Interview #2: Jon Baddley
our good friend and competitor Jon Baddley left Utah for Paris recently. his company relocated his family (i'm guessing because they know what a hard worker he is...wait a minute, his company probably doesn't like him spending all his time day dreaming about bike racing) to the Paris area and he has quickly learned what a great place it is to ride a bike.
dhblog: Jon, now that you are in Paris, have you had many chances to get out and ride your bike?
JB: Riding sucks here so far.
dhblog: really? it's that bad? i'm sure you can find some entertainment in it...
JB: The good news is, that the streets are lit up and I can go out early and ride before the sun comes up. I also get a free lingerie show while riding through the Bois de Boulogne Park (kind of like Central Park, not at all like Sugar House park), from the hookers that are still working the wee hours. For once I feel over dressed in lycra.
dhblog: is it the racing or the riding that sucks?
JB: Actually, the racing scene sucks compared to SLC. For a big city, Paris is actually very bicycle friendly, more so than small town SLC. There are bike routes all through the city. Paris has dedicated bus lanes, that are also open to bikes. They also close down several city streets on Sundays and only bikes and roller bladers are allowed. Also, in the Bois de Boulogne that I mentioned, there is a huge horse racing track that has a street that runs all around the outside, maybe the size of sugarhouse park. The cool thing is that it is completely closed to cars and pedestrians, only bikes allowed. On Saturday and Sunday mornings there is an unofficial but competitive group ride, with as many as 2,000 cyclists. Sometimes professional teams join in if they are in the area. Even Lance has been found riding there. So there are some cool things, and not to mention that we are a short train ride away
from many famous cycling venues.
dhblog: Jon, you were always ready to "lay down the heat" (Billy Harris expression) at the RMR and DMV. what are you doing now in Paris to fill that need for speed?
JB: I have started riding to work through the center of Paris. Dodging the cars and racing the motorcycles and scooters off the line is fun and has replaced a little bit of the adrenaline rush I miss from the RMR.
dhblog: Things have been interesting on the UCA website and Topica list, as I'm sure you're still a subscriber and know. Can you give some insight into club riding and local associations in the Paris area?
JB: I did finally receive my Elite International UCI license, but to race at this level, I have to join at least a division 2 team. It is a bit like baseball in the US. There are either pick up games with has beens, or farm league teams with up and comers. There is no just jumping into a race like at home. I have to join a team, at the elite level just to enter a race. Unfortunately, the elite teams are made up of young guys that are racing for their careers, so it is hard for an old working stiff like myself to jump in and join them. I work all week, so my only chance would be to race on the weekends, but I talked with Bernard Hinault the other day and he said that weekly crit/tt/hill climb series are where its at.
dhblog: What is your winter cycling training program?
JB: I am going to get on my trainer early in the mornings, piss off my neighbor in the apartment below, and see what I can come up with next spring.
dhblog: What is the current problem in Paris with all the rioting and looting?
JB: Their unemployment rate is at something like 400% right now. So they are just going out at night and burning cars and buses. I think this might spur the economy though with the impact that it might have in auto wrecking, fire fighting, insurance, new car sales, new bus sales, etc.
dhblog: Does this concern you?
JB: It is not a 3rd world country, and I have bought some great shoes and it doesn't matter if I shower or not.
dhblog: Have you heard about the Utah Pro Cycling presented by... Team?
JB: I hear that Utah is putting together a professional team. If you wanted to make it international and shoot for some of the grand tours, maybe we could put something together and kick some amateur European ass.
dhblog: Being in Paris, you are at the center of the fashion world. what can we expect to see?
JB: The euro mullet is back with a vengeance. It may rear its ugly head in the up coming world cup soccer tournament over the
next 7 months.
dhblog: have you talked to any cycling legends other than Bernard Hinault?
JB: I talked to Eddy Merckx the other day and he said the weekly crit/tt/hill climb series races kick ass over weekend races any day.
dhblog: have you seen any races locally in your area?
JB: there was an international criterium a few blocks away from our place a few weeks ago. It was no bigger than the downtown crit, but they had media trucks, VIP lounges, local dignitaries, previous TDF winners, big prize money, etc.
dhblog: how about some cyclocross since it is that time of year?
JB: I also drove past a cyclocross race in the country this past weekend. It looked really cool, so I threw some beer bottles at the riders.
dhblog: any safety issues?
JB: I think Wheeler Farm or the new RMR venue is much safer.
dhblog: any other comments?
JB: No wonder the french haven't produced a contender for years... They work from 9:00 to 8:00 everyday. What the hell! I came over here thinking all they did was take half the year off and rode their bikes. I now have learned that they work all day since they have nothing better to do, and then on the weekends they sit around and watch soccer.
Jon, thanks for sharing your thoughts and insights. We'll miss you in '06.
i wonder what #1 is up to right now...
