gitaneusa.com Forum Index » Vintage Gitane » I did it again...    View previous topic :: View next topic  I did it again...   Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2011 10:36 am nicolas Joined: 13 Mar 2006 Posts: 543 Location: Paris, France I went to Houdan today, where Paris-Nice is starting tomorrow. It's about 60km south west of Paris. In fact, I did a race there when I was 14 ! Anyway... Anyway, they were doing bike rides for everyone interested and the special guest was... Bernard Hinault ! So I went there, found him prepping to get on the podium and stuff, waited patiently with THIS jersey showing. He looked at it and grinned "That's an old thing you got there !". "Old and beautiful" I said "And FYI, you have a fan in the US that's made a whole website about you". "Really ?". But as soon as he had signed he was ushered to the stage. I went back to my car, took my fake Gitane out of the trunk, put my Renault Elf jerseys (it was cold) and shorts on and proceeded to the start of the ride. Hinault made the start with a small flag. He was standing right by the start line with Christian Prudhomme and Gilbert Duclos Lassalle. Duclos saw me and pointed me out to Hinault. I said "Hey a team mate !" and stopped. He said with a gigantic smile "That reminds me of something..." I said "Look, I even got the bike !". He said "That's not it but close enough, nice." Needless to say I was ecstatic. The ride was awesome. I gave it all I got and did the 85km at an average 30km/h pace. To me, at the beginning of march, that's something. A great day. _________________ "Ooooh Putain !!! C'est vous ?" -Greg LeMond www.greglemondfan.com   Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2011 10:52 am trois tubes Joined: 16 Apr 2010 Posts: 136 Bravo Nicolas! Paris nice   Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2011 11:00 am Frenchbuilt Joined: 18 Apr 2007 Posts: 443 Its great!!! They pass through my town tomorrow but i will only hike down to the road and watch. dan   Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2011 12:25 pm scozim Joined: 26 Sep 2008 Posts: 629 Location: Ellensburg, WA Awesome story, Nicolas! _________________ 1984 Gitane Sprint 1984 Gitane Tour de France mid-1970's Gitane Olympic Plus many more http://eburgcycling.blogspot.com   Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2011 4:22 pm Wisey Joined: 19 May 2009 Posts: 631 Location: Brisbane, Australia Awesome Nicolas. I have a poster on my wall of Hinault in his World Champion Jersey holding up his Gitane. Maybe I need to put a photo of you up there next to him? _________________ Kind Regards, Wisey Delta Dreamin'   Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 10:57 am Gtane Joined: 14 Sep 2007 Posts: 681 Location: UK Great story Nicolas. Thanks Tim _________________ Everything has a cycle   Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 9:43 pm Frenchbuilt Joined: 18 Apr 2007 Posts: 443 About 100 years before America was "discovered" you took this road to get to my town. Walking down this path takes you to the "new" road which just happened to have the Paris Nice passing by. No VTT bikes needed here! Nice Mavic car and bikes too. Dan   Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 10:11 pm Kinst VonSterga Joined: 26 May 2008 Posts: 153 Location: Hillsboro, Oregon USA I'm very happy for you Nicolas ... just think, fate could have been reversed and Bernard Hinault could be the one hunting you down for your autograph, if onl the cycling tables were turned and you were the 2-wheeled badger!   Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 7:34 am nicolas Joined: 13 Mar 2006 Posts: 543 Location: Paris, France Wisey wrote: Awesome Nicolas. I have a poster on my wall of Hinault in his World Champion Jersey holding up his Gitane. Maybe I need to put a photo of you up there next to him? Please don't do that. Ever. _________________ "Ooooh Putain !!! C'est vous ?" -Greg LeMond www.greglemondfan.com   Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 7:51 am nicolas Joined: 13 Mar 2006 Posts: 543 Location: Paris, France Kinst VonSterga wrote: I'm very happy for you Nicolas ... just think, fate could have been reversed and Bernard Hinault could be the one hunting you down for your autograph, if onl the cycling tables were turned and you were the 2-wheeled badger! I like your way of thinking... I too am a science fiction fan...but let's face it : I'm a much better autograph hunter than Bernard Hinault could ever wish he would be. . Not to mention my cycling skills, of course (or my lack thereof) _________________ "Ooooh Putain !!! C'est vous ?" -Greg LeMond www.greglemondfan.com I did it again...     gitaneusa.com Forum Index » Vintage Gitane You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum All times are GMT - 8 Hours   Page 1 of 1   All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First  Select a forum Gitane USA----------------Vintage GitaneGitane RacingModern GitanePro Racing - Classics/Giro/Tour....Owner Gallery   Powered by phpBB © 2001-2004 phpBB Group Designed for Trushkin.net | Themes Database.