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Multi-award winning film director Nigel Dick risks compromising his manhood on a baby bike. This pic was taken on L'Alpe d'Huez which is the cyclist's valhalla. The Pocket Rocket propelled me up where Armstrong, Pantani et al have climbed.
Even strong men have been known to crawl under their SUVs at the thought of being seen riding a pair of little wheels. One such man, multi-award winning (3 MTV awards, 2 Billboard Awards and 3 MVPA awards) British born film director, musician, and all-round creative guy, Nigel Dick overcame the size issue and flaunted his Yellow Pocket Rocket at the Tour de France. Like many folks who take their BF to follow in the skidmarks of Lance each year, he conquered the course with consummate ease - I mean, we all know that small wheels climb better.
Here's an excerpt from his website, www.nigeldick.com, under 'Diary 2003' and 'Dick Bike'. His site is fascinating and informative reading on anything you'd care to ask on film, music, cycling, life ... We're proud to say that Nigel is one of the many secure, successful and scintillating folk who choose to own and ride the world's leading performance folding travel bike - in full public view.
ARREAU LOOKS LIKE a Pyrenean border town from a WW2 movie which is a ludicrous description - rather like saying the Eiffel Tower reminds you of the Paris hotel in Las Vegas - but that's what jumps into my mind. The narrow main road follows the river and the houses on either side show little sign of any late 20th century sophistication. Were it not for the bright colours and the jovial faces of the throngs of people the pedestrians could be a crowd of refugees - I find myself looking for armoured cars, tanks and Nazis. What is wrong with me?
Three old men stop me in the main street and stare at my bike which is yellow and has tiny wheels because it folds into a suitcase. They are fascinated by it and ask me many questions which my school-boy French can only just grasp at.
I must confess that my fragile cyclists ego is challenged by my new toy. Let's be honest - the reason a grown man flies half way round the world to cycle enormously steep, paint splattered hills is purely for bragging rights. This person stupidly wants to somehow include himself in the peleton of great riders: Anquetil, Hinault, Mercx, Indurain...Dick! OK so that's not going to work. So you don the requisite lycra clothing and, though I'm not overweight, I don't really look as good in my 21 Virages outfit as Cipollini does in his custom designed world champions jersey. So - the only way you can buy yourself into the yes-I'm-a-real-cyclist club is through your bike - and here I am visiting the Tour and everyone is riding a Bianchi or something sexy and Italian and I'm on a yellow fold-up with baby wheels. My manhood is seriously compromised and I want to break out a sign which says TRAVELLING BIKE FITS INTO SUITCASE - I HAVE A REAL BIKE AT HOME...HONEST.
Andy and I find a suitable spot on a bend a mile or two up the Col. I leave him to read and ride another 20 minutes up the hill which is a blast. The hill is easy and it's lined with fans, a few of them even yell Allez! Allez! Allez! at me and I feel like Lance for a micro second. Half way up the Col I stop and admire the view. It's a beautiful morning and I've got beyond the lower crowds and reached a peaceful spot. I marvel at the cute village nestled in a fold of the mountain just half a mile from the Tour and totally untouched by time. Another old man walks by, admires the Bike Friday and wants his wife to take a picture of him with it ... and without me! It seems old men are fascinated by it, younger ones give it a glance and kids despise it. I HAVE A REAL BIKE AT HOME ... HONEST...
Later...
DAY THIRTEEN I assemble the Bike Friday again and ride round Richmond Park and get more uncomplimentary stares from the other cyclists. In the last twenty days the Bike Friday has travelled a grand-total of 9,500 miles been assembled and folded back into its suitcase 6 times and kissed the pavement in Canada, California, France and England. I have a real bike at home - it can't do that.
... Nigel Dick www.nigeldick.com
For more information, follow this link http://www.bikefriday.com/bf/tourdefrance.