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nicolas · Last edited by nicolas on Tue Dec 09, 2008 5:15 am; edited 2 times in total

Hello everyone,

I haven't been around for a while but I kept myself busy at work (Xmas & stuff...).

Anyway, I am a manager in a store selling books, among other things and over the course of a few months, I managed to set up a signing with none other than the man himself, Mr BERNARD HINAULT !

Mr Hinault finally came to our store yesterday and I had the delight to spend the afternoon with him...needless to say : I had a BLAST !

He's just as you imagine him : frank, full of energy, eager to express his opinions about cycling, to tell the tales of his carreer and stuff...just amazing.

And always with a smile THAT big.

So, to make a long story short, Mr Hinault has agreed on a Q&A for us, good people of the gitaneusa forum.

Soooooo....In a few days I'll open a new topic called "Q&A with Bernard Hinault" and you'll be able to submit your questions.

Depending on how many there are, I'll pick a few and get in touch with Bernard Hinault on that matter.

Then I'll write this down and make the translation, all of which could take some time so be patient...

Pictures of my meeting with Bernard Hinault coming soon.

Cheers,

Nicolas.

Paul Wiseman

Nicolas, you're a bloody legend! Cool

Gtane

Fantastic! Well that's a Christmas present and a half! WOW!

Nicolas, Thank you.

What a great time you must have had and how decent of Mr. Hinault to visit for a signing. Amazing. What an experience.

I'll be sure to post a couple of questions.

Thanks again

Tim

scozim

Nicolas,
Excellent work - I'm envious you got to spend that kind of time with such a cycling legend. I was just watching highlights of one of his Paris-Roubaix wins the other night on YouTube. I look forward to the Q&A.

Scott

lofter

DELTAS and other aero gitanes, as well as what bikes he used when la vie claire started. awsome nicolas great job!

sandranian · Site Admin

AWESOME. We'll have to think of some good questions....

nicolas

Here are the pics :

Is it me or does he look like an older Bono on this pic ?

I added my collection of jerseys for the display and...yes, he signed them all very kindly.

Bernard & Nicolas...

Gtane

Nicolas,

Super, super, super.

Thank you for sharing your afternoon.

Tim

nicolas

verktyg

Interesting about the bikes having been made by Motobecane. Supposedly Luis Ocana was riding Italian made bikes in Motobecane kit when he won the TdF.

The Motobecane Team Champion or Champion Team models (marked both ways) were "made by different hands" from the rest of the Motobecane models whatever that means.

Raleigh Team bikes were made at a separate facility at Ilkeston in the UK. I think that the same thing was true with Bianchi. I suspect that Peugeot and Gitane had the same kinds of specialized shops for making their top of the line frames.

Here comes the blasphemy: I have 3 Motobecane Team Champion bikes, a 1978, a 1981 and a 1985. They all have very nicely made frames. Twisted Evil

Chas.

Paul Wiseman

[quote="nicolas"]Is it me or does he look like an older Bono on this pic ?

Nah, BH is way cooler than Bono.

sandranian · Site Admin

Cool glasses...le chic.

nicolas

nicolas

nicolas

Just so you know, the 2 questions people kept asking him the other day were :

-Do you still ride ?
And he said yes, 2-3 times a week, for an average of 3 hours (90-100 km).

-What about Armstrong/contador ?
To which he replied by desribing his duel with LeMond. He said that when there are 2 leaders in the same team, the game is to take the yellow jersey as soon as possible, so that the other one can't attack. Team orders don't apply until then. He is the expert.