of us". And off he went like a rocket. I conveniently dropped my chain at that point so I'll never know if I can hold his wheel or not (yeah right).

His thighs are easily double mine in size.

Later on in the ride I got to ride with Greg for about half a lap of Cherry Creek. That was cool too.

John

[bikser]

I used to see him riding around the bike path's here in Denver. I had spoken to him a few times, at Tour of Georgia and California. He was a flight attendant on private executive jets, not sure if he still does that. Had kind of an offbeat personality as I recall.

[tv_vt]

I heard he was a flight attendant of some kind, too.

[snah]

Old friend of mine posted this link on FB, thought I'd pass along since this thread was so recent.

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/cheetah-the-nelson-vails-story

[FlashUNC]

I'm thinking my 150 watt sprint could probably nip him at the line.

[Germany_chris]

How did I not know who this man is?

I'm going to have to put my nose to the grindstone.

[Echo]

He sat down right next to me at Track Nationals at the VSC in Carson this past weekend. Super nice guy, and a pretty surreal experience!

[shovelhd]

I raced against him and Gorski in the 80's.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . he's the "Anti-Lance."

Maybe I'll be lucky enough to meet him some day.

(Nelson, not Lance. :rolleyes: )

BBD

[mcallen]

How did I not know who this man is?

Ditto. I'm finally getting into track riding--just took my first two track clinics at the Major Taylor velodrome in Indy--so I really had fun learning about Nelson.

[ntb1001]

. . . he's the "Anti-Lance."

Maybe I'll be lucky enough to meet him some day.

(Nelson, not Lance. :rolleyes: )

BBD


He is one of the best from the 80's....but don't forget that the entire 84 Olympic US track cycling team pioneered and used blood boosting...taking out blood & storing it, then putting it back in before the event...it wasn't "illegal" until sometime after the Olympics. I remember reading all about it way back in Bicycling magazine.....correct me if I'm wrong.

[FlashUNC]

He is one of the best from the 80's....but don't forget that the entire 84 Olympic US track cycling team pioneered and used blood boosting...taking out blood & storing it, then putting it back in before the event...it wasn't "illegal" until sometime after the Olympics. I remember reading all about it way back in Bicycling magazine.....correct me if I'm wrong.

Nope, you're right. Between that and the Soviet boycott, the US racked up.

[ntb1001]

Nope, you're right. Between that and the Soviet boycott, the US racked up.



ya...I thought so....I'm still bitter that Bauer only got a Silver for Canada while the Gold went to the U.S.'s Alexi Grewal :):)

[FlashUNC]

ya...I thought so....I'm still bitter that Bauer only got a Silver for Canada while the Gold went to the U.S.'s Alexi Grewal :):)

Who was filled with not-yet-illegal blood. Not that Mr Grewal wasn't a beast in his own right...

Can thank Eddie B for the novel preparation techniques...

[ntb1001]

Who was filled with not-yet-illegal blood. Not that Mr Grewal wasn't a beast in his own right...

Can thank Eddie B for the novel preparation techniques...

All the guys on the US team were great...but the boosting just put them over the top...Bauer shouldn't have been touched in a sprint finish!

My point is that I don't find Vails, or any of the stars from the 80's better or worse than Armstrong for what they did.

[shovelhd]

Who was filled with not-yet-illegal blood. Not that Mr Grewal wasn't a beast in his own right...

Can thank Eddie B for the novel preparation techniques...

No matter what was in his system, that breakaway was one of the ballsiest moves I have ever seen in a bike race.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . was meant more to address the "nice guy" part. Guess I should have been clearer. Seems like Vails has taken the high road and that is what many will remember him for, not just that he was champion. They will remember him as also one of the nicest guys they have met in a world where so many celebrities are at the best unfriendly and at the worst just plain A-Holes.

BBD

[e-RICHIE]

No matter what was in his system, that breakaway was one of the ballsiest moves I have ever seen in a bike race.

It was interesting that none of the Golden Boys made the break that mattered. That was my takeaway atmo.

[FlashUNC]

No matter what was in his system, that breakaway was one of the ballsiest moves I have ever seen in a bike race.

Totally agree. Dope or no, takes a lot of cajones to put the chips on the table like that.

[shovelhd]

It was interesting that none of the Golden Boys made the break that mattered. That was my takeaway atmo.

True. That just reinforces my point. It was way early. He was going to suffer greatly, and most likely would have been caught. But he wasn't. I've won a bunch of races the same way so maybe it's just me.

[e-RICHIE]

True. That just reinforces my point. It was way early. He was going to suffer greatly, and most likely would have been caught. But he wasn't. I've won a bunch of races the same way so maybe it's just me.

I like to think (as I did in real time) that it was more about Alexi and his independent streak versus the E.S.W. who were being groomed for at least two years for that very day.

[pbarry]

No matter what was in his system, that breakaway was one of the ballsiest moves I have ever seen in a bike race.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tWg_CR43rg

[pbarry]

I like to think (as I did in real time) that it was more about Alexi and his independent streak versus the E.S.W. who were being groomed for at least two years for that very day.

5-6 years for a few of them--Phinney, Kiefel, maybe Rogers(?).

[e-RICHIE]

5-6 years for a few of them--Phinney, Kiefel, maybe Rogers(?).

I didn't think the ESW ordeal predated before Moscow atmo. I remember the master plan starting after that. I was at Zinger and Coors in 79 and 80 and didn't see any seedlings there. Phinny was on AMF in 79 iirc.

[wallymann]

IIRC the blood-doping was a trackie thing in '84.

grewal was (relatively) undoped, that sprint was down to bauer's hubris and feelings of invincibility.

Who was filled with not-yet-illegal blood. Not that Mr Grewal wasn't a beast in his own right...

Can thank Eddie B for the novel preparation techniques...

[bthornt]

Seeing this thread about Nelson Vails made me think of his sprinting teammate Mark Gorski and his nemesis, Lutz Hesslich. Enjoy this youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mYZ_TwT2ck

[pbarry]

I didn't think the ESW ordeal predated before Moscow atmo. I remember the master plan starting after that. I was at Zinger and Coors in 79 and 80 and didn't see any seedlings there. Phinny was on AMF in 79 iirc.

You're right. I was thinking of the riders who later made up the team. Groomed in the Springs in the late 70's by Eddy B. and later, Ed Burke.

[pbarry]

IIRC the blood-doping was a trackie thing in '84.

grewal was (relatively) undoped, that sprint was down to bauer's hubris and feelings of invincibility.

Iirc, Grewal ate a peach with a caffeine tablet inside.

[shovelhd]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tWg_CR43rg

That clip doesn't do it justice.

Good points overall, E-Richie.

[pbarry]

That clip doesn't do it justice.

Good points overall, E-Richie.

Right? Will dig further for more complete coverage.

[pbarry]

Since we're riffing, this piece on the first(!) Olympic Women's road race in '84 piece is worth the watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFMdkbixw_Y&list=PLCD7818151A5CE7B3

[technicolor]

Trailer for the Nelson Valis documentary: http://vimeo.com/72110891. Looks pretty good. Hope they finish it.

[ptourkin]

He sat down right next to me at Track Nationals at the VSC in Carson this past weekend. Super nice guy, and a pretty surreal experience!

Great event. We came up Saturday night for the Omnium and Keirin (go Jen!) finals. It was nice when the announcer brought Nellie out.

[FlashUNC]

IIRC the blood-doping was a trackie thing in '84.

grewal was (relatively) undoped, that sprint was down to bauer's hubris and feelings of invincibility.

I have a hard time believing Eddie B kept any of his riders clean.

[mistermo]

I have a hard time believing Eddie B kept any of his riders clean.

I remember reading an article way back (in the 80s) that said Coach Eddie B did everything within his power to keep Grewal off the team. Grewal had to go to great lengths to qualify his way on to the team rather than hope to be selected, like the others. And, as mentioned, "blood packing" wasn't illegal and was promoted by Eddie B. The article read that Grewal rejected the Eddie B. plan which landed him out of favor with the coach and lead to a great deal of animosity between the two. It even went as far as saying that Alexi rode the race for himself since Eddie B didn't want him there.

Everything I read back then, said that Alexi rode the race clean, w/o blood packing, while the other Americans were doing it (not yet illegal). We know that later changed, but I think Alexi was clean in this race.

[wallymann]

i didnt say he was clean, i just dont believe that he was blood-doped.

grewal was the black-sheep of the US road team back then, and i'm sure wouldnt have the resources or wherewithal in 1984 to blood-dope independently without hurting himself.

this is a great read, written by alexi himself: http://www.velominati.com/racing/alexi-grewal-1984-olympic-road-race/


I have a hard time believing Eddie B kept any of his riders clean.

[wallymann]

at the kissena velodrome

http://www.jamieswan.net/website_images/scrapbook_images/toga1.jpg