Alexi Grewal rides again (Crooked Roubaix)

[fiamme red]

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/first-colorado-crooked-roubaix-a-true-challenge-27756

50-year-old Grewal said he hadn’t trained, much less ridden, in the 20 years prior to the event save for a four-week stint he undertook in anticipation for it. He was doing the ride for himself and his 12-year-old son, Elijah. He said he wanted to see if he could do it again.

Two years ago, Grewal admitted using performance enhancing drugs and said he hoped his son would find the sport better than it was in his day. “I forgot how painful this sport is,” he commented on the climb from the final aid station in Hot Sulphur Springs up Cottonwood Pass, elevation 8,904ft.

After finishing the ride, while sipping a dark beer, Grewal recounted the sketchy first descent at mile 15. “My headset was locking up,” he said. “It was scary. There was some metal on metal contact in there and I had to stop and pour water on it to loosen it up.”

While Grewal’s legs looked as steely as any other bike racer’s, his equipment was eclectic. He rode a steel hardtail mountain bike whose stripped out rear brake bosses held no brakes. Nonetheless he completed the 90-mile route in the front group among a half dozen riders on $5,000-plus road bikes.

He achieved this while sporting hulking Nike hiking boots, flat pedals, a locking headset and using a set of concentric chainrings mounted off-center to make up for a leg length discrepancy. On his head, in place of a helmet, the Olympic champ wore a Halliburton construction hard hat.

http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.com/images/news/2010/09/14/1284479974699-1xnkgtcv65sts-500-90-500-70.jpg

http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.com/images/news/2010/09/14/1284479974704-115rbyzs9294p-500-90-500-70.jpg

[AndrewS]

Awesome! It's like the next step beyond Grant Petersen.

[David Kirk]

Don't eff with Alexi. He can make you pay.

Dave

[AFS]

The bewildered stare Alexi is getting from the rider in yellow is hilarious.

[fiamme red]

There was an excellent article about him in the Orange County Register last year (except for the stupid title of Part 2):

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/grewal-68178-medal-never.html

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/grewal-68187-didn-olympic.html

[shiftyfixedgear]

Great - now please go away for another twenty years . . .

[Chris]

He was my hero when I started cycling. He might be again.

[johnnymossville]

I've gotta get one of those Halliburton helmets. Finally a cycling helmet that looks cool.

[54ny77]

damn. that was a rough read.

There was an excellent article about him in the Orange County Register last year (except for the stupid title of Part 2):

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/grewal-68178-medal-never.html

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/grewal-68187-didn-olympic.html

[LegendRider]

Don't eff with Alexi. He can make you pay.

Dave

I recall hearing stories about your run-ins with him. But, perhaps he's mellowed with age. I hope so at least.

[54ny77]

maybe those with a few allen bolts loose should be called psyclists...

I recall hearing stories about your run-ins with him. But, perhaps he's mellowed with age. I hope so at least.

[LegendRider]

maybe those with a few allen bolts loose should be called psyclists...

Are you suggesting Alexi is one cog shy of a full cassette?

[David Kirk]

I recall hearing stories about your run-ins with him. But, perhaps he's mellowed with age. I hope so at least.

'Run ins' might be too strong a term but let's just say that I wasn't feeling appreciated.

You know - if I had the feeling that Alexi would not just let the bike be stolen I'd make him a bike and send it at N/C just out of respect for the athlete that is was/is. I would just smile knowing he was riding a bike that worked for him and that he enjoyed. I would give a damn if it said "Kirk" on it or if he raced it.

Anyone know how to get in touch with him?

dave

[Blue Jays]

He looks like a funky kind of dude.

[William]

Alexi HTEU long ago!! And he proved he still is. :cool:



William

[johnnymossville]

'Run ins' might be too strong a term but let's just say that I wasn't feeling appreciated.

You know - if I had the feeling that Alexi would not just let the bike be stolen I'd make him a bike and send it at N/C just out of respect for the athlete that is was/is. I would just smile knowing he was riding a bike that worked for him and that he enjoyed. I would give a damn if it said "Kirk" on it or if he raced it.

Anyone know how to get in touch with him?

dave

I think that would be a really nice thing to do on your part, but I think the guy gets off on thrashing people on junk wearing flannel shirts and hardhats. He'd probably take particular pleasure in a having a bike stolen that was given to him.

[David Kirk]

I think that would be a really nice thing to do on your part, but I think the guy gets off on thrashing people on junk wearing flannel shirts and hardhats. He'd probably take particular pleasure in a having a bike stolen that was given to him.

You may be right. I was thinking of a totally utilitarian build with a powder coat finish to make it bomber.

Have you ever seen him ride? It's art.

dave

[Chris]

Anyone know how to get in touch with him?

dave

I do, and oddly enough we ride the same size. Seriously. No, Seriously. I mean it.

[johnnymossville]

You may be right. I was thinking of a totally utilitarian build with a powder coat finish to make it bomber.

Have you ever seen him ride? It's art.

dave

I have seen him ride a few times, not in person, but yep he is a natural on the bike.

[Blue Jays]

Perhaps he wishes it to be painted in multi-color Pinarello fashion?

[BumbleBeeDave]

Great - now please go away for another twenty years . . .

Tough crowd . . . :crap:

BBD

[sc53]

My friend in Ossining NY still has and rides the '78 red Guerciotti Alexi used to ride as a junior. She bought it from his father in New Mexico in the seventies. It's about 50 cm in size. I imagine he grew a bit since then.

[FlashUNC]

He marches to the beat of a different drummer, that's for sure.

[majorpat]

I'm pumped to see this, watching Alexi Grewal as a teenager was one of the things that got me into biking.

Awesome.

[Innominatus]

Seems like a good place to post this gem of an AG quote:

"I never raced for fun anyway, so I'm sure not about to start now!"

-Alexi Grewal, circa 2007 or 2008